Cyclists

[ChrisButch]

Do these modern cyclist still use panniers and bar bags. 

Rarely, because so few modern frames have fittings for pannier racks, which were standard on the traditional steel-framed touring bike. Most touring these days is done either on a derivative of mountain bikes or carbon or aluminium road bikes, which are usually devoid of any attachmnent points either for panniers, other bags or even mudguards. (This is largely driven by fashion). Hence the recent evolution (no more than 5 years) of 'bikepacking' equipment, which makes it possible to attach large quantities of luggage by strapping various shapes of soft bag onto the fame tubes. If it looks hideous, ungainly and the opposite of aerodynamic, it is. A messy solution to an unnecessary problem. Oh, and 'bikepackers' wouldn't dream of being described as cycle tourists.

[ChrisButch]

I am sure that you are right much of the time but often it seems much deeper than that. The long haul from Drumbeg to Unapool in the rain seems to generate a special form of misery for many of the cyclists I see. I do have friends who cycle, both on and off road, and understand that they get a great deal of enjoyment from it but some roads seem to be particularly unfriendly to them.

Well, each to his taste. That switchback coast road through Coigach and then from Lochinver round to Kylesku is nirvana for some (me included, if unladen). Especially if you pause to get some goodies at the extraordinary Drumbeg Stores.
Incidentally, a bike + car combination makes possible some superb hillwalking taverses in this area. For instance, the east/west traverse of Suilven from Elphin to Lochinver, where you pick up the previously dropped bike at the roadhead and ride back to the car at Elphin. Or the south/north traverse of Breabag/Conival/Beinn an Fhurain/Glas Bheinn to pick up the bike on the main road by Loch na Gainmhich.

[BuzyG]

Incidentally, a bike + car combination makes possible some superb hillwalking taverses in this area. For instance, the east/west traverse of Suilven from Elphin to Lochinver, where you pick up the previously dropped bike at the roadhead and ride back to the car at Elphin. Or the south/north traverse of Breabag/Conival/Beinn an Fhurain/Glas Bheinn to pick up the bike on the main road by Loch na Gainmhich.

Our walking group did the Abbots way across Dartmoor one Sunday last year. I started with the group, but wanted to jog it as I was training for the Dartmoor marathon. So had agreed I would set off on my own after the morning coffee stop, . I thought about leaving the bike at one end that day, rather than join the others in the bus for the return leg.  But MrsG picked me up instead. 

[Owen]

Rarely, because so few modern frames have fittings for pannier racks, which were standard on the traditional steel-framed touring bike. Most touring these days is done either on a derivative of mountain bikes or carbon or aluminium road bikes, which are usually devoid of any attachmnent points either for panniers, other bags or even mudguards. (This is largely driven by fashion). Hence the recent evolution (no more than 5 years) of 'bikepacking' equipment, which makes it possible to attach large quantities of luggage by strapping various shapes of soft bag onto the fame tubes. If it looks hideous, ungainly and the opposite of aerodynamic, it is. A messy solution to an unnecessary problem. Oh, and 'bikepackers' wouldn't dream of being described as cycle tourists.

That's quite a jaundiced view and not one I recognize. Have a look, https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/post-a-touring-photo-no-explanation-needed-just-to-help-me-dream-i%E2%80%99ll-kick-off.261058/ I make that 9 pages of photos of touring bike the majority using traditional panniers.


I think the fashion for bikepacking frame bags has come from people touring off road on mountain bikes. Because they want their kit up higher to keep it out of the mud. Also not having your panniers sticking out at the side is a help when riding through trees and bushes.

[BuzyG]

Rarely, because so few modern frames have fittings for pannier racks, which were standard on the traditional steel-framed touring bike. Most touring these days is done either on a derivative of mountain bikes or carbon or aluminium road bikes, which are usually devoid of any attachmnent points either for panniers, other bags or even mudguards. (This is largely driven by fashion). Hence the recent evolution (no more than 5 years) of 'bikepacking' equipment, which makes it possible to attach large quantities of luggage by strapping various shapes of soft bag onto the fame tubes. If it looks hideous, ungainly and the opposite of aerodynamic, it is. A messy solution to an unnecessary problem. Oh, and 'bikepackers' wouldn't dream of being described as cycle tourists.

