1. Cheapest *decent* hanging scale with capacity of at least 40 lb. I know
Park makes an electric one for $60, but I would be quite happy with a
mechanical model if cheaper. (I want to find out how heavy my Fargo is.)
(Seriously, I like to weigh my grocery loads -- just 'cause.)
2. Prest-cum-Schrader replacement pump chuck. In a fit of
brass-and-Silca-lust folly I cut the very decent one-chuck-for-both head
off my pump to replace with a nice (looking) brass screw on Schraeder chuck
that I thought might work better on my daughter's Schrader valves -- which
it does, but screwing on the chuck is a royal arse pain especially when I
have to use a Presta adaptor for my own bikes.
3. Bar tape. I've found my own current favorite but am curious what others
think. I like the Lizard Skins 2.5 (I think it is also made in 1.8 and a
thicker one whose measurement I don't have).
4. Grocery pannier. Here I have certain criteria to meet:
- Easy on and off the rack.
- Can be used singly or as a pair.
- Secure on the rack
- Holds a full-to-top paper grocery sack.
- Has either a cover that will accomodate overflow, or else has loops to
which one can attach a cargo net.
- It is easy to insert a bulging-ly full grocery sack. (This criterion puts
my otherwise wonderful Ortlieb Packers out of the running because of the
(for this use) fiddly and obstructive flap and drawstrings.)
- Universal fit on many different kinds of rack.
- Stiffener on back if not on sides (all-cloth panniers tend in my
experience to end up in the spokes with certain simpler racks).
Of course, cost and durability are part of the equation.
No Wald baskets! No saddlebags! Saddlebags, even the huge Hoss, don't hold
enough, so I prefer panniers which I can mix and match as required. I
realize that the easiest and capacious grocery carrier in the universe is a
huge Wald Newsboy, but I don't have a bike that I'd care to add one of
these to.
I've used several different sorts of camping panniers, many different
commuting panniers, Avenir grocery panniers (currently in use), Gnashbar
grocery pannier, Axiom Dutch (style) boxy panniers, rear Wald baskets (too
damn' narrow!), Carradice panniers and just about all Brooks and many other
saddlebags out there. I want something that is pretty much designed for
full paper grocery sacks.
For convenience, the Avenirs are good though they are not stiff enough to
be ideal. They are also too shallow and have no cover nor provision for a
cargo net. Good only for short trips and you have to make sure you don't
pack small, loose things on top. The folding arrangement is primitive, but
they do fold when not full, which is a plus.
The Axioms, in stock form, sagged too much under any load and the lip of
the opening deformed under weight. I had to rivet a collar of aluminum
strip around the mouths to stiffen them. Thus modified they are much better
but the mouths are still a bit too narrow for easy insertion and removal of
very full bags.
Frankly, when cost is a large factor, I've used nothing more convenient
than the drape-over-rack pair of Target kitchen trashcans that I joined
with pop rivets, dowels and nylon webbing. Wider at top, deep, so that it
is easy to insert and securely carry even an overflowing bag. Certainly
sturdy enough if you reinforce all weight-bearing points with big washers
or thin plywood or sheet metal. Easy on and off, since they drape, and a
single toe strap holds them securely fore-and-aft. And the total cost
(trashcans on sale) was no more than $12. IMO, these are better than milk
crates or used cat litter boxes. You can also plaster all sorts of
reflective material on the backs and even bolt blinkies permanently to them.
Their big defect of course is that they look ineffably dorky. But I can see
a plastic (not kitchen white!) bin-type pannier optimally sized and shaped,
suitably reinforced at stress points, and with adjustable, QR mounting
system a la Carradice or Ortlieb, and cargo net top -- does anyone make
anything like this?
Patrick "Riv + luggage" Moore
--
"Believe nothing until it has been officially denied."
-- Claude Cockburn
-------------------------
Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM, USA
For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW
http://resumespecialties.com/index.html
-------------------------
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