Pretty Panniers

[keltic_night]

I'd like to have a set of panniers that are pretty and not just the plain ones I've found everywhere. Anyone have any suggestions for where to look?
Thanks!

[pll]

Pretty panniers might be a tough one. For the most part, they are very utilitarian and many of them black! What kind of use will you give them? Do you envision taking them off every ride? Since I use mine for commuting and shopping within a short distance, leaving the bike locked in a public space, I chose simple, ugly and cheap, wire baskets ($13 a piece). Here are some options for fancy panniers:

Colorful:
http://www.rei.com/product/604989?vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC (I like the yellow ones...)
http://www.rei.com/product/749150
http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/backpack/overview.asp?fl=1&site= (back pack style)

Vintage looking canvas panniers:
http://www.velo-orange.com/ospa.html
http://www.velo-orange.com/baka2pa.html
http://www.wallbike.com/berthoud/panniers.html

PS: A picture of the wire baskets: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showpost.php?p=137852&postcount=30

[alpinerabbit]

I remember seeing some cool ones from the Netherlands - the ultimative cycling nation anyways -

and googled the following:
http://fietsen.web-log.nl/fietsen/2007/05/luxe_kidshopper.html
http://www.19toen.nl/product/92
http://www.seels-sezamstraat.nl/01c3b99853130b228/01c3b9985313b3a41/index.html
http://www.fietstassen.net/
http://www.fleximac.nl/fietstassen.html

[pll]

I remember seeing some cool ones from the Netherlands - the ultimative cycling nation anyways -

and googled the following:
http://fietsen.web-log.nl/fietsen/2007/05/luxe_kidshopper.html
http://www.19toen.nl/product/92
http://www.seels-sezamstraat.nl/01c3b99853130b228/01c3b9985313b3a41/index.html
http://www.fietstassen.net/
http://www.fleximac.nl/fietstassen.html

Now, those are cool! :cool:

[mimitabby]

[QUOTE=alpinerabbit;317022]I remember seeing some cool ones from the Netherlands - the ultimative cycling nation anyways -

and googled the following:

http://www.19toen.nl/product/92

oh wow! I love these!!!!!


how much does this one cost?
http://www.fleximac.nl/fietstas6.jpg

[F8th637]

I'm personally drooling over the Basil bags from the Netherlands that have recently landed in the US. Check the article. (http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/19/basil-bags-now-available-at-your-local-bike-shop/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2028/2427079550_d7bbdd6227.jpg

[mimitabby]

ooooooooooooooooooooooo thanks Faith!

[GLC1968]

The Basil bags are super nice. We have an LBS here in Portland that carries them, so I got to see them in person. VERY cute! I actually ended up with a Basil basket on the front of my bike and I really like it. Good stuff!

[Becky]

Basil was my first thought. Any LBS with a Seattle Bike Supply account should be able to get their hands on them- they're in the latest SBS catalog :)

[alpinerabbit]

how much does this one cost?
http://www.fleximac.nl/fietstas6.jpg

Unfortunately, what dutch I understand says they can't get enough of the material (used plastic billboards (facade ads?)) to go into serial production at the moment. guess you will have to wait for these.

[keltic_night]

Wow! I was starting to give up on finding something that wasn't so "utilitarian". I want the panniers for commuting to work and would be taking them on and off twice a day.. I also have several stairs to walk up at the end of the day so something that has back-pack straps would also be nice. Though.. I'm almost willing to give that up in the name of fashion! haha

I love the ones from the Netherlands but will have to research further to see if I can translate or find someone that speaks English. That or the basil bags look promising.
Thanks again for all the help.. and if you come across any other pretty panniers.. be sure to send the link my way! Thanks!

[sundial]

Keltic, Running Mommy stocks Basil in her bike store I believe.

[keltic_night]

I'm new here.. is running mommy a name of a person on here? Or a store? Didn't get much when I googled it. :)
Thanks!

[KnottedYet]

I'm new here.. is running mommy a name of a person on here? Or a store? Didn't get much when I googled it. :)
Thanks!

She's a TE'er who owns this bike shop: http://www.estrellamountaincyclery.com/ride/index.php

[keltic_night]

I'll contact her. Thanks for the info!

[alpinerabbit]

I love the ones from the Netherlands but will have to research further to see if I can translate or find someone that speaks English.
must dutch folks speak excellent english. I am Swiss so i understand most of what's on those sites (dutch being very similar to German). Just ask.

