Originally Posted by
AcornMan
Do I need some kind of rack on the back of my bike to use panniers? Do different panniers require different kinds of racks or can I just use a "universal" one? Are there certain features I should look for or avoid? And finally, if you recommend a certain brand/model I would like to know about it. Thanks in advance.
Panniers do require a rack - specifically, a rack with side frames that permit attachment of the lower mechanism (hook or toggle, or something similar) as well as preventing the panniers from swinging into the spokes.
Check out your bikes for rack compatibility. Look for braze-ons or other provisions for racks, such as threaded eyelets on the rear dropouts and rack mounts on the seat stays (usually near or above the seat stay bridge).
It can get confusing to try to cover all of the possibilities, so the first step is checking out your present frames to assess rack compatibility.