Arkel "The Bug"
 

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Just received The Bug the other day, was out doing errands today with it...WOW!

What a difference. I thought at first it looked small, but compared to my old Kirtland Panniers, this thing ROCKS! Lots of room inside and handy little pockets!

It is nice to walk in a Store and have everything, (Helmet, Saddle Pack, Gloves, etc..) stored in ONE Bag, in this case Backpack!

Kuddos ARKEL!

http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/bac...asp?fl=1&site=

http://shop.cycletherapy.ca/producti...0008~w~300.jpg

Looks cool! If a little pricey.
Good luck with it.
Report on it after you've had it for awhile

Joe

I got it for 99.00 total... it was FREE SHIPPING from: http://www.calhouncycle.com/

Couldn't turn that offer down!


*EDIT: Looks like they are sold out for now... :D

I'm really happy with mine as well. In fact, I'll probably be acquiring another for my wife's bike in 2-3 month... gotta pay off those pesky X-mas charges first. :p

Do they still have free shipping? I have been thinking about ordering a Tailrider. My Arkel panniers are awesome too, by the way. They have a couple hundred days worth of commuting on them so far, and look a lot better than my Performance panniers did after the same use!

Shipping is free if order is $100.00 or more. I bought a tailrider about a month ago. Nicely made.
I offered them a suggestion they should make one with a water bladder as part of the design, I thought it was a good idea, they said they would consider it.
Quality seems to be thier selling point, enough so I bought a pair of the utility basket bags to shop with. The touring panniers might be my next purchase. Which ones do you have?

I have the tail rider and the bug. Love them both.

They maintain a high level of manufacturing quality. Bug looks great. You guys make me want to shop.

i bought the bug but returned it only because i thought it was too small for my needs. but it looked like a very high quality, well built piece. i'm close to ordering a pair of 'utility baskets' from arkel.

i went and got this
http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/uti...asp?fl=1&site=

.. had it for a few weeks and it's tough, holds a lot, and designed well for what it is.

I have a bug also. I use it everyday and I love it. Very high quality.

I agree. I use one for commuting to work and to school. It's nice to be able to take it off my bike, convert to backpack, and walk to class. It was the only thing I found to use as a backpack and it works great. I've had mine for probably 3 or 4 months and it was one of my best purchases yet. Super high quality as everyone else has said and really good website. So much information on their website with pictures and descriptions and measurements. They are obviously proud of their products which is one reason I decided to give it a try.

Great bag.

I got an older bug... About a year and half out now, still works great. I also have their utility baset. Love them both. I use the backpack feature eveyday at school, and have a sholder strap for the utility basket. I do think it would be pretty cool if arkel came out with a completely waterproof bug that was larger, about the size of a standard bookbag. Maybe i'll send them a sugestion, who knows.

Ray

If you are talking about the http://www.calhouncycle.com/ people, this was on thierr site: "Free UPS Ground Shipping on orders over $50, including sale merchandise!"

If you are talking about the http://www.calhouncycle.com/ people, this was on thierr site: "Free UPS Ground Shipping on orders over $50, including sale merchandise!"

Sounds like a good time to order a Tailrider then. Thanks! :)

Quality seems to be thier selling point, enough so I bought a pair of the utility basket bags to shop with. The touring panniers might be my next purchase. Which ones do you have?

I think my panniers are the T-42s, but they are a couple of years old and look just slightly different than what's on Arkel's website. I actually got a screaming deal on them from Arkel because one pannier had reflective striping on the side and the other didn't. Oh well, works for me. I just use one for commuting - more than enough room.

I got my Bug about a month ago and have really liked it. I have to switch between commuting by bike and car and bike a lot (kids in daycare), so this was a logical choice. I did want a pocket for my PDA, so I put a full-size carabiner on the key loop and clipped an old Eagle Creek organizer holder on it, which actually makes clipping my keys easier, too.

I might grab an Arkel Commuter someday, though, as the exposed hooks do worry me. I don't want them to dig into my wood floor, or into my car seat. Or maybe I'll find some way to cover them up myself.

I just started a 37 mile roundtrip to work last week (only a few days a week right now, though). I'm really enjoying it and plan to continue. But I don't love wearing a backpack...and I bet I'll like it less when it gets warmer. This Arkel Bug looks just about perfect for me. I'm wondering how having it on only one side of the bike affects your balance, though. Obviously it will depend on how much stuff I put in there.

While I do not have a bug, I frequently commute with one pannier. You may notice an extremely small difference in your balance. However, I find it so miniscule that it does not matter. The lovely wind around here does more to affect my balance than one pannier ever will.

I would assume the same would apply to the bug.

Cool, thanks for the reply (yes, me no like wind). Did I read in one of your posts that you have a 60 mile RT commute?? Where the heck are you going from Thornton??

Yes one pannier does not affect you at all. I'd recommend putting the pannier on the same side as the foot you remove when stopping at light. That is the only time I notice it and that was only the first 10 minutes I rode with it. After that it is no biggie. I just think it is easier to stop with the extra weight on the foot that is on the ground.

Does everyone else agree with this or is there a better method?

I place my solo pannier on the left side, so it blocks road spray from passing cars. Keeps the drive train slightly cleaner. But its frequently wet here, if your in a dry climate, put it on any side :)

I don't have the bug, but I commute with one T-42 on the left side. Even with the T-42 fully loaded, I don't even notice a balance difference when I'm riding. If I walk the bike or when I'm standing with the bike I notice a difference. I have to lean the bike a little toward the other side or it will pull over toward the bag. That is not a very big problem - just a slight adjustment.

I've actually scaled it back to 45 or 50 RT. 30 in the morning and 15-19 in the evening. The jump from 30 to 60 RT when RTD was on strike killed me. I should be back up to 60 in a month or two.
I ride from 120th and colorado to orchard and i-25

Where abouts do you ride?

I think on Arkel's site, they recommend the pannier on the street side. Dunno why...

I like mine on the Street side for sure... gives the cagers something more to look at, and there is reflective tape on the Bug also. I think someone said it makes the bicyclist more visable with it on the left. Who knows, but tis where I put it....