Rack And Panniers

[hamster]

...and especially good if you need ground clearance for rougher stuff.

 

[drystonepaul]

Tortec racks are definitely good for the money. The tubular steel ones are just as strong as Tubus ones, but are a couple of hundred grams heavier.
Tubus are certainly still worth the extra cash though as they are very well made.

Ortlieb panniers are also very well made and well worth the money. They are good for spare parts too should you manage to break or lose any part of their very well designed mounting system.

I've heard good things about Carradice too, although I've never tried them myself.

I'd hesitate about putting panniers on a DeKerf though...

 

[Pogo]

Thanks for all the info all good stuff

I'd hesitate about putting panniers on a DeKerf though...

what problems have you experienced, heard about?
The lugs are all there and certainly look as well made as the rest of the bike, I hadn't considered there may be problems :?

 

[drystonepaul]

Thanks for all the info all good stuff

I'd hesitate about putting panniers on a DeKerf though...

what problems have you experienced, heard about?
The lugs are all there and certainly look as well made as the rest of the bike, I hadn't considered there may be problems :?

It's mostly an aesthetic thing. DeKerfs are beautiful bikes and well made too, panniers will look ugly but there is also a more practical level than that.
If you carry alot of weight, then you can stress the pannier mounts to the point of failure. This can vary depending on the design and placement of pannier mounts on the frame. Racks and panniers are also notoriously bad for scraping and rubbing on paintwork.

I believe the 'Mountain' pre-dates the newer 'Generation' frames and is somewhat more rare. While of course it should still be ridden, I reckon there are probably bikes out there that are more suitable for lugging about loads.

That said I don't know what your plans are for it.

 

[Pogo]

That's OK, I was worried you knew something about the frames that would warn against the use of panniers.

I'm not bothered about rarity, the bike is used as I like,
which means it gets a good battering anyway...

and I ain't going to cry about scratches or rubbed paintwork.
IMHO if I was worried about it, I'd sell it to someone who was prepared to take more care of it- but that would be a shame. It's a brilliant bike and I love it to bits.

The old girl gets serviced and fettled. Now she's going to take me on an expedition around Snowdonia

 

[hamster]

Ride it ride it!
I hate all those sports cars etc laid up unused. It takes away the whole point of their existence.

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

What the hamster said! If your tour is long enough to mean a fair weight of kit, you way want to consider front panniers too. This will avoid all the weight being at the back tipping you over all the time. I use the limpit system as my forks don't have the necessary braze ons.

It all works very well. Chris667 is one of the touring gurus.

 

[velomaniac]

SJScycles do really nice racks for their Thorn bikes, think theyre tubular Reynolds 531 or some such, pricey but very good.

 

[Pogo]

you way want to consider front panniers too. This will avoid all the weight being at the back tipping you over all the time. I use the limpit system as my forks don't have the necessary braze ons.
.

Hmm, I might look into front panniers- will have to see how I get on with whichever rear panniers I end up getting. I didn't think I'd get a set to fit my RC-35 forks but I'll look into this 'Limpit' system.

Does anyone know of a good store in the NW with a good selection of panniers?

 

[barry2017]

The problem you might have with front panniers is ground clearance, if your tour involves a lot of rough stuff.

A barbag might be a better answer for little things.