Carradice Super C Pannier question

[John Bokman]

Does anyone have the "new" Super C's with the cam-style hooks and lower securing clip?

I'm curious if the "new" mounting system is:

1. As secure as a standard good ol' hooks and bungee system, and

2. A hassle to get on and off?

I love Carradice stuff, but am dubious about this securing system.

[Toshi Takeuchi]

I don't know about "new" unless >~10 years old is new, or there's something newer than what I have.  Anyhow, my hooks on top latch closed around the rack.  This is extremely secure and works well.  Once you get the hang of disengaging it, it is easy to remove.  The anti-sway hook on the bottom works ok.  I had one fall off and had to get a new one, but the pannier will definitely not fall off the rack--with or without the anti-sway hook engaged.  I prefer the Carradice hooks to the Ortlieb closure (the one where you pull up on the strap and the bag releases from the rack).  The Ortlieb closure seems very size specific (in regard to the rack tubing diameter), whereas the Carradice accommodates a wider range and can tighten around different diameter racks no problem.  

Toshi

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[john Bokman]

Thanks for the information Toshi.

We are talking about the same bags.

Good to know they are secure and easy enough to engage and disengage.

Are you using these on a Rivendell rack, or some other?

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[DarinM]

I have a set which I believe use the system you're describing. I have no complaints about the mounting system and have used them on pretty rough stuff. I have used them on a Tubus Tara and a Nitto 34f/Big Front Rack. The lower hook does seem a little flimsy, but again I haven't had issues. I would just take a bungy or strap to put around the outside if I was more worried about that hook on another tour.

Darin

[john Bokman]

Thanks for the advice.

Are they easy to remove from the bike? Looks like there’s a pinch mechanism?

(Im used to panniers with a bungee and S hook to hold the bag under tension, you see).

[Toshi Takeuchi]

Hi John,

I use the front Super Cs on the rear Nitto big rack  (Campee?) from Riv but also on old man mountain racks and blackburn racks with no issues.  I also use the Super C commuter bag on the Nitto rear rack with no issues (as expected, since they have the same attachment principle).

Toshi

[Toshi Takeuchi]

--My lower hook does not attach.  It only stays in place by hooking onto a vertical rail and by the top hooks being constrained by either a edge or a rail so that it cannot slide on top.  Therefore the bottom hook placement is very rack specific.  You would need to relocate the position to find the appropriate vertical rail if you are concerned about the pannier moving from side to side or out/in when it bumps.

Toshi

[Deacon Patrick]

Not what you were asking, John, but would the Rivendell Back-a-bike Bags work for you? I love them for precisely the reason you are asking about the attachment system. Riv’s are attached with the old school leather straps on top and sold nylon click buckle on the bottom. They are solid on rough stuff and I have no worries of them breaking or detaching, despite rock and tree bashing (and that Scottish cloth is stunningly hearty!). Riv. commercial over. Grin.

With abandon,
Patrick

[john Bokman]

Thanks for the head’s up, Patrick. I have seen these before, and they look like excellent bags. However, since I’ll be using these for commuting and shopping, and need to install and remove frequently, I’m thinking the attachment may not be the best for my use.

I have happily been using Lone Peak panniers for almost 30 years now. The attachment system would be hard to better, in my estimation. Simple hooks on the top rail that swivel completely around the rail. No fussy spring-loaded mechanisms needed. A bungee cord running down the back of the pannier with an S hook at the end to grab whatever part of the rack is down there to accept it. The bungee cord length is adjusted by simply tying a knot in the cord (to take up slack) to accommodate sizing needs. The load stays very secure due to tension from the bungee.

As a bonus, I find them fairly easy to install and remove.

Geez, I should just get a replacement pair! But they no longer make the model I own, and all equal I would prefer to purchase bags made of Cotton Duck.

[John McBurney]

Based on your description of the way you use your panniers I would suggest checking out North Street Bags.  They aren’t cotton canvas. Much lighter and more waterproof though.  Boutique Portland bag maker. I have a lot of bike bags (Ortlieb Acorn Sackville Carradice) and love em all but these are up there and are a  “go to” as a bike commuter and life long cyclist. 

https://northstbags.com/collections/bicycle-gear

John 

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[Deacon Patrick]

Gotcha, John. I’ve been surprised by how small the delta in mounting time is between Riv’s panniers and modern systems, but can see how it would be a bit frustrating for on/off multiple times a day. Not a big deal on/off each night/morning when bikepacking, or for errand day. If I may ask, is it security concers that has you taking them on/off so frequently?

With abandon,
Patrick

[John McBurney]

yeah when you commute you don’t leave your bags on the bike. That said there are properties in a bag that either work in an environment like PDX or they don’t. I have found that over time I use my North St. Bags consistently because they are easy to mount very waterproof and a good size.They have held up well in daily use for more than 4 years. They are medium sized which is really good as far as i am concerned.

