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Novara 'Round Town Panniers

Novara 'Round Town Panniers

Item # 733820
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This item is currently sold out or unavailable online.

For your reference, this page contains historical product information.

Run your errands hassle-free with these around-town baskets for your bike--they hold everything from groceries to school books!

  • Sturdy baskets are made from 420-denier nylon dobby with 840-denier ballistic nylon bottoms for added durability
  • Plastic sheeting stiffens the baskets, while internal aluminum hinge rods help hold the baskets open
  • When not in use, baskets fold up from the bottom like a paper grocery bag and snap shut
  • Off the bike, the two baskets snap together as a pair for easy storage; includes an easy-carry handle
  • Mounts on most rear racks

Imported.

Item 733820

Novara 'Round Town Panniers Specs

Specification

Description

Average weight(pair) 4 pounds
MaterialNylon dobby (ballistic nylon bottom)
Dimensions11 x 13 x 8 inches
Volume per pair(pair) 2,700 cubic inches

Novara 'Round Town Panniers Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Novara 'Round Town Panniers
 
3.8

(based on 26 reviews)

81%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Lightweight (16)
  • Lots of storage (15)
  • Versatile (7)
  • Rugged (6)
  • Adjustable (4)

Cons

  • Unstable (3)

Best Uses

  • Commuting (15)
  • City bikes (12)
  • City biking (8)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Office professional (7), Casual adventurer (4), Commuter (3), Traveler (3)
  • Primary use:
  • Personal (16)

Reviewed by 26 customers

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Jun

2

2008

(11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

 
2.0

Simple, cheap, clumsy

By Kublai

from Denver

About Me Office Professional

Site Member

Pros

  • Cheap
  • Collapsible
  • Lots of Storage

Cons

  • Hard to adjust
  • Interferes with pedaling

Best Uses

  • City Bikes
  • Commuting

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.

  • Primary use:
  • Personal

Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

(11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

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Sep

16

2007

(10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

 
1.0

A real pain in the pannier

By GeoDon

from Anchorage, AK

About Me Avid Cyclist, Commuter

Site Member

Pros

  • Easy to load
  • Inexpensive
  • Reflector Tape

Cons

  • Not Tested Well
  • Poor design
  • Poor fit
  • Stuff can bounce out

Best Uses

  • City Biking
  • Commuting

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.

Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

(10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

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Mar

1

2008

(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Almost hassle-free

By Tony Go Slowly

from Philadelphia

About Me Avid Traveler

Site Member

Pros

  • Lots of Storage
  • Rugged

Cons

    Best Uses

    • City Bikes
    • Commuting

    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?"

    • Primary use:
    • Personal

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

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    Jul

    12

    2008

    (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    Great Value + a simple adjustment helps

    By Ladybiologist

    from Santa Rosa, CA

    About Me Avid Traveler, Office Professional

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Adjustable
    • Comfortable
    • Lightweight
    • Lots of Storage
    • Rugged

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • City Bikes
      • Commuting

      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.

      • Primary use:
      • Personal

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

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      May

      18

      2008

      (5 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

       
      1.0

      These are Dangerous!!

      By Green Girl

      from Washington, DC

      Pros

      • Lightweight
      • Lots of Storage

      Cons

      • Unstable

      Best Uses

      • Groceries and Errands

      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!

      Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

      (5 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

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      Jan

      23

      2008

      (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Great bags!!!

      By Goodgye

      from Orange County, CA

      About Me Avid Traveler, Office Professional

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Lots of Storage

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Commuting

        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!

        • Primary use:
        • Personal

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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        Sep

        13

        2008

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        Not bad, but not perfect.

        By April in Sacramento

        from Sacramento, CA

        About Me Student

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Lightweight
        • Lots of Storage

        Cons

        • Bulky

        Best Uses

        • City Bikes
        • Commuting

        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).

        • Primary use:
        • Personal

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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        Jun

        11

        2008

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        3.0

        Ok for groceries / short trips only

        By habilis

        from Reno,NV

        About Me Office Professional, Student

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Lightweight
        • Lots of Storage

        Cons

        • Unstable

        Best Uses

        • City Bikes
        • Commuting

        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

        • Primary use:
        • Personal

        Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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        Sep

        29

        2007

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        Good for shopping

        By Hiker-Biker-Climber

        from Midland, MI

        About Me Casual/ Recreational

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Versatile

        Cons

        • Mount is not great

        Best Uses

        • Road Biking

        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.

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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        Sep

        13

        2007

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        Great Alternative to Pricey Panniers

        By The Nihilist

        from South Hadley, MA

        About Me Intense Commuter, Occasional Cross-Country

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Lightweight
        • Roomy
        • Versatile

        Cons

        • A Little Flimsy

        Best Uses

        • City Biking

        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.

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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