After releasing the last word listing of bicycle panniers, I received round to considering, “What would the perfect bicycle pannier appear like? What wouldn’t it be fabricated from? What options wouldn’t it have?”
After a little bit considering and a whole lot of expertise utilizing bike panniers prior to now, I put collectively the next, which is an inventory of issues I might need to see in my perfect bicycle pannier:
Waterproof – (Or practically waterproof) When it rains or snows, you need to know that your possessions are secure inside your panniers. This is the reason having waterproof or practically waterproof panniers is so vital. With an increasing number of cyclists now carrying computer systems, cell telephones, MP3 gamers and different digital units, it’s extra vital than ever that your luggage be waterproof.
Light-weight – An excellent pannier additionally must be light-weight. As cyclists, we’re at all times looking for methods to scale back the quantity of weight on our bikes… and panniers must be no completely different. The lighter the pannier, the higher!
Sturdy – Even when the pannier is light-weight, it’s nonetheless received to have the ability to reside as much as the calls for of life on the street. Utilizing panniers on an extended roadtrip or as a each day messenger bag to your native errands, the bag itself has received to have the ability to deal with no matter you throw at it. This implies no damaged zippers. No ripped material. No holes within the backside. No damaged hooks or straps. No leaks within the seams. The best bike panniers has received to have the ability to take a beating.
Secures To The Rack And Doesn’t Jiggle – An excellent pannier additionally must have a locking system that holds the bag in place in your bicycle’s entrance or rear rack. Some panniers use two single hooks on the prime of the bag, whereas others have extra sophisticated locking mechanism. Regardless of the case could also be, the perfect pannier has received to be safe when hooked up to the bike. This implies it will possibly’t jiggle and shake as we experience… and it actually can’t pop off the bike completely once we hit a giant crack or pothole within the street.
Straightforward To Carry Off The Bike – Clearly the perfect pannier has to suit properly in your bike, nevertheless it’s additionally received to be simple to hold off the bike. Whether or not you might be utilizing the pannier as your grocery bag to your each day buying or as a daypack on a multi-day tour, the flexibility to comfortably carry the pannier off the bike is one function many bike panniers are at the moment missing.
Can Be Used For Touring Or For Commuting – Most individuals gained’t need to put money into two separate units of panniers – one for touring and one for commuting. For that cause, the perfect pannier ought to have the ability to be used for each actions.
Not Too Huge… Or Too Small – If in case you have a pannier that’s too massive, then you might be carrying extra materials you don’t should be carrying and also you’ll be tempted to pack extra stuff than you really need. However, utilizing a pannier that’s too small means not with the ability to carry all the pieces you want. So, the dimensions of the pannier is essential. It may’t be too massive… and it will possibly’t be too small.
The Skill To Add Extra Stuff If Desired – The best bike pannier shouldn’t be too massive or too small, nevertheless it ought to provide the means of including just a bit bit extra if you happen to so need. Many panniers are made with “growth lids” which provide the means so as to add just a bit bit extra stuff to your bag if you really want to get it of their. Utilizing this function sometimes makes the pannier rather less fashionable, nevertheless it’s an important function to have if you completely should carry a wee bit extra.
Trendy – Speaking about “fashionable,” the perfect pannier must look good in your bike and in your hand. Present bicycle panniers appear to come back in 4 most important colours: black, blue, pink and yellow. However think about having a set of panniers that regarded extra like a Calvin Klein briefcase… or maybe a Coach purse? I’d prefer to see a pannier that makes my bike and I look extra like a Vary Rover and its proprietor than a bicyclist in shiny yellow apparel.
Environmentally Pleasant – That is turning into an increasing number of vital. Customers these days need to know that their purchases are, on the very least, not doing appreciable harm to the atmosphere. So, having a pannier that’s made with recycled or environmentally pleasant supplies is extraordinarily vital. And if you happen to can go one step additional and make sure the luggage weren’t made by kids in sweat outlets’s, that’s even higher!
Straightforward To Entry When On The Bike – An excellent pannier additionally needs to be simple to entry while you’re using. Typically instances it would be best to seize your telephone, map, keys, or different merchandise out of your bag, however you don’t need to must get completely off the bike and create a giant ordeal out of the state of affairs. As a substitute, you need to merely lean again, attain into your pannier, pull out the specified merchandise and proceed in your method. If there’s a set of straps, locks, belts or bungees that you must navigate your method by way of each time you get one thing out of your panniers, then accessibility drops and getting objects out of your luggage all of the sudden turns into a chore.
Retains Contents Cool – Whether or not you might be carrying meals, toiletries, or electronics, the perfect bicycle pannier will hold the contents of your bag at a secure temperature. The best bicycle pannier gained’t get too sizzling (even in excessive warmth), nor will it dew up with condensation attributable to moisture within the air.
Can Be Used To Stand Out Or Mix In – Lots of at present’s bike panniers come commonplace with reflective tape and shiny colours, that are helpful for gaining consideration out on the street or using at nighttime. However what if you’d like a set of panniers that doesn’t scream, “HERE COMES A BICYCLIST!”? I believe the perfect bicycle pannier ought to have the ability to be utilized in such a method that the rider has the choice of both standing out or mixing in. You would possibly need to stand out when biking in heavy site visitors or navigating your method alongside a slim, windy street. However you would possibly need to mix in when exploring a brand new metropolis on foot or organising a stealth campsite within the woods. Having a set of panniers than is, probably, reversible can be a function I’d prefer to see made obtainable.
Lockable – Many bicycle vacationers and each day commuters may additionally like the choice of locking their panniers to their bike after they step inside a constructing or enterprise away from their two-wheeled vehichle. If there have been a solution to not solely lock the panniers shut, but additionally safe the baggage to your bicycle, then this too can be a superb function to have.
Secure To Take On A Airplane – With an increasing number of individuals touring by bike these days, and airways getting much more strict about their carry-on baggage necessities, it is crucial that panniers not have any sharp edges, hooks or different such supplies that might make airline officers nervous about letting us (or our panniers) on the airplane.
Group Choices – Lastly, having some form of solution to set up your issues contained in the pannier can be good. Lots of at present’s present panniers are designed with inner or exterior pockets to assist in the group course of. These pockets, nonetheless, do add further weight and often use zippers of some form, that are susceptible to breakage and put on as time rolls on. Different panniers keep away from the group possibility completely with designs resembling that of a bucket – an enormous gap, which all the pieces is dropped into and dug out at a later cut-off date.
What About You? What Would You Like To See?
Okay, I’ve shared with you what I’d prefer to see in my perfect bicycle pannier. Now it’s as much as you! What would you prefer to see in your perfect pannier? What would they be made out of? What colours would they be? What options/advantages would they’ve? Let me know by leaving a remark beneath. I sit up for listening to what you must say.
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