Panniers

[SamBeckett]

I bought a set of panniers a few weeks ago but every time I use them no matter what i have in them or even when they are empty they catch on the back wheel it is not continues but its enough to of already starting to cause damage to them.
How do I keep them off the wheel ?

Where are they touching, can you post photos?

ummmm yes give me a few minuets .

There is nothing in them atm.

It is the back corner of the bag that is catching on the wheel spokes

Hmm I'd have returned those. They're just not sitting right.

None of my panniers have done this (biggest one had a rigid clip to attach to the side of the pannier to keep it away from the wheel - but that was a work bag so more briefcase shaped)

I agree they dont look right but this is the first set I have ever bought so I did not know any better. They have got a stiff piece of plastic or card sewn into them I think in a attempt to keep them off the wheel but it doesn't work .

That will teach me to buy stuff from Aldis pile of crap isle

Those panniers need a proper rack. I can’t see what yours looks like - the only photo of my rear rack I can find is this - if you have got a rack like that they will work unless you have got a really small frame and they are huge bags.

I agree with life it looks like the rack doesn't have the struts to the rear brazes by the rear wheel hub. without the struts to rest against all panniers will rub / catch. Alternatively you could use a saddle,
frame or bar bag. Depends what you are carrying and if you need real estate on your handlebars for GPS or lights.

@Life , ah you may be right , I have only got a standard luggage rack .
I bought that because I thought it would be sufficient to carry what a wanted but even with extra straps it never felt secure so I bought the panniers .
I did not know that I would need a specific pannier rack.

@unescorted , can you explain what you mean by a saddle frame bag .
I would not be able to get a handle bar bag big enough for what I need on my bike .

My panniers sometimes rub on the back wheel.
I find that if I move them nearer to the saddle it stops the rub.

frame bags
saddle bags

I wouldn't recommend either a frame bag or a saddle bag.

Saddle bags large enough to be of use/comparable to a decent pannier can make it hard to get your leg over (or maybe thats just me). Frame bags are generally pretty useless imo - good for tent poles if you are splitting camping gear. XH used to have every bag known to man on his tourer when we used to tour whereas I made do with four panniers and a bar bag.

Look for a decent rack - something like a Topeak super tourist - less than £30 and the one on my old bike is at least 20 years old and still going.

A good and very cheap way of carrying stuff is to use zip ties to firmly attach a wire supermarket shopping basket to the top of the rack. Then use any bag you like inside it, secured with a bungee cord. Cheap and effective. Make sure your rear light can still be seen from behind you, you may need to attach it to the basket.

@Unescorted thanks for the link but unfortunately they are not big enough ( mind you neither are the panniers I bought )
@LifeOfBox I have the same problem , I only have very short legs and although I like the thought of the shopping basket that @EatsFartsAndLeaves suggested I dont think I could get my leg over that either .
I may see if there is a way of safely adding a extra strut to the carry rack to hold the panniers off the wheel .
Failing that I will have to but a new rack