[Closed] Alternative pannier solutions

I followed someone with these on the other day - ugly but looked sturdy

go old skool? Various brackets available
https://www.carradice.co.uk/bags/saddlebags/originals-camper-longflap-saddlebag

Nice Revelate framebag in the classifieds that would give you a bit more capacity... 😀

Diverge does have pannier fixing OP.

I've the older model and have them fitted. Believe newer models (post 2017?) you need a special seat colour but can be attached.

We were fitting racks to Diverges last year. There's a nice Axiom Streamliner that will set the panniers back a bit, saving heel-strike(often a problem with panniers on road bikes, especially if you have large feet)

Full bikepacking setup with frame bag/top tube bag/seat post bag/handlebar bag. Fork leg bag if you really need it!!

I did 5 days in Wales including carrying tent, sleeping bag, etc and it was just enough space. If you don’t need those you are laughing. Mate who had panniers regretted it by the end.

Bike will handle way better, be lighter, riding will be much more enjoyable. Plus it forces you to pack a bit more thoughtfully which is no bad thing. How much do you actually [i]need[/i] to take.

Panniers are the real thing, bikepacking bags do work, but they’re not as convenient to use.
I have both, so I’d say bike packing bags if you intend to head down some singletrack, panniers if you don’t.

bikepacking bags do work, but they’re not as convenient to use.

thanks- excellent advices everyone

Topeak mtb beam rack if you have a round seatpost. I have a carradice nelson longflap doing nothing too with sqr mount. I also have offline panniers and rack on other bikes. The beamrack is my go to. Will take enough for a short tour. I use a bolt rather than the QR so it doesn’t touch my thighs. I’d add a bar bag as this is the most useful for rapid access.

Tubus racks are indeed spendy. I got an Avenir rack from GoOutdoors, v.light and about £30.

On the other hand tubus racks are both strong and light! MY go to rack

Yep, I get that Tubus are good, and if I were taking off around the world I'd splash the cash. For occasional use and commuting you don't need to spend that kind of money though.

Plus it forces you to pack a bit more thoughtfully which is no bad thing. How much do you actually need to take.

Of all the daft arguments against panniers, this is the highlight. Unless you're a numpty, you take what you need. I like panniers, and I would use if on road. However the rack does add a fair bit of weight even if you have a light one. And there is a failure risk.

Simple. Anything you need quick access to goes in frame or top tube bag

Of course, having panniers doesn't prevent you also having a top tube bag...

Try tailfin.cc. I have one that I use on my winter road bike and it works a treat. You can leave the long scewer in all the time and then just click the rack on and off. You can use it with regular panniers you don't have to use theirs. The only thing to point out is how heavy you are and how strong your wheels are. A lot of road wheels are not designed a big heavy rider and a big heavy set of panniers.

Of all the daft arguments against panniers, this is the highlight. Unless you’re a numpty, you take what you need.

Panniers too big, hard to organise, easy to “lose” things.

You forgot to mention how bike packing makes the trails come alive and how unreliable front mechs are.

If you're using a rack once a year, just get whatever is cheap, but a Tubus is well worth the money for regular use. Alu racks can wear surprisingly quickly at bag mounting points if you are using them a lot.
I use a Tubus Fly for commuting and touring, which is one of the lighter models, but it is still extremely sturdy. They appear to be £50 at the moment, which doesn't seem ridiculously expensive.

Problem with the Tubus Fly is its too narrow. It is OK if you just want panniers, but not much use for strapping a bag on the top.
Also the paint will wear off, then it starts rusting. I would rather use an alu rack.

Look at Tortec racks, they are cheap enough and work fine, and fairly lightweight.

Carradice SQR bags - https://www.carradice.co.uk/bags/saddle-packs-sqr-bags . Fit the mounting clip to the seatpost then the bag attaches and detaches from that in seconds. One of those plus an Ortlieb handlebar bar (also mounts/unmounts in seconds) is fine for credit card touring - we did six days on the Western Isles and down the west coast with no problem.

My wife did LeJog (13 days) with one of these:

You really don't need a lot of space, you just need a (single) change of clothes for the evening and wash kit.

Lightweight trousers
underpants
t-shirt
Light jumper if it's going to be cold
sandals or something similarly light

toothbrush and paste
soap (most hotels have this but ...)
microfibre towel (similarly)

phone
wallet
suncream (wishful thinking)

Lay that lot out and then think how much space you need to hold it.

