I bought new panniers this weekend. Today was my first ride in this week. I can put all my uniforms in them and my lunch and still have room. I loved them the entire way in and about 3 miles back. I was getting into the 3rd turn lane and suddenly stopped. I mean my back wheel locked up. Of course it was my drive side pannier turn back up between the tire and rack. I picked up the bike and carried it accross 3 or 4 lanes of traffic. I planned to remove the rack, get the pannier out while I waited for a ride. However the tool was in the bag and I was starting to get po'd. So I pushed the bike backward and the bag popped out. Wow too easy. So I gave the wheel a spin. Looked perfect to me. The Blackburn rack was busted, I have had it for 4 or 5 years. I couldnt find any busted spokes. So I thought I would ride a little bit, next thing I knew I had rode back to the Y near my home where I was suppose to meet someone, and my ride had only taken 5 minutes more than usual. I took it out to my favorite shop, they checked it out tightened a coupld of spokes and pronounced it ready to ride. He said the rack has a lifetime warranty and gave me another one, I have alread changed out my old one and will take it back to the shop tomrrow. I have the panniers back on and they do not look like they could get back into the spokes but I lack confidence at this point. BUt man, it could have been so much worse. The rack and the wheel did not cost me a dime, then panniers are scuffed up but look fine. The wrench chagned my brakes while we were shooting the bull. Damn good bike shop by the way.