Rubin110

Hi there. First time poster. Since getting into riding my bike over owning a car in the past year I've come by here a number of times looking for advice and have found it simply by searching for such. I haven't been able to find a good answer to this new problem I've found sadly.

I've got a Specialized Sirrus and your average joe generic bike rack attached to the triangle. When I first got the rack I also got a fold out wire frame basket to go with it. None of the brackets that came with the basket fit my rack, so I ended up ziptieing the thing together. When I went for a ride to see how the weight difference was I had to immediately stop, as the heal of my foot got snagged on the edge of the basket. I took it back inside, cut off all the ties and moved the basket back about 2 - 3 inches. This fixed the problem and I've been ignorant of the whole thing ever since.

Well I've grown completely and totally annoyed at the squeaky sounds the stupid basket makes when I ride around with it both in use and folded up. While at REI today I picked the Cannondale Harvester Pannier as a replacement...

https://www.rei.com/product/765595

First off let me just state that this pannier sucks and I'll be returning it shortly. The flap on the top is extremely to secure down well due to the location of the top buckle. The buckle used to keep the thing folded up has extreme potential to shatter later on as it ends up being located on the bottom of the bag when it's folded out.

None the less, after attaching the thing to my rack, stuffing it full of stuff, and riding a couple blocks to meet up with some friends for brunch, I once again noticed my heel was clipping. During that ride I started to wonder why the hell was this such an issue, none of my friends seem to have it. Then it hit me, I'm the only one riding a hybrid and they tend to be shorter then rode bikes.

So I've been searching for something that could answer my troubles. I found this bike rack, the odyssée rear suspension by Axiom...

https://www.axiomgear.com/product/rac...uct.php?id=137

I'm guessing it's made for bikes with crazy rear suspension or disc breaks, neither of which I have but I wonder if it would fit just fine. They seem to be pushed back more then every other bike rack I've found in the city or online.

Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

Old_Fart

I had the same problem with my MTB and some cheaper panniers. I've pretty much quit buying any Cannondale brand stuff. Their clothing that I bought fell apart in short order and some other accessories of theirs were just junk.

If you're near an REI you should be able to take your bike in and try the panniers on your bike. I have some REI branded panniers (now they're all Novara branded) that have adjustable clips so you can adjust how far forward or back you mount them. Some others have this feature also. I know Ortlieb has them but they are some of the more expensive panniers.

Jeffbeerman2

Maybe some of the solutions here can help. The guy who runs that store is great about communicating with customers. He has a phone number at the bottom of the page that says it is even answered on weekends.
https://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS...ONS%20PAGE.htm

Do you have the wald folding baskets? My walds don't squeak too badly, the only thing I don't like is how heavy they are. I had heel strike with them on my old rack and they were easy to simply move backward extending an inch or two behind the rack itself. They worked great. (see attached pictures of the rack) Maybe you could use the wald hardware (or similar hardware) to attach tubes and extend your rack back a bit, and leave the rear pannier hook behind the rack itself? It should be easy to get what you need to do that at a hardware store for a couple bucks.

Lots of bikes have these issues, not just hybrids.

xiaodidi

Try a Jandd Expedition Rack - a full 3 inches longer than most racks and bulletproof (small calibers only):

https://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FREXP

You should do a search and save some cash buying from another retailer, I got my second for only $40+ from Jenson a few months back.

climbhoser

It might be the rack, but it might be the panniers.

I bought Banjo Brothers Saddlebag Panniers for my Surly Crosscheck, which is known for having short chainstays. They are moveable unlike panniers with the rigid system. They attach to your rack via flexible, elastic to hooks at the eyelets and straddle the rack. You can push them back pretty far, which I have done. Put on snugged up I get heelstrike, but pushed back they're fine, albeit close.

They're also only $50.

TRUMPHENT

You may want to consider the Tubus Logo rack. You could probably use the fold up baskets as intended with it for grocery shopping. It's a little on the pricey side but, its going to allow you to move your panniers back far enough. I am going to get one soon. My current rack from Planet Bike is not up to the task.

I use the Axiom Cartier panniers. https://www.axiomgear.com/product/bag...duct.php?id=60

They are beveled at the lower front corner to allow clearance of the riders heels. They also have a nifty locking lever to keep them in place when you are bombing down the mup. And, you can find them on sale for less than 60 bucks. Sold in pairs.

kf5nd

Yes, Jandd Expedition cured it for my Sirrus.

wild animals

is it the ortlieb bags that can be attached at an angle? i know there are panniers that can be adjusted so that the bottom is further back than the top (at an angle, i mean). does anyone know which bags those are? (it looks like the ortlieb office-bag does that but the angle isn't adjustable.)

the ortlieb and arkel bags have sliding things on the attachment system, so you can attach the bag further back or forward. but the arkel bags cost a friggin fortune.

a couple of the jandd panniers are cut so that they are smaller at the bottom front, giving you more room.

mbologna

I use the Wald baskets, with zip ties instead of the brackets that came with it. I also used black electrical tape and some velcro straps in between the rack (a Delta Sport, I think) and the baskets to eliminate squeaks. It works pretty well for me, though I get aggravated trying to shove a backpack into the basket.

eibeinaka

Carradice Bike Bureau is set up at an angle to avoid heel strike. The three attachment points can also be moved to maximise the setback of the pannier on the rack.

Expensive, though. Especially given the fall in the value of the dollar. It is, however, a great bag. I'm glad I bought mine 3 years ago.




You can see the two attachment points on the top of the bag. You position these to minimise rear movement, and a third hook is adjusted on a lower rail to come up against a rack strut to prevent forward movement. Very secure.

xiaodidi

Just curious...

What happens with those fancy bags when they're loaded down heavy and hanging 8-10 inches past the last bit of rack ?

Anyone ?

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... snap ! I believe that is the noise they make when hitting the rear tire.

Cyclaholic

I commute and haul stuff on my Surly LHT, what this "heel strike" that you speak of.

Maybe you need a tourer frame, or an xtracycle conversion?.

sean000

I have a couple of Arkel bags that I think have proven to be worth what I paid for them. I've worn out a few bicycle bags over the years, and these Arkels are the toughest and best designed that I've used. I've abused the heck out of an Arkel Utility pannier for four or five years and it shows no signs of wearing out. And yes, the sliding rail system should help for adjusting the position to avoid heal strike. I have a pair of Ortliebs that are pretty nice as well, but I prefer the mounting system on the Arkels.

Sean

eibeinaka

Never had a problem with my Bike Bureau, and I've carried 20 lbs in it regularly.

I'd go along with the implication of Sean000's post. You get what you pay for.

Rubin110

Thanks to all for your replies. I'm going to take back my Cannondale to REI tomorrow and either grab Ortlieb's or Banjo Brothers.

As for the rack, I ended up order the Axiom odyssée rear suspension rack and hopefully that works out.

On a side note I just switched over to egg beaters + shoes, so not falling over has taken priority over figuring out the pannier issue for the moment. d:

jterribili

I have a 06 Sirrus and when I first got it I tried some paniers and a rack (can't remember what they were, but they were cheapos from the local bike shop) and I had the same exact issue - heel always clipping and could do nothing to solve it. After a bit of research I now use the Carradice SuperC Saddlebag with SQR system. Great for commuting. Although if you are lookinig for paniers specifically this does not help you, but I have no complaints with my Carradice system:

https://www.carradice.co.uk/saddlebag...addlebag.shtml