Papa Tom

This is probably going to start a riot here, but I've got to tell you the latest chapter in my search for the ideal pannier/trunk for commuting and touring.

I've spent almost a year poking members of this and other forums for recommendations and, a couple of weeks ago, I finally decided to splurge and get a set of Ortliebs for about $239. Then I saw them in the store and decided they weren't suitable for me at all, so I picked up a set of $179 Cannondales instead. It turned out they didn't provide enough heel clearance, so I brought them back and bought a set of Jannd Mountain Panniers for $150. After using these on a weekend tour, I decided I didn't like them, either, so I returned them and got a full refund.

Torn and confused, I've been researching and testing all sorts of camera and fishing tackle bags, hoping they'd come closer to what I want, which is something full of pockets for commuting, but still large enough to throw in some overnight stuff when I take a recreational ride. The only things that came close were bags that cost as much as panniers, but didn't have any straps or clips for attaching to a bike. Plus, they all cost about $100 or more.

Sunday, I went to check out some additional camera bags someone had suggested at Walmart and I soon ended up in the bicycle aisle. In the past, after searching high and low for items like pumps, tubes, etc. I have found very inexpensive products put out by Schwinn that ended up serving me unbelievably well. I thought to myself "There's NO chance they're gonna have any kind of pannier he....HOLY CRAP! WHAT'S THIS**********?" All of a sudden, Schwinn's got a trunk bag on the shelf that has expanding flaps that can be unzipped to provide room for shoes, shirts, and all kinds of stuff. It clearly isn't made as well as the bags I've been checking out in bike shops, sporting goods stores, camera shops, and camping stores, but it's TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS!!!!! No brainer...I took it off the shelf, brought it home, mounted it on my rack, and I think it's going to be just fine.

Enough spending precious summer cycling time researching all these expensive hit-or-miss bicycle accessories. This is, at least, the third or fourth time I've picked up something for $25 or less that has been good enough to get me through years of bicycling without any problems. And each time, it's been a product put out by Schwinn. I know they aren't what they used to be, but damn...this company (and the Walmarts and Targets that sell their stuff) have delivered some of the best bicycle buys of my lifetime!

GTryder

Walmart Canada carries "Bell" branded bike accessories and some items are a good value at regular price, but incredible at discount. Got rear panniers with an expandable trunk bag for $10.00. They are slightly retro with a buckle down flap over each side zippered compartment. The sides don't hold as much as my better quality Voyagers, but the trunk bag is enormous. They were a bit of a PITA to mount on the rack and as so stay put, but they serve the purpose for commuting and smaller shopping trips very well and if they last a couple of years I'm happy.

bhchdh 

Links?

GTryder

My purchases were in store clearance items.

tjspiel

I think the Schwinn/Target/Walmart stuff is fine with limited use.

Seriously, the market they are going for is the recreational cyclist and they don't need something that's going to take abuse day in and day out for thousands of miles.

I gave up on that stuff a few years ago after one of their pumps literally fell apart in my hands. My fault for using it for topping off my tires regularly instead of using a floor pump.

GTryder

Overall the price definitely reflects the quality - but "some" of the items are a good value for the price. Most of their pumps, saddles & peddles are not great and spending more at the LBS will get something that lasts longer. In the case of my panniers - the zippers are likely the weakest point, but I had to replace a zipper on my Voyagers after 6 months of use.
If one is frugal and can get a few department store deals - it offsets buying other quality items at the LBS.

tjspiel

I agree, if you're selective about what you buy it can work out well. To them bikes are sporting goods and in terms of quality it's the same whether you're talking about bikes, tents, or tennis rackets. Their tents are just fine for a weekend campout in fair weather.

Their rackets will let you bang a ball around but I wouldn't recommend one for anyone other than a novice who's content to remain a novice. Nothing wrong with getting tennis balls there though.

alan s 

The stores I shop at don't carry Schwinn. Nothing against the big box stores or Schwinn. It's all made in China anyhow.

bengreen79

I have a Schwinn-branded pump that I got at Target which I've taken terrible care of and it still works. The kids like to play with it for some reason and it has gotten wet more times than I can count. It was making a terrible grinding noise for a long time which just went away (rust fell off I guess).

bengreen79

Here's the bag the OP was talking about:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Schwinn-Ba...Black/19593668

Papa Tom

Yup, that's it! And here's a Schwinn frame pump that I bought for $15.

https://www.sears.com/schwinn-aluminu...a=00666393000P .

I haven't had to fix one of my own flats with it yet, but I've helped out two other people and it worked as well as any of the more expensive ones I've owned in my lifetime. My guess is that it will fall apart the first time I have to use it on my own tire.

jrickards

OP, I like the fact that you had a long post, it allowed you to tell the full story. I'm one of those for whom "if you want make a short story long, let Jules tell it" type of people so I like to hear others tell long stories too.

