Cycling UK Forum

OK total newbie to cycle touring.

Went out and bought a rack to fit my bike (OMM Sherpa) and a couple of panniers (Ortlieb front rollers) so I could try it all out.

Fitted the rack without any problems and put the panniers on.

However how do you stop the panniers sliding down the rack? There is the clip at the bottom which will stop movement in 1 direction, but it will still slide the other way. I've put the correct Ortlieb hook inset into the clip, but it's not tight enough to stop the slide.

What am I missing?!

At the moment I'm thinking wrap insulation tape round the rack so that it's a bit less shiney and to pack the rail size to the exact diameter that fits the pannier hook. Then attach a couple of cable cleats round the rack (or jubilee clips) rails either side of the where I want the hooks to fit so that it'll stop the lateral slide.

My rack has cross pieces and I have put the hooks so that they abut the cross piece. If yours has none, then either use jubliee clamps or else wrap some copper wire around to form a barrier to sliding.

With careful positioning of the rail clips on the pannier and the bottom clip I find they don't move.

I would imagine an old wine bottle cork with a slit in it and a cable tie around it would keep the rack in place. Place on the rack rail to the side of the pannier to act as a bumper.

A large plastic cable tie works nicely on my bikes.

I had this problem on tour. I gaffer taped small bolt to the rack adjacent to the point on the rack where the pannier clip was as a temporary measure. Worked a treat and is still there some years later!

For my rear rack I use an elastic bungy tightly weaved through the rack. This stops the panniers sliding forwards and can be used as a bungy if I want to secure something to the rack. I assume you are talking about a front rack (??) so not sure if this would work - but its another idea for you to consider.