mccainphn

Can anyone please advise me on purchasing a rear rack and bags/panniers for a Trek 7.1 FX?

tsl

In general, any rack with 0, 1, or 2 legs is not suggested for use with panniers. It's not a load-carrying issue, the extra leg on three-legged racks keeps the panniers from swinging into the spokes.

As for specific racks and bags, we all have different needs based on what we carry back and forth to work, and how often.

For instance, I carry library books back-and-forth a lot, and usually several at a time. Not many other people have that need.

I carry my week's worth of clothes and snacks in on Monday, and bring home the laundry on Thursday. This way I don't need them at all on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I don't need to worry about laptops or locks on my commute. I leave my panniers on the bike at work, so I don't need to concern myself with shoulder straps and the like.

My commute is fairly short--five miles or 17 to 20 minutes, so water-resistant is fine--I don't need to go all the way to waterproof.

All this (and budget) influences which panniers work best for me.

So, what do you have to carry back-and-forth, and how often?

texasdiver

What are you carrying and for what distance? How you set your bike up for a 10 mile commute to the office is different from how you'd set it up for a 10 block trip to the grocery.

Over the years I've tried about every type of pannier and rack known to man. There are a lot of pretty high-end commuting panniers and bags with fancy features. But I did rain or shine year-round commuting in the northwest and quickly got tired of dragging a wet dirty pannier into the office with me. Ultimately I ended up leaving a big drawstring pannier permanently bolted to the bike and commuting with my soft briefcase/laptop bag stuffed inside the larger pannier to keep it clean and dry. Even if you ride with fenders your bike and gear will still pick up road grime and splashes from passing cars.

Now that I live in Texas the weather isn't a real factor. And because I walk my bike right into my classroom (I teach HS science and store my bike in my chemical stockroom during the day) I have no need to ever remove my bags from my bike. However the majority of bike commuters probably lock their bikes in public places and need to take their bags with them.

Tell us about your commute, where you park your bike, and what you want to carry and we'll be much better able to advise you.

mtalinm

as above, you really need to define "stuff"

but the Topeak Explorer Rack with the DXP Trunk Bag (fold-out panniers for when you need them, collapse them when you don't) has been a fabulous if expensive solution for me.

then there is always the "milk crate" approach to save $

mccainphn

well I commute round trip about 10 miles, I work at a church so I'm able to park my bike in the sanctuary or kitchen depending on what is going on that day. I need to carry a change of clothes, shoes, lunch, laptop, and the usual bike stuff(extra tubes,multitool,pump...), I am also flirting with the idea of using the bike for just about everything from know on including grocery shopping.

texasdiver

OK, your bike is set up well to take a rack as it has mounting eyelets on the rear dropouts and seat stays. So you should be able to pick up a basic rack at your local bike shop. Something like a Blackburn or Topeak. that mounts to the rear dropouts and seat stays with mounting bolts. You don't want one of the racks that bolt to the seat post as those are a workaround design for bikes with frames that aren't designed to take racks....like suspension mountain bikes and carbon fiber racing bikes.

Then shop around for some pannier design that suits your fancy. Personally I'd load up my normal load of gear...clothes, laptop, books, shoes, etc. in a backpack and haul it down to the bike shop and test out how the stuff you want to carry fits into various panniers. I don't know where you live but you may find the selection pretty meager at some local bike shops as the sport as kind of turned away from basic utility stuff like panniers towards more exotic gear. So you might find a lot more options online at various online venders like REI, Nashbar, Performance, amazon, etc.

For groceries and hauling stuff there are folding bike basket panniers....basically an open grocery basket type of design that folds flat against your bike when not in use. There are also cargo nets and bungie cords designed for rear racks that are very convenient for carrying locks and any bulky stuff you want to strap to the rack. You may also want to consider getting a small seat wedge bag that fits under the seat to carry your tools and spare tube so they always stay on the bike and don't take up space in your commuting bag.

tsl

Then flexibility is the key. I've been car-free for 11 years, now in my fifth year of doing it by bike. I use several different bags, depending on need.

I use a Topeak Aero Wedge seat bag to carry all my repair stuff. The medium size works for me. It also comes in small and large, and a couple of newer variations in design. I like the clip-on mounting system and that I can buy extra clips for my other bikes. One bag goes on all four of my bikes. This also frees space in the panniers.

I use a rack top trunk bag for errands and light, small load days, like to the bank and post office. It carries my lock and whatever I'm dropping off or picking up. Mine is large enough to carry a couple of library books, or my lunch and a fresh shirt. I like the Arkel Tailrider, but I understand it's outside many people's budget.

