I’m currently building up my old Inbred as a commuter. My aim is to ride to the station much of the time, and into the office when I’m feeling particularly energetic.

My original intention was to use a rack and panniers, and stick a normal bag inside, so that when I’m walking around town I’m not lugging a rubberised bag covered in reflectives. Realistically I want to carry my lunch, maybe a laptop or A4 pad, and a few tools and spares.

Today I spotted a good deal on a Boardman pannier and they looked ideal until I realised that a) they’re not dirt cheap and b) they just clip onto the rack. They do have a carry handle on them, but then we’re back to the issue of walking around town with an unweildy rubbery bag.

Is there some clever way of avoiding panniers being stolen? Do panniers just not get stolen as much as I think? Or is there someone making decent looking cycle luggage that doesn’t cost > £100?

Is there some clever way of avoiding panniers being stolen?

It’s never crossed my mind that people would actually leave panniers on an unattended bike.

I quite like the look of these…
https://www.ortlieb.com/en/produkt-details/?produkt=officebag&list=hinterrad&slug=radtasche&clearname=Rear%20Panniers

As with most things Ortlieb they’re not cheap but all of their stuff I’ve had has been fantastically made.

I’ve seen some people leaving cheap ortlieb rip offs on their panniers, not sure how it was attached though

Solid plastic pannier.
Bolt onto rack.
Put bag into pannier while riding.

http://Www.bikebins.com

Lidl had some cheap ortlieb rip offs last month, hooks instead of ortlieb clips at the top and a simple Velcro loop at the bottom. I did wonder whether to get some and just zip tie them to my bike.

The downside is fitting bags in panniers is never as easy as you’d like to think, a 20l rucksack doesn’t fit neatly in a 25l pannier, but a small briefcase might?

The other advantage is that they pad the bike out nicely and stop others falling on it! But I’ve a nice works bike shed so never worry about my ortlieb.

Get a big enough basket. Bolt it on the rear rack, then you can put your bag in that.

I just strap whatever bag i fancy using to the top of the rack using velcro straps like these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/VELCRO-Brand-All-Purpose-Straps/dp/B0018AA1WS

Go Dutch. Have a google for Basil Mara Double Pannier, and pick the size you like, then leave them on the bike permanently. You could add extra fastenings to the straps if you were extra paranoid. The other Dutch solution is a Basil front carrier over your front wheel, with a plastic crate attached, and sling whatever bag in there.

I thought leaving luggage on the bike at a station was a no no? Bombs and that.

I use an Altura Morph rucksack, would be perfect for your needs

Doesn’t seem to bother the Dutch.

don’t commute but ride to gym and shops most days – on my shopper i have a large metal basket bolted on the rack and just throw a rucsac in it

if you really want panniers I’d keep searching pretty sure you’ll find some that look more like a work bag than panniers

edit example http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BASMGBORC/selle-monte-grappa-borsa-cruiser-leatherette-pannier-bags–pair

or orlieb do a security cable to reduce casual theft

https://www.evanscycles.com/ortlieb-ql2-anti-theft-device-EV187609

(evans based on google ranking not rank service)

I’ve got a shoulder a4/ laptop size work bag that fits exactly into my (Edinburgh cycles own brand) panniers. It’s a good system and the panniers are pretty cheap. I’m sure I could fix them on to the bike if necessary.

Like you, I’ve had this debate and I think the answer is probably a smarter- looking pannier bag.

But the Dutch are sensible. If we were Dutch we’d not be having this discussion, because we’d all put our non-cycle specific bag into the basket of our sensible bike 🙂

You can get backpack panniers, like http://www.blackburndesign.com/en_eu/bags/wayside-backpack-pannier.html#.Vyb4mZrTVSA, but in my experience panniers get covered in road crap.

There are loads of nice laptop bags that have pannier clips…? I have a not very nice one that work paid for, but it’s still very useful.