New Ortlieb Back-Roller Design-Editons, with cool graphics with a Splash
 

My girlfriend just got here Ortlieb Back-Roller Design-Editons, Splash.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6...593e3907_z.jpg

To read the full article with Photos check it out on my blog HERE.
To read the full article with Photos check it out on my blog HERE.

Here is an image of the others, Wave, Dots, and Splash in all their colors.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6...146e5c6f_z.jpg

I always judge a cycle tourer by their panniers and not their bike. I would give a rider with these new panniers the same respect that I give to the driver of a jacked-up Ford F-150.

Or am I being a little harsh?

no, but it does sound judgemental.

uh, yeah, ya think?

This was on my girlfriend's first 2day tour over the summer. Internal Gear 3speed, not built for touring, with these cheap panniers, made it over this hill.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6099/6...5c281910_m.jpg http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6238/6...ca599ea7_m.jpg

I don't really understand your statement.
I do think giving out respect based on your opinion of someone's gear is a little misguided.

So, OP, I notice you started 2 threads pretty much about the exact same thing, your new panniers, with links all over to your blog. Why is that? Is there a commercial purpose?

You got him, Valygrl. Trolling for hits on his blog.....

I think the meaning of the word 'review' is lost on the interwebz.

I judge a cycle tourer by their ability to have a good time regardless of their equipment. A couple years ago I talked to an 85 year old cycle tourer with a lot more miles of experience than I had, yet he was using steel wire baskets instead of panniers on his really cheap bike. He was having a great time. I hope I can have as good a time touring when I am 85 as he was having.

I admit that I am judgemental; when you are out on the road with a bicycle in strange places you have to judge the people and the situation instantly. I've never yet met a cycle-tourer who didn't look at someone else's set-up and make a judgement on it, instantly. Even when in "plain-clothes"; who doesn't look at a passing touring bike and think: "Nice" or "Dunno about that."********************?
I think the comparison with the F-150 is fair. The basic Ford Pick-up truck is a good work-horse that does the job it was built to do. Jacking it up adds nothing. The same can be said for 40 litre Back Rollers.

we are talking about bike bags here, I mean...they are just bike bags.
to put stuff in
in this case, keeping them dry
and also in this case, with a little extra colour and graphics design thrown in

while on the car metaphor, remember when the Ford Model T came in any colour you wanted, except it had to be black? Im just poking fun at you Lou, but your statement makes me think that you would have been scandalized by other colours being available for cars.

The designer of the obligatory Chairman Mao uniform probably felt the same way too.

;-)

well, you did *ask* "Or am I being a little harsh." so you are inviting comment on your judgment, surprise surprise, you got some!

I don't really get why you have to judge everyone you see instantly, based on their equipment. You could be missing meeting a lot of interesting people that way. By making snap judgements you're just reducing your ability to experience anything in the world other than what you expect.

ANyway, I like the white ones with the grey dots, but I don't need panniers right now.

djb, You are right. This is a serious matter.
Ford Model T: black
Ferrari : red
Kawasaki : green
Bugatti : blue
Ortiebs : red.
Red Ortieb Back-Rollers are the one iconic item in the world of cycle-touring and my utmost respect goes to the rider with the old ones that have the wire hook and elastic strap securing device.

""""I don't really get why you have to judge everyone you see instantly, based on their equipment. You could be missing meeting a lot of interesting people that way. By making snap judgements you're just reducing your ability to experience anything in the world other than what you expect.""""

Judging some one is a security thing with me; I need to know who I can trust and of whom I must be wary. I never let it stop me doing something or meeting someone. I live my life on the edge...............the edge of the road where the bikes go.

No offense, but though I didn't have a jacked up F-150, I did do a conservative lift on a Dodge so I could put 35-12.50 tires on it. It wasn't jacked up to the sky, and it did serve a purpose. I was doing outdoor photography and used it off road extensively and without the lift I bottomed out often. The lift allowed larger tires allowing me a greater angle of attack so my bumper wouldn't hit on the beginning of a steep incline. It also gave me better clearance while crossing streams. The better suspension gave me greater stability. And before you make further assumptions, I wasn't out there throwing mud and spinning my wheels, my objective was to get where I needed to go with minimal impact on the environment. That means slow going and staying on trails whenever possible, and no wheel spin. Once again, I only went four inches and had to cut the front fender to allow the tires to fit, but it all worked well and served a purpose. It depends on your intended purpose. It also depends on what you like.

Yes, you are judgmental. You obviously do not take into account people's personal tastes, of even financial situation. By your measure people should all have basic black cars with no chrome or other adornments. You may wish to become Amish.

