Recomendations?

[PATRICK MOORE]

1. Cheapest *decent* hanging scale with capacity of at least 40 lb. I know Park makes an electric one for $60, but I would be quite happy with a mechanical model if cheaper. (I want to find out how heavy my Fargo is.) (Seriously, I like to weigh my grocery loads -- just 'cause.)

2. Prest-cum-Schrader replacement pump chuck. In a fit of brass-and-Silca-lust folly I cut the very decent one-chuck-for-both head off my pump to replace with a nice (looking) brass screw on Schraeder chuck that I thought might work better on my daughter's Schrader valves -- which it does, but screwing on the chuck is a royal arse pain especially when I have to use a Presta adaptor for my own bikes.

3. Bar tape. I've found my own current favorite but am curious what others think. I like the Lizard Skins 2.5 (I think it is also made in 1.8 and a thicker one whose measurement I don't have).

4. Grocery pannier. Here I have certain criteria to meet:

- Easy on and off the rack.

- Can be used singly or as a pair.

- Secure on the rack

- Holds a full-to-top paper grocery sack.

- Has either a cover that will accomodate overflow, or else has loops to which one can attach a cargo net.

- It is easy to insert a bulging-ly full grocery sack. (This criterion puts my otherwise wonderful Ortlieb Packers out of the running because of the (for this use) fiddly and obstructive flap and drawstrings.)

- Universal fit on many different kinds of rack. 

- Stiffener on back if not on sides (all-cloth panniers tend in my experience to end up in the spokes with certain simpler racks).

Of course, cost and durability are part of the equation. 

No Wald baskets! No saddlebags! Saddlebags, even the huge Hoss, don't hold enough, so I prefer panniers which I can mix and match as required. I realize that the easiest and capacious grocery carrier in the universe is a huge Wald Newsboy, but I don't have a bike that I'd care to add one of these to.

I've used several different sorts of camping panniers, many different commuting panniers, Avenir grocery panniers (currently in use), Gnashbar grocery pannier, Axiom Dutch (style) boxy panniers, rear Wald baskets (too damn' narrow!), Carradice panniers and just about all Brooks and many other saddlebags out there. I want something that is pretty much designed for full paper grocery sacks.

For convenience, the Avenirs are good though they are not stiff enough to be ideal. They are also too shallow and have no cover nor provision for a cargo net. Good only for short trips and you have to make sure you don't pack small, loose things on top. The folding arrangement is primitive, but they do fold when not full, which is a plus.

The Axioms, in stock form, sagged too much under any load  and the lip of the opening deformed under weight. I had to rivet a collar of aluminum strip around the mouths to stiffen them. Thus modified they are much better but the mouths are still a bit too narrow for easy insertion and removal of very full bags.

Frankly, when cost is a large factor, I've used nothing more convenient than the drape-over-rack pair of Target kitchen trashcans that I joined with pop rivets, dowels and nylon webbing. Wider at top, deep, so that it is easy to insert and securely carry even an overflowing bag. Certainly sturdy enough if you reinforce all weight-bearing points with big washers or thin plywood or sheet metal. Easy on and off, since they drape, and a single toe strap holds them securely fore-and-aft. And the total cost (trashcans on sale) was no more than $12. IMO, these are better than milk crates or used cat litter boxes. You can also plaster all sorts of reflective material on the backs and even bolt blinkies permanently to them.

Their big defect of course is that they look ineffably dorky. But I can see a plastic (not kitchen white!) bin-type pannier optimally sized and shaped, suitably reinforced at stress points, and with adjustable, QR mounting system a la Carradice or Ortlieb, and cargo net top -- does anyone make anything like this? 

Patrick "Riv + luggage" Moore

--
"Believe nothing until it has been officially denied."
                                                   -- Claude Cockburn

-------------------------
Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM, USA
For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW
http://resumespecialties.com/index.html
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[Marc Nolte]

Hi Patrick,

for item #1, just get yourself a 50lb limit luggage scale with a big hook on it.
Given the recent trend by the airlines to charge for over-weight bags, lots of
folks are weighing their baggage before leaving for the airport... hence the availablity
of a good selection of cheap-and-cheerful hand-held luggage scales.

Best,
Marc

----- Original Message -----
From: "PATRICK MOORE" <bert...@gmail.com>
To: "rbw-owners-bunch" <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 5:12:20 PM
Subject: [RBW] Recomendations?

1. Cheapest *decent* hanging scale with capacity of at least 40 lb. I know Park makes an electric one for $60, but I would be quite happy with a mechanical model if cheaper. (I want to find out how heavy my Fargo is.) (Seriously, I like to weigh my grocery loads -- just 'cause.)

<snip>

[William]

I've been tempted to play with the Donkey Boxx.   http://www.donkeyboxx.com/ 

On Wednesday, September 12, 2012 4:57:00 PM UTC-7, bwphoto wrote:

I've been using a number of different things to do errands and grocery runs. Big runs, that involve stuff I don't have a way to carry on my Sam, are taken care of with my Burley flatbed trailer. For loads that will work on Sam I use two Minnehaha  bags ( http://www.calhouncycle.com/productcart/pc/Canvas-Grocery-Bag-Pannier-93p1703.htm) they snap closed, have both shoulder strap and hand grab straps neither of which interfere with riding. INstead of shlepping a paper grocery bag out I just use the bags themselves in the same way I would use a reuseable grocery bag.

