Thanks All, for the comments. I'm leaning toward the Jandd Expedition. Looks like a quality mid-priced rack with the added value of move the bags rearward. I'm really worried about my size 14 feet on the Surly CC. I also found, and like the look of the, Racktime Tour-It but can't find a re-seller.

For some reason you sound committed to a heavy rear load carrying capability using panniers when there are many reasons to not do so starting with your intended use, heel strike and the bikes design.

@LeeG, I'm not committed to a heavy load but with the Jandd I have the option. Of course I would put on a front rack before overloading the rear.

I started out with an inexpensive Blackburn rack on my 2005 Sirrus commuter. When I decided to try a tour on the same bike and started investigating panniers, I was pretty surprised by the total weight of most popular rack+panniers combinations. I know a few ounces here and there isn't a big deal for touring, but go look at the weight of one of those Jandd racks and Ortlieb panniers--not exactly negligible. So I went the opposite direction: Tubus Fly and Lone Peak "King's Peak" panniers. This saved me something like a kilogram, I have no heel-strike issues with US shoe size 12 1/2 (on a Sirrus no less!), and the rack is rated to 18 kg. If I need to carry more than that, I'll want the extra weight on the front wheel anyway.

This combo worked just fine for a four-day trip on the Olympic Discovery Trail, including a couple nights of camping. Clearly, if you're looking at a trans-america ride, or bike trekking in Mongolia or something, your requirements may differ. But I've been very pleased so far that I started out simple.

You can get a Racktime at REI.Com. I got the Add It for around $60.00. I really like it for it's strength, size and side rails.

Adding a few points not already mentioned or considered -

if heal strike is an issue, your target group of rear racks may be limited. The tubus logo (ss: cosmo) gets things far away offering a high and low position. Not aware of another rack that can help with a short chainstay (context is a cyclocross bike?) issue for someone surely with 45+ shoes if a 62cm frame.

Warranty: Tubus has anyone else near ? 25 years, first 3 years with the special support.

Going front racks, while possible, does have some differences. You've got more inertia for moving the handlebar quickly. You lose traction potential when climbing off road. It's harder to pick up the front wheel to clear a curb. But it can steady the bike, maybe there's a drag disadvantage, etc. You will go over the bars easier if that's a risk, and destroy the typical racks with the side/side brace in process.

I decided to go:

Axiom Streamliner DLX on the rear, without the funny lower bracket of the "Road DLX":
http://tinyurl.com/d9bkud7

Blackburn nock-off on the front
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...2_167572_-1___

With Axiom Seymour DLX 30 Pannier Set bags:
http://www.amazon.com/Axiom-Seymour-.../dp/B009P3KQNO

Since, the front rack hasn't arrived yet I mounted the rear on my Surly Cross Check. Stuffed the panniers and mounted those. Went for a ride.

Wam! Heel strike.

My long term plan is to run bags in the front, but I would like the option to put a small (15L) bag on the rear without making contact.

I'm thinking I need to return this rack because I won't be able to make a decent lower bracket to push it back because the rack only has one bolt hole at the bottom and wouldn't be stable.

Any ideas?

-Nick

Ortlieb Panniers can be adjusted so they tilt back at the bottom and away from your foot. I don't know if that is enough to overcome your heelstrike issue. You probably need a bike with longer chainstays.

Another approach.
MTB type panniers are narrower and higher, intended for bikes with shorter chainstays and will eliminate heelstrike issues.
Using those front and back will probably let you carry more than you can comfortably pedal - let alone use. So suggest you quantify exactly what you feel you need or want to pack, use that to decide what bags would be suitable, and then look for a rack / bag combination that'll work well together.

JandD Expedition rack + small bags, preferably ones with the lower front corner rounded off. Ortlieb rollers are made this way. However, be forewarned that placing lots of weight far rearwards tends to result in poor handling, perhaps shimmy.

A BoB or Burley trailer is another solution.

The best solution is to use a touring frame with longer chainstays; a LHT would yield an extra 35mm over the XC. Your large size almost dictates you need to start saving for a new frameset.

Only a few Ortlieb bags can tilt for more heel clearance - most cannot. The bags you'd choose for touring do not tilt.