Should add tools and spares for the bike but that's something you'd normally have on the bike anyway, you might have to move it about to accommodate the new bag/rack.

Might need a rain jacket as well.

I haven't used this method myself so it may be of limited use but I believe you can mount pannier racks on P-clips as long as you're not carrying much.

As whitestone suggested I'd lay everything you will need out on the bed and see what it actually amounts to as you may get away with just a frame/bar bag.

Excellent advice thanks all

A bit more time now to respond more fully.

People tend to buy bags/panniers then think "what can I fit in to this/these?" This is the wrong way to go about it! Make a list/pile of what you need and then work out what size of bag or bags is needed to fit it all in.

After that, ask "do I need access during the day?" If so then either you need to pack carefully so that the items you need, say a rain jacket, are easily accessible or have two smaller bags, one for the day items and one for the evening kit. Neither's "right", just a different way of approaching that problem. If you go for the single bag then try and find out the smallest volume it will compress to - the Carradice bags are good in this regard as they have some structure to them, roll-top bikepacking bags not so much as they rely on there being a certain amount of kit in there to maintain shape and stability. Having said that, I'd want a rain jacket to hand so would probably have it in a jersey pocket.

Some items come with a stuff sack - ignore these, it's better just to have the item loose so that they can be pushed in to nooks and crannies in the bag.

I listed taking a wallet: no need. Take your credit/debit card and cash in a ziplock bag. You aren't going to need your store loyalty cards and all the other gumph we typically have in our wallets. Depending on how much you use your phone a charger of some sort might be in order.

The most awkward items are shoes. They are just bulky no matter what you take. I'd just take sandals, Crocs or even flip flops. They are waterproof so don't have to be inside the bag.

A quick look round. The smaller of this seat pack from On-One https://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CCPDWSB/podsacs-waterproof-saddle-pack should be more than enough. In fact this one https://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BAVINB038BP/vincita-strada-bikepacking-saddle-bag-b038bp would also be OK.

I n r a t s but Blackburn do a rack that fits via the qr, if you have one.

I have a Tubus, Bontrager and a Blackburn, they all hold my panniers on without problems, the Tubus was 2-3* the rrp of the others tho, and rusts.

I have a Lomo seatpack which works very well for bike packing. But if you think you might tour again, I'd definitely go for a rack and panniers.

If you are staying at hotels how about posting a change of clothes to each and posting your dirty washing home. Then you have no need for bags

What dirty washing? You aren't going to die, be admitted to A&E or suffer some social faux pas from wearing the same clothes for a couple of evenings. The OP will be stopping at two different hotels so it's highly unlikely anyone at the first hotel will be at the second so wearing the same t-shirt and trousers isn't going to be noticed.

I've all three types of bag, all have their place and use: off-road - bikepacking; short tour - traditional saddle bag; round the world tour - rack and panniers. Other opinions available.

Thanks all really useful advice

Done offroad and road tours with panniers and with careful setup they're fine and secure. Mate did the last with alpkit strap on stuff and said it was a nightmare packing it all and faffing to fit it on.

Don't discount a traditional bar box with clear map holder on top, great for the snacks, waterproof and paper maps when your garmin dies.

Finally, it's a holiday. Leave a bit of room to get bottles of wine and lunps of cheese for the nighttime. This is where panniers rule.

Fair point about rusty Tubus racks. I use the stainless steel Fly, which is great for daily use, but is a lot more expensive.

Just to agree with sandwicheater, the Diverge does have pannier eyes on the rear dropouts (well mine does!) but a rack seat collar is required as there are no upper rack mounts.

The forks will take a front rack too.

If you have mid fork eyelets, the Specialized Pizza rack is a nice option. It keeps the panniers higher up so better for off road, plus it has big platform on top so you can just strap a bag to the top. I tend to use mine with a Lomo waterproof duffle, works a treat!

I’ve a brand new Axiom Streamliner rear rack if interested

but a rack seat collar is required as there are no upper rack mounts.

Last years Diverge (well, at least some of them) had the rack mounts built into the collar. The only problem is you need to adjust the saddle height before fitting the rack. OK for most folks but a bugger on hire bikes as the seat posts are adjusted frequently.