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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.
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. Number one favourite pannier has to
be the Front Roller Light at £75 a pair. The tops roll closed
(thus the name) and they are available in black, red and green. 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. They are also available in standard fabric (rather
than the lightweight stuff) in red or green, for £65/pr.
The front panniers, are actually the perfect size for a rear pannier
round town. If you ever go on that round-the-world trip, or have
to carry enormous amounts of stuff around with you, shift the smaller
panniers onto the front and get a pair of rear rollers for the
back. 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! |
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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 £76.99 red, blue, grey, yellow, black
Plus £103.99 red, blue, graphite, black
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back roller |
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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 £61.99 red, blue, grey, yellow, black
Plus £79.99 red, blue, graphite, black
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front roller |
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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 £115.50
classic £84.99 |
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bike packer |
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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) £69.50
Large (21L) £76.99 |
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office bag |
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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.
small £22.99
medium £25.50
large £26.99 |
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saddle bag |
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travel biker
Our only rack-mounted suitcase.
£99.99 |
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travel biker |
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sport packer
These are great for low-rider front racks - they're tall and narrow.
plus £99.99
classic £76.99
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sport packer |
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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.
ultimate 4 comp[act classic 38.50 |
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ultimate 4 compact |
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harness
Turns your Ortlieb pannier into a comfortable rucksack
£23.99 |
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harness |
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| Racks
Most carrying systems start with a rear rack. Basic,
simple, sturdy racks start at £19.99. 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, at £24.99.
For serious expeditions, we recommend the Tubus Fly. Stainless
steel, tough and really rather cute. Price is £49.99 |
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Topeak SuperTourist - £24.99 |
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...
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| 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!
£250, comes with excellent waterproof roll top bag.
Burleys are the only choice for carrying children. They are very
stable, and have a roll bar in case of capsize. It does work!
The hitch is excellent, and the design means that you hardly know
the trailer is there. Except when going up hills. The door rolls
down to give protection from sun and rain, and there's luggage
space at the back of the trailer for extra stuff. Choose between
1 and 2 child models, prices range from £200 to £400 |
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Burley trailer
Bob Yak
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Nelly on holiday
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