new panniers

[bruiser]

Hmmmm... I couldn't figure out if this would be better off in the gear or commuting forum. Since this is my commute bike I'm talking about, I figured here

So, I just happened across the Basil Blossom double panniers I've had my eyes on for months and bought them on impulse. Ok, not really impulse since I knew I would buy them the second I laid eyes on them- thank the bike gods for the tax refund here just in time!
I had to get a rear rack installed at the shop and ended up putting the bags on when I got home.
Now I have 2 problems:
1. This is my first experience with panniers and I totally didn't even think that maybe my heels would hit the bags *doh*
2. When I attach the bags a little farther back to compensate they start to droop over the back of the rack. This is several inches, and to get the bags far enough away from my heels it would end up being about 4 inches. The bike is a small-ish men's road frame (the Seattle Langster).

Does anyone have any solutions? I thought about attaching a board to the rack to elongate the platform on which my bags rest, but that doesn't do anything for the heel-strike. I also though about seeing if the lbs can put the rack higher up by bending the struts more. I'd be really sad if I can't keep these on this bike as they make erands so much more...stylish

[mimitabby]

i had the same problem. i clearly did not have enough room for them (heels hitting them) and returned them 5 minutes after I bought them.
If i ever buy panniers they will have to be a smaller size. it's a bummer, I really liked those Basil Blossoms too.

1. This is my first experience with panniers and I totally didn't even think that maybe my heels would hit the bags *doh*
2. When I attach the bags a little farther back to compensate they start to droop over the back of the rack. This is several inches, and to get the bags far enough away from my heels it would end up being about 4 inches. The bike is a small-ish men's road frame (the Seattle Langster).

Does anyone have any solutions? I thought about attaching a board to the rack to elongate the platform on which my bags rest, but that doesn't do anything for the heel-strike. I also though about seeing if the lbs can put the rack higher up by bending the struts more. I'd be really sad if I can't keep these on this bike as they make erands so much more...stylish

[bruiser]

I'm holding hope that there is some clever solution out there... I really want them to work! I don't really want to have to return them because I am so smitten with them. I think maybe if I can't get them to fit I will save them for another, FUTURE, bike
I keep telling myself, "Stop looking at bikes! You already have too many."
Now I have a legitimate reason to by something different, right?

[Geonz]

Can't have too many bikes. They sometimes break, you know

[KnottedYet]

Can you fold the forward corners in on themselves (like poking the finger of a glove into itself) and tack them down, to give you a tapered forward edge like touring panniers have?

I've only played with one set of Basil panniers, and when I saw them I was thinking about Mimi's experience. So I messed with them a bit...

Maybe try that and see if it gives you enough clearance before you give up on them?

(and Bruiser, I *like* that Schwinn! Thanks for causing me to suffer MORE bike lust in my life!!!! )

[bruiser]

Knotted- I like that Schwinn, too, that's why I linked it Kinda wish it were a 3 speed, though.
Good idea on tucking the corners in. I don't really need much more space to get a good up-stroke. I did realize today that when I crest the hill by my house the wind coming from the west (is that called a westerly?) blew the corners into my spokes. Yech. At the time I was trying to pass a kid walking in the bike lane and the sound made me think my whole rack was going to fall off into traffic
Plus, there were some studly cyclists coming down the hill opposite me- I wanted to show off my guns but the racket from my bags was ruining my game