FS: Ortlieb Back Roller Panniers

I think you got the wrong forum. I've got some front rollers and do touring on an old steel frame too. Plenty of room for my lightweight gear on even extended tours.

Why do I always post to the wrong forum? Can some forum moderators help me save face and delete this?

just start talking about Ortlieb panniers or something related and nobody will notice ;)

Honestly I've been looking to rethink my touring setup to go lighter. For some reason I've never really got into it from the biking perspective. Do you have any tips to share for the road cyclist looking to lighten their load? Ortlieb panniers are nice and bulletproof, but likewise really heavy. Do you think the durability of them are worth the weight penalty for the application of road touring? Now we're in the right forum, I think.

Caveat: I do a lot of touring in order to get to trailheads to go hiking (as it looks like you do too) because I don't have a car. So my questions are assuming we're talking about carrying predominately hiking gear.

Ok, here's what I can talk about!

I bought Ortliebs before I went light. When I toured in 2012, I didn't use them. Note:

In hindsight, I don't know how I deluded myself into thinking I could go that light on a first trip, but I did, and it went amazing. A crash course, if you will.

When I did Colorado in 2013, I used the Ortliebs. I had more winter gear and, since it was November, getting things wet could have been a real problem. So, the Ortliebs were kind of a security blanket.

If I had to do the 2013 tour again, I'd do it with front rollers and no backpack. Much lighter load. The bike ended up being really back-heavy because of my bodyweight. When I hit a huge pothole in the middle of the desert during a windstorm trying to dodge tumbleweeds, I crashed going 25mph because the weight imbalance fish-tailed me.

Lesson learned.

As far as saving weight, think of realistic things you need VS things people say you need.

Essentials, to me:

Air pump
Locking pliers (I use a Leatherman Crunch)
Hex Wrenches
Patch Kit
2 chain links and pins or 1 KMC Quick Link
1 Chain Tool
1 bag of spare bolts (for racks, handlebars, and bottle cages, and I carry a few spare Ortlieb parts)
zip ties, duct tape
1 spare tube

Not Necessary:
Spare Tire(s)
Pressure gauge
Spare Chain
Wrenches
Tire Levers (unless you're using Continentals)
Spare rack hardware (you can rig something)
Cone wrenches
Cassette Socket (sometimes I carry this, but not often)
Bike Multitool

As for cycling kit, I use wool shirts and only bring two. Smells a lot better than a jersey.

I have time for one more epic tour this summer. I'm going to try to go frameless and off-road as much as I can. Bikepacking!

Cheers for saving the thread

My first touring experience was kind of the opposite of yours. I had never really ridden bikes before it (learned as a kid but didn't ride much) and I had basically no money (it was my first year of college). So I slapped a piece of plywood on top of my rinky dink rack which was probably designed to carry 15 lbs or something, and fastened it with zip ties or wire or something like that. I then proceeded to load at least 60 lbs of touring and hiking gear on top = ridiculously top heavy. Luckily my Miyata 1000 is a touring bike and so I had the appropriate granny gear otherwise I would have failed miserably. I ended up spending 23 days biking and hiking all over the Olympic National Park, starting from Seattle and ending in Portland, Or eventually. I even got out to Lake Ozette and Shi Shi. It was an amazing experience but I sure made a lot of poor gear choices. My sleeping bag was disgusting after that trip.

We did 1,500 miles around the Northeast, including Mass, Maine, VT, and NH. Did Acadia National Park and all of Cape Cod etc. etc. Went great! Having less on my bike made it easier to handle, and easier to enjoy the ride. My friends had 20+lbs (light by touring standards, double my weight) and we all made great time. Only Jimmy got punished.