I think, although I haven't done any real comparison, that the Super Tourist rack puts the panniers further back than the previous Topeak rack I had. Also, keep in mind that on many panniers you can move the mounting mechanism/hooks by a few cm, that may solve the heel strike. I've done it to my Axiom touring panniers.

Would it make that much difference if the rack was few cm narrower? I really doubt that the extra width of the rack would matter. So far I had no issues riding with my panniers in NYC traffic, and my panniers are usually stuffed and I do have a shortened handlebar. And I like how the rack keeps my panniers away from my disc brakes and wheels. But I don't squeeze that tightly between cars. I know some people do, but then get a backpack or messenger bag IMHO.

I could but if the rack doesn't fit that well I'll be stuck with it or I'll have to pay a lot to send it back :(

A word on waterproof panniers. I don't know exactly what Arkel had to say about waterproof panniers, but for commuting and short errands they work well. I have a set of Axiom waterproof panniers and I don't need to worry about forgetting the covers or having to pull over in traffic to put the covers on.

For longer use, however, like touring I wouldn't use them. Hot weather, ouch :( They're fine up to like 1h maybe and then they get really hot inside, and outside too btw, there is no ventilation at all.

I have a tubus rack, and have used it for commuting daily for over 4 years now - it works great. There is a second set of rails below the deck which helps to lower the centre of gravity of your load. The fittings are fairly adjustable, and should be able to mount to pretty much any bike with the proper braze-ons. I think that the Kona JTS has braze-ons for a rack.

I use several different panniers for different things. The most common one that I use is an Arkel BUG. The Arkel BUG can be worn as a backpack (it has straps that fold up inside), but I rarely do that. It usually carries my work clothes, lunch and misc other stuff. I also have an Arkel briefcase pannier which I use when I am bringing work home with myself. And others that are used less often.

Here is what Arkel say about waterproof bags, they're not dismissing them but they do point out that condensation can be an issue and that would leave the bag's contents damp, something I hadn't thought of when considering the Ortlieb Back Rollers or Vario bags.

I believe the mentioned Racktime AdItt is a clone of that rack you have, only made of aluminum and costing half of the Tubus version. Racktime is somehow related to Tubus.

The Topeak Supertourist also has the lower rail. That doesn't only lower the center of gravity but it frees up the top of the rack for other cargo while allowing access to the panniers.

The steel racks are really targeted at hard core touring cyclists who carry a lot of weight and who might find themselves far from civilization and steel frames and racks can be welded almost anywhere, aluminum can't. For a commuter there is really no reason to pay twice for a steel rack. I can't imagine a commuter breaking an aluminum rack. I'd spend the difference on better lights or tires.

I toured with the Topeak rack, carried about 50lbs. I broke one rear eyelet on a steel frame but not the rack :)

The non-disc rack is 6cm narrower which is not insignificant, but I see your point about the width of gaps in traffic which are probably wider than I think, probably way more than the bike's extremities, otherwise I probably wouldn't even try to squeeze through.

I've ordered the Super Tourist DX rack which I'll try on my bike - hopefully the frame won't interfere with the mudguard struts, but if it does, then I'll get the disc version of the same rack and use that.

I'm avoiding a messenger bag or backpack because of the sweaty-back-syndrome.

Thanks for all your feedback and advice.

Yeah, I don't like backpacks for the same reason. As long as you have two sets of mounting holes/eyelets on the rear dropout you should be able to use both mudguards - fenders in USA :) - and the rack.

If not: on one bike I had only one set of holes so I used small p-clips to attach the mudguards' struts to the rack itself. It worked, and the panniers covered the ugly hack anyway!

Sorry. I'm too lazy to read through these 3 pages to see if anybody's suggested this yet. Arkel's Switchback sounds like it's what you're looking for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m9C_7DVAYQ

I use a Tubus Ergo rack and Lone Peak P-150 panniers and they're great, if either of those interest you. As far as the Ergo not being stainless, it is powdercoated, so instead of lasting forever it should last almost forever!

The switchback is not waterproof. 99.9% of the time I'm a fair weather rider, so I have the luxury of staying away from the potentially musty/moldy waterproof bag situation. My cell phone, camera and GPS all have Ziploc bags ready for them if it's ever needed, water problem solved. Happy gear shopping!

It can, especially with racktop trunks that rely on a set of 4 velcro straps to hold them in position. As you make the rack narrower, then you have to eat that up with the straps. You can run out of strap in a hurry because it's a double there and back sort of thing. Arkel, with their Tailrider (neat bag) will make those straps longer if you tell them. With some of the Tubus racks, the really narrow ones, you also don't have much of a base to hold a rack trunk either.

That's what appealled to me about the Racktime Addit, it was wide enough but not too wide and it works great with both an Arkel Bug (on either the top or bottom rail) and the Tailrider. What's nice about the bottom rail is that if lets a rack trunk were really well with a pannier or backpack/pannier.

J.

That wasn't the point :D The point was whether a few cm would make a difference in the overall bike width when squeezing through traffic.

LOL

Duh.

J.

You are making this a lot more difficult than it needs to be. Don't over think it. The rack will fit, and shipping from the UK to Germany isn't expensive if for some bizarre reason you have a problem.

I've tried a few racks in a local bike shop and they interfered with the rear mudguard struts to the extent that I'd have to choose between the mudguards and rear rack, so my choice of rack needs to take that into account. The RackTime AddIt looks like an awesome rack so I'll do some further checking before I order it.

Do you recommend any German retailers of RackTime?

I'm grateful for the information though ;)

Thanks, but it's too small I think - I've pretty much decided to go for the Arkel Bug, despite it being very expensive here in the UK, but as I'll be using it every day it's hopefully a worthwhile investment.

RackTime and Tubus are the same company, with Tubus supplying the hardcore-touring upper-end of the market with steel racks and RackTime supplying the mid-range market with alu racks. Just a shame that no-one sells them in the UK.

Simply bend the mudguard struts to fit.

I've used this company a lot.
http://www.bike-components.de/advanc...words=racktime

I'm thinking of that combination of AddIt and Bug myself - I've just bought a Topeak Super Tourist DX but found that it's quite wide and interferes with the u-lock carrier on the frame and makes the cantilever brakes awkward to get to, so I'm less keen on that. I can order the Addit from a website in Germany so I think I'll do that and give it a go - the narrower width, the lower hanging rail and the 30kg weight limit are all pluses over the Topeak rack.

I'm now using Racktime rear & front racks, They work pretty well imo. :)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S...y%25252005.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-p...y%25252006.JPG

That's exactly why I bought it and how it works. The Topeak stuff is good, but it is not nearly as trim as the Addit. Also, while I have some of the Topeak bags that lock onto the rack and they are nice, they are also heavy.

What's I'm considering is getting the adaptor from Racktime that you can then use to modify other rack packs and make them snap onto the back of the Addit too. That would give me the best of both.

J.

Nice pics and nice gear - is that a Sutra?

Yes it is, Kona Sutra 2008.:D

Agree with AdamDZ. The super strong racks are for people who plan to ride to Tierra Del Fuego on rough roads with 60 lbs of camping gear. For commuting, you don't need anything that strong. A basic aluminum rack will last for years. If your bike has disc brakes, that will complicate things a little, but there are special racks made for that.