New Bike

[Zed]

How about a bar bag?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/c/cycle/7/Bags_-_Handlebar/

I might look at getting one but i currently take a 33L rucksack with me and don't think i'll be able to cut things down enough to fit in a bar bag   even the biggest one on wiggle (Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Classic Large) is only 9L capacity.

how about something like this, i use a rack on the back of my audax daily rider with 1 pannier that was one of my front panniers,mine is big enough to fit my work shoes in a few magazines a tool kit, oh and a lock, plus no wait on your poor back, 

rack that fits to your seat post,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ETC-CHROME-QUICK-RELEASE-PANNIER-RACK-BIKE-CYCLE-RACK-/310209733996?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Sports_Leisure_Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR&hash=item4839f0e56c

some good panniers,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/pair-black-karrimor-bike-panniers-/120577401211?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Sports_Leisure_Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR&hash=item1c12f9217b

[Abstraction]

how about something like this, i use a rack on the back of my audax daily rider with 1 pannier that was one of my front panniers,mine is big enough to fit my work shoes in a few magazines a tool kit, oh and a lock, plus no wait on your poor back, 

rack that fits to your seat post,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ETC-CHROME-QUICK-RELEASE-PANNIER-RACK-BIKE-CYCLE-RACK-/310209733996?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Sports_Leisure_Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR&hash=item4839f0e56c

some good panniers,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/pair-black-karrimor-bike-panniers-/120577401211?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Sports_Leisure_Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR&hash=item1c12f9217b

Are those types of racks reliable?  I've got mounting points for a full rack on the Dr Dew so if a properly mounted one designed to fit disc brakes was worth waiting a month till i could afford to get one i'd do that otherwise that does look like a cheap option  Won't be able to ride for at least a week or two anyway and then i'm off to scotland so now i've accepted the fact i'm going to have to be idle for a little while there's no desperate rush.

[Zed]

how about something like this, i use a rack on the back of my audax daily rider with 1 pannier that was one of my front panniers,mine is big enough to fit my work shoes in a few magazines a tool kit, oh and a lock, plus no wait on your poor back, 

rack that fits to your seat post,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ETC-CHROME-QUICK-RELEASE-PANNIER-RACK-BIKE-CYCLE-RACK-/310209733996?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Sports_Leisure_Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR&hash=item4839f0e56c

some good panniers,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/pair-black-karrimor-bike-panniers-/120577401211?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Sports_Leisure_Cycling_Bags_Panniers_SR&hash=item1c12f9217b

Are those types of racks reliable?  I've got mounting points for a full rack on the Dr Dew so if a properly mounted one designed to fit disc brakes was worth waiting a month till i could afford to get one i'd do that otherwise that does look like a cheap option  Won't be able to ride for at least a week or two anyway and then i'm off to scotland so now i've accepted the fact i'm going to have to be idle for a little while there's no desperate rush.

ive not tried one but seen a few MTB'ers using them over the years with no problems, ive got rear rack mounts on my MTB but ive tried one of my spare racks and it dont fit over the disc brake caliper 

[Abstraction]

This is the cheapest option designed for disc brakes I've seen so far, which i could get next month but then I'll still need the panniers - the karrimor ones you linked to on ebay look a bargain if the price stays low but they're local pick up only from Nottingham which is no good for me unfortunately There are other cheapish options on ebay but they're all unbraded so given the new ones on wiggle and evans are £50+ i assume they're not the sort of quality which is going to last!

[Zed]

This is the cheapest option designed for disc brakes I've seen so far, which i could get next month but then I'll still need the panniers - the karrimor ones you linked to on ebay look a bargain if the price stays low but they're local pick up only from Nottingham which is no good for me unfortunately There are other cheapish options on ebay but they're all unbraded so given the new ones on wiggle and evans are £50+ i assume they're not the sort of quality which is going to last!

that is similar to mine in the shed  but it doesnt fit, i would rather try in store before i brought it 

[Abstraction]

Yeah i've got a free 6 week tune up from evans coming up anyway so when i take the bike in i might ask what they have  

[Zed]

Yeah i've got a free 6 week tune up from evans coming up anyway so when i take the bike in i might ask what they have  

   looking again at that pic of the rack there seems to be a little extra bit where the bolt goes in, that would work on most racks as i thought that myself, but if you had a fair bit of weight on the rack it would bent the bolt, 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

All the rack's that clip to your seat post are pretty lame when it comes to weight limits

My old Topeak one was only rated to 6kg, and it cost about £40 for the rack alone

[Abstraction]

alright, sounds like checking in evans is the best bet then  it'll be pricier than wiggle but at least i'll be able to check there and then that it will  actually fit!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Just jot down your option's then Wiggle-it

[glorn]

First off, I've been away from the thread, so...

Congrats on the bike! Looks great!



Second... I have a Topeak rack on my touring bike, and it is very good for the price. Looks very much like the one you linked above. So I'd advise you to go for it.


And I agree that seatpost racks are rather poor performers. Skip that option.




G.

[glorn]

I wonder if the back pain is related to the lung infection?

That whole "pain transference" thing?

The biking has you taking big breaths and all... lungs expanding... shows up in the back as pain.


If rest doesn't kick it, try lowering your stem a bit or raising your seat slightly. This will put a bit more weight on your arms and off your bottom. Or the opposite for that matter. You never know. My new bikes always need the seat raised slightly at least twice after the initial fit. And I tend to lower the bars as well.


I can tell you one thing that always made me smile even on the most grueling, rainy, cold, miserable ride home:

"This still beats sitting in traffic."


Cars are coffins. There's your new mantra.


 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I wonder if the back pain is related to the lung infection?

That whole "pain transference" thing?

The biking has you taking big breaths and all... lungs expanding... shows up in the back as pain.


If rest doesn't kick it, try lowering your stem a bit or raising your seat slightly. This will put a bit more weight on your arms and off your bottom. Or the opposite for that matter. You never know. My new bikes always need the seat raised slightly at least twice after the initial fit. And I tend to lower the bars as well.


I can tell you one thing that always made me smile even on the most grueling, rainy, cold, miserable ride home:

"This still beats sitting in traffic."


Cars are coffins. There's your new mantra.


 

Couldn't agree more mate

[Abstraction]

I wonder if the back pain is related to the lung infection?

That whole "pain transference" thing?

The biking has you taking big breaths and all... lungs expanding... shows up in the back as pain.


If rest doesn't kick it, try lowering your stem a bit or raising your seat slightly. This will put a bit more weight on your arms and off your bottom. Or the opposite for that matter. You never know. My new bikes always need the seat raised slightly at least twice after the initial fit. And I tend to lower the bars as well.


I can tell you one thing that always made me smile even on the most grueling, rainy, cold, miserable ride home:

"This still beats sitting in traffic."


Cars are coffins. There's your new mantra.


 

I'm due to go into Evans next week and will definitely give the topeak rack a look []

I'm pretty sure that the two problems (back and lung) are separate as I swim at least once a week and run at least twice a week, so if my lung was giving me any real problems i'd have noticed it well before now - the doctor says the scarring which showed up suggests i've been 'suffering' from it for a while now.  I've also just finished a weeks course of penicillin which should have cleared the lung up no problem, and yet the back ache is still there 

I've got a trip to do tomorrow which i really really don't want to have to use the train for so am thinking of just riding and seeing how the back copes, fed up of having a bike i can't ride and it's not been getting worse/better without riding! 

As for cars being coffins i totally agree anyway, i don't drive and have no plans on taking it up! My girlfriend drives and when im going out with her she'll occassionally drive but i walk+public transport everywhere. The plan now is to cycle everywhere though!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Good man