Comments on: How To Pack Your Panniers http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/how-to-pack-your-panniers/ Bicycle Touring Pro Mon, 21 May 2012 08:37:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Eric Hendrickson http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/how-to-pack-your-panniers/comment-page-1/#comment-10920 Eric Hendrickson Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:18:16 +0000 http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/?p=44#comment-10920 When you break a back spoke it is really the only way to fix it. I have used it a couple of time once on mine, my fault, jumping a rock got a pinch flat and broken spoke all because I was board and playing around and I have fixed others for them also. One per group in more then enough. Road biking short of a hole in the road you should not break a spoke as long as the wheel is true. One spoke in just over 5000 miles times two on mostly dirt isn't bad. It was minor compared to some of the other stuff that failed on our bikes. Needed to replace pad, easy job, broken saddle, brooks to a Canadian tire saddle with some comfort issues, broken bolt in the rack, which was fixed by an ATV shop, and fuel, we had to burn several different types which did not make the stove happy. But so goes wilderness off road biking. We are off again tomorrow for another two week adventure in northern Quebec. As always thanks for the great information and the site you provide others. BTW, we generally carry 8-12 days worth of foods in remote areas. When you break a back spoke it is really the only way to fix it. I have used it a couple of time once on mine, my fault, jumping a rock got a pinch flat and broken spoke all because I was board and playing around and I have fixed others for them also. One per group in more then enough. Road biking short of a hole in the road you should not break a spoke as long as the wheel is true. One spoke in just over 5000 miles times two on mostly dirt isn’t bad. It was minor compared to some of the other stuff that failed on our bikes. Needed to replace pad, easy job, broken saddle, brooks to a Canadian tire saddle with some comfort issues, broken bolt in the rack, which was fixed by an ATV shop, and fuel, we had to burn several different types which did not make the stove happy. But so goes wilderness off road biking. We are off again tomorrow for another two week adventure in northern Quebec. As always thanks for the great information and the site you provide others. BTW, we generally carry 8-12 days worth of foods in remote areas.

]]> By: Bicycle Touring Pro http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/how-to-pack-your-panniers/comment-page-1/#comment-10914 Bicycle Touring Pro Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:27:31 +0000 http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/?p=44#comment-10914 You said you carry these tools with you, but have you ever used them? That's the question? I've toured for 11 years and never needed that tool on my travels, so I just wonder if it is worth carrying. What do you think? Have you needed it? You said you carry these tools with you, but have you ever used them? That’s the question? I’ve toured for 11 years and never needed that tool on my travels, so I just wonder if it is worth carrying. What do you think? Have you needed it?

]]> By: Eric Hendrickson http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/how-to-pack-your-panniers/comment-page-1/#comment-10910 Eric Hendrickson Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:55:53 +0000 http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/?p=44#comment-10910 One tool we always carry on long tours is a Stein Mini Cassette Lock tool with several spokes wrapped in drinking straws stashed onside the handle bar of the bike. It can be used to remove either the lock ring for disc brakes or the lock ring for the cassette. One tool we always carry on long tours is a Stein Mini Cassette Lock tool with several spokes wrapped in drinking straws stashed onside the handle bar of the bike. It can be used to remove either the lock ring for disc brakes or the lock ring for the cassette.

]]> By: Bicycle Touring Pro http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/how-to-pack-your-panniers/comment-page-1/#comment-10780 Bicycle Touring Pro Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:43:33 +0000 http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/?p=44#comment-10780 At the moment, these are the two racks I have on my touring bike: Rear: http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/axiom-journey-tubular-alloy-rack/ Front: http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/index.cfm/product/158_19/arkel-ac-lowrider-front-rack.cfm You probably won't be able to put a standard rack on the front of your racing bike, because there are no eyelets for the rack itself. However, you may be able to use the Freeload Rack reviewed here http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/freeload-rack-review/ on the front of your bicycle. The rack attaches with the use of two compression straps, rather than screws, so that might work perfectly for you. At the moment, these are the two racks I have on my touring bike:

Rear: http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/axiom-journey-tubular-alloy-rack/
Front: http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/index.cfm/product/158_19/arkel-ac-lowrider-front-rack.cfm

You probably won’t be able to put a standard rack on the front of your racing bike, because there are no eyelets for the rack itself. However, you may be able to use the Freeload Rack reviewed here http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/freeload-rack-review/ on the front of your bicycle. The rack attaches with the use of two compression straps, rather than screws, so that might work perfectly for you.

]]> By: Bicycle Touring Pro http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/how-to-pack-your-panniers/comment-page-1/#comment-10731 Bicycle Touring Pro Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:15:38 +0000 http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/?p=44#comment-10731 Hey Brent. Thanks for the comments... and I actually agree with you on everything that you've said here. Trailers can be easy to unhitch... and the fact that you have only one big thing to deal with can be easier at times. It can, however, be more difficult as well. For example, I usually sleep with my belongings inside the tent with me... and in a tiny 1 man tent, I wouldn't be able to do that with a trailer (unless I removed the BOB bag from the trailer each night .) And if you wanted to take a trail in Europe, for example, while pulling a big long trailer, that might pove to be difficult. But having a much more compact set of panniers that don't take up as much room, is usualy a better way to go. So it's one of those things, I think, that just really depends on the situation. It depends on what types of roads you are going to be traveling on, which countries you plan to visit, if you are going to be taking other means of transportation, how much weight/gear you are carrying, etc. Hey Brent. Thanks for the comments… and I actually agree with you on everything that you’ve said here. Trailers can be easy to unhitch… and the fact that you have only one big thing to deal with can be easier at times. It can, however, be more difficult as well. For example, I usually sleep with my belongings inside the tent with me… and in a tiny 1 man tent, I wouldn’t be able to do that with a trailer (unless I removed the BOB bag from the trailer each night .) And if you wanted to take a trail in Europe, for example, while pulling a big long trailer, that might pove to be difficult. But having a much more compact set of panniers that don’t take up as much room, is usualy a better way to go. So it’s one of those things, I think, that just really depends on the situation. It depends on what types of roads you are going to be traveling on, which countries you plan to visit, if you are going to be taking other means of transportation, how much weight/gear you are carrying, etc.

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