Ortlieb and Bob questions
02-24-12, 10:12 PM
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Ortlieb and Bob questions
First off, I don't want this to be a pannier vs trailer post, please. I will work through that on my own. I think I am going to try a Bob Ibex for a 7 week trip to the Arctic this summer. I am thinking there will be better balance if I carry a couple Ortliebs on the front, probably the rear size. Does anyone use both and have an opinion one way or the other.
An Ortlieb specific question: has anyone used the accessory water bottle cages that seem to screw through the fabric? Any good, durable? It would be for quick access to bear spray.
A Bob question: can anyone give me the dimension for the fork from the skewer center line to the hinge tube. What I want to know is will my 26" wheel and full fender with flap fit the small fork or do I need the 29er size? The specs on the site are a bit muddy.
Thanks
An Ortlieb specific question: has anyone used the accessory water bottle cages that seem to screw through the fabric? Any good, durable? It would be for quick access to bear spray.
A Bob question: can anyone give me the dimension for the fork from the skewer center line to the hinge tube. What I want to know is will my 26" wheel and full fender with flap fit the small fork or do I need the 29er size? The specs on the site are a bit muddy.
Thanks
02-25-12, 02:54 AM
#2
-
IMO, you ought to be able to fit everything in/on a BOB, without additional panniers.
If you use "rear" Ortliebs on the front, you'll probably need a highrider rack like a Surly Nice, JandD Extreme, or OMM Cold Springs because they won't fit lowriders without nearly dragging the ground, especially off pavement.
My BOB fork measures 36 cm, which leaves 3 cm clearance on a 26" wheeled bike with full fenders gapped 1cm beyond the 26x2.0 tires. My fork will fit 26 or 700c bikes. IIRC my fork is the Santana version.
If you use "rear" Ortliebs on the front, you'll probably need a highrider rack like a Surly Nice, JandD Extreme, or OMM Cold Springs because they won't fit lowriders without nearly dragging the ground, especially off pavement.
My BOB fork measures 36 cm, which leaves 3 cm clearance on a 26" wheeled bike with full fenders gapped 1cm beyond the 26x2.0 tires. My fork will fit 26 or 700c bikes. IIRC my fork is the Santana version.
02-25-12, 05:32 AM
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When I have toured with my mountain bike a Giant XTC 2 and my Bob Ibex I found the front is quite light and easily pulls up. This has been an issue on my Munda Biddi rides (single track at times). I have now got a Tubus Swing rack to fit to the Giant so I can shift some weight forward.
In contrast pulling the trailer behind my Surly Long Haul Trucker I did notice the front end handling issue.
Hope that helps.
Andrew
In contrast pulling the trailer behind my Surly Long Haul Trucker I did notice the front end handling issue.
Hope that helps.
Andrew
02-25-12, 10:36 AM
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Bobs usually handle great on their own and I would only add panniers and a rack if you needed the space or wanted a back-up in case the trailer failed (unlikely). I didn't find the bob making the bike handle sluggishly (unlike only having rear panniers) which is one of the advantages of using a trailer. Whatever handling characteristics the bob adds to your ride will be forgotten a mile down the road.
We installed Ortlieb accessories to my wife's bags and the water bottle holder kept falling off (with the bottle in it). Maybe she was just unlucky. They are durable however and I have considerable respect for the material Ortlieb uses on their plus bags. Even using a sharp carpenter's awl required a lot of force to poke a small hole through the material. I was really shocked how tough it is.
Have a great trip.
We installed Ortlieb accessories to my wife's bags and the water bottle holder kept falling off (with the bottle in it). Maybe she was just unlucky. They are durable however and I have considerable respect for the material Ortlieb uses on their plus bags. Even using a sharp carpenter's awl required a lot of force to poke a small hole through the material. I was really shocked how tough it is.
Have a great trip.
02-26-12, 06:37 PM
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Check out the link in my signature, I use the BOB and a front rack/pannier setup for our tours and it works great. It depends if you are going to be doing a lot of trail or mountain biking, or if you will mostly be on roads even if they are gravel, dirt, or fire roads.
