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Imported.
Item 733820
Specification | Description |
| Average weight | (pair) 4 pounds |
| Material | Nylon dobby (ballistic nylon bottom) |
| Dimensions | 11 x 13 x 8 inches |
| Volume per pair | (pair) 2,700 cubic inches |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Reviewed by 26 customers
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Comments about Novara 'Round Town Panniers:
On my entry-level road bike (Novara Divano), with the Delta Megarack Universal rack, my heels would hit the undersides of these bags, as other reviewers have reported. Since they do not attach very securely to the rack, I once knocked them completely off the bike, as other reviewers have reported.
The mounting system appears hastily designed, so I will describe it in more detail. It consists of two hooks that grab onto the rack top, and a lower spring-mounted hook that attaches to the two rack support bars where they come together in a V, near the rear hub. The spring-loaded hook is made in such a way (it hangs from two springs mounted to two attachment points, in a Y-shape) that it resists, strongly, being pulled to one side. The result is that the rack cannot be mounted very far back on the rack. It wants to stay centered over the rear hub. I considered cutting off the springs and replacing it with some other mechanism (like a bungee cord strung between the two mounting points, and a double-ended hook catching the cord and the V in the support bars.)
But luckily, my particular rack has vertical support bars that are adjustable in length. So I just jacked it up one notch, so the top platform is closer to seat level. I believe the bags will clear my heels then.
Otherwise, the bags are spacious, which is good, and extremely simple, which is good and bad. They have no cover and will collect rain like buckets, even when folded up. Water will easily get under the bottom plastic sheet, where it would not easily dry.
Their advantages are: they can hold a lot, and they are cheap. They seem sturdy enough, for what they are. They are better than a rattan handlebar basket. That is pretty much it.
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Comments about Novara 'Round Town Panniers:
I've wanted shopping panniers for a while, and hoped these would fit the bill. I've had to do extensive modifications to make them work, though. The attatchment is the biggest problem. First, the hook at the end of the springs hangs loosely, making it very difficult to attatch that part without using two hands while getting inadvertently hooked onto a lot of other things (like a shopping cart, or the other pannier). Perhaps more importantly, the hooks are located in the wrong place; my foot (a size 12) knocks the bags off almost instantaneously. I can't use toe clips or cleats and the bags at the same time. I've had to move the springs/hooks back about 3 or 4 inches. Second, there is no way to keep the braces that give the bags rigidity in their "clamps," so they collapse intoward the rear wheel spokes. Third, an elasticized, roll-up cover would be great for deflecting rain and keeping lightweight things from bouncing out.
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Comments about Novara 'Round Town Panniers:
I have used these shopping panniers weekly for the past three years. Great for shopping because they are sized perfectly for shopping bags to slip right in. They're lighter in weight and quieter than metal baskets. I wear a men's 9 1/2 shoe and have ample clearance but if my shoe size were 11 or greater, there would be problems. They are simplistic, a couple of seconds to take off or put on. The hand straps are a convenience for carrying the bags while doing my grocery shopping; no need to grab a shopping cart (the hooks always get caught in a shopping cart). I am frequently asked by other commuting cyclists, "Where did you get your panniers?"
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Comments about Novara 'Round Town Panniers:
I have used these for two years and they work great if you make a simple adjustment. I agree that your foot can hit them and they pop off. I solved this problem by using electrical tie wraps to secure them in place well out of the way of my foot. I put my Whole Foods bags inside and carry them into the store and just slip them back in their place. Once they are secured you can carry anything, It is also nice to have the open top incase you have a bulky item or get a bit too much. Also, securing them well tie wraps makes removal difficult for those who wish to borrow them without returning them. I bike several hundred miles a year and could justify more expensive one but cannot justify it.
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Comments about Novara 'Round Town Panniers:
This is a great concept, they are lightweight, removable, and fold flat for storage. But...they are DANGEROUS!!!! I wear a size 8.5 or 9 in athletic shoes, and have a 16" bike. My heel kept catching on the panniers, once they fell off completely (full of groceries) and the other time the front hook popped up and the pannier got caught in the spokes!!! There is no built-in room for adjusting these, and I couldn't make them sit farther back on the rack and stay stable.
I recommend passing on these and looking for something safer!
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Comments about Novara 'Round Town Panniers:
I have these bags on my bike and commute to work with them every day. They have more storage than I need! Although they are open, this is a benefit as they can store larger bulky items that regular panier simply can't. I throw my backpack on one side and extra gear on the other. They have been great on longer trips too!
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Comments about Novara 'Round Town Panniers:
Thanks to the warnings of other reviewers (thanks, guys!) I knew there was a good chance I would need to modify these so they would stay on my bike, so I wasn't surprised that I needed a bunch of bungees. 4 to be exact!
I, too, had a problem with my feet hitting the panniers. I had to move them to the very back of my rack, which made it impossible to attach the hook and spring mechanism to my frame. I resolved that by attaching a short bungee to the hooks.
The top hooks, which attach to your rack, aren't very strong AT ALL. They popped right off. So I looped two bungees through the pannier handles and around the rack.
These modifications are working fine. The rack stays on securely now.
I like how roomy the bags are, and that they are light and easily folded up when not in use (while still being attached to my bike).
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Comments about Novara 'Round Town Panniers:
These are great for grocery shopping, but you need to take care. My feet are constantly hitting these and I've bumped one off before. No way I'd trust something valuable in these so I steal my husband's panniers when I need to bike to work etc.
Yes, they are less expensive, and the open top design is great for grocery shopping, but they are NOT very secure. I am also a shorter rider (5') so I wonder if a taller person with a larger bike might have fewer issues
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Comments about Novara 'Round Town Panniers:
I bought these for my wife, and she really likes them. She likes to be able to throw her purse in there, and go to the store and be able to bring back her purchases. The mounting system could be better, as they sometimes partially come off when going over bumps, and they tend to slide forward. The latter is a problem for me because I have big feet, but isn't a problem for my wife. They seem durable enough for what we need them for, and the price was attractive.
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Comments about Novara 'Round Town Panniers:
Excellent for groceries or for tossing a backpack/messenger bag into. Simple attachment.
Not good for bad weather.
The aluminum supports come out of their sockets periodically.
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