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Luggage

Ortlieb Panniers

The waterproof criteria means that Ortlieb feature in the luggage Hall of Fame – the company apparently started out making bags for canoes, so I guess that's why they are so good at keeping things dry. The most popular are the Back Roller Classics. The tops roll closed (thus the name) and they are available in red, blue, grey, yellow and black. The hooks that attach the bag to the rack double lock, so the bags don't jump off, but can be released one handed. Some people don't like the lack of pockets. The front panniers are quite usable on the rear if you don't carry a lot. If you ever go on that round-the-world trip, or have to carry enormous amounts of stuff around with you, use the smaller panniers on the front and back rollers on the rear. If you can't fit almost everything into that combination, you probably won't be able to ride the bike once you've loaded it up!

 

Back Roller

What can we say? way up there as the only way to carry all your clobber around London. Waterproof, virtually indestructable (unintentional challenges to this claim on my part have included dropping one in a river, and and another down the side of a mountain. Not, however, on the same day)

Classic - red, blue, grey, yellow, black

Plus - red, blue, graphite, black

  

 

    

Front Roller

Smaller, neater version of the back roller. Rated as a front pannier, but if you're the type who travels light, no reason not to use it on the back rack. Stops you taking the kitchen sink on every journey.

Classic - red, blue, grey, yellow, black

Plus - red, blue, graphite, black

  

 

    

Bike Packer

If a traditional lid and buckle arrangement appeals, this is the bag for you. Great for camping. Wide handle on the top makes them easy to carry.

Plus

Classic

 

 

    

Office Bag

Stealth commuting - looks smart enough, is completely waterproof, and stops the corners of your papers getting dogeared. Organiser pockets inside for all your, i don't know, pens? memory sticks? whatever it takes to get you through a day at the office. Laptop sleeves also available for a little bit mroe protection

Small (13litre)

Large (21L)

 

 

    

Saddle Bag

For storing tools, a tube, etc on day rides. They clip off the bike with one hand, and the closure can be used to clip them round the strap them onto another bag.

AVailable in small, medium + large.

  

 

    

Travel Biker

Our only rack-mounted suitcase.

 

  

 

    

Sport Packer

These are great for low-rider front racks - they're tall and narrow.

Plus

Classic

 

 

    

Ultimate 4 compact

Bar bags are perfect for touring or long day rides. They usually have a map case on the top, keeping your map and directions dry but permanently visible. It's the best place for all your valuables, because it can be popped off and carried with you every time you get off the bicycle. Cameras also fare well here, they don't get joggled about as much as they would in a pannier, and are a little more protected if the bike falls over. The cameras' handy as well, you can hold the bike up between your legs, pull the camera out of the bar bag and take snaps.

  

 

    

Harness

Turns your Ortlieb pannier into a comfortable rucksack

  

 

    

Racks

Most carrying systems start with a rear rack. Basic, simple, sturdy racks start at £25. We stock ones with a platform on the top, which acts as a rudimentary mudguard and stops your sandwiches dropping through into the back wheel. A step upwards gets you a dogleg (to stop panniers getting caught in the back wheel), with a little more strength and a little less weight. We recommend the Topeak SuperTourist.

For serious expeditions, we recommend the Tubus Fly. Stainless steel, tough and really rather cute.

 

Once you have your rack, fitting will probably take you about 30 minutes. Remember that most types of rack come with a selection of different fitting components, for different bikes. This means that you will be left with extra bits when you have finished. This is ok! You're welcome to borrow tools from us to fit your new rack, choose a warm day though, we don't have enough space to let you do repairs inside the shop any more. We can also fit your rack for you – see the workshop pages for details on how to organise this

  

 

Hydration Systems

Well, some of us are bladder converts, and some of us are not. I get to write this bit because I love them. For the uninitiated, a hydration system is a bag full of water that you strap on your back, with a tube coming off it so that you can drink with no hands. Or that's how it started, anyway. Once you're wearing a neat little rucksack, though, you might as well add some extra pockets and pop a spare tube, fruit bar, jacket in there, and before you know it, you have a useful rucksack that you could also slip a bladder into….. depending on what you want to do.

Camelbaks start from £29.99 for streamlined racing version, up to £85 for the peak bagger, which is big enough to carry a weekend of stuff. You can pack enough in for a day ride, especially if like me you prefer to take the little proggle for unblocking the kitchen sink with, you never know, remember that time when...

 

Trailers

Our favourite trailer, the Bob-Yak is a small, quick single wheeled trailer. It fits easily onto quick release rear axles, and has a mesh body to pop your stuff in. It's small, it's light, and you can carry a fair bit of stuff without much effort. Top product! Comes with excellent waterproof roll top bag.

 

Bicycle Luggage

Bicycles are great for carrying you around, but they can be good for carrying other things around as well!

This is just a little selection of our luggage solutions, but if you don't see anything you fancy, or have specific requirements, contact us. Between us, we have one of just about everything, and some have been very heavily tested. Features that make us like a particular bag include (but are not limited to) waterproofness, ease of getting on and off the bike, capacity, how well you can stow things in it, and of course aesthetic considerations. Panniers come in pairs, unless otherwise stated.