Bare- Back Mountin'

[MacB]

I've not tried one of the big saddlepacks yet but, if you get one with a proper seatpost clamp and a support, I don't think the weight of the fittings are much different to a lightweight rear rack. I also like the fact that you can mount lights at the back of the rack, less likely to be obscured by clothing/bags.

With panniers I tried various combinations but found, following advice on here, that one pannier each day worked fine. I have the Ortlieb Backroller Classics and would have at the max, shirt, underwear, laptop, lunch, lock, spare cycling gear for way home and towel. The absence of lock and laptop was very noticeable.

I also have a rackpack, Arkel Tailrider, that's superb for everything but no good if a laptop's involved. If you know you don't need to transport a laptop then I'd recommend that, or similar. If you have mudguard eyelets you could also use a front rack instead of a rear one. Get a traditional, not a lowrider, one and use a rackpack. I plan on trying this at some point for social rides. I wasn't that keen on a bar bag but did like having stuff accessible at the front and somewhere to put a map thing on. I've been told the steering impact of this sort of front rack feels better than that of a bar bag, we'll see.

 

[Orange]

So, if you have rear mudguard mountings but not rack mountings, you could just as easily fit a rack instead of mudguards using those mountings? There's not much, if any difference in the eyelets, is that right?

 

[Moodyman]

So, if you have rear mudguard mountings but not rack mountings, you could just as easily fit a rack instead of mudguards using those mountings? There's not much, if any difference in the eyelets, is that right?

You can fit both to one eyelet - just use a longer bolt.

I do this with one of my commuters.

 

[Orange]

You can fit both to one eyelet - just use a longer bolt.

I do this with one of my commuters.

Didn't think of that - cheers Moodyman!

 

[pshore]

Regularly do 35+ down a couple of hills and mine have not fallen off yet !

Can I join in the oneupmanship before it gets to Monty Python levels ...

I did 70km/h (43.5mph) down a hill on a fully loaded touring bike. The panniers were fine. 15 minutes later the last of the top rack bolts came loose and the whole rack pivoted backwards and hit the floor thankfully while on the flat. The panniers still stayed on the rack.