Comments on: Preview: Bontrager Interchange Urban Commuter Pannier

By: Barb Chamberlain

Barb Chamberlain — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:40:47 +0000

At last–men have joined the lifelong search many women go through seeking the perfect purse .

I have a pair of Axiom bags with a slimmer profile that clip together with the shoulder strap. It does take an extra few seconds to undo both, but it lets me keep any potential spill items (like my lunch) separate from electronics.

I just wish they had a slightly wider bottom, since my usual lunch container is a frozen block of leftovers in one of those sandwich-shaped plastic jobbies, and it’s slightly wider than the pannier so I have to tilt it. These look like they’d work great, although that flat top might collect moisture on rainy days.

@BarbChamberlain
Chair, Bike to Work Spokane
@Bike2WrkSpokane
http://www.biketoworkspokane.org

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:16:08 +0000

@Elizabeth – The shoulder strap will definitely help. I do think the interchange system is a great idea though. Two years ago, I started with a pannier & a big red lunch box on my bike rack. Last year, I left a few days worth of clothes in a locker and only had a trunk bag that carried my lunch. I recently bought a trunk bag with integrated panniers to hold additional clothing items for the early spring & late fall months where there are wide temperature swings. I think the hardest part of my whole cycling experience, aside from finding the perfect bike (which hasn’t happened yet), is finding the perfect bag or pannier.

By: Powerful Pete

Powerful Pete — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:53:35 +0000

They do look big. I am very happy with my far smaller Arkels, which do a fine job on my admittedly short commute (about 9~10km one way).

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:22:25 +0000

@Robert – luckily these panniers each have a shoulder strap, but I’m working on the set up/take down, too. I’m used to only having one pannier – now there are two to hook on and take off whenever I park somewhere.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:27:35 +0000

I own a pair of some smaller Trek interchange panniers back in 2007. For the price, they are ok, but only if you are using a Trek rack. If you aren’t, then you are out of luck. Hopefully they have improved upon that design for some of their later models. The panniers shown look nice though.

I have recently picked up a trunk bag with integrated panniers. It comes with a shoulder strap so that I can just pick up and go after I am done with my ride to work. I have really been focusing on my setup and take down times, since I have to leave my bike parked outside.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:39:41 +0000

Those are 26″ wheels you see on that bike with the panniers. Ghost is right – bad angle on that particular photo. Though I will say they do seem to be a bit taller than my older pannier.

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:39:04 +0000

I suspect that the photo is a bit misleading — the panniers DO look huge, but we’re not getting a good angle of them on the bike (side view would reveal more about their dimensions).

Looking forward to the review — those are some pretty smart-looking bags.

By: BluesCat

BluesCat — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:28:32 +0000

Really? Wow, my Jandd Economy Panniers are said to be 1,975 ci, but they don’t nearly that big. LOL, now, those wouldn’t happen to be 20″ wheels on that bike, would they, Elizabeth?

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:01:28 +0000

According to the company, the set is 1944 cu in. (31860 cc). The size is large enough to fit up to15.4" laptops (Bontrager padded laptop sleeves available separately). Hope that helps! My current pannier is only 1000 cu in and more like a big bucket (no interior pockets).

By: db

db — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:48:38 +0000

1,975 cubic inches = 32.3 litres (approx.)