If Ortlieb can make a bag that can bring a smile to the face of the person using them, then great. These may appeal more to a woman which could help get more involved in the sport. I say that's great. They may also appeal to a man who just wants to have something with a little color that is a bit different. Great.

I will agree with you in saying, when I look at a nice touring bike kitted out with really nice hear, I can say, "Nice," and appreciate it. I will also say however that I won't look at someone using baskets, backpacks, duffel bags or anything else and think less of them. I'm usually more impressed that they are using whatever they have instead of blowing thousands of dollars to "tour properly."

I met up with a guy on a trip from Pittsburgh to Washington DC who flew out to San Francisco to begin a cross country trip with his pedals and seat, then bought a Schwinn at Walmart and ordered a trailer and rode the bike across country putting 4,000 mile on the "inferior" Walmart bike, then donated it to a child who had no bike and flew home. Guess what, the bike worked and had not issues other than flat tires.

Now who's being judgemental?
But I thought that being judgemental was taking into account somebody's personnel taste and their financial situation?
To me; being judgemental is not thinking bad about someone; it's just weighing them up.

there have been some cool lime green Ferraris, but I agree on the Kawwys (I was getting into motorcycle when the original lime green K superbike were being ridden by Eddie Lawson so they are dear to my heart)

now for the old Ortliebs, I am so relieved I have your utmost respect as I still use my old ones with the wire hook and elastic, got them in maybe 93?
(but oops, they are purple (ok ok faded purple) theres goes the neighborhood!)

PS--I just bought new rear rollers, but I'm going to keep the colour secret! Neat mounting system, took me a while to figure it out but am curious to see how well it works in real life, out on the edge, the edge of the bumpy road ;-) when I eventually get out on a non-snow+ice+salt filled road.

PSS, I gotta laugh how Lou started a nice little snowball rolling here...

Sorry, but you asked, "Or am I being harsh?" I would never judge you based on your choice in clothes, cars, watches, bikes, or any other material thing or choice, I will judge you on your actions or words. By your own statement later you said you are judgmental so I'm just agreeing with you. You seemed to be looking down upon someone else based on their choice of vehicle or pannier. You are judging based on a material thing. I prefer to judge based on people's actions towards others. I do not know you, and was only commenting on your statement. It was judgmental towards someone's personal choice of panniers of all things. Despite my thoughts on your comment and that it was judgmental, I did not however say I didn't like you, wouldn't ride with you, share a coffee or a drink with you if you prefer. I did say you were being judgmental, which you were, by your own admission. Am I judging you? Yep, based on your actions, not you person choice of panniers or trucks. You are free to choose whatever you wish, that only makes you unique and is not important to me.

well put

One thread is from a couple weeks ago when I reviewed my Ortlieb panniers, and this is about my girlfriend's new ones. Though this might be considered trolling, which I admit to doing to the smallest extreme. Only to get my small blog somewhat on peoples' radar. I post the entire post on the forum page so people don't have to go to my blog if they don't want to. And there is no commercial or financial gain at all on my end. The only gain I get is the joy and excitement that people are viewing my blog. My blog is produced with the free site, wordpress.com which does not allow for ads or gaining money off of it. It's just a personal site, with reviews of products I bought, and like, and news about what I find interesting. I am just trying to get the information about the new panniers out there, and get a nice conversation about what people thought about them, which I happened to write about on my blog. Why not post it directly from that. People might be interested to know they are making them in new designs. Some people don't have Ortliebs and might like to know. I posted it on bike forums to help people find out if they ever want to in the future about the panniers themselves.

In this day and age people want choices, even when it comes to their panniers, from one of the greatest pannier makers in the world (I guess they might have sold out in some your eyes). For a 22 year old it would be nearly impossible to own a set of the 20 year old wire/hook Ortliebs (unless your bike enthusiast parents thought way in advance). In Eugene, there are tons of LHTs and Ortlieb bags just for commuting, and old Walmart bikes that have more miles than most touring bikes. If my post about the new designs upsets anyone, I apologize.

Just out of curiosity, how does a car free commuter compare with a recreational tourer in your judgement?

I like 'em, I'd buy them if I had the money. They look good, and supposedly work great at what they are meant to do. I would have loved a pair of these when I was a full-time commuter. Would have saved me tons of work waterproofing everything that went into my panniers... I could have just packed them and rolled. No worries.

Agreed. My girlfriend wanted these before her winter term at school started. It was a dry fall for Oregon, and her old canvas panniers held up just fine, but the winter rains have started, and won't stop until June.

Just to get it out of the way, the old, "trolling or serious?"

I regret that my gear will be looked down upon by you. I apologize for my age, my gear and my gear's hardware. I hope my age isn't a factor in determining your security.

Thanks for answering. I believe you. :) peace!

I really like the yellow w/orange. They are pretty and very visible.