On a 2-day double century in late May, one of my riding buddies had a bag similar to your Schwinn and it was perfect: larger than a rack box but not as large or cumbersome as my 23litre/ea panniers: it allowed him to carry a couple of extra bottles, some granola bars and room for his wind shell and long-sleeved jersey that he took off as the days warmed up.

e0richt

yup, actually I have a handlebar bag (which holds quite a bit), cycle computer, and a seat bag.
they were each approximately 10.00... a name brand seat bag would have cost me 24.00 from a bike store alone and wouldn't hold as much (I keep tools and I carry 2 tubes / patch kit, other stuff such as snacks, cell phone, wallet, keys...

Papa Tom

The Schwinn bag I purchased certainly isn't top quality, and it isn't made in the USA (as I would have preferred), but c'mon...how do you justify pricing a "name brand" trunk bag with the same fold-out panniers so much higher?

AstroEng

HERETIC!

MEversbergII

I -finally- got around to getting myself a rear rack and bag for my unit. Ended up going for this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I figure it's "good enough" for my low-end steed. It'll do me until I get a better bike, without going pearls on a swine, and will let me finally ditch the backpack. As a bonus, if anyone jacks it off my bike, I'm only out 15 bucks.

M.

spivonious

I've had good luck so far with some Avenir panniers. $40 and they're holding up very well. I use them every weekday to hold my work clothes and lunch. I, too, had looked at the expensive pannier bags and just couldn't justify spending a third of my bike on some bags.

GTryder

Same situation with baskets on our old utility bike. Bought a good? quality ($30.00+) lift off front basket at the LBS (large enough to hold a 4 litre milk jug), but it stressed the mounting hardware with that load - so modified a cheap 15 year old rear rack to stabilize it. Bought a high end large rear basket (tried a milk crate, but didn't like against the back of the saddle) at LBS. Mounted, it makes panniers impossible to fit to rear rack. Looked at collapsible metal baskets at LBS - over $35.00 each. Bought Bell collapsibles again at Wal-Mart end of season clearance for $5.00 each (knowing - from online reviews) - their weak points are the metal clips that "hinge" the sections together. Also knowing that Zip Ties from the $1 Store would supplement the existing hardware (they just don"t fold in quite as neatly, but bungee cords ($1 Store - again) keep them in place when not in use. For the amount of use & capacity - I couldn't justify $75.00 for high end collapsible racks to supplement hauling capacity.

Papa Tom

From the OP:

For the record, I'm not saying that higher-quality, more expensive panniers are a rip-off or a sham. I'm just saying that sometimes we need to take a realistic look at ourselves and our riding habits before we make the decision to spend (a lot) more than we may need to.

I may think about bicycling all the time - and I may spend every free minute posting trite remarks on these forums - but the amount of time I actually have for bicycling these days is very limited. For this reason, I can't see spending more than $25-30 for a bag to carry my patch kit and my sneakers around.

MEversbergII

Agreed. Equipment should fit the investment.

M.

GTryder

Well said!

Being frugal with some utilitarian items and being able to DIY, bike hack or otherwise adapt/re-purpose has allowed me to spend a bit more on a few higher end or specialized items.

acidfast7

Nothing wrong with that.

Ortliebs are the business and there's nothing wrong with stating that you don't need the super-high-end solution.

One note: the heel-strike issue is due to the chainstays not being long enough. I assume this isn't a commuter-spec or trekking-spec bike. You could look at a TUBUS Cargo rack which is designed to move the panniers rearward for bikes that weren't designed with commuting in mind.

acidfast7

One other quick point ... this is a very common logical fallacy. People often state that they want to support manufacturing but are often unwilling to pay the higher costs.

Can't have it both ways.

That's why I shell out extra for the local shops because at least the local shops stay in business, even if the product isn't made in country. To be fair, it was much easier to buy stuff Made in Germany as Denmark and England don't have any real manufacturing base remaining.

Before your next purchase, you may want to check here:

https://joecruz.wordpress.com/usa-made-cycling-gear/

GTryder

In the short time I've been back into cycling, a fair amount of my gear is bought from 2 LBS - 1 bike, 4 racks, 2 sets voyager panniers, voyager trunk bag & seat bag, 3 sets of fenders, 3 saddles, 2 baskets, 3 helmets, airzound horn, numerous gloves, grips, tubes and tires, seats & posts, bars, bar ends, lights,mirrors and cycle specific tools.

Both stores also carry other sporting goods; so over past 40 years: hockey equipment for 1 son, X-country ski equipment for 2 kids & 2 adults, $10-15K in olympic recurve archery equipment, many sets of golf clubs & 1000's of golf balls, many pairs of athletic & hiking shoes and athletic/outdoor sports clothing for 4 people.

Almost forgot, 3 road bikes (2 Sekines & a Fuji in the '70's) and many kid's bikes (mostly bmx).

So guess I do my part to support the Local shops,

droy45

Thats great! As long as it works for you. I got a cheap set of daytrekker panniers from Nashbar $25, and have been using them daily for 2 years now and no signs of wear yet. I didn't like those Ortlieb ones either, way too big and only fit certain bikes or racks.