RichSPK

I'm looking to replace the hole-y old Avenir Excursion Small panniers (like these) that I clip to the Blackburn rack on my Klein Performance drop-bar touring bike. I've been pretty happy with the Avenirs, but I'd like something bigger (for groceries or bringing my laptop to the library).

I have a $35 credit at Amazon, so I'm looking for suggestions from their site.

These panniers caught my eye, though they're over budget. The mounting mechanism is different than I'm used to, though (I'm used to hooks or bungie loops that attach to the bottom of the rack legs), and the size might be overkill. Does anyone have experience with that mounting mechanism, or other thoughts on these panniers? I think they're Roswheel #14686.

canklecat

Check Jandd's sale page. They often have deep discounts on items with minor cosmetic issues.

RichSPK

Thanks! They have some neat stuff.

canklecat

Also, check Nashbar products on Amazon, since you have that $35 credit. Nashbar panniers are well made -- I've used a pair of Townie open top folding panniers for almost two years and they hold up well.

Right now Nashbar's panniers are all marked 25% off an already discounted price, which might pay for their set of large panniers with your Amazon credit. But call Nashbar to ask if they'll apply the same discount through their Amazon outlet. I've communicated with their customer service before via email and phone and they're good folks. When I missed a sale deadline by an hour last year (time zone mixup) they went ahead and gave me the discounted price anyway.

RichSPK

Yeah, I've bought some stuff from nashbar. Tubes and tires, mostly, but I've got a rack-top bag from them. My cat likes sleeping in it. :-)

xaztec

The kitty litter pannier kits are pretty interesting.

fietsbob

yes ... Bike Buckets.. you can buy the mounting hardware packet , or buy a finished, square, white ready to use, bucket..

RichSPK

In case anyone's looking for an update, I ended up spending the credit on a new backpack. I still need panniers, but they'll have to wait longer.

KD5NRH

Currently waiting for the Nashbar front pannier rack and rear touring panniers, (My current 20L (10L each) Axiom Seymours should work well on the front.) so hopefully I'll have something positive to say about them by Friday afternoon. Price would certainly be hard to beat considering the specs.

The real question will be what I'm going to do with all that space on the bike, since my new Apex single wheel trailer easily carries all my warm weather camping gear. (Not a camping trip worth of it, *all* of it, including chair, two extra cook kits, spare water, two stoves and fuel for them.) My cold weather bag won't quite fit in the trailer's bag, but will easily bungee on top.

CliffordK

I have a fairly short chainstay bike, and pretty much any pannier must fit behind the rear triangles, otherwise I get bad heel strike.

Those green bags look nice, but awfully bulky.

I've started just grabbing the backpack for most daily riding.

fietsbob

You can always mount a squareish thing at an angle, to reduce heel strike interference...

I load the front of my Daily Rides .. panniers (on the BiFr Tikit & P Llama.) and the Brompton front bag..






.....

xaztec

I was being facetious. They kind of look like they belong in one of those redneck memes like the redneck jacuzzi that is a kiddie pool with an outboard motor attached to the side. Only because of the kitty litter buckets. I do, however, think this set up with the coolers would be cool for going to the beach or park.

fietsbob

They are utilitarian, that is what this section is about..

KD5NRH

Honestly, if I had to choose one item to do all my utility riding with, it would be the Discount Ramps trailer. It holds nearly as much as all four of my panniers, and does it without adding mass high on the bike. Plus strapping light, bulky items (case of toilet paper on top of a couple cases of soda was my first test) on top doesn't pose a problem with balance or wheel/steering/rider interference.



That said, most day to day riding is with the panniers, since they don't require the extra maneuvering at the rack or at home. (I pretty much have to put the bike in the garage at the side door, and it's not making that tight corner with the trailer attached.) It's also a bit quicker to pull one or more panniers to carry upstairs than to unstrap the trailer bag. Still, overall bulky item capacity, especially at toilet paper restocking time, is the one thing I really appreciate but that the panniers can't match.

At $90, it's not that much more than a single good pannier rack and pair of panniers, and bear in mind that I'm comparing it to two pairs of panniers and two racks here.

RichSPK

Neat! I like your Nashbar panniers, too.

I have a Burley trailer that I use for large loads, but I don't have a good way to lock it up, and I'm paranoid that it'll go missing while I'm inside. Panniers are good for the supermarket; I can bring them inside and they don't take up too much space in a shopping cart when they're empty.

KD5NRH

Thanks. Couldn't pass those up during one of the 25% off Nashbar branded items sales. 18L each in the specs, and either one holds either my cool weather rectangle bag or my cold weather mummy bag, plus the liner, plus whatever will fit in the top and back zipper pockets.