Recently Banjo Brothers had sent me the Market Pannier to review and at the same time Wald sent me the 215 rack to review.
Here are the specs for the Pannier:
MARKET PANNIER (deluxe grocery bag pannier) – It’s like a deluxe grocery pannier, only it’s so much more. This is a great bag for errands, commuting (drop your briefcase right inside), and visiting your favorite market. The easy-on and off mounting, long handles and a shoulder strap make it convenient to bring inside, and a large cinch-down flap keeps your stuff covered on the road.
* 1250 Cubic inch capacity (sold individually)
* Roughly the size of a paper grocery bag 15″ H x 13″ L x 8″ W
* Heavy-duty 3mm polymer frame on back and bottom to prevent sagging
* Reinforcement panels in all wear areas
* Cinch-down flap keeps load covered and secure
* Side straps adjust support and fold pannier closed when not used
* Inside zipper pocket for keys and cash
* Available March 2007
* MSRP: $44.99
Specs on the rack:
Wald bicycle racks offer a simple rear rack design for easy use. Lightweight yet sturdy construction with simple mounting points located at eyelets near the rear axle and the brake mount. The 215 works perfectly with our innovative 582 rear folding basket.
Available in plated (215) and black powder coat (215BL) finish.
Here are some product shots of the pannier and rack after a weekend of carrying loads for the Sea Otter Classic show in Monterey:
Mounting hardware:
Close ups on how it mounts to the rack:
Cargo capacity: my Crocs, gloves, rain jacket and other junk. The pannier can hold a standard paper bag. But with this pannier, you don’t need a paper bag since it has straps and handles that you can use as a grocery bag — what a great way to go Green.
Popularity: 12% [?]
Panniers rule. I highly recommend trying them if anyone is currently using a backpack or messenger bag. Maybe don’t bother if your commute is really short, but I’ll never go back. Let the bike carry the stuff.
Re: the panniers- How water resistant are they?
I was hoping to find that out since it normally rains during Sea Otter. But it was a dry weekend. I’ll test it out and report on it on the review.
I’m diggin’ my TransIt Garment Bag Pannier I bought off Performance (I’ve seen the same bag with a different logo from the other sites). It’s a hanging garment bag that lays over the bike rack.
I use the Banjo Brothers Waterproof pannier — it’s similar to the grocery bag here but it has a fully waterproof liner that can be removed if need be to make it more like this grocery bag, plus it doesn’t have as high of a profile when on the bike (it secures the same way). I carry everything in it for my commute and use it when I go grocery shopping,., One advantage of the grocery bag is the additional carrying handles for ease of walking around the store.
Why are panniers mostly made of nylon? I love my Carradice panniers, which are cotton duck, but they’re way expensive–too expensive to use on my town bike which is regularly locked to a rack. Where are the hemp or cotton panniers at a reasonable price? Soma makes a bunch of hemp stuff, including a grocery bag pannier, but not a conventional pannier.
Mike, I think you answered your own question. Nylon is much cheaper. The last time I looked at hemp fabric, it was something along the lines of $20 a yard.