The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: decessus on September 27, 2014, 02:01:50 PM
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So on the advice of this forum, I'm starting to bike to work and bought a set of Axiom pannier bags with the Axiom journey rack. Everything was working great. Recently, as I was riding one of the bags must have popped off the bike when I hit a bump (or someone must have just removed it off as I was at a stoplight or something). I didn't hear it come off and as a result I lost a rather valuable U-lock in the bag as well.
1) How do you guys secure the bags to the rack? I was thinking of a luggage strap similar to: http://www.amazon.com/Lewis-N-Clark-Luggage-Strap/dp/B00004SR9P/ref=sr_1_6?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1411847981&sr=1-6
I thought about zip ties, but I'm worried the bag would fall off again since zip ties break pretty easily I think. Heh, I'm doing the biking thing to save money but all these replacements are starting to add up ;)
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Were you using the bungee hook? You can see what I'm referring to in this picture (http://www.axiomgear.com/img/prod/rackbook-pro-s-2.jpg). The only times my pannier has fallen off is when I was only using the top hooks. If the bag is attached to the rack properly there is almost no way for it to come off.
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Does your axiom pannier have the little plastic flipper-doodle* that folds out to prevent the hooks from jumping off the rack? I always forget to flip it out, but it might help. maybe.
*official terminology
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My panniers have two hooks at the top that completely encircle the top rail of the rack and a metal hook on a bungee that holds the bottom. Haven't had one come of in three years by making sure they're both securely clamped on.
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Hmm, I have Axiom panniers and haven't had a problem with them coming off yet. But my husband has Ortlieb and his are definitely more secure.
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My Avenir Panniers HAVE popped off the rack before. The elastic straps popped off in the past and got bent in my rear spokes so I took them off.
They aren't waterproof, so I need to invest in some waterproof ones. Happy to take suggestions, as long as they're BIG.
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I have different paniers. They have a backup velcro closure that wraps around the rack support. Can you sew a simple velcro loop in?
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Not familiar with how those attach, but even my Ortlieb panniers fell off a couple times until I adjusted the hooks properly. (Well designed product, but the instructions leave something to be desired.)
Even so, I periodically check to make sure they're still on.
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Does your axiom pannier have the little plastic flipper-doodle* that folds out to prevent the hooks from jumping off the rack? I always forget to flip it out, but it might help. maybe.
*official terminology
Thanks, I never knew what the *flipper-doodle* was for. I was only using the top hooks (the bungee cord fell off at one point too w/o me noticing - the knots came undone), but now I have a better idea on how to secure the bags.