Luggage

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
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Mick F
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Luggage

Post by Mick F »

My Orange Suitcase has gone to the Great Suitcase Stowage in the Sky, and as my thoughts are turning to next year and a Grand Tour 2, I need a replacement.

I know I could buy another suitcase, but suitcases have disadvantages. Mine let the damp and weather in through it's zip, so a replacement should be better sealed. Also suitcases are just that - suitcases. They have 'losses' in their internal volume to allow for retractable handles and wheels. My Orange Suitcase suffered because of usable volume, not weight carrying. Fluffy jumpers for the cool Scottish evenings burst the zip.

The advantages are that they are easily available in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes, and are relatively cheap.

Image

However, my brain is being drawn to something more specialised. Carry Freedom recommend Ortlieb Rack Packs, but the one that would fit my CF Y Frame Small wouldn't have enough capacity.
http://www.ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lang=e ... =rackpack#


So now I'm thinking about an aluminium box. Sealed against the elements, lockable and secure, and big enough capacity to swallow anything I might need on tour. Expensive, I know. But a good set of 4 panniers would cost £120, so a little more than that would get me a box of 600mm x 400mm x 400mm.
http://www.ukshelving.co.uk/product.php?xProd=309
Price is plus vat.

What does the Team think?
Mick F. Cornwall
MartinBrice
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Post by MartinBrice »

have a look at plastic boxes: you can work with them and they come in all shapes and sizes. i have half a dozen for all by kit: they cost about £4 each, delivered
AndyB
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Post by AndyB »

I'm sure you know this already, but just want to make sure...! The Ortlieb bag for the Y-Frame small is the size L, which has a volume of 49 litres.

I really can't believe it's not big enough for your B&B type tours - one of those, plus 2 large rear panniers and 2 small front panniers was enough for our family of 3 camping in Scotland this Easter, with a warm clothes and thick sleeping bags (it was cold...), plus toys, books, and other paraphernalia for a 3 year old. But if you want a box, why not?!
thirdcrank
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Post by thirdcrank »

I've a rack pack - don't know what size it is but it is the one that says in the catalogue that it fits the BOB yak -= which is why I bought it. It is so roomy you could live in it for several days and not feel closed in. The effective capacity of something which is flexible is greater than something rigid of the same nominal capacity because it can adapt a bit according to the shape of the load. Downside might be your laptop would be a bit less protected.

Mine's black so it would not have the hi-viz effect of your suitcase, but I'm pretty sure they do a yellow one.

Of course, Ortleib quality needs no recommendation from me.
workhard

Post by workhard »

Ali flight cases of the type shown are not usually waterproof. OK it was Mumbai in the monsoon season when we found out at work the notebook PC's therein were a bit wet but.....

...we took one apart, drilled out out the rivets, sealed it with clear sealent, added a rubber flap to the lid to cover the seal, rebuilt it and it now appears to handle anything UK rainfail throw at it in our unscientific tests.
Last edited by workhard on 8 Sep 2008, 11:09am, edited 1 time in total.
workhard

Post by workhard »

have just been reminded by a gracious colleague that we should have bought a Peli case in the first place!
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cranky
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Post by cranky »

workhard wrote:have just been reminded by a gracious colleague that we should have bought a Peli case in the first place!


Agree with this, Peli (Pelican) cases are the bee's knees. Totally sealed, even to the point of having an air-valve fitted so you can equalise the pressure after flying. The things are air-tight and if you went from high altitude to low altitude the case would be clamped shut by air-pressure alone, hence the valve to equalise the pressure. I have two of these I use for photographic and optical equipment. The down side is they're no lightweights in large sizes.
Iain

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juice
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Post by juice »

Mick, I cant believe that I can offer advice given your experience, but what about one of those huge waterproof holdalls that seem bullet proof sold by The North Face and others.
Asdace

Post by Asdace »

Don't how good your diy is, but how about a wooden box, with waterproof lining. Most of this available from all good diy stores, the wood could be t&g (floorboard). This however would be heavy, still a cheap way.
GrahamG
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Post by GrahamG »

My small Y-frame is on back order, but I'm struggling with what to get to tour with next year. I think that I'll wait until we can put everything together that we want to pack and see what we need - although going for lightweight and compact everything, I don't think 45l will quite be enough.

Anyway, surely plastic storage boxes are going to be much cheaper/lighter? Under-bed style storage with a lid that clips down then maybe rig up some straps for it.
Asdace

Post by Asdace »

I have a Berghaus 60 litre ruck-sac with waterproof cover. Used once, if you want it, otherwise it's in the charity shop. I have another brand new ruck-sac for Coast to Coast walk :oops: planned for next year.
GrahamG
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Post by GrahamG »

Asdace wrote:I have a Berghaus 60 litre ruck-sac with waterproof cover. Used once, if you want it, otherwise it's in the charity shop. I have another brand new ruck-sac for Coast to Coast walk :oops: planned for next year.


I'm in need of something about that size for the other half - I'll PM an offer to diddle the charity shop out of it!
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Mick F
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Post by Mick F »

Thanks for all the interest! A good subject, methinks.

Plastic boxes, we looked at prior to the discovery of Orange Suitcase. The plastic of the boxes tends to be very 'domestic' and not robust or weather-tight enough for touring. Great for the loft or under the bed, but not in a heavy-duty environment.

I made a wooden box:
Image Image
I use it for shopping and utility stuff, but not good enough for touring, though I have thought about making a hinged lid.

Orange Suitcase was about 65ltrs and just about enough right for volume, but the Ortlieb Rack pack that would fit is only 49ltrs. The next size up (the XL) is just too wide to fit between the wheels safely. I know that people go on extended tours with hardly anything, just a saddle bag, but I want to be comfortable, and have changes of clothes for the evenings. There's maps and books, the laptop, sandals/shoes, fluffy jumper, towel, food and drinks .... 60 to 70ltrs is about right for me.

I don't want Bike to be cluttered with bags or racks and panniers. If it won't fit on Trailer or inside my little saddle bag, it ain't going. The good thing about CF trailers, is that your bike still feels like a bike, even when towing a heavy load. It isn't loaded down with heavy steering. Believe me, I've toured with panniers in the past, and I know what I prefer!

The trouble with a box, is that it's heavy. Alu is light-ish, plastic even lighter. Fibre-glass would be good. Perhaps I can have a go at making one, though the hard bit would be a mould. Maybe there are fibre-glass boxes on the market?

Anyway, they're my thoughts so far .......
Mick F. Cornwall
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cranky
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Post by cranky »

I think a Pelican case would be lighter than fibreglass and a lot more waterproof. There's one on eBay but the link does stupid things when I try to post it.
Iain

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Mick F
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Post by Mick F »

Found some on Ebay, but not big enough.
Then I looked at the range that Pelican do.
I selected the 1620 model.

Then I found the cost.
£300 ish!

Look good, though!
Mick F. Cornwall
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