Narrow rack trunk bags?

01-17-2005, 12:28 PM

I need a new rack-top trunk bag that is narrower than my Blackburn EX-1
rack, which is about 5-and-1/8 inches wide.

The reason is that I bought some new Ortlieb panniers. I find them
extremely difficult to get them on & off the EX-1 when there is a
trunk bag that covers the side rails (so far every trunk bag I've found
in local bike shops).

What I need are suggestions for a trunk bag that is 4.5 to 4.75 inches
wide, fully exposing the rack's side rails. It needs to be big enough
to carry the usual spare tube, multitool, and minipump; if possible,
velcro loops on the side to strap my Kryptonite Krait lock.

Any recommendations greatly appreciated!

David

PS-
I did try Ortlieb's own Bike Box. The problem is the mounting system,
which forces panniers to be hung from an adapter, about 2 inches below
the top of the rack. I don't have a tall bike frame; lower mounting
renders the Ortlieb Classic Backrollers unusable (puts the lower hook
level with the rear axle). Lower mounting also makes my Ortlieb
briefcase do strange things that are too complicated to go into here.
The Bike Box mounting adapter does NOT look like what's in the pop-up
picture at
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] ; if it
looked like that I could hang panniers off my rack, not the adapter.)