In Defense of a Bag Nobody Likes Very Much
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 639
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 293 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 276 Times
in
189 Posts
In Defense of a Bag Nobody Likes Very Much
There's a bag design that gets a lot of flak. The best that gets said about it is something like, "They'll do OK, I guess, at least until you can get some real bags."
I am, of course, talking about the folding-pannier rack trunk bag.
One-a-deese:


No love. No respect, even. Jack of all trades, mediocre at everything. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
.
I respectfully dissent.
Because these bags are not, in fact, a jack of all trades. They are the master of one trade. The trade of living full-time on the rack of a sport-touring bike.
In this role, their lack of capacity isn't an issue, 'cuz they ain't on yer tourin' bike. The rack trunk holds everything you might want for a day ride. But if you ride past a cool store, or a winery / brewery / cheesery, or whatever, and you see something that you wanna take home, you pop out a pannier and shove it in. I can fit a couple of days worth of groceries in it, although frozen pizzas don't quite fit.
Empty, the weight is unnoticeable. The rig doesn't sway or hit the backs of your legs like a similar-size saddlebag might, especially if it's not attached to some kind of support. Which a lighter sport-touring rack does work well for, but the rack trunk draws much less attention to itself when it's not loaded up with stuff. I've had a traditional saddlebag, and I liked it a lot, and I want another one. But this one will spend much more time on the bike.
Sport-touring bikes are cool. They're even cooler with sport-touring bags. And I submit that the zip-out-pannier rack trunk is a great sport-touring bag.
--Shannon
I am, of course, talking about the folding-pannier rack trunk bag.
One-a-deese:


No love. No respect, even. Jack of all trades, mediocre at everything. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
.
I respectfully dissent.
Because these bags are not, in fact, a jack of all trades. They are the master of one trade. The trade of living full-time on the rack of a sport-touring bike.
In this role, their lack of capacity isn't an issue, 'cuz they ain't on yer tourin' bike. The rack trunk holds everything you might want for a day ride. But if you ride past a cool store, or a winery / brewery / cheesery, or whatever, and you see something that you wanna take home, you pop out a pannier and shove it in. I can fit a couple of days worth of groceries in it, although frozen pizzas don't quite fit.
Empty, the weight is unnoticeable. The rig doesn't sway or hit the backs of your legs like a similar-size saddlebag might, especially if it's not attached to some kind of support. Which a lighter sport-touring rack does work well for, but the rack trunk draws much less attention to itself when it's not loaded up with stuff. I've had a traditional saddlebag, and I liked it a lot, and I want another one. But this one will spend much more time on the bike.
Sport-touring bikes are cool. They're even cooler with sport-touring bags. And I submit that the zip-out-pannier rack trunk is a great sport-touring bag.
--Shannon
Likes For ShannonM:
#2
Senior Member
Who has the time or the inclination to give flak for the type of bag you have on your rack?
If anything, I would give you some flak on the dry rot in your fencing
If anything, I would give you some flak on the dry rot in your fencing

Likes For MarcusT:
#3
Member
I’ve used a similar case on the back of my Rock hopper for a few years, run what you brung, it’s your bike, who cares what others use, if it works for you, that’s the key!
Likes For VitSports6:
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 639
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 293 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 276 Times
in
189 Posts
Oh, I'm not worried about what people think of my bike! We've all got preferences, and we all have different ones, and we're all almost always right.
I just figured that these bags needed some promotion, 'cuz I think they're cool, and since they get dissed, I framed around that. Plus the sport-touring angle, which is another thing that I think is cool and deserves a little horn-tooting.
--Shannon
I just figured that these bags needed some promotion, 'cuz I think they're cool, and since they get dissed, I framed around that. Plus the sport-touring angle, which is another thing that I think is cool and deserves a little horn-tooting.
--Shannon
#5
Sniveling Weasel
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 811 Post(s)
Liked 1,416 Times
in
833 Posts
Sorry, but no horn tooting. We don’t toot horns. Scares the hell out of me when cars come up from behind and do that
. Nice bag tho.