It is possible to disassemble the mount assembly, cut new holes, patch the old holes, and reattach the mount assembly at a new location that would yield more heel clearance, but few would choose to undertake this modification.

I wrote up a short review about the Racktime Addit, which is what I use on my Cross Check. Don't look for any other info on the site though, because this blog is brand new (started just two days ago) and that is the only post so far.

http://roamblog.blogspot.com/

I don't have any heel strike issues with the Addit and a pair of Jandd Mini Mountain panniers, but I have size 11 feet, not size 14. I also had to make some modifications to get the panniers to fit the rack, as described in the blog post.

Beyond that, I'd say some good advice has been given here already. I agree that the CC is a bit squirrely with a rear-oriented load. So, front panniers coupled with a dry bag strapped to the top of a rear rack is a good way to go. It would also solve your heel strike issues. Unfortunately for me, Surly did not include mid-fork eyelets back in 2007 when I got my Check, so I'd have to scrape the money together for an Old Man Mountain if I wanted front loading capacity.

Solid aluminum rod racks are easier to make, so cheaper, china makes copies of the 70's blackburn racks , now..

Do you have A Bike Shop to see things ? and hold them in your hands? talk to the people that work there..

Tubus and Bruce Gordon Use Chromoly Steel tubing, the use life is as long as yours will be..

my BG racks are 30 years old, other than worn powdercoat, like new.

though there ia only one eyelet on the frame, I expect
i could figure out how to arrange the further setback. if it were in front of me..

but I cannot describe how, otherwise.. sight unseen..


In Annapolis MD is the Velo Orange Company,
you could take yourself & the bike there..

most just place web orders from them..

Have you thought about ditching the rack and going with a seat bag like the Caradice Long Flap Nelson or Camping bag. They are right up your alley for credit card touring. They are nice looking, tough, hold a significant amount, are used by a few for longer trips, and there is no heel strike. You can also mount a small support rack to your seat post if you plan on filling the bag heavy. I use Caradice Super C panniers and love them. As suggested above check Wiggle or Probikekit for better pricing and shipping deals. I bought mine from Wiggle for much less than I could ever get them here, and got free shipping.

Yeah, size 14 feet and rear panniers on a CrossCheck doesn't make sense, that's what I said 5months ago. Put the panniers on the front and put anything on the rear on top of a platform rack. That said the Streamliner is still a worthwhile rack for small (not tall) panniers but those are hard to find. Getting a rear rack and pannier combo that sets a lot of weight far behind the rear wheel is not a good idea, the CrossCheck isn't designed for it even if you can configure it.
The steering on the Cross Check will handle very slowly with panniers on the front forks but it'll be better than piling panniers behind the rear axle.
If you don't want the Streamliner rear rack get the cheapest rear rack and only put stuff on top, no panniers.
the local bike shop had some Trek Bontrager panniers that were a lot shorter than the average panniers but I can't find them on their website and they were expensive.

if you are doing credit card touring get the large Revelate Tangle frame bag and you won't need any racks. Seriously what you have with a 62cm frame is a lot of acreage in the frame triangle other folks don't get. Why put weight outside the center of the bike when you can put it there?


https://www.revelatedesigns.com/inde...=1&ProductID=5

Lifetime guaranties are not allowed according to
the German law. Nevertheless, 30 year warrantys are
promised.
A Tubus carrier will not break down easily, it‘s tubes
are made out of high-tensile Cromolly that can handle
even the most extreme conditions.
And what if it doesn’t? You send us a notification with
your claim of a broken carriertube and we send you a
replacement carrier by express shipment for free the
same day.
This guaranty goes for anywhere worldwide for the
first 3 years of owning your product.
We call this our mobile guarantee. It is granted for
every registered customer.
(detailed guarantee information can be found on our
webpage or on the mounting instructions)

Not much of anything for any purpose has a warranty close to what Tubus offers.:thumb:

@LeeG, I do plan to follow your advice and won't load the rear while touring; BUT I would like the option to drop a small pannier on the rear for around town when I don't have front rack mounted.

@surfjimc, I hadn't seen that before. Not sure its for me, but an interesting idea.