Timbuk2Tandem Pannier(Return to Product Page)

As a bicyclist now in my late forties, I'm still learning the important lesson of save now, pay later. Before these Timbuk2 panniers, I had tried a pair of Blackburn panniers that were discounted from about $70 to $26, and it was $26 that I quickly learned I should have kept - the bags were heavy, had no sensible way to secure the bags from swinging back and forth with the cadence of my pedaling (very annoying sensation), and they hung down at the leading edge into the path of my heel as I pedaled and forced my to move my foot further ahead on the pedal than i liked.

These Timbuk2's are certainly more costly, but it has been money well and gratefully spent. I commute from my job at a local university, which means carrying books and files along with daily items like lunch and bikelock. The Timbuk2's fit snugly on the Bontrager rack on my Trek District, each side bag has a velcro strap on the wheel side of the bag which loops securely around the rack, and the shoulder strap can hang off to the side without getting tangle up in the wheel. Essentially, easy on, easy off, and securely in place when on the bike.

The other nice side, though, of these panniers is when they are off the bike - As advertised, the magnets do actually keep the two panniers together, aligned very nicely, and give the impression of that I'm carrying a quality shoulder bag, and not a pair of bike panniers, which is perfect for my job at the university. The shoulder strap is wide, sturdy, and comfortable across the shoulder, and the hand loops are also comfortable to use, as they basically fall nicely together and feel like one handle when the bags are together.

So anyway, I started with less expensive bags and was instantly thinking of how they could be better and what I should get next, and now I've purchased what I should have gotten in the first place, and I feel good about the money knowing that I have what I want. If there is any 'downside' to these bags, it would only be for the person who wants/needs more space, as these bags do not have the capacity of other bags available, but for what I carry, they are perfect. I haven't ridden in rain yet, so I can't yet vouch for how well they keep contents protected, but the top flaps do cover quite well and click securely over the lower portion of the panniers.

I love this pannier,just needs an extra( 1) inches longer for my 15 laptop,but other than that is almost perfect.