__________________
Immoderate Cyclist “No regerts”
Immoderate Cyclist “No regerts”
#6
Senior Member
I cordially, and respectfully offer my perspective that, “looks do matter”. In this case it is a matter of style. Sure, the functionality you @ShannonM assert is valid, even persuasive. Like Bio-Pace chainring, fanny packs, sheep skin seat covers, and “extension / dual-pull / safety / suicide" brake levers, great ideas often fall out of style. Alas, were never in style.
Offered without prejudice, or judgement.🙂
Offered without prejudice, or judgement.🙂
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 639
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 293 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 276 Times
in
189 Posts
I cordially, and respectfully offer my perspective that, “looks do matter”. In this case it is a matter of style. Sure, the functionality you @ShannonM assert is valid, even persuasive. Like Bio-Pace chainring, fanny packs, sheep skin seat covers, and “extension / dual-pull / safety / suicide" brake levers, great ideas often fall out of style. Alas, were never in style.
Offered without prejudice, or judgement.🙂
Offered without prejudice, or judgement.🙂
Nor do I think the examples you cite are relevant to the merits of the folding-pannier rack trunk, as all of those things were functionally bogus and mostly just kinda sucked. In contrast, the folding-pannier rack trunk is most decidedly un-bogus, and does not suck. And even mine isn't what you'd really call ugly, even if it ain't good-lookin' neither.
I don't think anyone makes a blingy, Giles Berthoud-y one, but it'd be hella sweet if someone did, and if I could afford it.
--Shannon
Likes For ShannonM:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 3,111
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1119 Post(s)
Liked 989 Times
in
576 Posts
All of the cited examples are at least as functional and otherwise meritorious as the folding rack trunk; the only difference is that those examples, unlike the example of the folding bag, have been vilified, however unjustly, and then defended from time to time.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,163
Bikes: 1982 Bianchi Sport SX, Rayleigh Tamland 1, Rans V-Rex recumbent, Fuji MTB, 80's Cannondale MTB with BBSHD ebike motor
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 552 Post(s)
Liked 434 Times
in
287 Posts
I rode the GAP trail and my riding buddy had a set of those on his bike, Spent two days watching the side panniers flap around like a set of old man testicles and getting cut up by his tire. Finally just couldn't take it anymore, so when he stopped for a head break I cinched the side flaps up over the top with a web belt.
Their lack of popularity isn't due to looks, they just don't work very well.
Their lack of popularity isn't due to looks, they just don't work very well.
Likes For Pop N Wood:
#10
BIKE RIDE
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,368
Bikes: my very own customized GUNNAR CrossHairs
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 346 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times
in
103 Posts
- who has time for yard maintenance when there's roads to ride and trunks to fill!
I'm one of the hectors who would criticize the trunk-bag styling. I cannot point to why. The utility is obvious. Virtually no reduction in aerodynamics. I have a Jandd version that gets used for bike-camping occasionally.
My next long trek where I might need rain gear (or a stop at a brewery with an empty growler) - I will have to re-think my trunk!

cycling through headhunter country....
I'm one of the hectors who would criticize the trunk-bag styling. I cannot point to why. The utility is obvious. Virtually no reduction in aerodynamics. I have a Jandd version that gets used for bike-camping occasionally.
My next long trek where I might need rain gear (or a stop at a brewery with an empty growler) - I will have to re-think my trunk!

