Unusual panniers

[Catrin]

I work in our City-County building, and walked out of work the other day to see this at one of the bike racks. I can only assume that the owner chose these as panniers as theft-aversion. Also not that the bike is not actually IN the rack, but locked to the side of it. One also wonders the wisdom of leaving her/his helmet with the bike, but thieves may not be all that interested in helmets. Anyway it made me smile :)

[tulip]

Kitty litter boxes are very useful because they are so sturdy and they are lightweight. They are pretty common as panniers/baskets. They make fantastic grocery panniers because they are deep.

That bike looks like its ridden by someone who knows what he or she is doing and has been doing it for a long time. I suppose they know best about their helmet. Locking your bike at the end of the bike rack is more secure because you can get the lock through the bike frame. Those wheel-in racks are tough to do that unless you have a long cable.

Nice bike. Well-loved and customized. I like it. It looks suspiciously like a Surly, by the way. With a Brooks saddle...could be you one day!

[Catrin]

...Nice bike. Well-loved and customized. I like it. It looks suspiciously like a Surly, by the way. With a Brooks saddle...could be you one day!

That is what I was thinking - outside of the Brooks though :o There were no decals on the bike so wasn't sure what it might be but it did look like a Surly :)

I've become Brooks "shy" because of my current experience with my saddle, though I know what a lot of people dearly love theirs. Apparently a lot of the RAAM riders do use Brooks, which says they can certainly be used for endurance/long-distance riding.

I always have fun checking out the bikes in the racks when I leave work for the day. This is the first time that I have seen a "nice" bike parked there, usually they are beater bikes. We are allowed to park them in our office if our supervisor approves, so generally the bikes belong to visitors to the building.

I have seen a very small and unusual motorcycle from time to time at the rack, will get a pic next time I see it. I really like the handlebar bag they use. At least it looks unusual to me.

[MommyBird]

. Apparently a lot of the RAAM riders do use Brooks, which says they can certainly be used for endurance/long-distance riding

Kevin Kaiser has Brooks on all his bikes. It looks really odd on his Super Sixx. Slightly odd on his Synapses.
He passed me in his RAAM outfitted van yesterday. My eye caught the speakers and lights on the roof rack. Shook me for a moment then I came to my senses and saw the Kia badging on the blue van in my rear view mirror. I know he works for Publix and this happened between Publix and our favorite LBS. Maybe he was at Chain Reaction talking to Phil and Brad on his lunch hour?

[Eden]

That bike looks like its ridden by someone who knows what he or she is doing and has been doing it for a long time. I suppose they know best about their helmet. Locking your bike at the end of the bike rack is more secure because you can get the lock through the bike frame. Those wheel-in racks are tough to do that unless you have a long cable.

Actually not so much.... Sadly a cable lock like that is about as secure as a twist tie..... thieves can cut most cable locks so fast no one will even notice. A determined thief can get through most any lock, given enough time and a disinterested public (there is a video on You-Tube of someone sawing through a u-lock on a crowded street with a power tool - he wore an orange safety vest like a city worker and was totally ignored), but most cable locks, especially one that thin, really only serve to keep honest folks honest. Your best bet for finding your bike still there when you get back if you must lock up in a public place is a short shank U-style lock

[tulip]

Your best bet for finding your bike still there when you get back if you must lock up in a public place is a short shank U-style lock

Exactly, and you cannot use U-locks except on the end of bike racks like the one Catrin posted. If you use the wheel wells, you cannot lock the frame, only the wheel.

[OakLeaf]

As with most things, it depends on the location.

Most of the time I don't even lock my bikes (breakfast with the club, bathroom or snack breaks). When I do, I have a cheap combination cable lock for the commuter, and an even flimsier lightweight cable for the roadie.

I certainly wouldn't do this everywhere, nor if I were going to be leaving the road bike for several hours, or the commuter overnight. But it's plenty for errands and for dinners out, in the places I ride. The people I ride with do exactly as I do, and none of them has ever had a bike stolen under these conditions.

My assumption from that picture wouldn't be that the person doesn't know what s/he's doing. It would be that the person knows what s/he's doing and where s/he's parking the bike.

[PamNY]

I love creative bike accessories. I've seen quite a few panniers like that.

My favorite (that I hope to photograph eventually) is a fender made from a liter soda bottle cut in half.

Locks depend on where you are. I use a big Kryptonite chain in Manhattan and a light cable (I call it my joke lock) in the country.

[bunny_ninja]

My locking job - no need for the end o'rack with our bike rack

U lock through frame to rack. Cable through both tires and onto U-lock. I am very lucky with that rack, but I am still nervous. Our security guard at work is always near there smoking - so that does provide a bit of safety.

[bunny_ninja]

that pic is the wallpaper on my work computer. Heh. I get to feel like I am watching it all day :)

[Tri Girl]

I did a cross-state bike tour a few weeks ago, and some guy had wooden panniers on his bike. I didn't get a picture- but I wish I had. They were very interesting...

I have kitty litter bucket panniers. I painted mine red to match my bike. I like them, but haven't used them in a while. They are BIG and waterproof. And ugly as sin- but that just gives them "character."

[Grog]

Here are the instructions to make them:
http://www.instructables.com/id/KITTY-litter-pannier/

[colorisnt]

Those are cool panniers, but I would not likely park my bike for the day with a cable lock. I have a good, strong u-lock. Nothing is inviceable, but it does seem to deter people from stealing my bike in some very interesting places.

Thankfully, at work, I get to park my bike.

Here is my "ghetto commuter" with hand-made panniers made in the same style to that above.

http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac11/mytack4sale/panniers.jpg

The whole point of them is to deter people from stealing them. I am painting them perriwinkle and putting on more reflectors. The trek trunk I will take with me.