Best pannier for commuting?

wh9260 · Post by **wh9260** » 12 Jan 2008, 6:16pm

Hi. I have just started commuting with a rack and an Altura Arran 16 pannier to get to college (I am a teacher). The pannier is far too small for several folders and my lunch.

Can anyone recommend a good pannier for this purpose? I need a new pair for touring and was going to get the large Ortliebs, but the size would indicate that an A4 folder would be too wide (I use the large 4 ring folders). Other makes (inc. Carradice and Altura) make panniers that would fit, but I need some advice from someone with experience of commuting every day (rain and shine).

Thanks,

Will

diapason · Post by **diapason** » 12 Jan 2008, 8:55pm

I'm a church organist and need to carry large sheet music and books, plus robes at weekends, and a change of clothes plus lunch for the day job. I've recently bought an Ortlieb Office Bag from someone here on the forum. First indications are very good. It's spacious and has kept my kit dry through all the rain this week.

N

geocycle · Post by **geocycle** » 13 Jan 2008, 1:11pm

I now have Ortlieb bike packers and they fit A4 files, laptops, spare work clothes, academic gown, business suit and shoes, tuxedo, diy supplies and a weeks shopping (not quite all at the same time of course). The mesh external pocket is useful for bits and pieces, the internal sleeve keeps papers straight. Oh, and they are waterproof. The only downside is the expense.

diapason · Post by **diapason** » 13 Jan 2008, 1:48pm

They're very good panniers - I've got some front rollers and a small bar bag as well as the office bag. They're all excellent and, hopefully, will last a long time.

N

mick skinner · Post by **mick skinner** » 13 Jan 2008, 2:51pm

and don't forget to use a single pannier whenever possible for Lawrie9's benifit

jawaka · Post by **jawaka** » 13 Jan 2008, 3:08pm

i find the ortliebs far bigger than the indicated 40 litres and they are great bags; i really would expect large files to fit the rolltop bags i have got

Asdace · Post by **Asdace** » 13 Jan 2008, 3:44pm

I've both the Ortlieb Back Roller Classic and Bike Packer Classic, Roller for shopping and Packer for touring. I've tried 2 large ring A4 files in the Back Roller and fit ok, 3 would be a squeeze. So a pair would be fine to balance the load. I use the Back Rollers for shopping and can get easily 2 large shopping bags in both panniers.

Also if I shop at Tesco's, I can get the Green points on my ClubCard for using pannier's.

I would get the Ortlieb's, waterproof and robust. Well worth the extra cash spend.
http://www.ortlieb.com/index2.php?lang=en

wh9260 · Post by **wh9260** » 13 Jan 2008, 8:58pm

Thanks for your advice. The feedback on Ortliebs seems very good all over the web. They are expensive, but I need to invest in some really solid panniers for touring anyway and they do seem the best way to go. I guess the only to really find the size for me is to take some typical folders into a shop.

Thanks again.

Asdace · Post by **Asdace** » 13 Jan 2008, 9:09pm

These are the dimensions of the Back Roller Classic

height: 16.5 in. upper width: 12.6 in. weight: 57.5 oz.
depth: 6.7 in. bottom width: 9.1 in. capacity: 2441 in³

Weight and Capacity of two bags

Paul Smith SRCC · Post by **Paul Smith SRCC** » 14 Jan 2008, 3:37pm

For waterproof and quick frequent removal the Ortlieb are very at both, Carradice Super C take slightly longer to remove but are about as durable as you can get, this post may be useful.

You can always use front panniers as small rears if course.

Paul Smith
www.bikeplus.co.uk

wh9260 wrote:Hi. I have just started commuting with a rack and an Altura Arran 16 pannier to get to college (I am a teacher). The pannier is far too small for several folders and my lunch.

Can anyone recommend a good pannier for this purpose? I need a new pair for touring and was going to get the large Ortliebs, but the size would indicate that an A4 folder would be too wide (I use the large 4 ring folders). Other makes (inc. Carradice and Altura) make panniers that would fit, but I need some advice from someone with experience of commuting every day (rain and shine).

Thanks,

Will

appolo · Post by **appolo** » 15 Jan 2008, 11:32am

I use a single (yes I know it's irritating but what the hell!), Carradice shopper on the workbike. Rain,shine,sleet,snow,now five years of constant use and often carrying heavy loads around the school,it has been worth it's weight in gold.

Yellowhammer · Post by **Yellowhammer** » 30 Sep 2008, 6:15pm

Hello from the US! I commute daily with an Arkel briefcase pannier and a Carradice shopper, and the combination works really well. All the office stuff goes in the briefcase, and the shopper pannier allows hauling extra gear or picking up groceries or whatnot on the way home.

The Arkel briefcase comes off easily and looks good enough for any business meeting. I considered the excellent Ortlieb Office Bag 2, but chose the Arkel because I wanted a pannier rather than a rack-top bag.

Kevin K · Post by **Kevin K** » 30 Sep 2008, 6:44pm

Asdace wrote:I use the Back Rollers for shopping and can get easily 2 large shopping bags in both panniers.

One bag in each I assume?

UrbanManc · Post by **UrbanManc** » 30 Sep 2008, 8:13pm

Whats this .... a meeting of the ortlieb fanclub

I have these ... half the price and just as good

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/dhb_Marsden_Rear_Panniers/5360033204/

hubgearfreak · Post by **hubgearfreak** » 30 Sep 2008, 8:36pm

Yellowhammer wrote:Hello from the US! I commute daily with an Arkel briefcase pannier and a Carradice shopper, and the combination works really well.

hello from england. i take it you know our mixed veiws on asymmetry? to keep the balance, we've got a second threadon the same topic.

i for one think that you ought to have your handlebars filled with lead for crimes against aesthetics that you obviously commit every day, but could you let us have a photo to horrify/entertain us? :wink:

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Best pannier for commuting?

Best pannier for commuting?

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