Urban bike panniers
Bike panniers for city use have enjoyed the most progress in the past few years. Cycling bag manufacturers now make panniers that satisfy both the technical parameters of attaching luggage to bicycles and the specialised wishes of their customers.
- Packs for grocery shopping – light and easy to carry when walking. Bags with detachable shoulder straps are ideal for this purpose since they double up as a backpack or as a shoulder bag.
- Bike bags for the office – include a protected laptop pocket and can be carried either as a briefcase or backpack.
Of course, it is always good for the bags to be robust, but it is more important to be attached and removed from the bikes quickly and easily for city use.
Bike Bags for Touring
On longer cycling trips, bike bags offer lots of benefits compared to a backpack. First and foremost among them is that you can carry more stuff with less effort. Mountain bikers often find bike bags a nuisance when riding downhill, but the problem has been elegantly solved with variable bag systems that can be attached to the bike on the way up and carried as a backpack on the way down.
- Bike bags for shorter trips – these are robust and watertight. Whether with a classic lid (overlapping) or a roll-down top remains a matter of preference. Good bags for the bike’s rear are slanted on the side facing the pedals to avoid bumping against them while pedalling. Bike bags that can be individually attached to the bike rack are convenient since it enables the rider to distribute even small amounts of weight evenly or free up space when needed.
- Bike bags for long trips – here, it is advisable to attach additional bags (so-called lowriders) to the bike fork on either side of the front wheel. This practice creates a more centralised centre of gravity on the bike, making riding more pleasant. Caution: Be careful not to overload the front bags because it can inhibit steering. A good guideline for optimum weight distribution is placing roughly a third of the weight in the front and two thirds in the back.
- Bike bags for heading down steep hills – these should have the option of being carried as a backpack since it is hardly possible to shift your weight behind the seat with the rear bags attached. Ortlieb has developed a variable carrying system with detachable padded shoulder straps for precisely this purpose, enabling the user to transform his bike bag into a fully functional backpack in a matter of minutes.
What is useful?
As with most equipment, some accessories and bike bags are handy, and others are less so. The following has proven most useful when travelling longer distances by bike:
- Handlebar bags are great for easy access to small items like cameras, guide books, wallets, etc.
- Map holders – can be attached to a handlebar bag always to have your map in front of you.
- Anti-theft devices – so that your so easily removable bike bags don’t grow legs.
- Dry bags – let you neatly arrange your gear inside the big bags.
- Rain covers – handy for covering non-waterproof bike bags. Unfortunately, also have an annoying tendency of flapping in the wind.
Roll Top bike bags are not only watertight but also have the added benefit of keeping grit and dust out of your bags.
Roll-top cycling panniers should be tightly rolled 3-4 times to make them completely watertight.
The roll-top cycling bag is also great for everyday use since it lets you adjust the size of the bag to its contents.
Attachment
Ortlieb bike bags and Deuter bike bags feature Quicklock attachment systems that enable easy placement and removal of the bags on bike racks. The attachment mechanism works using hooks that wrap around the bike rack’s frame—lifting the load by its handle primes the hooks’ locking mechanism, allowing it to be either removed or attached to the stand. An added benefit: Components of the mechanism are also easy to replace, should they break.
Materials
Today there are two main types of material from which bike bags are manufactured:
- PVC-coated polyester (same used for truck tarps) is exceptionally durable and waterproof. A downside is its weight. Bike panniers in this material are geared toward cyclists who use their bags daily and in all weather.
- PU-coated Cordura fabric. This fabric is much lighter but not 100% waterproof. Bags designed with this fabric typically come with a rain cover. It is an excellent option for those who are more fair-weather riders.
Most manufacturers try to use as little PVC as possible.
Bike Bag Brands
The high-quality, top-end brands are:
- Deuter – the well-known backpack manufacturer, also offers a small range of bike bags under their label in cooperation with Ortlieb
- Vaude – specialise in an extensive range of cycling backpacks and panniers with a focus on environmentally-friendly
- Evoc – offer a modern take on the everyday commute bag with plenty of styles and often in vibrant colours