I have a 57 bleriot, use the nitto big rack in the rear, mark's rack in the front with the little baggins loafer. During the week, the little baggins carries a jacket, some gloves, a couple straps, micro pump, and maybe a hat, and I attach a pannier to commute to work (the arkel one with the laptop bag). It works great. I just ck'd, it's 1500 cui:
http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/commuter/overview.asp?fl=1&site= (I also have a suit bag that straps on, but use it maybe once every two weeks or less.) Frankly, the aesthetic is a compromise, that black bag on the back with the loafer, but not that much, and I like it's utility, and only aspire to being prissy enough to complain. I have no problem with the thing quite heavy; the bike does fine (even with a slight six year old thrown on top of the rack; it is solid). A little slower, yes, but that's the engine. On weekends, I frequently zip-tie a basket on the back rack for quick trips to the store or whatever, big trips a trailer, pannier stays at home. I was told by folks at Riv that the nitto top rack is not that compatible w/ panniers, get the big. Probably would do in a pinch, but not regular use. On Feb 12, 9:26 pm, PATRICK MOORE <[email protected]> wrote: > On Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 2:41 PM, avillage <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Hi, there. I'm getting ready to set up my Bleriot for commuting. I use > > it that way now but I wear a day pack with all my stuff and I want to > > get it off my back. I'm investigating racks, bags, baskets, trunks, > > all trying to decide the best arrangement. My current thinking is a > > large basket on a rack (Nitto) on the back which would allow me to > > pack a cheap duffle bag, throw it in the basket and secure it with a > > net. Easy to get stuff in and out plus I can haul some other stuff. My > > past experience from 25 years ago commuting on a Trek 500 with a rack > > was that the weight on the backend made it more difficult to handle > > (it felt heavy in the rear). I need about 1,500 cubic inches of room. > > Any experience, suggestions, downright advice out there? I'd enjoy > > your ideas. > > My experience is just the opposite: with a Rivendell, as with many other > bikes, weight in panniers affects handling least (I had a Fuji something or > other that handled better with 30 lb of panniered groceries). > > I've long used saddlebags for heavier loads, but recently bought two Flys > and an assortment of panniers of different sizes, that I can choose among > for different loads. It's nice not having to carry around an empty Camper or > Adam when all I need to carry is tools and tubes; OTOH, it's nice to have > panniers that hold my laptop without it bumping my thighs and swaying. > > I routinely carry 40 lb of groceries on my 1973 Motobecane Grand Record with > skinny, thin and flexy 531 tubing, with the stout rack. It handles fine. I > can carry as much on my Riv commuter, except that I prefer to carry less for > the sake of the skinny rear tire (tho' the 559 Turbo was sold to tandem > teams, I was told by the owner of Tandems East). (I weigh 170.) > > A big basket on a rack will also be harder to swing your leg over; even with > fat panniers I swing my leg over the bar, but I like low bars. I'm getting > (God willing) a mixty to use as a grocery bike to solve that problem. > > FWIW, the Adam weighed circa 2.5 lb, the Fly weighs a claimed (I've not > weighed it) 12 oz, and my smallest pannier weighs 1 lb. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