[Aggie_Ama]

must dutch folks speak excellent english. I am Swiss so i understand most of what's on those sites (dutch being very similar to German). Just ask.

Magnus Backstedt speaks excellent English. :D

I am eying the pink panniers basil makes for my soon to be purchased commuter! They really aren't that expensive either.

[sundial]

I'll contact her. Thanks for the info!

Running Mommy, aka Denise, is very helpful and if she doesn't have it, she can probably locate a US distributor who carries Basil.

[spotlightmama]

My LBS carries the Basil panniers! :eek: I just went in tonight and saw them. Only $49.99!

I somehow managed to walk out without them, but I think I *have* to have one now that I have seen how gorgeous they are in person.

[F8th637]

My LBS carries the Basil panniers! :eek: I just went in tonight and saw them. Only $49.99!

I somehow managed to walk out without them, but I think I *have* to have one now that I have seen how gorgeous they are in person.

OMG! If I saw them in person I probably wouldn't be able to walk out without them. You are a better person than me! :D

[spotlightmama]

I know, I'm almost embarrassed at my self-control!! :p The *only* reason I walked out was because I know they make one that matches my bike better than the ones they had in stock and he said he could probably order it in. I'm going back with a picture. Probably tomorrow. :p

[F8th637]

Haa haa, I have to admit that that's one reason I haven't pulled the trigger yet too. If only they had a yellow one, I tell you.

[keltic_night]

I must say.. I'm pretty excited about how good hte price is of these bags.. pretty and affordable.. YAY! So, after seeing them in person.. do they seem nice? I can't wait to get panniers.. at the moment.. I'm using a bookbag and a bungee net. It's a bit of a pain..

[spotlightmama]

I know, I was really surprised by the price!

Quality-wise, they seem just okay. I had my 7-month and 3-yr-old along, so I couldn't really look too closely, but they didn't seem to be the most durable pannier. I asked the guy if they were waterproof and he said no - maybe water resistant for a mile or so. So that's a bummer. It's not that they look cheaply made or anything - it's just that they don't seem incredibly durable or ready to face the elements. If you are using them for bumming around town in mostly good weather, they seem great.

But let me add a disclaimer here that I am a newbie and have not scoped out a lot of panniers - so take my .2 for what it's worth. :D

I'm pretty sure I'll be heading back up to the LBS tonight, so let me know if you want me to ask them anything!

[F8th637]

I am under the impression they are not heavy-duty just from what I've seen on the website. They call it water-resistant not waterproof and they don't look very waterproof. They have some other utilitarian ones but of course they are not as pretty. One day we'll be able to have the perfect pannier. :D

[Aggie_Ama]

For those who have seen them in person, how are the colors? I am deciding between the purple and olive panniers. The olive looks a little baby poopy on the screen but would probably go better with my all black commuter. I love purple though and those are just so darn pretty!!

[mimitabby]

I just bought the pink ones. I had to order them, i ought to get them in a week or so.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41oNC6Mz0DL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[Grog]

I just bought the pink ones. I had to order them, i ought to get them in a week or so.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41oNC6Mz0DL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Did you get them on E-Bay? Some guy was selling them on EBay this week. Same colour.

They do look really good!!

[mimitabby]

Did you get them on E-Bay? Some guy was selling them on EBay this week. Same colour.

They do look really good!!

no, i ordered them at my LBS, Bikeworks, the only non-profit LBS in Seattle.

[Ana]

Where is it? My boyfriend is headed out that way and it might be nice to be able to point it out before he goes :)

[KnottedYet]

this is Bikeworks: http://www.bikeworks.org/
Very cool bunch of folks. I've met a couple of them, but haven't been to the shop yet.

[mimitabby]

Yeah, Kent Peterson (http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/) waited on me. !!
and a cute 20 something girl was one of the wrenches there.

[Grog]

Cool!!

[la bicicleta]

It looks like Amazon is carrying the Basil Blossom panniers.:)

[keltic_night]

Yes they are. Unfortunately, they aren't carrying this year's models (2008). I'm gonna do some more searching.. I'm wanting the red blossom twig panniers.. :)

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Mimi those are so nice...!!!! I am going to have to get me some now. I didn't want any before..now...oh man. Beats falling in a ditch with a messenger bag. No balance at all.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I went on amazon and typed in basil panniers.

Well, there goes saving money this month. Beats spending it on GAS!
Thanks to whoever posted that!