Put the rack on the front,your heels won't hit that......

I have a Timuk2 messenger bag , when worn riding the Bike
I have the strap crossing my chest from left shoulder to right Hip..

left-handers may want the opposite.. It's about digging stuff out of the bag
without taking it off..\


Maybe you Just need to Fred-up, and add a mirror to see behind you?

Point out one or more that would work with my bike that a) doesn't cost too much or b) block my bar mounted light, and I'll consider it.

This should do. Best bicycle mirror yet made.


https://www.amazon.com/Mirrycle-MTB-M...Bar+end+mirror

no1- I have loosely followed your plight regarding this "heel strike" issue. Looking at the geometry of your bike (kona smoke?) it has 45cm chain stays - I ride a "touring" frame with 45.5cm chain stays and have never once had an issue with heel strike on the panniers. Even the ever respected long haul trucker has 46cm stays.

Do you have gargantuan feet?

^^ Already got one in the parts bin. Took it off because a) it doesn't play well with the bar ends, b) no matter how much I tighten it down, it doesn't stay put, and c) a quick, cursory glance doesn't cut it- I have to actively take my eyes off of what is front of me and actually study the mirror to make out what I'm seeing.

By doing a head turn, with my limited visual field, I'm using my ears as much as the eyes.

My Kona Smoke has chain stays measured at 16.3" from bottom bracket shell to the rear drop out. The rack has a platform length of 12". I wear size 10.5 or 11, depending.

You can put any rack you want/afford on the front,as long as it's not a carbon fork.

It doesn't HAVE to have brazeons and mid fork eyelets to mount a front rack securely,though your bike looks like it has eyelets for the fenders,so it should no problem to run a front rack if you wish to try.

My old touring bike had no mid fork mounts and it went all over the U.S. for 30 years.If fact my new touring bike has no mid fork mounts.

When I run only 2 panniers,I like using the fronts alone.The bike handles better for me that way.Most people seem to like rears only,they like a light steering I guess.