Wanted: hands-on experience with rack-free side panniers

T. · Feb 23, 2013

There are several threads on the forum praising radical design bags.
I was wondering if anyone has more experience with commuting with a set of these bags.
Radical carries the racer side panniers in several sizes and I am interested if the 25 L version can hold a computer, a set of change clothes and some spare parts and at the same time be mounted and removed easily without extra cord, nuts, bolts or plastic cable ties.

as the bike is primarily for pleasure rides (hard to keep the wide grin off your face!) more than regular commuting I prefer to keep it as "clean" as possible...no permanent light, no bicycle computer, no rack or fenders
any experience is welcome thank you.

Thomas

MrSteve · Feb 24, 2013

Messenger Bag

I used to use my messenger bag for occasional shopping trips.

-You can see it strapped onto the horizontal frame tube, where the seat pan is bolted, in my avatar.-

I also used the bag to carry my camera on a few Fall trips.
Why did I stop using the bag?
I discovered that I like riding for ridings' sake, not riding to go shopping;
no stopping and starting like, for example, for taking photographs.

But, while I was using the bag, it worked fine.
No problems with wind, no problems interfering with the wheels,
no problems interfering with my legs or any problem.
The bag did not seem to affect either my hill-climbing speed
or my top speed.

My messenger bag has a sheet of stiff foam inside it which acts like
an internal frame. The bag doesn't fold or flap in the slipstream;
it's also made of thick nylon, much like a hiker's pack.

Sorry, Thomas, I have no experience with Radical racer side panniers...
but I hope that my experience with my own 'rackless' bag helps!

-Steve

T. · Feb 28, 2013

Thanks

Appreciate your sharing.
Seems to be a bit less room between the wheels on the Silvio, though, than on yours.
Different small bags that I have don't fit at all.
like you, I like to ride just to ride, no shopping. But commuting occasionally, and that requires somewhat larger carrying capacity.

am eyeing a set of those radical side racers...

Thomas

Tom Roberts · Aug 9, 2013

am eyeing a set of those

am eyeing a set of those radical side racers...

Just wondered if you decided to get these panniers and if so, how they worked out.

Thanks,

Tom