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First Look! New Thule Pack ‘n Pedal Puts Cargo Bags, Panniers & Cases on the Bike

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Thule Pack n Pedal pannier bags racks and handlebar mount iphone and ipad cargo packs for bicycle touring

Thule, long known for making things to carry our bikes, is introducing a complete line of packs and bags for carrying things on the bike.

Committed to the concept of combining their history of transporting things with many of their employees’ passion for cycling.

How committed? They’re launching with 20 products in the new Pack ‘n Pedal line now, and more are promised next year.

The line was developed by folks within the company hand picked by CEO Magnus Welander, and you’re seeing these product here before many of their employees…

Thule Pack n Pedal pannier bags racks and handlebar mount iphone and ipad cargo packs for bicycle touring

The move into packs and bags that carry things on the bike began perhaps before they knew it. They bought Case Logic in 2007 and introduced luggage in 2010. That, combined with a fervent cycling culture within the company, was the impetus to create a way to carry stuff on the bike. The side mission was to attach things to the bike in a way that met the needs of active cyclists as well as commuters that are more interested in appearing proper at the office than on the bike.

Rather than start from scratch, they purchased the design IP from Freeload, a New Zealand company that had been making panniers and bike bags but weren’t in a position to scale the arguably brilliant solutions to making on-bike cargo super easy to mount. From there, they added a number of features to make usage simpler. Eighteen months of development later and the Thule Pack ‘n Pedal line got official.

Thule Pack n Pedal pannier bags racks and handlebar mount iphone and ipad cargo packs for bicycle touring

The pannier racks mount using a strap system that spools up a nylon belt to tighten onto the frame. This makes it easy to mount to any frame, but those with carbon forks might want to stick to a rear rack only. That said, each rack includes torque specs for all frame materials, including carbon. This design also let’s you fix it to smaller (BMX?) frames and position the rack where you want it.

The racks can carry up to 50kg, and the pannier bags mount and release with a quick pull rip cord (the blue thing above), and a rare earth magnet holds it flat against the bike. The only downside to the magnet is you shouldn’t put a non-SSD hard drive computer in the bag. Thule’s rep says iPads and similar devices without a spinning hard drive should be fine.

Thule Pack n Pedal pannier bags racks and handlebar mount iphone and ipad cargo packs for bicycle touring

A sheer side pocket on the panniers let’s you put a white or red blinky light in a pocket and turn it on for visibility. They even make an extension kit for those of us with big feet that slide the rear packs further back to improve heel clearance. All pannier bags have hidden backpack straps.

Thule Pack n Pedal pannier bags racks and handlebar mount iphone and ipad cargo packs for bicycle touring

The iPad (yes, iPad) handlebar mount is water resistant, and the front bag has an easy access main panel zippered flap and a top access flap with hard case for sunglasses. This makes access easy when wearing it as a shoulder bag off the bike.

Thule Pack n Pedal pannier bags racks and handlebar mount iphone and ipad cargo packs for bicycle touring

Both pieces connect to a handlebar mount that can support two accessories and uses push-button quick releases. The iPad sleeve fits directly in the front bag, letting you hide the electronics if you’re just running in for coffee.

20120828-231544.jpgThule Pack n Pedal pannier bags racks and handlebar mount iphone and ipad cargo packs for bicycle touring

There’s also a larger top-of-bar pack that holds your phone in view along with anything else that’s about the size of large paperback.

Thule Pack n Pedal pannier bags racks and handlebar mount iphone and ipad cargo packs for bicycle touring

Internal pockets help keep it organized and a magnet holds it shut even if you unzip it. This means it’ll stay shut while you try to zip it up en route rather than flap open in the wind.

Thule Pack n Pedal pannier bags racks and handlebar mount iphone and ipad cargo packs for bicycle touring

Perhaps the best item, although a bit big for performance oriented riders, is the seat bag. The opening uses elastic bands rather than a zipper, so it simply pulls open for quick access.

Inside is an organized tool roll that keeps all your tubes, CO2, gels, tools and other miscellany easily accessible without having to dig through a small pack. In case you’re missing it, the tool wrap is laid out on the back rack.

Pricing starts at around $39 and goes up from there.

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22 Comments
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Meta
Meta
12 years ago

Amazingly terrible photos. What’s the point, impossible to make anything out.

PaulCJr
PaulCJr
12 years ago

that thing must way a ton.

Chris
Chris
12 years ago

If that Scott could talk, all you could probably make out under the muffled load of those panniers and stupid accessories.. “..kill me..please..”

Mike
12 years ago

I can’t tell what I’m looking at in most of these shots. Any chance there are photos that clearly show any of these?

HWNSNBS
HWNSNBS
12 years ago

Cool stuff, @ the mental midgets–use your innate bike memories and mushy brains to try to visualize these bags–its really not that hard, the photos are just fine!

Devian Gilbert
12 years ago

holy I just packed my studio apartment onto my bicycle!

Sean
Sean
12 years ago

Is it me, or does that rear rack look heavier than the Surly Nice Rack (an obvious tank of a rack), while probably not being able to carry as much?

Brad4130
Brad4130
12 years ago

Do you really need to be able to bring so much crap with you touring ?
Some things like the IPad holder ate cool , but seriously there no way some spindley legged hipster is gonna be able to pedal that Scott fully loaded down like that . Just saying

pimpbot
pimpbot
12 years ago

Anything worth doing is worth over-doing.

Ajax
Ajax
12 years ago

Dear amateur photographer, please take a step back when taking these photos. These close ups do not show exactly how things are attached, which totally defeats the purpose of the photos in the 1st place.

Xris
Xris
12 years ago

The caption for this photo should be “What happens to a bike when it goes to hell?”

feg
feg
12 years ago

waiting for a handlebar mount for my 17″ laptop.

fanboy
fanboy
12 years ago

Sean, the Freeload (www.freeload.co.nz) is much lighter than a Nice Rack. Plus the Freeload can fit almost any frame or fork. (yes, even suspension frames and forks – but not a lefty.

Check out the site. very interesting and ingenious product.

ml
ml
12 years ago

iphone mounts were bad enough but an ipad holder!? – cant wait to see some extra wobbly triathlete try to manipulate one of those while on his evening “training ride”

Nicolas
Nicolas
12 years ago

Thule acquired Freeload……

Chipollini
12 years ago

hey man, ipads are totally aero thus perfect to help me train for my next tri.

Rider X
Rider X
12 years ago

Just came back from a bike tour where I wondered if my Garmin 800 was too large. Riding with an iPad? What is the world coming to! If I see a hipster using this I will quit cycling immediately.

Shoup
12 years ago

Looks heavy, can’t get away from starring at the blue box bring it with ya and smash your knees into it.

Chris
Chris
12 years ago

I want that rear pannier badly; It’s perfect the perfect solution for me.

But I can’t put my standard HDD laptop in it?! Really? What crap is that!

fuzzer
fuzzer
12 years ago

well… this is just the best kit i had on my bike . this fit like a glove on my cabon fiber bike . Honestly … all defectors miss something … poor guy they just dont know waht they are talking about … those bags worth a try…
From Canada

Fred M
Fred M
11 years ago

Found them at /www.universalcycles.com for 90 dollars, or 100 with pannier bars.

pointbreak
pointbreak
10 years ago

Been using the touring rack with pannier bars w/ ortlieb bags on the rear. And they work great for my 14 mi commute to work.

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