gr8 vid man. Yes it's true, you don't have to have the most expensive brands on the market to get good waterproof bags..I carry 2 rear panniers of 40 litres each at £27 each. had them for years never failed!
thanks mr bicycle ;) exactly, the worst part is most people who start touring always buy the 'best' equipment which leaves them at a loss when on the road with less money than they could have, also if they dont like touring as much as they thought they would they might give up and sell the expencive equipment for a fraction of what they originaly paid leaving them at a massive loss of money. peace
Cool Hippyswift, thanks for sharing. On your website you mentioned you made a trailer out of a hand truck. Let's see if I can get this idea across in text. I made a wanjiksila, a Lakota Sioux word for a one person travois. I happened upon a suspension system that is easy but works really well. The 'trailer or carrier, attached to a backpacking frame, different for a bicycle of course. Attached to the 'handles' (or trailer tongue for you) is the 'bed, where the gear goes or gets tied on. At the back of the bed is a hinge or a pivot. Attached is an arm. Behind the bed it attaches to a wheel. For my use I used a 12" jogging stroller wheel. The other end of the arm is underneath the trailer and attached to it with shock cord. This is the 'suspension'. When the wheel hits a bump it goes up, the shock cord is stretched a bit, and the bed stays about where it is. In use the wheel is going up and down with the terrain, but the bed, its load, and where it attaches to me, is very smooth. You could also use two wheels or two arms. I never made a final version, but the proof of concept worked incredibly well. Let me know (anyone) if there's interest and I'll put some images on Google Image. It's not an invention, it's just I've never seen the idea used for bicycles or walkers.
You have useful gear reviews but I remember the last one I watched you put neither the name of the product in the description or had a link to it. Any reviews on good panniers that don't cost an arm and a leg are nice though.
hey thanks for the support ;) the large bar bag on the front does not have a brand name & was a cheap waterproof camera bag from e-bay. the 2 molle pouches are from millitary webbing, i have just made a new video about my bar bags with links in discription. peace
great video bud many thanks can I ask have you tried the extrewheel system for behind the bike[trailer] its just like a wheel with pannier rack and bags on each side? ....thanks and stay safe out there bud.......colin.
+colin whyte cheers Colin ;) no never tried it but it does look good, I find some people get on with the one wheel trailer and some hate it. I suppose if your loaded touring you can keep it for extra space but I don't know what would be like if only have bags on trailer, cheers
Hi HS- I heard you say you used the rear shoulder strap loops for something on your rear rack. Do you have a video link showing what you did or can you show what you did? Sorry to say, but I am looking for ideas on what I could do for the top of my rear rack and how to haul something. And can you show how you replace all those rusty bolts that hold the mounts and guards? Thanks, and hope to see you out touring!
i am currently working on a few videos which involve these strapa for diferent uses all over the bike's. cant give too much away but yes i use them as clip straps for my tent on the rear rack. i always use bunjie cords to secure my things on the racks normally. yes might be part of a future repair video im thinking of doing, thanks for the idea, if you are up for touring i have a few tours planned for this year which i talk about in my next video ;) peace
Neat review thanks! So if the velco is holding the handles from rattling, what's stopping the pannier from jumping its top connectors if the going gets a bit bumpy? With my cheapo Lidl ones (about 9 pounds for the pair!) I have had one of the two springy clips come off the pannier rack several times. My Ortlieb on the other hand have the kind of trigger release so have never jumped off. Your panniers look pretty good just the same.
+Terry McGeary yeah the Velcro holds the panniers on as well. Same here my friend I also had lidl panniers and always had them snapping the dodgy rivets, I know a few people with clips to hold the bags on like ortliebs but some have failed miles from anywhere and didn't stay on for long, I like these bags they have done me well ;) peace
kool i trust these bags and there not a sponcor product either so 100% my honest feedback ;) sounds great i hope you have a lovely time, same here they are to expencive for me too, peace
Great review. I like the look of these bags, it's nice to see them in more detail. I love reviews on products like this because it shows that cycle touring can be done on a restricted budget. My front pannier bags are mid priced Avenier's from Halfords and my rear bags are dirt cheap Argos ones. Both are 100% waterproof and the fixings are very strong. Keep the videos coming buddy!
thanks dude ;) exactly the reason i do my newer videos dude as not wise to spend £3k on gear when first starting ;) the mateirals used nowadays are brillient so are getting much cheaper. much more about these and other bags to talk about but thats for a future video ;) thanks will peace
Hippyswift, have you any videos on touring/expedition bicycles? I like you've mentioned how people needn't spend loads on equipment. I'm tempted to buy a Genesis Tour De Fer 2017 later this year or the new Kona Sutra. Is it better to build your own? My thinking is, the frames on those bikes will be spot on and hard to match with a self-build. Is this untrue in your opinion?
+Tommy Bez HCAFC well as far as quality goes the top brands are best however the modern materials in frames and gears make the cheaper bikes just as good for most needs unless your very parinoid about snapping a frame or wheel, I am currently creating a big video taking people through different bikes with my own 9 bikes as examples so stay tuned for that ;) The tour de fer range are a very good looking bike they are actually in partnership with ridgeback and have same quality frames and gears. If you are sure that long tours are for you then get the genesis cheap as possible I think they can go for 450-550 new online since old stock now, however if you find you don't like touring then you have a huge expensive bike that instantly devalues so I'd go for a second hand genesis personally but if you have the cash get it. A self build is only a dream for myself as an upgrade to my main tourer would be over 2k if I built it myself but saying that if you build it yourself it should be spot on for comfort and you know every detail from start of owning the bike and any problems it has Great questions keep them coming, I am picking up another touring bike today for £200 and is just like mine so there are bargains out there, peace
1 problem ...if you're going to put your dirty/smelly clothes in waterproof bag(even in a separate compartment), it'll generate heat(creating more stink), and effect the rest of whatever else is in the bag. However ...if you store your dirty clothes in a water repellent bag, it'll allow it's contents to breath, thus air out & reduce stink.
gr8 vid man.
Yes it's true, you don't have to have the most expensive brands on the market to get good waterproof bags..I carry 2 rear panniers of 40 litres each at £27 each. had them for years never failed!
thanks mr bicycle ;) exactly, the worst part is most people who start touring always buy the 'best' equipment which leaves them at a loss when on the road with less money than they could have, also if they dont like touring as much as they thought they would they might give up and sell the expencive equipment for a fraction of what they originaly paid leaving them at a massive loss of money. peace
Great advice lads thanks ;)
+Tommy Bez HCAFC no worry's any questions just ask ;)
Awesome to get a three years of real use review! Thank you!
no worrys thanks alot ;) peace
highly recommend this purchase
Cool Hippyswift, thanks for sharing.
On your website you mentioned you made a trailer out of a hand truck. Let's see if I can get this idea across in text.
I made a wanjiksila, a Lakota Sioux word for a one person travois. I happened upon a suspension system that is easy but works really well.
The 'trailer or carrier, attached to a backpacking frame, different for a bicycle of course. Attached to the 'handles' (or trailer tongue for you) is the 'bed, where the gear goes or gets tied on.
At the back of the bed is a hinge or a pivot. Attached is an arm. Behind the bed it attaches to a wheel. For my use I used a 12" jogging stroller wheel. The other end of the arm is underneath the trailer and attached to it with shock cord. This is the 'suspension'. When the wheel hits a bump it goes up, the shock cord is stretched a bit, and the bed stays about where it is. In use the wheel is going up and down with the terrain, but the bed, its load, and where it attaches to me, is very smooth. You could also use two wheels or two arms. I never made a final version, but the proof of concept worked incredibly well. Let me know (anyone) if there's interest and I'll put some images on Google Image. It's not an invention, it's just I've never seen the idea used for bicycles or walkers.
Great vid mate. I need to replace my bag panniers as the clips are shoddy & they fall off sometimes. Outer Edge stuff is great
+BrumCraft yeah they are good quality and cheap so bonus ;) peace
You have useful gear reviews but I remember the last one I watched you put neither the name of the product in the description or had a link to it. Any reviews on good panniers that don't cost an arm and a leg are nice though.
+exodous02 thanks sorry about that. I shall try to find some links thanks for the feedback. Peace
Where can I get that bicycle camper that's on your T-Shirt? :)
Hey hippy swift I love this video. But can I ask what is the name of the camo bag on your handlebars in this video?
hey thanks for the support ;) the large bar bag on the front does not have a brand name & was a cheap waterproof camera bag from e-bay. the 2 molle pouches are from millitary webbing, i have just made a new video about my bar bags with links in discription. peace
thanks, again awsome video
great video bud many thanks can I ask have you tried the extrewheel system for behind the bike[trailer] its just like a wheel with pannier rack and bags on each side? ....thanks and stay safe out there bud.......colin.
+colin whyte cheers Colin ;) no never tried it but it does look good, I find some people get on with the one wheel trailer and some hate it. I suppose if your loaded touring you can keep it for extra space but I don't know what would be like if only have bags on trailer, cheers
Hi HS-
I heard you say you used the rear shoulder strap loops for something on your rear rack.
Do you have a video link showing what you did or can you show what you did?
Sorry to say, but I am looking for ideas on what I could do for the top of my rear rack and how to haul something.
And can you show how you replace all those rusty bolts that hold the mounts and guards?
Thanks, and hope to see you out touring!
i am currently working on a few videos which involve these strapa for diferent uses all over the bike's. cant give too much away but yes i use them as clip straps for my tent on the rear rack. i always use bunjie cords to secure my things on the racks normally.
yes might be part of a future repair video im thinking of doing, thanks for the idea, if you are up for touring i have a few tours planned for this year which i talk about in my next video ;) peace
hippyswift, cheers! :)
no worrys, peace
Neat review thanks! So if the velco is holding the handles from rattling, what's stopping the pannier from jumping its top connectors if the going gets a bit bumpy? With my cheapo Lidl ones (about 9 pounds for the pair!) I have had one of the two springy clips come off the pannier rack several times. My Ortlieb on the other hand have the kind of trigger release so have never jumped off. Your panniers look pretty good just the same.
+Terry McGeary yeah the Velcro holds the panniers on as well. Same here my friend I also had lidl panniers and always had them snapping the dodgy rivets, I know a few people with clips to hold the bags on like ortliebs but some have failed miles from anywhere and didn't stay on for long, I like these bags they have done me well ;) peace
Cheers! Worth considering then when we replace.
+Terry McGeary defiantly worth getting ;)
thanks for sharing. any issue with them bouncing off ?
no issue at all ;) not many reviews on these bags but after 3 years i rate them 100%
Thank you and I'm glad you did a review. Think my decision is made. Touring the North Coast 500 in June and ortlieb are a bit out of my budget :)
kool i trust these bags and there not a sponcor product either so 100% my honest feedback ;) sounds great i hope you have a lovely time, same here they are to expencive for me too, peace
Great review. I like the look of these bags, it's nice to see them in more detail. I love reviews on products like this because it shows that cycle touring can be done on a restricted budget. My front pannier bags are mid priced Avenier's from Halfords and my rear bags are dirt cheap Argos ones. Both are 100% waterproof and the fixings are very strong. Keep the videos coming buddy!
thanks dude ;) exactly the reason i do my newer videos dude as not wise to spend £3k on gear when first starting ;) the mateirals used nowadays are brillient so are getting much cheaper. much more about these and other bags to talk about but thats for a future video ;) thanks will peace
i have just got back panniers and they are $215 new Zealand .
+cycling kiwi wow hope your riding ;)
no i have been working a lot i did 7 days this lats week i do cleaning as a job .
+cycling kiwi too bad my friend, hope you find time soon
I noticed on UK Amazon, they only got a one star rating, why was that?
no idea, they still do a great job ;)
Hippyswift, have you any videos on touring/expedition bicycles? I like you've mentioned how people needn't spend loads on equipment. I'm tempted to buy a Genesis Tour De Fer 2017 later this year or the new Kona Sutra. Is it better to build your own? My thinking is, the frames on those bikes will be spot on and hard to match with a self-build. Is this untrue in your opinion?
+Tommy Bez HCAFC well as far as quality goes the top brands are best however the modern materials in frames and gears make the cheaper bikes just as good for most needs unless your very parinoid about snapping a frame or wheel, I am currently creating a big video taking people through different bikes with my own 9 bikes as examples so stay tuned for that ;)
The tour de fer range are a very good looking bike they are actually in partnership with ridgeback and have same quality frames and gears. If you are sure that long tours are for you then get the genesis cheap as possible I think they can go for 450-550 new online since old stock now, however if you find you don't like touring then you have a huge expensive bike that instantly devalues so I'd go for a second hand genesis personally but if you have the cash get it.
A self build is only a dream for myself as an upgrade to my main tourer would be over 2k if I built it myself but saying that if you build it yourself it should be spot on for comfort and you know every detail from start of owning the bike and any problems it has
Great questions keep them coming, I am picking up another touring bike today for £200 and is just like mine so there are bargains out there, peace
Appreciate the help on that man thanks a lot, i'll keep an eye out on that particular video but have subscribed so shouldn't miss it!
+Tommy Bez HCAFC no worry's, if you click the bell icon next to my subscribe button it will notify you on new videos when I upload them, peace
1 problem ...if you're going to put your dirty/smelly clothes in waterproof bag(even in a separate compartment), it'll generate heat(creating more stink), and effect the rest of whatever else is in the bag. However ...if you store your dirty clothes in a water repellent bag, it'll allow it's contents to breath, thus air out & reduce stink.
Great tip 👌