Sounds cumbersome. Each to their own.  I recall at the end of a cycling trip around the Swiss Alps with MrsG in the early eighties, that we arrived back at Lausanne after a week in our tent around the mountain passes.  We put the bikes on the slow train back to Paris and headed across the road in our matching track suits, panniers in hand to the majestic looking Station Hotel.  The look on the doorman's face was priceless.

[richardh1905]

Well I specifically chose a mountain bike that would take a rear rack for panniers, as I do fancy a bit of mountain bike touring. Quite a few mountain bikes don't have the necessary threaded holes in the frame, but quite a few do - those that didn't lost the sale.

[Owen]

My new bike is just a year old. Steel frame, racks for panniers fore and aft.




Geared for touring. Only managed a few weekends so far. Hopefully once Nicola lets us out to play again.

[Islandplodder]

I have an ancient touring bike, complete with a pannier rack, and am just awaiting delivery of its replacement.  I wouldn't attempt the Bealach na Ba though, I'm more of a fan of gentle pootles along French canal tow paths with plenty of coffee/wine stops!  I have done the Hebridean cycleway, but took about twice as long as most cyclists, gave me time to look at the view.

[Owen]

Sounds good to me.

[Bigfoot_Mike]

A late colleague cycled the NC500 With a small group. It must have been interesting dodging the camper vans. I can’t help but think that the NC500 would be better if it hadn’t been advertised around the world. Actually, I know from experience that it was better, having driven all parts of it before it became globally famous.

[ChrisButch]

That's quite a jaundiced view

indeed, deliberately so

and not one I recognize. Have a look...  I make that 9 pages of photos of touring bike the majority using traditional panniers.

True, there are some nice traditional dropped-bar touring bikes in those pics and they are, indeed, still made; and there are still even hand-brazed steel touring frames of the kind which British framebuilders had an international reputation until they were swamped by aluminium and then carbon inports from the 1990s on. However, they're now a niche market, and you'll rarely find anything of the kind in the main bike shop chains or in your local LBS - you need to seek them out from specialist outlets like Spa in Harrogate or Thorn and a few others. If you go into a modern bike shop and ask for a 'touring bike', you'll be shown one of the MTB-derived solutions also shoiwn in your link - some of which do, indeed, have pannier lugs etc (and those are now the norm, and much more widely avaliable, in Germany and elsewhere in Northern Europe).But increasingly you'll be directed to the latest marketing-driven variants, described as 'endurance bikes' or 'gravel bikes'. These are derived from fast sporting road frames, but with more relaxed angles, longer wheelbase, wider-range gearing and larger fork clearances allowing for wider tyres and guards, with some off-road capability in the case of 'gravel' bikes. These are inching back towards the traditional touring bike, but by an indirect and rather convoluted route.

[SteamyTea]

I can fit racks and panniers to two of my MTBs, but not the other one.
The one that can't take them, well not without some clamps, is the Scott, but that sits on the trainer anyway, with skinny road tyres on it to keep the noise down.

[Owen]

 you'll rarely find anything of the kind in the main bike shop chains or in your local LBS - you need to seek them out from specialist outlets like Spa in Harrogate or Thorn and a few others.

Well, I was about to write that even Evans cycles sells bikes like the Genesis Croix de Fer and Dawes but I've just read that their going down the pan.

[SteamyTea]

Well, I was about to write that even Evans cycles sells bikes like the Genesis Croix de Fer and Dawes but I've just read that their going down the pan.

My third bike was a Dawes, was very good.
Second bike was a Moulton, good bike.
First was some pressed steel thing from Hong Kong, bought in The Netherlands, can only remember the stabilisers being taken off.

[BuzyG]

I'm enjoying this thread on a walking forum.   

All bar one of my push bikes have been stolen over the years.  My pride and joy was my Campagnolo equipped, Harry Quinn racing bike, that I helped build even brazing the rear lugs myself.  I spent thousands on it back in the 1970's.  Some scally sawed through a cast iron drain pipe in Portsmouth Dockyard to nick that.  Even had one nicked from inside Liverpool cathedral chained to a pew.  The one I still have is my old Holdsworth Tourer.  MrsG and I had a matching pair.  Again her's was stolen from inside our garage in Gosport.  I was out on mine at the time.

Just reminded myself one reason we love it here in Cornwall, far less thieving scallies.