Original Design Panniers

[avalon]

Hitting the panier with the heel of your foot has always been a problem for those of us with bigger feet. I don't know if any manufacturer has overcome this problem yet but it may be something worth considering in your design.

 

[Bodhbh]

I doubt you can make something better than what's already on the market, but it sounds like a fun project. Also while you might have trouble making anything better for someone else, you can damn well make something perfect for your own needs.

I met someone with some home-brewed panniers on tour - some massive 70 odd litre jobbies (rear), waterproof from the same material as the old ortiliebs and backed with plywood laminated with aluminium (he did talk me thru why he'd done this - I can't remember). He was on a front susser, had been touring the interior of Iceland, wanted to carry lots, and all on the back. So I guess it suited his needs best to make his own. There's other ways of carrying the load, but he had his vision of how he was going to do it and followed it thru so good luck to him.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

why does the 'backboard' have to be in the pannier itself. If it's purpose is to stop the bag encroaching on the wheel then why not have it as part of the rack? alloy ?
When you fly you cant collapse the rack (hmm....collapseable rack anyone?) but i'd like to be able to pack down the panniers really small if possible.

I think there is mileage in a rack pannier re design...to illiminate the need for stand alone clips/fixings , allow bags to pack down much smaller when flying etc,
...ha..you got me drawing out ideas myself

 

[avalon]

why does the 'backboard' have to be in the pannier itself. If it's purpose is to stop the bag encroaching on the wheel then why not have it as part of the rack? alloy ?
When you fly you cant collapse the rack (hmm....collapseable rack anyone?) but i'd like to be able to pack down the panniers really small if possible.

I think there is mileage in a rack pannier re design...to illiminate the need for stand alone clips/fixings , allow bags to pack down much smaller when flying etc,
...ha..you got me drawing out ideas myself

Possibly a rack with several clip on points that match up with the pannier eliminating the need for a back board all together.

 

[MarkF]

I am, in fact, trying to reinvent the wheel.

Great, love it, I've spent the last decade earning a living from something that "couldn't be done". My panniers are superb but they weight 1.5 kg's (I think) and I only carry "goods" weighing 2.5/3 kg's, it's not sensible, that's why I am having the rice bag material ones made up. Light, durable, waterproof and can be packed right down.

I almost feel guilty because of its simplicity. Part of me thinks that someone MUST'VE thought of this already. I think it's a good idea. It needs field testing. TheDoctor, I'll keep you posted as it develops if the results are good. Meanwhile, keep defending me in the press.

Go to a patents office, check out http://www.epo.org/searching/free/espacenet.html too and look for associated products. A good start that costs nothing, if you do have great idea then unless you are rich, you'll need financial help, your idea will be ripped, patented it or not.

 

[Brains]

I have over the years led several overseas camping bike tours with Explorer Scouts (late teens). Therefore I have experience of all sorts of lower end of the range panniers and saddle bags which have had two weeks of heavy teenage abuse thrown at them.

The issue of the backing plate is important, the cardboard and similar one deteriorate very fast and so make the pannier useless very fast, the solution has been to cut up cardboard boxes to make new plates.

The attachment to the rack is critical, I have yet to finish a tour without at least one bike where the pannier is held to the bike by cable ties

I'm a great fan of Obtelieb panniers, one the very rare occasions that something has gone wrong it has been repairable in the field and spare parts are held by most decent bike shops or from the manufacturers web site

The things I don't like about Ortelieb is that they don't have several external pockets as standard.
There are no internal pockets as standard (money/keys etc)
No place to attach lights, wet clothing, maps, food and other stuff the long distance tourer needs
They also look a bit 'odd' in that they don't look like a conventional bag/rucksack.

What I do like about Ortelieb is they are waterproof (really waterproof)
They are tough (almost teenage proof)
They are simple (one hand, even in the dark) to get on and off the bike
They are simple to open (one hand, one clip, can even be opened whilst one the bike)
They are fairly simple to close (two hands though, and you cant do it whist on the bike)

If I were designing a pannier I would start with the Rixen&Kraul or Ortelieb attachment system.
I would have a single main compartment
I would have lots of external webbing like a military rucksack
I would than have a range of pockets and other attachments
I would make it waterproof
I would also build in double thickness 'crash zone' as everyone drops a loaded bike on tour, I have seen a number of panniers damaged in the lower side area

 

[BigonaBianchi]

..that external webbing needs to be of practical use and not too tight that you cant stuff anything in it.

