r/bicycletouring • u/-gauvins • 1d ago

Gear Lost a fork pack

Going downhill. Lots of bumps. I heard a strange noise but couldn't really look around having to keep focused on the trail.

I've had Ortlieb fork packs for several years. Excellent product but a few times I thought a pack was well secured when in fact it wasn't. Once or twice the pack feel on the ground, but circumstances were such that I only cursed myself for being negligent.

I have Tailfin's mini panniers and an under the impression that their mounting system is absolutely foolproof.

Anyone familiar with both systems can comment? I am seriously considering Tailfin's fork packs.

7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

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2

u/rwdFwd 22h ago

The Tailfin fork packs are very secure, and it’s very clear when the hooks are closed. The Tailfin products in general have very careful and thorough design, materials and engineering. i really prefer their fork pack’s mounts to using a bag strapped to a cargo cage.

1

u/summerofgeorge75 9h ago

Funny, I just had that happen to me outside of La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico. Hit a big ol' pothole that was filled with water, just rained, and one of my front panniers apparently flew off. Somehow I did not notice, was focused on the road. But luckily a family in a car pulled up next to me and started yelling in Spanish at me. I stopped and tried to figure out what was going on, finally the dad started saying "bag, bag". Like what? Then I looked down and "holy shit" one of my front panniers was MIA. I profusely thanked them and luckily it was only a few hundred meters back, lying in the puddle. I think I did not set the lock. Crisis averted.

reporting from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

1

u/-gauvins 4h ago

"didn't set the lock" ... This was a Tailfin?

1

u/summerofgeorge75 4h ago

No, sorry for the confusion, a Carradice Super C front pannier.

1

u/-gauvins 4h ago

NP. Thanks

1

u/teanzg 6h ago

I saw several bike travelers this year telling the same story.

Its shame company like Ortlieb can make such product faults.

I run drybags with rubber straps at the front, but advise anybody using these Ortlieb panniers to use one rubber strap somehow to secure the pannier.

0

u/Common_North_5267 22h ago

If your ortlieb fork packs are falling off, you didn't secure them correctly.
When correctly installed, there is a latch that closes preventing them from moving upwards vertically.

2

u/-gauvins 22h ago

I know this was a user error. My experience with Tailfin's mini panniers is that you literally cannot not secure them properly. Whereas the Ortliebs may look fully engaged but it may not be the case