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Panniers, Bike Bags, Stuff sacks, and Saddle bags I want to get a dedicated thread going to review and discuss available carrying of your gear for Bikepacking, Adventure cycling and Bicycle touring.   I want to keep this thread to items that are used to carrry your gear on your long multiday rides.   - Panniers, Bike bags, Stuff sacks and saddle bags.    Aliexpress lists and sells a lot of different items in this category.   I am always looking for the lightest, most durable, perhaps water proof, and best bang for the buck.   

For this years planned trips, I am trying to remove more weight and am looking for the lightest durable gear packs I can find on Aliexpress.   (Perhaps other brands outside Aliexpress, if they are affordable.)

I am hoping other forum members will have some good recommendations for bags you have purchased and used.

I purchased a set of Rhinowalk panniers over a year ago.  They have held up OK, on 3, week+ trips, but they are already showing signs of wear, and are having issues. 

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832858229989.html

I purchased and use one of these NEWBOLER saddlebags for overnight trips.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832636637212.html

I have purchased numerous sacks off of Ali express.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832771567611.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805087053087.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805093049693.html
January 26, 2024, 02:07:34 PM 		7
Re: Panniers, Bike Bags, Stuff sacks, and Saddle bags
Quote from: kbernstein on January 27, 2024, 03:26:45 AM
Decluttering the interesting finds thread and organizing by item type is a great idea.
I'm interested in the Montcamper drybags, which ones do you have? Could you weigh them for comparison against StS? Thank you

Below is a pic of the collection of my dry bags, most from Aliexpress.   I have 3 Montcamper bags that I purchased through the $1.99 deals.  They are the lightest 3L = 44 grams, 10L =52 grams.   I haven't used the Montcamper bags yet, but they appear to be sewn well and use high quality rip-stop material.

The 2L "Waterproof Bags" are heavy duty and weight 92 grams. (Also purchased on the $1.99 deals)  I'll use this style bag more for water sports than cycling.

The 7L Newboler dry bags weigh in at 228 grams.   On the heavy side, but I may use one for a front fork side pack where I often hit objects on narrow trails.

I am not a "drybag" expert by any means and want to learn more about the materials used, versus the durability and water resistance.
January 27, 2024, 10:56:31 AM 		1
Re: Patty's Long Rant and Guide To Affordable Frames Ever since Interbike folded and BRAIN was purchased by Outside, detailed statistics regarding detailed bicycle purchases are all behind paywalls.  All we can find these days regarding bicycle sales are top level unit sales and $$ information.  How does this pertain to this discussion?   As I understood it, 80+% of all bicycle sales are sold as complete bicycles by the top ten companies. The other 20% are the smaller name companies.  Last I knew, perhaps 1% or less of bicycles are built by individuals who purchase a new frame.   This forum is getting closer to having 7000 members.   I am guessing , but perhaps 3000 of our GLOBAL members purchase frames from China and build their own bikes from the ground up, this is nothing in the big picture of selling bicycles.  When I look at the list of 10 frames Pat listed,  most of these companies have fairly low mfg capacity, a few list 3K frame per year.  (On a side note, Giant is the largest Bicycle company in the world, and one Giant frame made pat's list)

This says to me that a person trying to be an "influencer" regarding reviewing and recommending Chinese manufactured frames sold on Aliexpress is statistically insignificant.   Even if a new Chinese frame manufacturing company starts to gain traction with their own branded frames,  their real sales potential lies in having a bicycle importer pick up their product and brand it under the importer's product name.   

The average cyclist is too lazy or believes it is too difficult to build a bicycle from the ground up.   Therefore this discussion is for a very small niche in a very small market.
January 31, 2024, 12:10:41 PM 		3
Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
Quote from: coffeebreak on February 19, 2024, 11:55:20 PM
Either add them to cart or just "heart" them. Both work. After that Aliexpress starts showing those items everywhere lol.

I clicked the heart on several different ones.  When I navigated back to the pick 3, I started seeing many headsets, except the ones that have been posted.  I went to the electronics section and after some scrolling I finally found it.   Just for grins, and being a good Chinertown consumer, I ordered a set along with other items I don't really need.
February 21, 2024, 10:53:03 AM 		1
Re: Best AliExpress head & tail lights?
Quote from: 00Garza on February 27, 2024, 01:48:17 PM
Sounds like a dynamo set up would be your best bet.
On the road, I've been there done that when LED technology was kicking off.   For my usage, I would have to build another $$$ front wheel. 15 X 110 hub to fit my bikepacker.  There are only a few 15 x 110 dynamo hubs out there, ranging in price from around $160 to $450.  If I went that route, it would probably be best to use the dynamo to charge a powerbank rather than the lights.  Often on trails going up hill speeds can be below 6mph, the hubs stop outputting their rated power.
The Son 28 ($400+ price) outputs around 6V @ 3watts at 20km/h 

If I need to depend 100% on a dynamo to light a light, I may not have much light while climbing up steep trails, so I would need other lights anyways.

