Originally Posted by
indyfabz
The doorways and vestibules of the Vermonter equipment are too narrow to allow one to roll on the bike with the panniers on. I have used a mesh sleeping bag sack to put my panniers in so I can easily get them in the car quickly. Like your mesh bags, it weighs next to nothing and collapses down very small.
I do not even want to try to roll the bike with panniers on it anywhere near a train on my next trip which uses the Trainside Carryon. If I have to lift it up for any reason, I want it to be unladen.
But I have until June to decide how to consolidate my stuff and what bags to use for that. The bus I take to the Amtrak station has tighter luggage specifications than Amtrak, so the bus luggage is the limiting factor. Last time I took that bus, the driver chewed me out for having a small bag besides my carry on, it was my handlebar bag that he did not like, but he said he would let it slide this time.
My tentative plan is my light touring bike with Ortliebs, same that I used this past April on Natchez Trace. This trip, I have no need for the S&S couplers, so I don't have to take my heavy touring bike. If you are curious, photo of the bike and gear I plan to use at:
Pictures of your loaded rigs?
But I have some Carradry panniers, that is another option I will be thinking about for next few months.