Panniers - Racks - Bags - Bike Luggage

Just picked myself up a pair in red! They're still in stock if you fancy something a bit ahem louder...

Boop.

SO! I'm torn between the Millican Smith and the Brooks Pickwick (small):

http://www.homeofmillican.com/smith-the-roll-pack-18l.html
http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/bags/cycle+bags+%26+accoutrements/PICKWICK+Small+Backpack/

Bearing in mind here in the Finlands the smith will cost me just under €150 euros including delivery and I can get the Pickwick for €200, so there's not as much in price as the websites might suggest.

Considerations:

• Brooks is 50% more expensive
  
• Brooks looks a bit snazzier
  
• Millican is a bit bigger
  
• Millican has a few more fancy pockets
  
• Millican won't make me seem as poncy as having an expensive Brooks branded bag.
  
• Millican has modern padding around the straps, Brooks does not.
  
• I can get the Brooks NOW (it's in shop here)
  
  

Things I could do with answers to:

1. Is one going to be more waterproof than the other?
   
2. Can either be mounted to a rack should I want to do that?
   
3. Has anyone carried a laptop around in the Brooks and can comment on my thoughts that it'll get uncomfortable compared to the padding on the MIllican?
   
   

Any other thoughts appreciated! Time to push the button.

Is there such a thing as extra long rear rack struts? I need them to fit the Yepp rack so it's level for the baby seat

I fancy a little front rack with a box to throw locks and tools in when I don't want to take a rear pannier. Are there any decent racks which fit these forks?

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/Images/Original/142802_2.jpg

Could try a racktime topit

Anyone recommend an ultra stylish (like me) saddle bag, for inner tubes, levers and a couple of CO2 cannisters?

Mack Workshop delivered the goods!

The bigtop ones are great.. I now have 3 of them..

http://www.bigxtop.com/collections/cycling/products/saddle-roll

Have a Roadrunner one, works great, looks even better in the digi camo print.
[omgawesometumblrsadlletoolrollpic.png]

Not stylish enough

Oh America...

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I want a simple rack top bag for our tandem - any reason to spend more than these £10 eBay ones?

decent front panniers?

looking at altura arran for around 50quid

carradice have a universal front pannier for a similar price. anyone had any experience with either?

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/luggage/carradice-carradura-universal-panniers-blackgrey-30-litre/

Ortlieb front/city roller.

Been searching high and low for a suitable lightweight front rack for my utility hhsmtb, finally after much googling I came across Bor Yueh. As luck would have it, theres a UK ebay store stocking the one I was after so I took the plunge for the princely sum of £15! WIll report back once it arrives
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bor-Yueh-Alloy-Front-Carrier-Bicycle-Rack-BLACK-fit-rack-bags-and-panniers/191902489997?_trksid=p2052191.m2338

Had one of those racks on my Mb5 a few years ago.

Edit: It's one of those Ebay Rack top bags on the photo too^^

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have you got some? when they say 25l do they mean compressed? assume you can stuff a bit more than that and have the tops open if needs be?

thanks

I have some. Probably 25L when strapped down to level. You can indeed leave them open/use the shoulder strap to extend the strap over the top. The roller plus ones are a nice improvement if you can find the old colourway, but not really otherwise worth the money.

I think the old Roller Plus are what I have - SJS still had stock. No idea about actual volume.

Do people helicopter tape the top tube when using a frame bag?

I don't but I'm not that bothered about the paint. Road bike's been fine, minimal wear. Mountain bike going pretty quickly. There's a bit of a guide here if you're planning to helitape the whole thing... http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/damage-limitation-frame-taping-guide.html

Thanks - that's handy, I wouldn't have thought of using a hole punch to create bottle cage holes.

I popped down to Condor this morning to check out the Apidura stuff, the M and L front bags both skimmed the front tyre (empty), so when full I predict that I'd very rapidly cut a groove through the bag.

The little one seems very small, is there a better option? The sales-guy (Angel) recommended simply strapping a dry bag to the bars instead of getting the S(mall) Apidura bar-bag.

TBH I don't think that design of front bag works well with drop bars. It's a bit of a PITA to get stuff in/out without levers/shifters/cables/bars getting in the way.

The Wildcat harness works well and the tension under the fork and variable size of drybags means you can generally avoid it catching, but that design assumes you'll be packing a drybag in the morning, strapping it in and leaving it on all day - not really a quick-access/on-the-go solution.

What are you planning to use it for?