Panier Problems
 

Hi, Everyone.

I own a TREK Deluxe Plus Rear Trunk Bag panier that has held up for many years of use but is now showing that it needs to be repaired and/or replaced. Although it's in pretty good condition, the panier's nylon fabric is starting to come apart near the zippers at each compartment. For the time being, I will contact a sewing shop to find out if there's anything they can do but their work will only hold out temporarily.

As a matter of coincidence, I was given a new panier as a gift at Christmas. Unfortunately, it was not made to strap on a Mountain Rack. Thus, I had no choice but to return it to the store it came from. The store didn't have the type or model of panier I was looking for at the time. After going to three bicycle shops in two Maine cities, I returned to my apartment with only the panier I've had for so long and the money I was prepared to spend to replace it.

As I continue my search, I could use advice or suggestions from all of you out there on this matter. Feel free to PM me. Meanwhile, I hope to replace the one I currently have would be one with a new one or a similar one just like it. It has a large main compartment with side compartments. The side compartments would be large enough to hold larger pieces of mail or a folded wind jacket or other biking apparel for long rides. It doesn't need to be a TREK panier but needs to fit on a Mountain Rack.

Your imput is welcome.

Powerhouse

I just purchased the Trek Interchange panniers for my road bike to commute with. The have a large compartment and some smaller compartments to fit a jacket, etc. I've got a Trek Interchange rack to go with it, so not sure it would fit a mountain rack (whatever that is). I'm very happy with it. Good luck.

Check out Arkel.

I bought their smaller trunk rack, called the Tailrider, and the design, materials, and construction are outstanding.

I bought a Trek Interchange pannier set.

The first time I used them, they worked okay...a little snug on that bungie. My rear rack at the time was a Trek interchange rack, so it should all be within "standard" sizing.

I go to leave my destination...but them back on my bike, and POW! The bungie explodes out of the point where it is anchored to the bag. Now the pannier can't fully attach, and is basically irreparable.

No problem, the bike shop trades it without question. I'm very excited all over again, though a little miffed by my apparently defective first set. I get the new panniers home, and put them on my bike. 5 seconds later, as I'm walking away, I hear a SNAP!!! behind me, as the bungie comes explosively disconnected from the bag...again.

I took them back for a full refund, but before I did I went to Trek's website and wrote a scathing review. The review was erased and never posted. I e-mailed Trek to ask why, and I postulate in my e-mail that perhaps it is the policy of Trek, being a corporation concerned with profit before consumer education, to delete negative reviews...as those negative reviews, while honest, wouldn't be portraying the "proper" image.

A trek representative e-mails back to tell me that my hypothesis is not the case...that my review was deleted because it was "clearly inaccurate", since HE has the panniers and they work fine. I almost blew a gasket...if he wants to write a review, he can knock himself out, but this was MY review on MY purchase, and so far I had a 100% failure rate...for the exact same thing.

In more articulate words, I told him he could take his anecdotal evidence, and his dismissal of a valid customer observation and shove it, and I would make it a point to dissuade anyone from ever buying these bags, and for that matter Trek would never be a "first choice" company for me.

So, there's my review of the Interchange panniers. Maybe another Trek rep will come along and delete it here too...

I'm confused -- I have the Trek Interchange panniers and there is no bungie (?). It hooks at the top with two hooks and a snap lever and has the round screw thingie on the back that locks into the pannier on the back side near the bottom. What bungie are you referring to -- you sure you were hooking it up properly?

Sounds like the Trek bottom of the line basic pannier set. I went through 3 sets and finally gave up and rigged my own bungies on the last set and been using them ever since!:D They are really designed for a front rack, by the way!

What in God's name are you guys talking about? what is a bungie? The Trek Interchange system is certainly not bottom of the line. They don't come with any type of bungie cord to wrap around the rack, if that is what you mean. They are designed to easily and quickly clip on/off the rack in the back.

I dunno...F-16 pilots are always trying to bungee something somewhere...

