The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: BigRed on November 20, 2013, 12:52:46 PM
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What recommendations do people have for a Rack and Pannier bags to go on their racks for running errands. I'm looking for something that would need to carry gym clothes, shoes, and also a reasonable amount of groceries. Obviously interested in keeping the cost reasonable.
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I bought my bike on Craigslist, and it came with the Topeak Explorer rack, and I got this bag for my birthday, which I've been using for my commute/picking up a few groceries since March. It's worked out pretty well so far.
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Trunk-Bicycle-Molded-Panels/dp/B000ZKATZG/ref=pd_sim_sg_1
I've been thinking about getting these folding baskets to do larger grocery runs though:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012DZEBY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_img?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2JGWOZZ20FBHR&coliid=I1Q9KTX7X5D78Q
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REI open top panniers are great for grocery getting.
They have shoulder straps and everything. When not in use they fold and buckle to stay flat and closed.
topeak aluminum racks are nice. Stainless if you're doing really heavy loads.
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We have two sets of panniers, both purchased from MEC:
56L (pair):
http://www.mec.ca/product/5024-315/mec-world-tour-2-56l-cycling-panniers/?f=10&q=world%2Btour%2Bpannier (http://www.mec.ca/product/5024-315/mec-world-tour-2-56l-cycling-panniers/?f=10&q=world%2Btour%2Bpannier)
19L (single):
http://www.mec.ca/product/5024-310/mec-pf-19l-cycling-pannier/ (http://www.mec.ca/product/5024-310/mec-pf-19l-cycling-pannier/)
They're great. Clipping system is easy, they size up huge or strap down very small, very tough material. Water resistant, not waterproof though . . . so if I have something that shouldn't get wet I stick it in a plastic bag first.
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I put a rear rack on my bike and attached an old milk crate to it. I love it. Your seat has to go pretty high for something like this to fit though.
Another cheap option is something like this:
Cat Litter Panniers (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=1841)
I also saw a guy with cheap black plastic trash cans attached to the side of his rear rack the other day. I think I'm going to add those to my wife's bike at her request.
All of these options will make your bike look really crappy, which if you're in an area with any bike theft, it's a feature not a bug. And they're super cheap as well.
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As far as racks go, it's hard to beat this Universal Fit Rack (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_519792_-1___202601) from Nashbar
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If you're going to be biking long distances in the rain it's a good idea to get waterproof panniers. Unfortunately these are expensive and I don't think they're easy to find on the used market. The cheapest I know of are the Nashbar panniers: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_172282_-1___ (they're usually $50 for a pair, don't be fooled by the "sale" lingo)
We own a pair of these. Their only real advantages are they're huge and cheap. Disadvantages are they're annoying to attach/detach to the rack and annoying to close. Based on the material, I'd guess they'll last for about 5 years of regular use before they're no longer waterproof.
When I had access to wholesale bike accessories I bought a pair of these: http://www.axiomgear.com/products/gear/bags/tempest-series/typhoon-aero-dlx/
The Typhoons are lighter than the Nashbar panniers (only really a concern if you're touring) but at the same time made with super heavy-duty material. They have better quality rack attachments that make it easy to attach & detach them from a rack with one hand, plastic D-rings for attaching shoulder straps, and a simple roll-top that's easier to close (there's also a creative way you can carry extra-long items like a yoga mat by cross-buckling). The only downsides are they're a little smaller than the Nashbar panniers and the hooks can get caught on each other if you carry them together (there's an easy way to fold the hooks up to prevent this, but when you forget you'll spend 5 minutes trying to get them undone).
They also cost a lot more than the Nashbars. I paid more for them wholesale than the Nashbars cost. I suspect these will last me at least 10-15 years, though. I had a Jansport backpack made from similar material that lasted longer than that, and the panniers come with extra hook hardware in case something breaks.
When I was looking at prices I seem to remember most other quality waterproof panniers costing more than the Axioms, so I tend to view the Nashbars as an interesting outlier.
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Thank you to everyone who has replied so far.
I put my bike onto the racks on buses often, so being able to easily and quickly place and remove the panniers is an important feature as well.
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I have an older version of this one from Novara, and it's great. I like the waterproof cover I can put on it if it rains. http://www.rei.com/product/825288/novara-gotham-panniers
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I've got two of these - http://banjobrothers.com/products/current/panniers/waterproof-pannier/ They're just a decent sized bag with no compartments. The waterproof portion is an inner bag which is easily removable for repair or replacement if necessary. Used them for years and hope to take them out on a camping run this summer.
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I've got this. It's held up great being parked out in the rain. If anyone knows what light is able to clip into the back, would appreciate hearing from you. My SMART light doesn't seem to fit into the wire loop.
http://www.axiomgear.com/products/gear/baskets/rear-top-mount/market-basket/