North St. has changed their mounting system some since I bought mine. Mine are not like Ortilieb at all which I have not problem with but they work on a broad range of racks and aren’t  “fiddly”

John 

John

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[john Bokman]

Deacon, I hitch my hoss (Sam) to the post all day and can’t leave the saddlebags. I use my saddlebags not just for grocery shopping, but for my work stuff (I teach and need 3-ring binders, notebooks, books, etc.). I also want bags that do 2x duty for touring, when I get the chance. So, conservatively, I mount/unmount them at least 4 times daily, but often more like 6 or more. It all adds up…I want bags that are easy on and off.

If I were buying bags primarily for touring, I’d definitely consider the Rivendell bags more seriously.

[john Bokman]

John, thanks a lot for the head’s up. I actually live not far from their headquarters here in Portland. I have not given them serious consideration before. I will give them a better look. They do look like nice bags. I must admit I’ve been a little off-put by the price. But if they give value over time, they are a bargain (like my Lone Peaks - going on 27 years now).

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[David Bivins]

Sorry coming to this thread late but is there a problem with Ortliebs? I commuted for several years with two Ortlieb panniers and they took seconds to mount and take off. I’d walk into my office with one over each shoulder every day. Unfortunately for my bike habit, I work from home now. 

David in Brooklyn 

[John McBurney]

Ortliebs are great in a lot of ways. Certainly they are a stardard for durability and waterproofness. And honestly the evolution of their mounting has made them very easy to use. But there is a concern that Ortlieb is “like heavy duty garbage bag” and personally my 4 corner Ortlieb bags are really stiff in the cold. 

I think ther is a concern that the way Ortliebs attach with the upper loop/handle permits someone running by and snatching a bag off. usually rear bag. The Carradice bag mounting is similar. But it doesn’t have a loop and is more secure. That said if Carradice would spec a curved lower rail it would help.  

John 

[Craig Montgomery]

These are the guys I'm sure. Tough as nails. Super C rears are huge. You'll master the hook thingie up top pretty quickly. You have to position the bottom (slideable) hook for the specific struts of your rack. I use Nitto Big Racks front and rear. Then what I do is wrap some cotton handlebar tape around the strut where the hook touches it. Duct tape would work too. That makes the fit a bit more positive, and quieter (if you ride unladen they can rattle at the hook). That cushion also helps to reduce stress on the slider hook. Another neat thing about the Super C rears is that the tops lay even with your rack. That way you can pile stuff (in my case sleeping bag, pad, tent, AND a camp chair-indulge me, I'm an old man) on top of your rack. The old Super C's puffed up when you filled them to capacity. Of course, don't forget the coolness factor. 

Craig in Tucson

[John McBurney]

👍

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[john Bokman]

Craig, those are gorgeous bags, and you make a strong case for them. I only wish there were a size between the small fronts (28 liters) and the enormous rears (54 liters!).

I am usually of a “go bigger, why not?” mindset. But these are really large.

Choices, choices….arrgh! Big or small? 

Question: Looking at reviews, it appears that there is universal agreement that the outside pocket of the large panniers is prone to spilling its contents because the strap does not snug enough. Do you find this to be the case? Or could one simply punch another hole in the strap?

I would need this outside pocket for sundries in my day to day. I need some kind of pocket (zippered or otherwise) in my day-to-day pannier. Something in which to stash wallet, keys, phone, etc.

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[Craig Montgomery]

They're huge Jon. You might be better off with the Kendalls. On sale now at SJS for a hundred bucks. 32 litres.

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/luggage/0-carradice-kendal-panniers-green-with-honey-straps-32-litre/?geoc=US

On the other hand, don't know what those people were talking about when they said stuff flew out of the rear pockets of the Super C's. They must have been riding upside down. The pockets are huge. I could stuff my mom's shitzu into one (gladly). They are not strapped but clipped. The adjustment is minimal but they're made for touring. You're supposed to stuff 'em. A liter bottle each is one option. Take a look at how I do it. The left is stove kit (2 pots, rocket stove, cleaning cloth) and a butane canister. The right is kitchen box (utensils, knife, pot holder, lighters, sundries, etc.) and a couple days worth of dinners. All that just in the rear pockets! 

Craig in Tucson

[Patrick Moore]

Thanks for this description and the photos. I use my panniers for shopping, but there are times when even 2 Ortlieb Rollers are too small; these are 12 liters bigger (does that include the pockets? If not, even bigger) compared to the 40 l of the Ortliebs. One day ...

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[john Bokman]

Craig, thanks for the head’s up on the sale at SJS. While the Kendal looks nice and would probably fit my bill, if I’m going for Carradice, I can’t seem to escape the Super C lore…I deem the front bags to be too narrow at the bottom for my belongings, unfortunately. Otherwise I’d choose those and plan to taking two per day.

With the Super C large, I would take one per day, unless on a shopping expedition, in which case I’d take two. (For touring, of course I’d want two).

I would not plan on filling the pannier, so the massive volume would not be too much an issue. I hate fighting to get stuff into my bags. I much prefer a larger bag in which I can drop items and be done with it. The outside pockets in particular would be advantageous for me, because I  would simply drop stuff in and not have to wrangle to remove it: Calculator, stuff sack with expo pens, flash drive, pens, etc.; phone  and wallet in Old Skool Rivendell danish cotton wallet; keys….Large compartment would more than easily accommodate notebooks, books, bread, wine bottle, etc.