After my earlier post, I found these lights that work off of remote powerbank or a 12V battery.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805265597108.html

(Same as above, but with remote battery.)
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805183282626.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832638320713.html

I would be nice to carry one or two 20,000+ mAh powerbanks of some sort that can be set up to run my light/s, and recharge my cell, bike computer and occasionally my Zoleo.

One other thing I have discovered is that all of my LED lights that use USB-C charging ports, the lights wont turn on while the battery is charging.  This means you can't use a powerbank to add power to the light as you use it.  Therefore one would have to have 2 lights on the bike, one running and one charging, to get through 8+ hours of darkness while riding.
February 27, 2024, 06:30:58 PM 		1
Re: Interesting Aliexpress finds! - good deals, interesting stuff, new products etc!
Quote from: chineesje on March 18, 2024, 03:17:34 AM
Has anyone been able to use the $80 off coupon yet (anniversary sale)?
Yes.  I applied one to my order this morning.
March 18, 2024, 06:15:12 PM 		1
Re: III Pro PEERAGE 4 brakes - piccola clone I have 3 sets of the III pro brakes in service.  First pair was installed in Dec.22. 2nd pair June 23, and 3rd set Sept. 23.    The first set has been used hard, and I have worn through a set of pads.   2nd and 3rd bikes do not see as many miles and/or adverse conditions.    I have never ridden on any other "High end" calipers.  but in comparison to my XT calipers on my older FS bike, these work equally, if not slightly better.     Perhaps on my next build, I will purchase some Lewis brakes...  To date, I have been very pleased with their cost to weight/performance ratio.
March 20, 2024, 09:35:15 AM 		1
Re: WheelTop EDS TX Full Wireless Groupset (Chinese SRAM)
Quote from: Takiyaki on March 25, 2024, 02:15:41 PM
Issue for me would be that batteries eventually die which would render the whole derailleur useless.
From my perspective, worrying about a dead battery is a non-issue.   
1.  The fixed batteries on the new generation EDS derailleurs can be removed and replaced.
2.  When the battery pack fails, purchase a replacement. (As long as the derailleur/s are for sale, and perhaps for many years after production stops, a replacement battery pack will be available.)
3.  For other products that I have purchased, where I could no longer get a replacement battery pack, I have carefully opened the battery pack. In in every case, the battery pack used common and readily available rechargeable battery sizes.
4.  If by chance, I haven't worn out the mechanical part of the derailleur by the time I can't get a replacement battery, then I would make my own battery pack to keep the the derailleur running.
March 25, 2024, 04:20:38 PM 		1
Re: WheelTop EDS TX Full Wireless Groupset (Chinese SRAM) It is interesting to note that SRAMs original wireless shifting patent .: US 2014/0102237 A1, expires on April 17th 2024.  Other Patents associated with electronic controller shifters filed by Shimano and SRAM have also been expiring.   I haven't read through all of SRAM's more recent patents, but what often happens is that companies file new claims to try to extend existing patents that are running out in order to try to block other competitors from using designs that are no longer patent protected.   It is possible that Wheeltop has a viable design that is legal and does not impinge on any current patents. This might be why the timing of their OX and TX systems have been just recently released.  Perhaps they will start selling in the USA once a few more of the patents they infringe opon expire.   
Keep in mind that utility patents are good for 15 years, and design patents 20 years here in the USA.   

Bluetooth and ANT communication standards are now over 20 years old, so Wheeltop can use these standards for a wireless method for their wireless communications.  Wheeltop's challenge is how to minimize battery usage, (sleep and wake up signals) that were in SRAM's wireless patent that expires in April.

Edit:  I believe that a "fixed battery" on a derailleur patent has expired too. But a removable battery is still covered under a newer SRAM patent.
March 26, 2024, 01:24:15 PM 		1
Re: First gravel frame (and first chinese frame) I purchased a Seraph GR029 gravel frame over 4 years ago.  It has been a work horse.  I have around 10,000 miles on this frame/bike.  To date I love this build.

I also like Spcycle frames.  I purchased one of their 29er hardtail frames a few years ago. It is my back-up gravel machine.  Since it is a 29er frame, I swap between a 100mm travel Suspension fork and a rigid carbon fork and either run flat bars or put on carbon  "H" bars.  This bike configured as a gravel bike with the suspension fork is actually faster on a lot of the rougher gravel roads and trails I use it for.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800631693777.html

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802796251755.html
March 26, 2024, 01:44:12 PM 		1