nekohime

Ok, so I'm sick of throwing my groceries in my fred-y milk crate because it's too small to carry them all and I end up having to hang some bags from the handlebars of my bike. I'm thinking of getting grocery panniers to complement the milk crate, but I'm worried about heel and road clearance. I have a 16" wheeled bike--are panniers a good idea for me?

Mr York

I used to have a folding bike. I had a plastic tub on the rack and never tried a pannier. I think the road clearance would work, but I really doubt you would have the heel clearance. When I went grocery shopping, my wife went along too and we could carry back about four bags worth, and we just went more often to pick up food that we couldn't carry all at once.

Have you considered any kind of bag for the handlebars or front wheel?

Spudmeister

They work with my 20" wheels...

nekohime

^^^ Judging from that pic, panniers would definitely NOT work w/ 16" wheels. Maybe front rack + another milk crate would work, but then there's the issue of added weight while commuting and carrying the bike up and down subway staircases...

Bacciagalupe

I found that panniers on my Dahon didn't quite work out well. They were small bags but still had ground clearance issues.

If your rack is high enough and you have heel clearance, it should be ok.

I wouldn't normally recommend this, but maybe a backpack is in order? Like one of these: https://www.ergon-bike.com/us/backpac...bss29gg25ehpf0

jur

You can take a look at Mrs J and my setup, see the Tassie tour linky in my sig.

Heel clearance was achieved by moving the panniers back as far as they would go. Both our racks are just plain old standard ones. My panniers have sloping front sides to help but Mrs J's panniers are actually meant for the front so they have straight up&down sides. Heel clearance was a problem for her which I solved by making small stainless steel plates which moved the bottom mounting point backwards and slightly downwards. This and putting the panniers right at the back solved the problem, and we toured Tasmania like that.

If the tour pics aren't clear enough say the word and I'll post a piccie of my solution.

-=(8)=-

I have bungied one of these to my rack when it rains, tilted horizontally and sans litter,
of course

This, and some panniers over top ?? No heel stike.......

nekohime

^^^ Aaaaaah, teh bf has a kitty, so we have kitty liter boxes. Hmmm...

youthcom

I use Arkel's Utility Basket Panniers on my regular sized bike, but it doesn't look like it'll work on the 20" Downtube with rack I just got. Heel strike is the main problem as I can't move the bags back far enough without compromising the bags' mounting stability. They also only sit maybe 6" off the ground so 16" would seem awfully close to the ground. I think it could work with a customized rack though.

Btw, someone into cycling & Japanese pop culture, a rare breed indeed.

fmattheus

Just like with full sized bikes. It depends on the geometry of that specific bike. This one for example is made with full panniers in mind.

Sammyboy

It seems like the best solution for panniers on small wheelers is to fit a rack from a full-size wheel bike. You do end up with the rack way up in the air, but it seems to have worked for a few here.

jur

nekohime

Ehehehe...I grew up cycling to and from school in Japan, so that's why.

Aaaah, I see what you mean about the rack, jur. But seeing as I'm an impoverished student with no money to buy a new rear rack but a surplus of kitty litter buckets, I'll try Lem's suggestion first.

Sammyboy

That's the first time I've seen your 20 in profile Jur - I love it! Looks almost military; jeep-like. It's got an SA8, right?

Mr. Smith

I use a SunLite Grocery Getter on my BF tikit (16" wheels) and it works just fine. It's actually designed to be a grocery bag, which is nicer than a bookbag-like pannier. I haven't had any issues with it. You can buy it on Bike Friday's site for $25. I'd say the rack height is more critical than the bag. On my tikit the rack they designed for it sticks up above the tire about 2" at the closest point. The rack extends from the fork to about 9" horiz in line with the frame. Find a rack that sticks up at least that high or modify yours and you should be fine. I'm hesitant to put a lot of can goods or a gallon of milk in it, but if you have a crate you should be fine.

https://store.bikefriday.com/product_...ducts_id=10431

cmcanulty

Or use a seatpost rack and clamp up high on seatpost. I use a 7.99 front rack from nashbar on my folder, hooks to vbrake bosses

jur

Thanks! SA8, yes, which is giving me uphill. More details to be posted in another thread later today...

