Bike Bureau Pannier

I’d been looking at one of these for a while, finally went for it. I’m very pleased so far, the quality is up to the usual high standard and the design is well thought out.
I haven’t been out in the rain with it yet but that has never been a problem with other products from the range that I have.
I also bought the pannier rack adapter so that I’m able to swap the bag between my bikes, this is another well thought out product.

The pannier is well made and stylish. I wanted one that would hold my laptop, which it does comfortably. There's enough space for work stuff and a few pieces of clothes/lunch. Once you get the hang of how to attach it it is very secure.

This bag is of the amazing quality and superb functional design that one can take as read when buying from Carradice. I am delighted with the bag which I use as my every day carry on and off the bike, in the car, and everywhere else. It looks good and has already opened a conversation in the street, as my Pashley Sovereign Roadster often does too.

But there is a tiny grumble that I have. As mentioned, my ride is a Pashley Sovereign Roadster bicycle, also built in England, which is a joy to me. It is the classic bicycle setting the 'benchmark' standard for all other about town, touring bicycles.

So why then, in the name of all that is holy, do I need a damned adapter to fit this wonderful bag to my rear factory fitted rack?

After much trial and error I have got the thing set up so that my heel does not catch on the bag when peddling. But I nevertheless do feel somewhat cheated, that my quality English bicycle bag does not drop, effortlessly, straight on to the rear carrier of my quality English Bicycle. There is always an annoying momentary fiddling with the adapter bar that just spoils the moment for me.

Surely hooks could be supplied that fit a great bag to a great bicycle?

But I give five stars for the bag and hope for the happy day when retro fit 16mm hooks will magically appear for this beautiful bag.

That said, Is the bag worth the chunky price tag? You do most definitely get what you pay for in my opinion ... Just do it!

So many online reviews make comments about delivery and how nice something looks when it arrives, but what you want to know is whether its worth laying down your hard cash for and how long an item will last. I've had one of these Bike Bureaus for over 15 years with close to daily commuting for 14 of these. Used this to carry laptop, books, A4 files, shoes, clothes, repair kit, mini-pump, lights, bits of shopping etc. etc. Its excellent and has lots of little useful features (fold-over second flap, little pockets, strong carry handle). After 40 years on/off of cycle commuting the Bike Bureau is by far the best solution I have ever used - genuinely much better than a simple side pannier due to its shape and various means of carrying. The manufacturing quality is really old school British - bombproof! There are two mysteries about Carradice: (1) How do they make a piece of 'canvas' completely (and I mean completely) waterproof? (2) How does there business model work when they make products of such high quality that you only need to buy any one of them once in a lifetime? (answer here I suspect is that you buy other different items - I'm up to 4 - Bike Bureau, City Folder for Brompton, Barley Saddlebag and Kelbrook Satchel). Buy British, Buy Quality, Buy Carradice!