Carradice Bike Bureau pannier

Carradice are a well-established British company with a long and noble history of supplying luggage hauling apparatus to gnarly tourists and beardy Audax types. On the assumption that these people must also have jobs they make this pannier bag specifically for the office based commuter and it's a high quality bag that should last for many years. It isn't cheap, at £65, but this kind of quality is worth paying for.

Initial impressions are that it looks like an old fashioned school satchel, complete with leather straps and clips. The Cotton Duck material that it's made from only reinforces the old-skool vibe. Don't be misled though, this bag is designed for a thoroughly modern commuter.

Firstly, it's more of a bag than a pannier, Rixen & Kaul fittings notwithstanding. Portability off the bike is a strong point and if you've ever struggled to carry a pannier by a single loop you will appreciate the handle and detachable shoulder strap on the Bureau. The 26 litre main compartment is deep and uncluttered, secured at the top by a drawsting stormflap. You also get a carrying strap for the separable laptop insert, which is padded and has external pockets for mouse, leads and other gubbins. Personally I don't need to carry a laptop to and from work but you could easily use it for other purposes. You also get two flat pockets on the outside of the bag. These are concealed when the bag is closed, which keeps them nice and secure but renders them less useful for carrying stuff like keys and small change. A particularly neat feature of this bag is the weather flap which covers the top of the bag while it's on the bike and folds back to keep the R&K mounts from bashing you while you're carrying the bag off it. This flap also has a waterproof pocket which you could use to keep soggy kit away from your precious papers.

Although you do get reflectives (one each on front back and sides) they are of the type that easily peels off. I'd have preferred to see some more robust sewn on patches. You don't get anywhere to put a light either, which is a major failing in my book. The extra width of a pannier makes it a great place to put a spare light, thus increasing your profile on the road. A simple loop would suffice. Carradice, please take note!

Cotton Duck, along with merino wool, is one of the original technical fabrics. It's hard wearing, almost completely waterproof and breathable. Incidentally, it's called 'duck' from the Dutch 'doek' meaning 'linen canvas'. The fact that water rolls off it like a duck's back is a happy coincidence.

Fitting is via standard Rixen & Kaul fittings, which click securely onto the rack. They are also fitted at an angle to give you extra heel clearance as this is a very long bag. You also need to be aware that Bureaus are right and left specific. The mountings are off-centre and putting the bag on the wrong side of the bike, combined with the angled mounts, will tilt the bag right into the path of your foot.

Verdict

A very high quality bag and far superior to a standard pannier for commuting. Compromised by some niggling design flaws (no light fitting, no easily accessible external pocket) but a very nice bag nevertheless.