FlatlanderIA

Hey All,

I'm just about to commit to commuting 12 mi each way to work. I'm an experienced road cyclist, but haven't had much experience commuting for work. I've got a Surly crosscheck, fenders, 28mm gatorskins, etc. I wanted advice from you experts for the following:

-rack/panniers: advise as to style or brands? I'm not afraid to buy quality... i want something waterproof and made in the US if possible. Trying to figure out if my 15.4'' MacBook Pro and small work stuff can fit into panniers, or will i just have to keep it on my back in my messenger bag?

Cheers!

Tim

M. Rhoten

Two brands people seem to like around here are Ortlieb and Arkel. They are on the expensive side, but definitely high quality stuff. I have a relatively inexpensive waterproof pannier from MEC, and it works great for me. I still covet the Arkel Bug though!

There are plenty of panniers out there big enough for a mid-sized laptop like that. Some touring cyclists carry an immense amount of stuff.

noteon 

For a long time, I used a Jandd "computer adaptable pack" suspended in one of their commuter panniers. I haven't owned any other brand of pannier, so I can't say how they stack up against the Ortliebs or Arkels, but I can say the laptop went lots of miles without any problems.

ok_commuter

Ask me in several months. I just got Ortlieb Back Roller Classics and I intend to occasionally put the sleeve on my powermac g4 and toss it in there with the rest of my stuff. We'll see...

Jaeger

The Arkel Bug would be a good choice. It's not completely waterproof but you can get a waterproof liner for it, and you can get a laptop pouch to hold a laptop more securely. Personally, I carry my laptop without those accessories and haven't had a problem.

The Bug is nice because it also has straps to carry it as a backpack.

bipedfred

I carry my Laptop and work clothes (biz-cas) in an Arkel Commuter. I'm not too concerned about water-proofness because the Arkels have nicely sealed zippers and the fabric will not soak through in a brief shower. They make a rain cover for the bag but I haven't bought one yet since I don't expect to do much rain riding.

I just mounted a single Topeak Dry bag for my other-side, stay-on-the-big pannier for cables for carrying lunch, misc lock cables, straps, groceries, etc. This bag is "waterproof" and is very plasticy but it has compression straps to shrink it down when not filled so I think it will do the job.

Most of the super-duper water proof bags I looked at, including the Topeak, have roll top closures which are not nearly as convenient as a zipper top for office type commuting, imho.

Another thing about bags -- if you plan on using one like a briefcase then you will probably be mounting-dismounting it often. How well that works will depend on how well your bag mates up to your rack (snicker). Try it before you buy it, if possible.

Javan

I use the Topeak Trunk, that slides and snaps into place on it's rack. It has the expandable panniers as well. For the laptop, I just carry that in a small padded back pack, but then again, my commute is only 4.5 miles. When I was commuting 11 miles one way, there were a few times I would put the LT in a side pannier, but I was always very nervous about that, so I started to use the back pack. I have also just the laptop bag itself, worn like a messenger bag. If my load is real small (just a sandwich and snacks) I just stuff them into my jersey pockets.

Scummer

I use Ortlieb Classic Roller panniers. Had them for over 15 years. But they are made in Germany, not in the US if that is a criteria to you.

m_yates

My panniers aren't waterproof, but I use this for my laptop:

I won't win style points, but it works!

maoglone

I have a pair of Axiom Typhoon panniers. They say "waterproof" on the bag, are made primarily of a plasticky sort of material, and nothing has ever gotten wet inside, even during rides in torrential rain, which I've made somewhat regularly this year. These get the job done, and you can definitely fit a laptop, though I'd wrap mine in my work clothes just to be safe.

You can see 'em here: https://www.axiomgear.com/product/bag...uct.php?id=406

devildogmech

Milkcrate!!!!

hankbrandenburg

I use the Arkel commuter - it has a laptop carrier in it and the rain cover works great.

climbhoser

Y'know, nice racks are nice, but IMHO for general commuting duty, as long as you're not weighting them to the max, there are some more affordable ones that work just fine.

I have a Blackburn EX-1 rack because it came with the child seat I bought, and it's been on my Cross Check for many, many, many miles. It's tough and works well.