More and more I’m thinking Super C large rear bags...

[Craig Montgomery]

They'll last you decades. SJS is a great company. Good products. Good service. BUT, unless you're willing to pay the shipping you have to keep yourself to small sized purchases. Shipping prices increase exponentially with box size. 

Craig in Tucson

[Ian A]

+1. I bought a pair of Super C front panniers from SJS and paid a small fortune in shipping. Buying from Carradice directly can result in lower shipping costs, but SJS seem to have lower prices on the same items, so paying the higher shipping can more economical than buying direct.

SJS is always worth supporting. A super shop, knowledgeable, courteous and helpful.

IanA Alberta Canada

[John Bokman]

To all who helped elucidate me: Thank You!

I struggled with the choice, but in the end ordered a set of Super C Rear bags from SJS.

Ride with the wind at your backs.

John

[sean]

Hi John,

I use Super C's on a daily basis and can't "wax" on enough about them (get it? :) I have both the mini/universal front panniers and the rear (large) panniers. These bags are bomb proof, look great with wear, and keep the rain out. I have never had a problem with losing anything out of the smaller, rear pockets. Usually I carry tubes in there, water bottles, or bombers of beer when I'm grocery shopping. The two large rear panniers can each swallow an entire 12-pack box of Topo Chico (glass bottles) without any problem. And I have room to stack other sundries on top. Grocery shoppers are shocked when they see me stuffing these large boxes into my bags. The bags can even be overstuffed as well since there is ample room on the webbing straps by just adjusting the placement of the fastex buckle.The top straps (where the "carry webbing" is) also can be adjusted to cinch down flat items across the top of the bags. As you can probably tell, I routinely grocery shop with these formidable bags.

The "new" system of hooks is a VAST improvement over the older ratcheting system. It basically involves slotting the provided spacers (for different diameter rack tubes) into the hooks and using the newer spring-mounted latch as the 3rd securing point to the rack. The lower anti-sway bar is easy to adjust and together these work great to keep the bags secure while also enabling easy removal.

I love SJS and shipping /cost time has never bothered me, you could try BikeShopHub in Tucson: https://www.bikeshophub.com/product-category/carradice-bags/carradice-panniers but will pay more.

Woops, it looks you've already purchased from SJS. Well done! You're gonna love these bags.

Sean

ATX

[john Bokman]

Sean, thanks for the reply.

Q: Since you use the Universal front bags: In your estimation would I be able to fit a 3-ring binder or a few of them in there? I did not get them because it looks like they taper down pretty narrow (6” wide  by my rough calculation)

at the bottom. And they don’t look all that deep, so fitting a few or a book or two in addition might be tough?

If I were able to do that I might get a set of front panniers in the future and reserve the large ones for touring and grocery getting.

And, how large is the outside front pocket? Enough to fit a wallet, phone, keys, etc.?

[lambbo]

I have the large rear Super C pair, and I run them up front often.  The side pocket is huge, perfect for a camping pad or small sleeping bag

[sean]

Hi John,

The outside front pockets can easily fit a wallet. phone, keys. However, I wouldn't recommend storing those things in such a vulnerable place (low to the ground, near the wheel, kind of out of line of sight - might miss if things pop out).

The front panniers are great but the base is indeed smaller. You can probably cram some binders in there, but not an optimum fit. Much better for soft goods (clothes, loaves of bread, etc)

Sean

[john Bokman]

Thanks Sean. That’s what I was thinking. I have some Super C Rear bags coming.

Wish the front bags were in between the size they are, and the large. Very nice looking bags. They would be great for overnight trips and the like.

[Friend]

How's that waterproof-ness of the Super C rear bags?

[Ed Fausto]

It is not waterproof when it is still brand new.

My stuff got wet during my 2016 TransAm tour since it was brand new when I started.

Regards,

Edgar

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[John Bokman]

Took 9 days from Nelson, England. Not bad considering weekends were involved. 

These are some extremely durable looking bags!

Nice sheen to the waxed duck cotton. not sure if you can see in my sub-par pictures, but trust me, they look very water-resistant.

Super sturdy metal hardware. Tough stuff for sure.

These are enormous bags as you all have mentioned! Ifit my Kryptonite 7" U-lock in the outside pocket with room to spare. Just dropped it right in. I'll agree the strap on the rear pocket could be longer to cinch tighter, but if loading a water bottle or fuel bottle or craming it with inner tubes, tools, etc. I don't see the problem.

Nice Bags!  Simple, huge, look to be tough as nails. The attatchment which I was concerned about is simple. Great bargain, even with the shipping cost (Only $160 with shipping from SJS Cycles). Thanks to everyone for chiming in. 

[John Bokman]

And the other shots....Not the best pictures, but hope you get the idea.

[Ian A]

They look super on the Hillborne. Good choice and they look big enough without being too big. They should last many years.

IanA