For road use, I would totally recommend the BOB and front rack and pannier setup, but, unless you plan to carry a bunch of gear, you probably only need the small Ortleibs. The large size would probably work just fine, but the small Ortliebs have always worked just great for me. You can put smaller heavier things in the front panniers like food items, pots and pans, stoves, etc., and the bulkier stuff in the BOB like tent, sleeping pad, clothes, and things like that.
If you will be on singletrack or technical trails, I would maybe recommend only the BOB. I have used my Ibex extensively with my MTN bike and it works great. Adding weight to the front-end can make technical stuff tricky. The BOB sort of helps push you over things and keeps the front end light. Having bags up front in technical sections, especially on climbs, can make maneuvers tricky.
If you will not be on trails much, I would say go for the panniers up front too, but maybe look into a non-lowrider front rack to keep the bags up higher and out of the way of trail obstacles and brush. I personally use an Old Man Mountain Pioneer rack. Sort of the best of both worlds IMHO because the bags are kept a little lower, but you still have a platform which can be really handy.
For road use, I would totally recommend the BOB and front rack and pannier setup, but, unless you plan to carry a bunch of gear, you probably only need the small Ortleibs. The large size would probably work just fine, but the small Ortliebs have always worked just great for me. You can put smaller heavier things in the front panniers like food items, pots and pans, stoves, etc., and the bulkier stuff in the BOB like tent, sleeping pad, clothes, and things like that.
If you will be on singletrack or technical trails, I would maybe recommend only the BOB. I have used my Ibex extensively with my MTN bike and it works great. Adding weight to the front-end can make technical stuff tricky. The BOB sort of helps push you over things and keeps the front end light. Having bags up front in technical sections, especially on climbs, can make maneuvers tricky.
If you will not be on trails much, I would say go for the panniers up front too, but maybe look into a non-lowrider front rack to keep the bags up higher and out of the way of trail obstacles and brush. I personally use an Old Man Mountain Pioneer rack. Sort of the best of both worlds IMHO because the bags are kept a little lower, but you still have a platform which can be really handy.
02-26-12, 07:01 PM
#6
Banned
The add on Bottle cage and the Add on pocket are using the same mounting hardware,
I would get the add on pocket as I doubt bear spray is the same size can
as a bike Water bottle
I would get the add on pocket as I doubt bear spray is the same size can
as a bike Water bottle
02-27-12, 09:21 AM
#7
Senior Member
yes, i have used both, or rather more than both. 18-month tour of
new zealand and australia, had a bob, large cannondale rear panniers,
medium-ish kirtland front panniers, large c-dale h'bar bag. (but nothing
atop the rear rack). front packs were for cooking gear and food mainly.
i like to keep those separate to hang in the trees, no food odors in the
other bags.
okay, i had too much stuff. hiking boots, shortwave radio, too many
tools and spares, 3-man tent......and at times 20L water in the bob.
no problem with handling, it was actually very smooth. i was mainly on
paved roads. less than 10% gravel/dirt.
any time i rode with less gear, i'd drop the rear panniers first. didn't like
the feel with rear bags and a bob.
new zealand and australia, had a bob, large cannondale rear panniers,
medium-ish kirtland front panniers, large c-dale h'bar bag. (but nothing
atop the rear rack). front packs were for cooking gear and food mainly.
i like to keep those separate to hang in the trees, no food odors in the
other bags.
okay, i had too much stuff. hiking boots, shortwave radio, too many
tools and spares, 3-man tent......and at times 20L water in the bob.
no problem with handling, it was actually very smooth. i was mainly on
paved roads. less than 10% gravel/dirt.
any time i rode with less gear, i'd drop the rear panniers first. didn't like
the feel with rear bags and a bob.
02-28-12, 10:40 PM
#8
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Check out the link in my signature, I use the BOB and a front rack/pannier setup for our tours and it works great. It depends if you are going to be doing a lot of trail or mountain biking, or if you will mostly be on roads even if they are gravel, dirt, or fire roads.
For road use, I would totally recommend the BOB and front rack and pannier setup, but, unless you plan to carry a bunch of gear, you probably only need the small Ortleibs. The large size would probably work just fine, but the small Ortliebs have always worked just great for me. You can put smaller heavier things in the front panniers like food items, pots and pans, stoves, etc., and the bulkier stuff in the BOB like tent, sleeping pad, clothes, and things like that.
