design-cycle

Hello all.
First of all I would just like to say thank you for providing a wealth of advice and information on this site, its a great reference for any cyclist.

My name is Rob Ellis and I am working on a final year design degree project relating to carrying luggage on bikes during long distance tours, with particular focus on cycle camping. It would be great to hear your experiences of the following points:
if you do not want to clog up the forum please feel free to email me at rob-ellis@hotmail.co.uk
Any advice you can offer will be very much appreciated:

Firstly what brand and type of panniers and racks (steel or alloy) are you using. Why did you choose these particular products?? Are you happy with them??

Also when camping over night (if you have done this), what do you do with the pannier bags, are they removed and taken into the tent?? Are the bags quick and easy to remove/replace or can they be troublesome?

Throughout your cycling experiences have you ever had any pannier racks or pannier bags fail on a ride?? I've heard about alloy pannier racks flexing and shearing from their fixings.

Finally if you have taken your bike on planes to tour abroad, how did you carry your luggage i.e. in the panniers or in an additional suitcase and the panniers stowed with the bike in the luggage hold??

Thanks again for your input
Kind regards
Rob Ellis

Cave

Have a look in the Touring forum, and do a forum search there. You'll find lots of information.

Also consider some of the ultralight gear-carrying solutions, again do a search in the touring forum.

Randochap

Check out my page on Bags & Racks

chewybrian 

I have a Topeak rack. I got it for the trunk bag system. The bag pops off easily. It also has roll down panier bags, flexible and convenient for commuting--perfect for stopping for groceries on the way home. They might be a bit small for camping, though. I am very happy with it.

https://www.topeak.com/products/Bags/MTXTrunkBagDXP

They also make a tent that goes over your bike: (never tried it)

https://www.topeak.com/products/Bike-Tent


I think this camping trailer is a bright concept, too, though I don't own it.

https://www.tonystrailers.com/nomad/

If you could lower the price a touch, and make it a bit more eye-catching, you'd really have something.

Hocam

First a bit of clarity, don't say alloy. Steel, brass, silver, gold are all alloys (you can't get pure silver or gold), so please say aluminum instead. If you're writing a paper it will make you sound a little more technical.

I use Tubus hollow steel racks both for durability and their amazing warranty; if their rack breaks they will replace it anywhere in the world via a courier. My panniers are Ortlieb and I'm very happy with them.

When camping the bags generally come into the tent with me, or stay closed up on the bike.

Carrying them off the bike would be the biggest improvement. Ortlieb makes a strap for this but it's still awkward. A backpack type system would be much better for airports and train stations, as well as around towns.