I have been through a few incarnations of panniers, but finally settled on the Seattle Sports Rain Riders. They're over $100 for the pair, but well worth it. They are waterproof and do really well with my rack providing ample, ample heel clearance.

Yeah, they're roll top, but I honestly couldn't care less about that.

Bike4More

I have axiom products. The axiom streamliner road rack will fit any road bike with skewers and a rear brake. I bought it so it could fit on multiple bikes. It also moves the mounting position of the pannier bags bag a few inches for more heel clearance. $30 or so.

AndrewP

I switched from panniers to a trunk bag so I dont get tempted to overload. Dont carry the computer, just carry your files on a SD card. Keep shoes, towel, shampoo, work clothes and lock at work. Choose a route with the minimum intersections where you have to interrupt your pedaling rhythm.

MichaelW

The Blackburn style is fine except that it lacks the rear bracket for a reflectro/lamp. This is a really good location for battery or dynamo-powered lamps. My Blackburn-a-like copies are cheaply made to a great design. Thekey is the triangulation of the rear stays (they tilt inwards)

If you have a shackle/D-lock and need a place to stash it, the top of a rack is good. You need a bungie chord and a rack with a raised loop at the front end (like pic above).

If you have floppy panniers you need a rear vertical stay with a dogleg bend. Better panniers can cope without this extra suppport
Commuter racks rarely get overloaded so expedition-grade racks are overkill.

Go for a pannier with a modern locking, quick-release; on no account use old fashioned hook and elastic: they take longer to fit and remove and can fall off over a bump and tangle in your wheel.
Be aware of heel clearance: if this is tight you need either a longer rack or a pannier with an angled front edge (ie heel cutout).

tate65

Emergency stop locations, See my thread. At 6am where can you divert should the need arrive.

beerfilter

Be sure to wave back to freds. It's a whole new world.

modernjess

+1 - Arkel commuter is impossibly good for carrying a computer. Not waterproof per se, the rain cover works, or a plastic bag over your laptop works perfectly too. Plenty of room for a change of clothes and a lunch. and misc crap.

Bullet proof, heavy duty stuff. Worth the money no doubt. 2 years on mine, still looks and performs brand new.

FlatlanderIA

Thanks guys.. I think I'd like something totally waterproof and I like the design of the Ortlieb roller classics. How inferior do you feel the bungee hook attachment system of the Axioms is of the Ortlieb system? Anyone ever lost a bag with the bungee system?

FlatlanderIA

Also, is the non-rolltop any less watertight, it seems it would be easy to get in and out of... but what's the disadvantage?

Nobodyetal

I got the Ortleib Bike Packers Plus (the non-roll-top) about a week ago and I freaking love them.
I was surprised to find they actually have a pocket on the inside where my laptop fits snugly.
As far as less watertight, they have two cinch cords on the top and then a watertight flap that goes down over it. Seems fine, not sure what the disadvantage would be.

To be fair, I haven't actually ridden them in the monsoon...yet. They also hold a ton of stuff (lunchbox, clothes, laptop auxilliaries, laptop all fit in one pannier) and the attachment system feels completely bomb-proof.

Granted I haven't tested them over more than a week or two but they beat the heck out of my old milk crate. ;-)

Nobody, et al.
Acoustic Music for an Electronic World
https://www.nobodyetal.com

m_yates

My bags are no longer manufactured, but they use the bungee attachment. Probably if I was going to go with a new set, I would get a locking attachment. There is a slight risk of the bungee strap getting tangled in your wheel. I recently saw a post here where a guy crashed because a strap from the pannier wrapped around his hub and caused the wheel to lock up. That said, I have put 1050 miles on my panniers with no problems except one time where the bag popped off on VERY rough terrain through a construction site. No damage was done though. I just pulled over and reattached the bag.

climbhoser

The Ortlieb system is FAR superior, and well worth it.

The Seattle Sports Rain Rider I mentioned are based on the design of the Ortlieb. I HAVE ridden them in a monsoon and they are bombproof and totally waterproof. They have a similar design to Ortliebs.


Is there a problem with the Planet Bike Super Flash on the seatpost?

FlatlanderIA

nobodyetal, what make/size laptop do you have in there?