jlg1290

Dear Everyone,

My Tikit should be arriving next week and I'm looking to get a laptop pannier to fit on the double-sided front rack. Unfortunately, none of my local bike shops carry the panniers I'm interested in, so I'll need to buy it online.

Does anyone know if bags like the Carradice Bike Bureau or the Arkel Commuter or Metropolitan will fit properly on the front rack? The tube diameter is 7.62 mm (.3 inches) and I'm not sure if these bags will hold on them.

I'd really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions for other bags. Thanks.

-Jordan

Amuro Lee

How about fitting the pannier on the rear rack?

neilfein

The Ortlieb front roller panniers fit on my Tikit with plenty of room. Like so:


IMG_2476.JPG by neilfein, on Flickr


IMG_2449.JPG by neilfein, on Flickr

fietsbob

I added 2 connecting straps, of webbing, to my Ortlieb bags. [to go on my Pocket Llama front rack]

Added them to go under the screws that hold on the top rail.

So as to have, the bags, act as a single saddle bag,
rather, than juggling 2 separate bags all the time, off the bike.. .

BWP

I also endorse Ortlieb Front Rollers. In use they seem almost purpose-built for the Tikit front rack and having any added weight low and forward works well for handling.

An innovation that has worked for me and that makes the Ortliebs a possible solution to the original poster's need: I bought an inexpensive laptop bag that fits inside one of the panniers -- this gives me the pockets and compartments that I want for laptop, papers, etc. I pull it out and take it to meetings without concern for mud spatters. Overall less clunky I think than the special-purpose "office panniers" I saw when I was shopping. The laptop bag is a no-name brand bought at a Carrefour so this is a cheap solution too. For my commute the other pannier takes spare clothes, overflow papers, groceries purchased on the way home, etc., and I have the flexibility to put both to other purposes at other times.

jlg

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. I need something that looks rather "professional," though, so I ordered a Philosophy InTrans pannier from Wallbike. Hopefully it will fit on the front rack and will be just what I need. I'll post an update once I've used it for a bit. Cheers.