One thing I dislike about the clips on my carradice overlanders is that it is all too easy to damage my tent ground sheet at night when I have them inside (which I do on occasions rather than leave under the fly sheet). They have also been responsible for a nasty gash on my leg.

If I could illiminate the need for any clips I would .

 

[Yellow7]

I'm all for designing / making various products but only after researching I'm not re-inventing the wheel. I used Ortlieb panniers on a year-long tour and could not ask for any better.

The back-plate serves two purposes:
1: Keeps the clips rigidly spaced, with horizontal slots to allow varying the clip’s spacing for different rack designs.
2: Increasing the fabrics contact surface-area, upon which the weight of the pannier are hung, thereby minimising the fabric from ripping / tearing from around where the clips are attached.

If you have experience within the fabric industry then you’re already one step-ahead, but with the market-place already containing many manufacturers, offering excellent products, I’d say you have some tough competition. How about drafting a complete questionnaire asking about the good / bad points, likes / dislikes etc of people’s panniers? This way you’d get a better insight as to whether there is actually something missing within the market-place. Answers from one person can be biased by other’s answers, so it would prove better setting up a simple blog / web-page to ask the questions, whereby only you see the answers, as opposed to a forum. Research / product awareness is key to success of any new product.

Mark.

 

[steveindenmark]

I use Ortileb and as everyone knows, they are expensive but they are excellent. It is worth keeping your eyes on e bay, both in the UK and Germany as 2nd hand ones are often on there. The hardest thing with panniers is to get them to fasten to your bike but you can buy all the ortileb mounting gear in pieces and they are not expensive.

Sewing home made panniers is also difficult, you cannot do them properly on the wifes home singer sewing machine. They need to be industrial sewing machines to do the job right.

I actually built a set of panniers from a set of plastic toolboxes that were going cheap ina sale. The good thing about them is that they are light, hard and I can lock them.

I will post photos when it stops snowing.

Steve

 

[Crankarm]

Why do people always come up with this "re-invent the wheel" crap. I've been riding bikes for a long while now and the wheels I have been using have improved no end. From the rims, spokes, hubs, bearings, materials, rolling resistance, durability, braking surface, cost...you name it, thanks to people re-inventing the wheel my life has become a lot easier and cycling a lot more pleasurable.

Are you still riding around on chiseled rock disks or have you made it to wooden hoops yet!!

This is why ................

One of My old panniers unclipped and half fell off as I was overtaking a caravan coming down from Andorra into Spain. Not good .......

Because people like you buy cheap crap panniers that fall off or break too easily, then you think you can invent better panniers which has already been done but you're too tight to buy any of these quality products. Let the OP waste his time and money, it is after all his and not yours.

 

[bianchi1]

This is why ................




Because people like you buy cheap crap panniers that fall off or break too easily, then you think you can invent better panniers which has already been done but you're too tight to buy any of these quality products. Let the OP waste his time and money, it is after all his and not yours.

If I recall they were good quality for their era, around the 1990s. It's just the top clips would jump off the rack if you hit a big enough bump. The next lot I got (same brand) had a much better designed clip that would lock.

Its almost as if someone had developed an existing product and made it better!!!

 

[BrazingSaddles]

I use Pacific Outdoor panniers - I love 'em.

Yes, they are mahoosive... I got them for cycle touring and found the net bags that can be unrolled from the 'lid' were brilliant for drying shorts etc. on the go.
I am a sucker for pockets as I like to be able to easily access certain items - waterproofs, sunscreen (whatever that is) - without having to open the main compartment which may well be buried under other crap.
The only downside was no shoulder strap. I had to do a DIY job as I find a strap helpful when moving panniers off the bike.

Crankarm, my luvver, you need a little sunshine so here you go xxx

 

[Zenroad]

Why does the 'backboard' have to be in the pannier itself. If it's purpose is to stop the bag encroaching on the wheel then why not have it as part of the rack? alloy ?
When you fly you cant collapse the rack (hmm....collapseable rack anyone?) but i'd like to be able to pack down the panniers really small if possible.

Yes, Bianchi, my thinking exactly. Why is the backing plate always a part of the pannier itself? This is a design flaw inherent in all traditional panniers. I aim to correct this.

Thanks, everyone, for your interest. I now have a working model (made yesterday) and am ordering the target material in the morning. Will keep you posted.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

ha ha..race you to the patent office