Altura Arran Rack Bag

[Trevor[_3_]]

I'm fancying buying one of these as my 25 yr old Karrimor pannier bag has
finally given in. I have a rear rack with a flat plate on it. Am I right in
assuming this bag is designed to fit on one of these? I can't find a pic of
one fitted. How will I know one will fit the rack before I order?

[Pete Biggs]

Trevor wrote:
> I'm fancying buying one of these as my 25 yr old Karrimor pannier bag
> has finally given in. I have a rear rack with a flat plate on it. Am
> I right in assuming this bag is designed to fit on one of these? I
> can't find a pic of one fitted. How will I know one will fit the rack
> before I order?

I've not used it, but I can see that the bag fits a special "Quick release
landing strip" that comes with it and presumably fits any normal rack. It's
probably adjustable to fit various sizes.
www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Altura-Altura-Rack-Pack-Landing-Strip-15463.htm

Your rack should take any rack bag if it has the usual bars at the sides at
the top. The plate won't be relevant.

Also consider one of the two *Carradice* rack bags. They are lightweight,
attatch to various sizes of racks simply via four velcro straps, have higher
capacities than that Altura bag, and are handmade in Britain out of real
ducks. SJSC have them at good prices.
I currently have a Carradice Prima one - which has three very handy
large pockets - and, as it happens, I just ordered today a Super C for its
larger main compartment.

~PB

[rothers]

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:21:50 +0100, "Pete Biggs"
> wrote:


>Also consider one of the two *Carradice* rack bags. They are lightweight,
>attatch to various sizes of racks simply via four velcro straps, have higher
>capacities than that Altura bag, and are handmade in Britain out of real
>ducks. SJSC have them at good prices.
> I currently have a Carradice Prima one - which has three very handy
>large pockets - and, as it happens, I just ordered today a Super C for its
>larger main compartment.

Just to add my vote for the Carradice Super C rack bag, got one fitted to a
Tortec rack and it's excellent.

Neil

[Peter Clinch]

Pete Biggs wrote:
>
> Also consider one of the two *Carradice* rack bags. They are lightweight,
> attatch to various sizes of racks simply via four velcro straps

Had (um, still have, somewhere...) an EBC rack-pack that fitted simply
via 4 velcro straps. PITA compared to Klik-Fix or Ortlieb type lift-off
luggage, so if you want luggage that easily dismounts (for shopping
rather than day-touring, for example) I'd suggest avoiding velcro
attachment.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

[POHB]

On 24 Apr, 08:49, Peter Clinch > wrote:
> Pete Biggs wrote:
> Had (um, still have, somewhere...) an EBC rack-pack that fitted simply
> via 4 velcro straps. *PITA compared to Klik-Fix or Ortlieb type lift-off
> luggage, so if you want luggage that easily dismounts (for shopping
> rather than day-touring, for example) I'd suggest avoiding velcro
> attachment.

I've got an Altura rack bags that uses the landing strip thingy and
it's really good for quick loading and removal. The landing strip is
a bit fiddly to attach to the rack with a couple of big velcro straps
that go underneath the rack plate, but once you've got it on it can
stay on. You then just dump the bag on top and do up three clips. To
remove, undo the clips and peel the bag off, there's velcro between
the bag and the landing strip but that just helps to hold the bag from
sliding around and isn't another thing to do up or undo. If you don't
want to use the bag you can still bungee stuff onto the rack without
removing the landing strip. If the fold-down panniers on the bag
(assuming you've got that type) aren't big enough you can still fix
regular panniers on the sides while using the bag.

[Pete Biggs]

Peter Clinch wrote:
> Pete Biggs wrote:
>>
>> Also consider one of the two *Carradice* rack bags. They are
>> lightweight, attatch to various sizes of racks simply via four
>> velcro straps
>
> Had (um, still have, somewhere...) an EBC rack-pack that fitted simply
> via 4 velcro straps. PITA compared to Klik-Fix or Ortlieb type
> lift-off luggage, so if you want luggage that easily dismounts (for
> shopping rather than day-touring, for example) I'd suggest avoiding
> velcro attachment.

It may not be the quickest system in the world, but the velcro straps aren't
a show stopper for me. I don't use the bag for normal shopping, but do take
it with me when popping into a shop into the middle of a ride. I also
remove it to fit to another bike or use a different bag.

If you want a Carradice rack bag, you have to have velcro straps. They do
at least keep the cost and weight down, and save you buying extra fitting
kits to use the bag on extra bikes.

~PB

[Trevor[_3_]]

"Pete Biggs" > wrote in
message ...
> Peter Clinch wrote:
>> Pete Biggs wrote:
>>>
>>> Also consider one of the two *Carradice* rack bags. They are
>>> lightweight, attatch to various sizes of racks simply via four
>>> velcro straps
>>
>> Had (um, still have, somewhere...) an EBC rack-pack that fitted simply
>> via 4 velcro straps. PITA compared to Klik-Fix or Ortlieb type
>> lift-off luggage, so if you want luggage that easily dismounts (for
>> shopping rather than day-touring, for example) I'd suggest avoiding
>> velcro attachment.
>
> It may not be the quickest system in the world, but the velcro straps
> aren't a show stopper for me. I don't use the bag for normal shopping,
> but do take it with me when popping into a shop into the middle of a ride.
> I also remove it to fit to another bike or use a different bag.
>
> If you want a Carradice rack bag, you have to have velcro straps. They do
> at least keep the cost and weight down, and save you buying extra fitting
> kits to use the bag on extra bikes.
>
> ~PB


Many thanks for all the tips. I do like the look of the Arran for off the
bike (most of my use is to evening classes etc).


>

[Pete Biggs]

Trevor wrote:
> Many thanks for all the tips. I do like the look of the Arran for off
> the bike (most of my use is to evening classes etc).

The Carradice Super C rack bag I've now receieved is black instead of green,
and maybe the orangle strips and badges could be removed or covered if you
wanted it to look less like a cycling bag. It looks quite retro - which
apparently is fashionable now.

The sides of the main compartment are well padded. It could be used as an
SLR camera bag if a load of padding is placed in the bottom. Shame it
doesn't have the side pockets of the Prima, or a zip for the rear pocket.
The pocket just has a buckle, which may allow a small item to bounce out.
The buckles for the main compartment are not a bad idea, though, as a zip
can be hard to close (and liable to break) on a well-stuffed bag. This
compartment has a drawcord cover to keep things in, and add some
rainproofing.

Despite my complaints about the pockets, I think it's remarkably good value
for money, especially considering it's made in England. British
manufacturers like this won't be around for ever, so support them while you
can if you are interested in the products, I say.

For smaller main loads, I recommend the Prima - to get the more handy
pockets.

~PB