Hello folks,

I have been commuting for a bit (16 miles, open farmlands with hills) on my Trek Madone with a backpack 3-4 days per week. I am a high school teacher and I have been able to manage not bringing the work home so I have been able to travel lite, however considering that I have to leave my house at 5:15 am in order to get there early enough to do this, as well as the realization that I really would like something a bit sturdier I have been thinking about a new ride.

However, the stars and moon have apparently aligned in a manner that I was not expecting and my wife has given the thumbs up to a new 2012 Caad10 that should be here is a week or so. This is primarily for commuting (90%) with the idea that I would torture myself if the odd cross race this winter (10%). I am still going to have my Madone for regular road riding.

With all this said, I am seeking input for how best to set up the bike for commuting, primarily in the rack / pannier department. I have a great light and plenty of all weather gear that I have been using, however I just do not know enough about the racks / panniers to make a very educated decision. I have done a search and depending on the search string would come up with SO much or so little as to be ineffective.


So. What can you guys tell a backpack rider about a GOOD / GREAT set of racks to change my style of commuting. Cost is not a huge concern, however quality and construction is. Also, what makes a good pannier? My bike stays with me in my classroom during the day so being exposed to weather attached to a rack is not a concern. I guess I am also going to have to come to the realization that my "bat out of hell" riding approach to my commutes since in my mind I am simply on a road bike will likeldrop in overall average speed... (more psycological than anything I guess) so whatever route I go I am still looking to keep the bike as "lively" as possible.

Andrew



now.... if I can only figure out why my wife did not argue with me over buying a new bike....

Ohhhhh boy. You expect us to help reduce the confusion? You're so naive. :-)

Here's what works for me: a Blackburn Expedition rack and a set of Racktime panniers. They're made by Orlieb but aren't waterproof, and hence don't cost a premium. They do have a built-in rain cover though for the times when the weatherdudes get a forecast wrong and I get caught. The mounting system is robust and locks nicely to the rack, and the back support is stiff enough so there's no worry of a pannier flexing into the spokes. There's a nice little pocket on top I use for the padlock for bike lockers at work, and my entry card.

For me, this combo provides probably the best value for my half century commute.

[QUOTE=MNBikeCommuter;13139973]Ohhhhh boy. You expect us to help reduce the confusion? You're so naive. :-)QUOTE]

+1 and counting...

What I have is a Delta Universal Mega Rack w/Axiom expandable mtn panniers. They're not wp, so I wped them myself. Triple coated them inside and out w/Thompson's Watersealer. Used a 3" oil brush. Paid particular attention to the seams and zippered areas. Also, I wrap anything I carry in either plastic grocery bags or kitchen trashbags because water is relentless and sneaky. Ortlieb Classic panniers are probably better, but cost alot. This was my 'redneck' option.

My routine consists of carrying a weeks worth of clothes into work on Mondays w/my 'full kit' multi-geared CX bike w/a trunkbag, panniers, etc. as described above. Then the rest of the week I ride a fixed-gear conversion w/a seatpost rack/trunkbag combo that can fit empty food containers and soiled work clothes. It's light, fast and low maintenance. Plus, it's a much better workout as my commute is 41.2 miles rt w/a 500 ft elevation climb on the homeward leg. The last 6 miles is 450 ft.

Also, I keep extra clothes and a full compliment of personal items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, deo, witch hazel, medicated talc(Gold Bond), towel, facecloth and a dozen or so Clif bars. My mantra for cycle-commuting is 'Never commute in one's work clothes or work in one's commuting clothes'.

Btw, I roll all my shirts and shorts(I do warehouse work) and then unroll them upon arrival and store them in a box. I'm able to change in a restroom w/a doorlock to avoid being compromised. Anyway, Nashbar and Performance both have a clothesbag type pannier that folds over a given rack. They're the same item w/different names and neither are waterproof. Sometimes, they're on sale for as little as 50.00US. And you can try the Thompson's 'redneck' method. It does work. As you're a teacher and may be required to wear suit jackets, etc. this may be a better option in terms of a clothing transport item.

All the best and thank you for your work in educating the next generation. It can be a thankless role at times. My sister's a math teacher in Philly...calculus to AT students in the inner city. My favorite movie is 'Stand And Deliver' because it reminds me of her.

I'm one of the many happy Nashbar ATB pannier users. I use a garbage bag liner to keep things dry incase I'm caught in the rain, and can get lunch, shirt, socks and pants all rolled up (well, not the lunch) in 1 with room to spare for an extra layer or 2.

If you want to keep the ride lively, then forego the rack and pannier route. Instead, opt for the saddlebag of your choice from Carradice.

I too ride my commute in "bat out of hell" mode like a roadie. Having a load in the panniers does not necessarily mean losing speed or zippiness. Except in stiff headwinds, and then it just makes you stronger for other rides.

