Luggage advice and recommendations

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roubaixtuesday
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Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by roubaixtuesday »

We're setting up the tandem for some longer tours, hopefully a couple of weeks this year and maybe a couple of months next year. Previously we've never done more than a few days.

We don't intend camping, but nevertheless will need quite a bit of space I think. The intention is to fit a front rack as well as rear.

Currently we've a pair of fairly standard size Vaude waterproof panniers, I think they're these. https://www.vaude.com/en-GB/Equipment/B ... =124111410 They're excellent, but I think a little small.

So, recommendations for larger rear panniers? Must be waterproof. The only option I'm aware of is these from ortlieb https://www.ortlieb.com/uk_en/back-roll ... plus+F5251
roubaixtuesday
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by roubaixtuesday »

And secondly, any recommendation for a bar bag for the stoker?

Must be waterproof and large enough for a 4:3 system DSLR (smaller than a full DSLR but much bigger than a phone).

I think a standard Rixen and Kaul mount would fit in reverse, but not sure whether a standard bar bag would get in the way in reverse? Any suggestions?

Pics of the stoker setup:

20230318_155729.jpg
20230318_155733.jpg
Jdsk
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by Jdsk »

We use Ortlieb Back Rollers and are very pleased with them. Take the time to get all the fittings right. Does the rear rack have a dropped rail?

I think that a standard bar bag would work backwards on the rear bars, but if not you could consider a stand-off gadget bar. Again all of ours are Ortlieb.

On one of the tandems we've occasionally used panniers on front and rear racks with mats and poles strapped to the front forks.

This might be a good time to consider frame bags.

And of course... plenty of shakedown rides to check stability.

Jonathan
roubaixtuesday
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by roubaixtuesday »

Jdsk wrote: 19 Mar 2023, 10:26am We use Ortlieb Back Rollers and are very pleased with them. Take the time to get all the fittings right. Does the rear rack have a dropped rail?

Do you have the larger ones I've linked or the standard size ortliebs?

And yes, we have a dropped rail. Also planning to keep the Arkel rack top bag on too, and ortlieb bar bag for me at the front.

Would rather not start putting frame bags on, just seems unnecessarily complicated. But willing to be convinced otherwise.
Jdsk
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by Jdsk »

Jdsk wrote: 19 Mar 2023, 10:26am ...
I think that a standard bar bag would work backwards on the rear bars, but if not you could consider a stand-off gadget bar. Again all of ours are Ortlieb...
Or the proprietary extender:
https://www.ortlieb.com/media/downloads ... ing_en.pdf

Jonathan
Jdsk
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by Jdsk »

roubaixtuesday wrote: 19 Mar 2023, 10:31am Do you have the larger ones I've linked or the standard size ortliebs?
...
Ours are all "Classic".

Jonathan
Last edited by Jdsk on 19 Mar 2023, 11:38am, edited 1 time in total.
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SimonCelsa
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by SimonCelsa »

Why not use a Bob Yak trailer or similar.

I've only tried it on the tandem once myself (for a short shopping trip) and although you have a fairly long 'footprint', the load was managed easily and handling was OK.
PH
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by PH »

For this year - I'd stick your Vaude's on the rear, borrow or buy some smaller front panniers for a front rack and a large stuffsack to go on the rear rack between the panniers, maybe 20L. Revise what you take and how you pack it based on this years's trip ready for the next one, it could save some expensive mistakes.
I think your Vaude's are too big for the front, bigger than I'd be happy with anyway, a 20L stuffsack, like an Ortlieb Drybags increases the rear rack capacity to that of the Ortlieb Plus, for a tenth of the price, without increasing width, offers more versatility, and they make decent shopping bags.
EDIT - Just noticed you have a rack top bag already, I'd leave that at home for a tour, IMO they don't tend to offer much capacity for the space they occupy.
Last edited by PH on 19 Mar 2023, 11:48am, edited 2 times in total.
roubaixtuesday
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by roubaixtuesday »

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Just for clarity, we do have a front rack and a small pair of (ortlieb) panniers to match.
roubaixtuesday
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by roubaixtuesday »

SimonCelsa wrote: 19 Mar 2023, 11:25am Why not use a Bob Yak trailer or similar.

I've only tried it on the tandem once myself (for a short shopping trip) and although you have a fairly long 'footprint', the load was managed easily and handling was OK.
I actually do own one, but it's been very rarely used.

Personal view is that it's only really worth it if you want to take load off the rear wheel, or really can't fit what you need in panniers. On the tandem, a little extra weight on a 48 spoke wheel with two people already doesn't worry me.

If we were planning to camp, I'd probably take that, but for non - camping, prefer to just get a bit more pannier space.
PH
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by PH »

Another option - When camping I attach stuffsacks on top of the panniers, with the tent in two pieces, that's an additional 14L of capacity without blocking the top of the rack, which carries the poles:

ImageJourney end by Paul, on Flickr
slowster
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by slowster »

roubaixtuesday wrote: 19 Mar 2023, 10:02am And secondly, any recommendation for a bar bag for the stoker?

Must be waterproof and large enough for a 4:3 system DSLR
I would look for a bag that could be suspended under the bars, e.g.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/luggageortl ... -35-litre/

Alternatively, R&K make a bracket that can be mounted on a seatpost. However, that would require enough space under the stem not just for the height of the bag itself, but also clearance to be able to insert and remove the bag from the bracket. An Ortlieb 5 litre bar bag might be just shallow enough.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/luggage/rix ... ter-kr851/

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/luggagebarb ... k-5-litre/
roubaixtuesday
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by roubaixtuesday »

Jdsk wrote: 19 Mar 2023, 11:07am
Jdsk wrote: 19 Mar 2023, 10:26am ...
I think that a standard bar bag would work backwards on the rear bars, but if not you could consider a stand-off gadget bar. Again all of ours are Ortlieb...
Or the proprietary extender:
https://www.ortlieb.com/media/downloads ... ing_en.pdf

Jonathan
The problem is the opposite: I've just tried fitting a spare R&K fitting and bar bag, and it fouls her knees. So needs to be higher and/or further forwards.

These look pretty much spot on I think

https://restrap.com/collections/bikepac ... s/bar-pack

Or

https://alpkit.com/products/toploader

Or these

https://www.apidura.com/shop/expedition-handlebar-pack/

...
PH
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by PH »

Klickfix do a seatpost mount that a handlebar bag can be attached to

Image
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/luggage/rix ... -adapters/

Might need some careful measuring to see if that but the bag in a suitable place.
I had a strap on bar bag, it was fine, but loses some of the convenience of something on a bracket.
roubaixtuesday
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Re: Luggage advice and recommendations

Post by roubaixtuesday »

PH wrote: 19 Mar 2023, 3:56pm Klickfix do a seatpost mount that a handlebar bag can be attached to

Image
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/luggage/rix ... -adapters/

Might need some careful measuring to see if that but the bag in a suitable place.
I had a strap on bar bag, it was fine, but loses some of the convenience of something on a bracket.
It's a great idea, bit I don't think the dimensions work under the stem.
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