Sammyboy

Interested to hear that. Got my eye on one for my Moulton Mini roadie-killer....

stevegor

The Wasp can be seen with front and rear panniers at www.flickr.com/photos/stevegor , click on "The Wasp's first tour" and check the pics with and without panniers using standard R-20 racks. No heel clearance problems and the front panniers sit high enough to avoid anything, but not to affect handling.


fmattheus,

that bikefriday is a piece of art...just beautiful

drechie

Hi there - I've been digging up old posts about installing a rear/front rack w/ panniers on a folding bike. I just got a downtube nova and want to add some more cargo room. Did you end up having success with a particular rack/pannier configuration on your bike? Thank you in advance

fietsbob

Kind of like 3rd post .. I have a Pair of Ortlieb Sport Packers on the front rack of my Bike-Friday-Pocket-Llama.
I added nylon webbing strips* to Join the 2 individual Bags so as to remain Paired together,
Handle webbing interwoven too
so I can take both off and they stay together.

*easy to do since the hardware is all screwed together, with special to Ortlieb Parts.

Brompton is also Great, 12/13 I got the Dry O bag for It, have a Touring Bags I bought First, they need and included a pull over rain cover.


But put a full height rack on the back and the panniers you use can be what ever you Like ,,
Da Hon/Tern Fold in half bikes can take any rear rack you can mount on there.





'/,

energyandair

On each of our Birdys I use a Xootr Crossrack, generally with a Crossrack bag or various other panniers
CrossRack Bike Rack Xootr Adult Kick & Push Scooters, Swift Folding Bike | Urban Transport
Add CrossRack Cargo Bag Xootr Adult Kick & Push Scooters, Swift Folding Bike | Urban Transport

and/or

A Sealline Urban Tote (small) which is totally waterproof, just about indestructible, and weights 354g (11.4oz) SealLine® Urban Tote? PVC-free

I've also used conventional panniers both on the front, and on a semi standard rear rack but for my use they were not as convenient.

feijai

I have a Bike Friday Tikit, so I understand your pain. But I have a solution for you: the Detours Teeco. This phenominal shopping bag pannier/backpack has a tough rubberized flat bottom and is very well made. it has just two flat clips which hang off of your rack, and it works really well on the Tikit's rack anyway. Unfortunately Detours no longer makes it. I see that it's still available here, but unfortunately not in the original black.

bhkyte

Does the op have a mezzo?
There are some options that may work. There is a company that makes a range of options with the same rack system that mezzo use. One of these is a pannier with a section cut out for heels. I have emailed the company if it fitted and got a silly answer about it might catch the floor on cornering. Check the mezzo thread. I haven't been brave enough or rich enought to try it.

washuai

Since I've got a 16" wheeler with a low back rack, I've been pondering what panniers will work, so I'd like to know, too.
@fietsbob or anyone with Ortlieb Sport Packers. a Pocket Llama & Nova have 20" wheels, though. Would these work or hang too low on a Mezzo rear rack?

I've been looking at Ortlieb medium office bag(s) or Ortlieb Bike Packer Plus. QL2 system, with the diagonal rack strut, I should be able to get out or way of heels? At least there's lot of retailers and LBS will order them, but they aren't cheap. Until my bike, myself and the bags are all in an LBS to figure out if we're a fit. Any other short panniers recommended for 16" wheels? Specifically panniers that could be on the bike along with the Mezzo commuter or trunk?

I'm probably just going to import from UK site the Mezzo commute bag for myself. It's cheaper than Ortlieb, even with shipping and pounds to dollars conversion. It's probably large enough for most shopping I'd do via bike. Regardless of my issues with my Klondike Maxpedition and having something on my back, it gets a lot of things done, for now.
Even when someone in the Mezzo thread is brave or rich enough to try the other company, I don't think it is in the US either?

For my needs, I'd really like an Ori 3way bag, but I have a Mezzo in the US, which means no Mezzo/Ori dealer.

I'm probably going to settle for some other handlebar solution, more likely involving Klickfix (which I wish I saw more than just online). Although there seems fewer US compatible bags\baskets. I want something I don't have to take off to fold, first.

I can't imagine not violating the bikes weight limit, with say Mezzo commuter bag, 2 panniers, & a front bag/basket loaded with purchases. Even if the bike held up, I don't see that working multimodal. The handlebar can stay up on the bike, while folded, but I'd have to mule my sling bag, the commuter & two panniers. I'd be a sitting duck for bold thieves.

My priority right now is black mkz ezy pedals, anyways, but I'm definitely keeping my eyes peeled for cargo solutions.

Detours Teeco is interesting, but I'm not feeling the grass. if I'm going to ebay gamble, I might as well try dealing with tabao agent, etc.
Seatpost racks are not Mezzo fold friendly.

Heh, I'm into cycling and Japanese culture and from Socal. I've never been to Japan and I'm not Asian, though.