If you will be on singletrack or technical trails, I would maybe recommend only the BOB. I have used my Ibex extensively with my MTN bike and it works great. Adding weight to the front-end can make technical stuff tricky. The BOB sort of helps push you over things and keeps the front end light. Having bags up front in technical sections, especially on climbs, can make maneuvers tricky.
If you will not be on trails much, I would say go for the panniers up front too, but maybe look into a non-lowrider front rack to keep the bags up higher and out of the way of trail obstacles and brush. I personally use an Old Man Mountain Pioneer rack. Sort of the best of both worlds IMHO because the bags are kept a little lower, but you still have a platform which can be really handy.
For road use, I would totally recommend the BOB and front rack and pannier setup, but, unless you plan to carry a bunch of gear, you probably only need the small Ortleibs. The large size would probably work just fine, but the small Ortliebs have always worked just great for me. You can put smaller heavier things in the front panniers like food items, pots and pans, stoves, etc., and the bulkier stuff in the BOB like tent, sleeping pad, clothes, and things like that.
If you will be on singletrack or technical trails, I would maybe recommend only the BOB. I have used my Ibex extensively with my MTN bike and it works great. Adding weight to the front-end can make technical stuff tricky. The BOB sort of helps push you over things and keeps the front end light. Having bags up front in technical sections, especially on climbs, can make maneuvers tricky.
If you will not be on trails much, I would say go for the panniers up front too, but maybe look into a non-lowrider front rack to keep the bags up higher and out of the way of trail obstacles and brush. I personally use an Old Man Mountain Pioneer rack. Sort of the best of both worlds IMHO because the bags are kept a little lower, but you still have a platform which can be really handy.
02-28-12, 10:45 PM
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yes, i have used both, or rather more than both. 18-month tour of
new zealand and australia, had a bob, large cannondale rear panniers,
medium-ish kirtland front panniers, large c-dale h'bar bag. (but nothing
atop the rear rack). front packs were for cooking gear and food mainly.
i like to keep those separate to hang in the trees, no food odors in the
other bags.
okay, i had too much stuff. hiking boots, shortwave radio, too many
tools and spares, 3-man tent......and at times 20L water in the bob.
no problem with handling, it was actually very smooth. i was mainly on
paved roads. less than 10% gravel/dirt.
any time i rode with less gear, i'd drop the rear panniers first. didn't like
the feel with rear bags and a bob.
new zealand and australia, had a bob, large cannondale rear panniers,
medium-ish kirtland front panniers, large c-dale h'bar bag. (but nothing
atop the rear rack). front packs were for cooking gear and food mainly.
i like to keep those separate to hang in the trees, no food odors in the
other bags.
okay, i had too much stuff. hiking boots, shortwave radio, too many
tools and spares, 3-man tent......and at times 20L water in the bob.
no problem with handling, it was actually very smooth. i was mainly on
paved roads. less than 10% gravel/dirt.
any time i rode with less gear, i'd drop the rear panniers first. didn't like
the feel with rear bags and a bob.
Sounds like you carry the kitchen sink and then some. I can imaging your bike handles like a freight train on a straight track...nice and stable. I feel that when I carry 4 loaded panniers. Surprises people when you tell them how solid and stable a loaded bike is.
02-28-12, 10:50 PM
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IMO, you ought to be able to fit everything in/on a BOB, without additional panniers.
If you use "rear" Ortliebs on the front, you'll probably need a highrider rack like a Surly Nice, JandD Extreme, or OMM Cold Springs because they won't fit lowriders without nearly dragging the ground, especially off pavement.
My BOB fork measures 36 cm, which leaves 3 cm clearance on a 26" wheeled bike with full fenders gapped 1cm beyond the 26x2.0 tires. My fork will fit 26 or 700c bikes. IIRC my fork is the Santana version.
If you use "rear" Ortliebs on the front, you'll probably need a highrider rack like a Surly Nice, JandD Extreme, or OMM Cold Springs because they won't fit lowriders without nearly dragging the ground, especially off pavement.
My BOB fork measures 36 cm, which leaves 3 cm clearance on a 26" wheeled bike with full fenders gapped 1cm beyond the 26x2.0 tires. My fork will fit 26 or 700c bikes. IIRC my fork is the Santana version.
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