The other bag I use is the Banjo Bro Market bag, which has a cover that snaps closed. It also folds flat against the rack and like the Minnehaha ones can be left on the bike.

One caveat I've learned is that at 66 I can no longer easily swing my leg over anything higher than my saddle or wider than my leg will extend...not to long ago I used to be able swing wither leg easily over whatever I had back or front.

Ecovelo.net has some good reviews of both.

[Brian Campbell]

Arkel makes this.

http://www.arkel-od.com/us/all-categories/laptop-bicycle-pannier/utility-basket.html

 I have 2 and like them a lot, very useful.

On Thursday, September 13, 2012 3:05:49 PM UTC-4, William wrote:

I've been tempted to play with the Donkey Boxx.   http://www.donkeyboxx.com/ 

On Wednesday, September 12, 2012 4:57:00 PM UTC-7, bwphoto wrote:

I've been using a number of different things to do errands and grocery runs. Big runs, that involve stuff I don't have a way to carry on my Sam, are taken care of with my Burley flatbed trailer. For loads that will work on Sam I use two Minnehaha  bags ( http://www.calhouncycle.com/productcart/pc/Canvas-Grocery-Bag-Pannier-93p1703.htm) they snap closed, have both shoulder strap and hand grab straps neither of which interfere with riding. INstead of shlepping a paper grocery bag out I just use the bags themselves in the same way I would use a reuseable grocery bag.

The other bag I use is the Banjo Bro Market bag, which has a cover that snaps closed. It also folds flat against the rack and like the Minnehhem aha ones can be left on the bike.

[KenP]

About the airpump hose and chuck: My airpump hoses wore out on some old pumps, so, I saved the chuck and the metal fitting at the other end that goes into the pump,  got some air hose from the auto parts store and a couple of small band clamps, and presto, back in business....

Ken Peyton

[Andy Smitty Schmidt]

I don't actually own the Arkel model Brian linked to but have seen and admired them on bikes around town. If I were looking for something like this, these would be at the top of my list. 

Do be aware that the hook/cam attachment requires some real estate on the rack. I found out the hard way that the hook/cam mechanism does NOT work with the large version of the Nitto Big Back Rack that Riv sells. It does work on the small version of the rack though, and it works fine on Tubus. 

[Allingham II, Thomas J]

I have one, too -- like it a lot.  Capacious and secure.

---

From: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com [mailto:rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Andy Smitty Schmidt
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2012 2:51 PM
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [RBW] Re: Recomendations?

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[PATRICK MOORE]

Thanks for all the useful and interesting replies. I shamefacedly remembered that I had asked about pump chucks some time ago, so consider that one answered. I must look more closely at the Ortlieb grocery bags -- they look just right, as long as they are not too floppy -- can't tell from the photos. 

Actually, the Donkey Box looks very usefull, too, and it is not *quite* as dorky as my trashcan panniers, but I think that, if I spend good $$ to replace the Axioms and Avenirs that I have, it will be for something of Ortlieb quality. 

The luggage scale is just what I need -- easier to use for my purpose than a hanging scale, and the prices are certainly right.

Let me add another item to the "best of the best" list: tire pump. 30 miles to day with three flats, tho' one was stupidly caused by moi being careless and holing my tube with the tire levers upon re-install. My old model (black) HpX and Topeak Road Master Blaster work fine, but I wonder at the Topeak's quality. I am very, very, *very* paranoid about a pump failing en route. While the old Zefal is of top quality, the Topeak seems less sturdy (my Morphs tended to spring leaks at hose junctions) and I wonder about replacing it; and my experience with the later model HpX's wasn't great.

Has anyone used the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive? 

http://tinyurl.com/8whq66q

I used one once when I got a flat after foolishly leaving my pump at home and borrowed one from another rider. Not only did it work very well (559X32 mm tire) but the quality seemed top notch as with the Lezyne minipumps I've used. 

If Lezyne made a standard frame pump of the same quality as their other models, that's probably what I'd choose.

Comments?

Tire Savers go on this weekend, I swear!

Patrick Moore in goathead infested ABQ, NM

[PATRICK MOORE]

I should be more precise. By "standard frame pump" I mean a pump that fits between frame tubes and requires no ugly plastic bracket. AFAICT, all Lezyne pumps are meant to be carried by such brackets if mounted on the frame.

On Fri, Sep 14, 2012 at 1:47 PM, PATRICK MOORE <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:

If Lezyne made a standard frame pump of the same quality as their other models, that's probably what I'd choose.

[PATRICK MOORE]

Oh! If anyone is foolish enough to want to trade an old-style, #4 HpX for a Lezyne Pressure Drive, LMK. To be perfectly clear: the PD, as the other Lezyne minis, is among the best minipumps available, but it suffers from the fundamental defect of all minis in that it simply requires more effort (in the form of many more pumps) to get a tire to pressure. But perhaps someone wants a PD because he must carry it in a bag. If so, I'm your man.