cycling through headhunter country....
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 33,751
Mentioned: 202 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15323 Post(s)
Liked 9,089 Times
in
4,491 Posts
I couldn’t care less one way or another.
Likes For BobbyG:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 33,751
Mentioned: 202 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15323 Post(s)
Liked 9,089 Times
in
4,491 Posts
#15
Senior Member
I have to say, I never knew that type of bag existed.
I have a trunk bag that lives on the rack on our tandem. I have regular rear panniers, and open basket-type panniers intended for groceries.
I like the looks of the bag you just showed. It would be more convenient for those trips on the tandem when not everything fits in the trunk bag (for example, a trip to a picnic spot; or a trip in cool weather when we'll need jackets after we stop pedaling, to walk around a farmer's market or street fair or some such). Putting on a full pannier is sometimes overkill, not to mention that putting on a pannier without removing the trunk bag can be a little awkward sometimes.
Thanks, I learned something today.
I have a trunk bag that lives on the rack on our tandem. I have regular rear panniers, and open basket-type panniers intended for groceries.
I like the looks of the bag you just showed. It would be more convenient for those trips on the tandem when not everything fits in the trunk bag (for example, a trip to a picnic spot; or a trip in cool weather when we'll need jackets after we stop pedaling, to walk around a farmer's market or street fair or some such). Putting on a full pannier is sometimes overkill, not to mention that putting on a pannier without removing the trunk bag can be a little awkward sometimes.
Thanks, I learned something today.
Last edited by noimagination; 10-02-20 at 07:28 AM.
Likes For noimagination:
#16
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,003
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '16 Motobecane Gran Premio Elite, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1459 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
801 Posts
"Igor, help me with the bags."
"Certainly. You take the blonde, and I'll take the one in the turban."
"Certainly. You take the blonde, and I'll take the one in the turban."
Last edited by Phil_gretz; 10-02-20 at 07:33 AM.
Likes For Phil_gretz:
Likes For I-Like-To-Bike:
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Central PA
Posts: 518
Bikes: Gary Fisher X-Caliber, Focus Arriba, Specialized Roubaix Expert
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 88 Post(s)
Liked 72 Times
in
47 Posts
I rode the GAP trail and my riding buddy had a set of those on his bike, Spent two days watching the side panniers flap around like a set of old man testicles and getting cut up by his tire. Finally just couldn't take it anymore, so when he stopped for a head break I cinched the side flaps up over the top with a web belt.
Their lack of popularity isn't due to looks, they just don't work very well.
Their lack of popularity isn't due to looks, they just don't work very well.
Apparently, though, Pandemic boredom has ramped up enough that people are now vigorously defending their cycling luggage from unseen attacks.

#19
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,003
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '16 Motobecane Gran Premio Elite, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1459 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
801 Posts
I think that one's luggage can be a reflection of one's personality...


Animal prints will be big in 2021, if I read the chicken bones correctly.


Animal prints will be big in 2021, if I read the chicken bones correctly.
Likes For Phil_gretz:
#20
Sniveling Weasel
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 811 Post(s)
Liked 1,416 Times
in
833 Posts
I rode the GAP trail and my riding buddy had a set of those on his bike, Spent two days watching the side panniers flap around like a set of old man testicles and getting cut up by his tire. Finally just couldn't take it anymore, so when he stopped for a head break I cinched the side flaps up over the top with a web belt.
Their lack of popularity isn't due to looks, they just don't work very well.
Their lack of popularity isn't due to looks, they just don't work very well.
__________________
Immoderate Cyclist “No regerts”
Immoderate Cyclist “No regerts”
#21
Señor Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 5,505
Bikes: Old school lightweights
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2287 Post(s)
Liked 2,923 Times
in
1,591 Posts
Trunk bags are rather hideous looking.
#22
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,364
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3000 Post(s)
Liked 2,420 Times
in
1,183 Posts
I have everything i need in this for my riding which ranges from 20-100 miles at a time.

I guess i don't have old man nut sack syndrome.
But if you're bikepacking... it's a different story.

I guess i don't have old man nut sack syndrome.
But if you're bikepacking... it's a different story.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 356
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 325 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 107 Times
in
70 Posts
I'm actually looking into getting one of those for commutes. I think they make a lot of sense for commuting, since the amount of work stuff I need to take home each day varies depending on current workload, season, weather, etc.
Likes For BoraxKid:
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 33,751
Mentioned: 202 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15323 Post(s)
Liked 9,089 Times
in
4,491 Posts
“But if you ride past a cool store, or a winery / brewery / cheesery, or whatever, and you see something that you wanna take home, you pop out a pannier and shove it in. I can fit a couple of days worth of groceries in it, although frozen pizzas don't quite fit.”
#25
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,364
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3000 Post(s)
Liked 2,420 Times
in
1,183 Posts
Her bag has other uses besides bikepacking:
“But if you ride past a cool store, or a winery / brewery / cheesery, or whatever, and you see something that you wanna take home, you pop out a pannier and shove it in. I can fit a couple of days worth of groceries in it, although frozen pizzas don't quite fit.”
“But if you ride past a cool store, or a winery / brewery / cheesery, or whatever, and you see something that you wanna take home, you pop out a pannier and shove it in. I can fit a couple of days worth of groceries in it, although frozen pizzas don't quite fit.”