Only beer bungie twahl...(best drinking game ever)

Perhaps I'm mistaken...maybe they weren't the "Interchange" panniers. They were Trek though, and the preceeding story was true.

And boy, was I mad.

You should be hoping that the crews working on your jet aren't playing drinking games any more.

The story is only true if you've properly identified, and properly used, the equipment in question. I'm not trying to rain on your parade or anything, I'm just sayin'....

+1 -- they weren't Interchange panniers. And most likely, the Trek guy deleted your post because is was horribly inaccurate like your rant on this post. Know the brand/model of the product before you go on a tirade.

Thank you for your suggestions and advice as my search goes on, everyone. I've been putting consideration into everything you have had to say.

Some of the packs/panniers that are currently made require a different type of rack that is sold separately. If possible, I hope to buy only a new pannier and not a new rack! I have what is now called a Mounted Rear Rack, made by TREK for mountain bicycles.

And so my search continues. I still welcome and value your suggestions and advice.

Powerhouse

Can you post a picture of this "mountain rack" ... I'm having trouble imagining why you're having so much difficulty finding panniers to fit it.

I also have a rack that was given the name "mountain bike rack" as opposed to a "road bike rack", despite the fact that the two of them looked almost identical, and I have put three different types of panniers on my rack with no problem at all.

You'll forgive me if nearly TWO YEARS have erased the perfect recollection of the product in question. AT THE TIME I had the panniers in hand, with model #. I looked that exact product up on their website, and posted a review specifically attached to THAT product in the comments/reviews section. So no, it wasn't inaccurate...at the time it was highly accurate and highly relevant. I now extend that Trek rep's attitude, as well as the quality of both of those bags to the rest of their products.

That was my experience. I realize that the Trek sycophants here will take great umbrage with this...oh well.

My previous post wasn't a rant. If you can't hear it, this one is.

If you keep accurate and obsessive memories of product info for something that you long ago washed your hands of in your brain for two years...then I suggest a couple of more hobbies. I have long since generalized to "Trek bags are garbage" and "Trek reps are jerks."

Whoah there fella. :) The point is that the bag in question isn't supposed to attach with bungees, and your review of the product seems to indicate that you attached it with bungees. Your complaint is that the bungees broke, so if we're reading you right, that's a failure in improper use, not in product quality.

And now you offer that your review is based on your more-than-likely failed memory.

I've never owned a Trek product, and I'm not defending this one. I'm saying that if the product was not mounted as intended, and you had a failure in mounting it, that it's not fair to bash the product, the manufacturer, or the manufacturer's rep.

Okay...since I evidently need to be precise, HERE are the bags I went through two of in approx 30 total minutes. (That's 10 seconds for the second set.)

The bungie is near the base. There is a ring that goes through it, and that ring loops around the bottom point on your rack.

They were mounted properly. They both completely sucked.

You are correct, they weren't the Interchange pannier. My apologies. However...

Doesn't change the fact that my experience with the Trek Basic Pannier, properly mounted, was terrible. My review on their website was very matter of fact, with little to no vitriol. I chronologically outlined exactly what happened, and explained that I would never recommend that bag to anyone.

This experience colored my opinion of the quality of all of their bags, and my experience with their custormer service colored my opinion of their regard for customers who have had dificulties.

To summarize:
Wrong name, different trek pannier.
Properly mounted.
Accurate summary.
Poor quality control.
Poor customer service.

To further summarize:

Trek Basic Pannier = garbage.

Trek customer service = arrogant.

Why should I believe that the Interchange Pannier wouldn't have a grotesque quality control flaw of its own? If it does, I certainly know how much Trek will actually care...

At least in my own, anecdotal experience.

But in the world of customer service, you lose customers one at a time like that.

yes, you need to be precise on the model when you're trashing it -- is that too much to ask? I'm not a Trek fan -- I've got the pannier that you initially and erroneously trashed -- I corrected you, no need to get all huffy.

Based on your logic, then I guess your erroneous initial post has pretty much colored any forthcoming opinion coming from you.