I've found nirvana with Tubus racks. What I always thought was pannier sway in the back, turned out of be rack sway instead. I never knew until I switched to a Tubus. The extra rigidity is noticeable.

Pannier choice is largely a matter of personal preference. Some folks like big empty space, others prefer many smaller compartments. Let your backpack usage be your guide.

I don't tote many folders or papers, so the big empty space kind of bag is my preference. I like my pair of Ortleib Bike Packer Plus panniers. They're designed as front panniers for touring. I mount them on the back and find their smaller size to be perfect for commuting.

My guess is that you might be well served by one of the office commuter panniers. (like the Ortlieb Office Bag or Arkel Breifcase).

Then again as a longtime backpack user, you may prefer one of the backpack panniers. Arkel makes three different backpack panniers. There are others around too.

Or you may end up with a mismatched set--one with compartments to keep papers straight, and another with big empty space to hold food, clothes or shoes and stuff.

You guys are great so far and have given me a lot to think about...


As far as suit jacket... I work with at-risk kids in an alternative school. While I try to wear a dress shirt and tie each day, its not a requirement since I am liekly on most days to find myself doing at least partial PT with the kids which involves push-ups, sit-ups, etc. (theyhave a hard time refusing to do them if you are doing the exercises with them). However I do like the "look" of authority that a professional dress gives. I do like the big empty space discriptions from above. We have fairly mild weather here in the winter and I have lots of drybags from whitewater kayaking if I were to need them.

I will still need to drive in at least one day per week as I have to drive to the high school to get lab chemicals (I teach biology, chemistry, physical science, and environmental science) so I will be able to swap out clothing there. I also forgot to mention that I have access to showers in the locker room.


Again, thanks for all the leads guys...they are helping me out greatly.

If you're used to using a backpack currently & it's working for you, another alternative is to strap the backpack to a rear rack. I use a Mountain Hardwear pack strapped down with Surly Junk Straps. Works great for me and it's great for once I get off the bike as well. As your bike will be with you all the way into the classroom, that may not be as big of a concern.

I use a Topeak Navigator rack and a milk crate. As for in the winter? Haven't gotten there yet, I'm still new to cycling, I started early in the summer.

If you want really high quality racks, check out Tubus https://www.tubus.com/
They make very strong and stiff racks that are quite light at the same time. Great warranty too, but pricey. (strong, light, cheap - pick any two, as the saying goes).
Consider the Tubus Fly or the titanium Tubus Airy for lightweight, minimalist, high quality racks.

A good commuting pannier is one that suits the purpose. However, there are some generalized traits that are worth looking for; a good attachment system that holds the pannier securely while being easy to get on and off. For me that means no "hooks and bungee cords", but something like Ortlieb's QL systems or Rixen&Kaul.

A stiff back side so the panniers can't swing into the spoke.

Zippers tend to die by frequent use and abuse, so straps generally means a more durable design. Zippers are also almost impossible to make waterproof.

Personally I would never go back to a pannier that requires rain covers. Rain covers aren't really that effective, since the wind speed makes the water creep unto the inside of the cover and then over to the pannier. Rain covers can become quite filthy and are not nice to deal with after the ride (you really can't avoid taking the cover off). A pannier that is waterproof because its outer shell is water repellent, is not only the the best way to avoid damp papers and clothes inside the pannier, but also makes it easy to clean and dry the pannier.

Ortlieb makes really good panniers and it is worth checking out their range of panniers like the Office-Bag L with QL3 mounting, or their Back-Rollers or Bike-Packer series.

The competition is stiff, so there are several other good brands out there depending of your needs and like of looks. Personally, however, I think Ortlieb makes the best stuff. Even their competitors seem to think so too, since most pannier makers now makes clones of the original Ortlieb Back-Roller and its "Dry Bag" system, or clone the Ortlieb QL mounting system in some way or another.

--
Regards

Seconding Carradice bag. Got a Barley on my roadbike which is just big enough for lunch and some stuff, and capacity can be doubled by stuffing items into grocery sacks and attaching to outside bag w/ bungee net. Shouldnt even have to do this if you get one of their bigger bags, and purchased from Wiggle the prices are competitive with the pannier options.

Thought about that, I am currently using a dueter backpack and it is pretty compact. I would like to be able to carry student papers or the odd text home with me and my current pack does not seem big enough...especially if I strap it down to something. However its something to certainly consider.

Whatever you do, don't waste money on a seat post rack....

Unless it's from Arkel...

True..... But $90 seems like a lot of money to pay for a rack. I went to my LBS and picked up a nice frame mounted sun-lite rack, for $25 installed. kyio

Funny you should say that. I was just looking at the Arkel rack you linked to and the Trailrider truck bag....

I recommend a Topeak Super Tourist Rack and a set of Ortlieb panniers in whatever 'flavor' you prefer.

You mean the Tailrider? BF user tsl has one. And let's just say if I had the $$, I would as well.