Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
Backrollers and the 31 liter Rack Pack. Rack Pack described here:
https://us.ortlieb.com/products/rack-pack
I did several tours before I realized that I was not doing it right. This is the right way to attach it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtxsoOa2h48
But that also means there is a lot of work to do if I want to get something out of a rear pannier during the middle of a ride. So, I have to plan packing well.
Works best if both rear panniers are packed so that they both are the same height. The 31 liter Rack Pack is essentially a duffle, has no frame to give it shape or structure. When it is only half full, it sags because of that lack of structure. Now I use a sheet of Coroplast inside that gives it more of a cylindrical shape, as shown below.
I lowered the rack slightly for use on this bike. The pannier frame at the bottoms of the panniers sit right over the ends of my rear skewer. When touring I use bolt on skewers, not quick release. I did not plan it that way, but I want the center of gravity as low as practical and this is about perfect.
An inch or so above my rear derailleur, so it does not interfere with shifting or impair the derailleur hanger alignment. Thus, that is about as low as it can go with this rack on this bike.
Video: B!tchin! Somebody was thinking.
I have tons of small pieces of corroplast, my local asian market tosses veg boxes from it, I lined my left rear pannier with it, have yet to do the rest.
Mine will sit lower; If I toured it would be on 20"/406 wheels, the rear (full-size) rack holds the panniers with fronts even with the rear axle and the deck about 6" above the tire, with the panniers on the lower rack tier (which I love, allows independent access to panniers and trunk bag without them blocking each other), with the bottoms about 8" above the pavement, so they clear curbs nicely when close to them. I do like the lower CG of the whole setup, and the panniers aft like that for great pedaling clearance causes no stability issues at all. I might make use of that space behind the seatpost to hang a long skinny dry bag from the seat rails and a horizontal strap around the post at the bottom, that would be a good day bag:
