Compare and Contrast: Arkel vs Ortlieb bike bags.
I had it narrowed down to these two brands, decided on Ortlieb sort of arbitrarily, and then heard someone raving about the virtues of Arkel. So now I'm wishy-washy again. I think I'll be happy with either one, just need something to knock me off the fence.
In regards to packing/shipping a bicycle -- any tips or advice? I've firmly decided to ship my bike rather than try to put it in the underbelly of a plane. I still have the cardboard box that my bike came in from Surly, debating whether to reuse that or get something beefier.
My Ortlieb backpack has stood
My Ortlieb backpack has stood up to 7+ years of abuse, survived multiple falls that did things like destroy laptops and cause me to black out, and is still waterproof. Don't have anything to compare it to, but +1 for Ortlieb.
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i commute with ortliebs everyday. nothing to complain about. they're pretty plain though. one major compartment and two very minor ones. that's about it.
One of each?
I had Arkels, and they are good enough with their multiple compartments. Nowadays, I would want one Arkel for organization (and the mesh outside for stinky socks) and the Ortlieb or waterproofness.
that's an idea I hadn't
that's an idea I hadn't considered, ortliebs on the rear and arkels on the front (or vice-versa). intriguing.....
arkel!!!
Our touring tandem is fully loaded with arkel panniers - front and back. they are GREAT.
p.s. no brakes is an arkel dealer if you want to save on shipping. :)
yeah, it was a conversation
yeah, it was a conversation with twotone that made me re-consider my decision to get ortliebs.
Organizational style
When traveling/hiking, do you like your pack to be one big sack (Ortliebs) and keep things in small bags to organize or do you like your pack to have multiple pockets/compartments (Arkels) to help organize? Also, the waterproof aspect works both ways--you put something wet/damp in a Ortlieb, it stays that way.
my first camping backpack had
my first camping backpack had lots of pockets, my current backpack is pretty much one giant sack. I've adapted to both styles, and each one has its pros and cons. In general, I prefer having more pockets on the trip (+ for Arkel). But beyond this one trip, I'll be using them for general purpose commuting and grocery store runs, and to me the Ortlieb seems better for that purpose.
I really like the idea of arkel-front / orlieb rear. Not sure why I never considered that option before.
Now, about packing the bike itself.....
packing
details often overlooked:
brace the fork
brace the dropouts
put those little plastic disks over the axles
wrap the tubes in bubble wrap/foam padding/old hoodies
pull out the h'bars
...i'm sure there are more
personally, i'd ship the wheels and frame in separate boxes. might cost more, but it's probably easier and there's that whole eggs-in-one-basket thing that plagues my mind.
Bubble wrap each spoke
make sure to wrap the threads on each one in no more than 3 laps of electric tape, but no less than 2.
I am sure I am forgetting something... maybe ship each spoke in a separate envelope.
each spoke?
now you're just being silly
of course each spoke
Dont forget to wipe them with organic extra virgin olive oil.
you truly are FM's bikesnob,
you truly are FM's bikesnob, Alex