Postby fatdudeonabike » Tue Feb 12, 2013 11:15 am
It's very short sighted to suggest that everyone should forget about panniers because of the weight, and get backpacks instead. I took up riding as part of my physical therapy to heal an ongoing back injury - I'm not about to strap and extra 5-10kgs to my back. (And if I was going to strap extra weight to my back, I'd be much more likely to do it in the form of a Camelbak water pack)
But, bearing in mind that "lifes too short" and I "should go fast", that's why I was looking at the Topeak quick release rack anyway. I just want the rack for work, and when I'm riding after work or on weekends, I'll take the rack off.
My mate's permanent fitting pannier rack was heavy, I didnt like the colour, and as I've indicated above with the QR rack, it wasn't what I wanted anyway. After I was informed yesterday at work that I shouldnt need to be taking my personal laptop to work for much longer than the next week or so, I pulled the trigger on the Topeak set - the QR Rack, the DX bag (the biggest available without panniers, and the need for a perma-rack), and a cover. And also a rear light (that was mad cheap on Cell) that will fit on the bag - I needed a new rear light anyway. The cheap Tioga light that I have just isn't getting it done.
I checked everything out at the LBS - I'm about 90% sure that it'll fit everything, but I couldn't very well take my lock, pants, shirt, underwear, swimmers, goggles and lunch into the shop with me to make sure.
For that 10% uncertainty, I would've loved to have bought it from the LBS. But I couldn't believe that, with a 10% discount card, and having only bought my bike there 6 weeks ago, the "best they could do" was $190. Much as I want to be able to support the LBS until such time as I'm buying high-end stuff and the price difference is huge - well, this price difference was huge too. I wasn't about to pay $190 when I got it online for $140. It won't cost me $50 to return it if everything doesn't fit.
(I don't want to start yet another shopfront vs online debate - but I just can't fathom that, before the discount, the LBS was a full 50% more expensive. If your operating costs are that expensive, you're doing it wrong. Even once I'd bought the bag cover and the compatible light, I still had change compared to the LBS.)
In the short term I'll probably only be riding to work twice a week or so - but eventually I want to do it every day that I don't have a meeting on my way to work. So if the bag creates a situation where I'll have to drive to work to leave stuff there, I'll end up sending it back - that's not what I want to do.
Anyway, I think a few people are pretty aware of these Topeak sets, and I know many, if not most people here are talking about backpacks, but I'll leave some thoughts here when it arrives anyway.