The commuting panniers I use aren't laptop-capable, so I'll avoid specific recommendations. Although Arkel has several that take a laptop sleeve, which helps isolate the computer from road shock.

Grocery panniers are purpose-designed for grocery shopping and carrying larger loads. Big, square, and open at the top, they aren't for everyday riding. But when I wheel into the store, they are perfect for that task. I got by for four years with a pair of Nashbar Townie Baskets. They are cheap, as plain-jane as you can get, and on the smallish side for grocery panniers. They're also surprisingly durable. Took me four years to wear them out.

I've recently upgraded to Arkel's Shopper grocery panniers. They are everything I ever dreamed of in a grocery pannier, and then some. Although breathtakingly expensive, I haven't regretted a penny of the expense. They are that perfectly suited to the task. See my review here.

tarwheel 

Don't rule out the option of using a large seatbag such as a Carradice Barley or Pendle. They can carry a lot of gear and keep the weight centered better on your bike than panniers, so it doesn't affect handling as much.

rumrunn6

carry as little as possible by stockpiling food and clothing at work.

exarkuhn15

I've got a rear rack with a wire mesh basket zip-tied on top. Kind of like the milk crate concept, but looks nicer. This is a wonderfully flexible set up - I always want to have a backpack with me for when I park the bike, so I just toss the backpack into the basket, but a bungee cord over it to keep it in, and toss any lock, keys, or water bottle in the basket too, and I'm all set. If I end up picking up too much, then I can always wear the backpack and use the basket for cargo. Easy!

trailz 

My standard carrying gear is this:
small underseat bag to carry a lock
Blackburn rack that I always leave a couple of bungies on. Very solid.
Wald black folding basket ($20) that I expand when I need the room. It's not huge, roughly the size of a paper grocery bag. I'm not sure I'd put anything too heavy in it. Had a 12 pack in there once, and it felt like I was pushing it.
For my shopping trips/errands for large items, I've got an old Burley Flatbed trailer that I've customized. Usually, I put a 25 gallon tote on it, and that can fit almost 6 bags of groceries.
In the cooler months, a backpack works great - provided the trip isn't too long.

JeremyZ

+1 to that ^ It is a great system. It attaches & detaches quickly, has carrying handles and a shoulder strap. Has fold-out panniers for when you need them.

For short bike trips, I've been using a messenger bag, (Tom Bihn Super Ego) as it is more comfortable to carry off the bike. (but less comfortable on the bike)

idcruiserman

Get waterproof panniers with carrying straps. Make sure the rack is long enough to keep your foot from striking the panniers while pedaling. I'm using REI panniers (waterproof but no strap unfortunately) with Trek Back rack 2. The rack is height adjustable.

Take your bike to the store to try out the rack, etc.

EKW in DC

That's my setup exactly. I LOVE IT! No complaints at all for commuting.

I got them for Christmas, so no expense to me, save for whatever my alternative gift might have been.

mccainphn

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys. I went with the Topeak MTX TrunkBag DXP and a Topeak rack, I already had a seat bag. Rode to work with it today, bike feels a little heavier, but other than that it seems to work pretty well for what I need it for on my daily commute. Now I need to find a way to haul groceries from the store to the house on the bike ( 2.5 miles round trip in the Phoenix, AZ heat!)

colleen c

Topeak makes a wire rear basket that will slide on your topeak rack. You can use that for hauling grocery on days when you do not need the DXP.
https://www.topeak.com/products/Bags/MTXBasketRear

EDIT: Forgot to mention: yes they are a pain to swing your leg over the basket at time. Something I have taken for granted because I have a women bike(which I don't need to swing my leg too high) that has the basket on the rack. Otherwise you can get a regular grocery pannier, but you may or maynot able to use the grocery pannier at the same time you have the DXP on it.

xtrajack

My solution to the whole carrying things on the bike, wouldn't appeal to everyone, but, it works for me:

An Xtracycle with front panniers. BTW, yes, I drank the Xtracycle kool-aid hard.

tsl

Jeepers. Took you long enough. It's been two whole days before the first Xtra-cycle post.

xtrajack

I been busy

mccainphn

I would only use the DXP for work and such, I've been looking online and I see that trek makes a grocery bag/pannier, and Topeak makes a plastic box looking type of thing to carry groceries in. If I can find a LBS that carries either items I'll go and take a look at 'em.