Heel strikes - rear panniers

[OldCog]

Long time - no post.

But I'm back into riding - and specifically commuting to work. I fell into a great deal on a pair of Ortlieb rear panniers a couple years ago (a new pair for $85). And I like not having a backpack on my back. So all Summer long I've been riding in to work wearing a pair of tennies and pedals with toe straps. All was ok ...

So during some of the local Summer sales I picked up some Shimano SPD mountain biking shoes and Forte Boulevard pedals. Just got them mounted ... and now I recall why I sold my last set of biking shoes and pedals years ago --- heel strikes on the rear pannier as I have freaking size 13 boats and long legs to boot. With the toe straps I could get my feet pretty far forward so no issue on heel strikes ... it was close though

Since I'm a big guy I've got a Giant FCR XL bike which fits me well. But I have a standard Blackburn rear rack.

So all that said --- any ideas ??? I do recall visiting River City Bikes a few years back and mentioning heel strikes (different bike) and they showed me some extended length rack. I did not get the price .... and I can see I need at least 2 - 3 inches more length. And I cannot afford to pop another $100 for some spendy rack. My other thought is to move to a backpack for a week and have a local welder chop then remount and reinforce the blackburn back a few inches.

man those new Shimano shoes feel pretty good ..........

[OldCog]

I love solving my own problems - so rewarding.

After bowl of gruel and some grog for dinner, I went out the garage to reconsider my options and plan of attack for Sunday. I then noticed the wide range of adjustments possible on the Ortlieb Classic pannier bags. Slid them back on their mounts ---- oh tra-la-la - tra-la-la I now have an inch to spare.

Sunday I can take some short rides and work on cleat positions

oh tra-la-la - tra-la-la - makes me want to put some of those fringy things that go on the ends of your handle bars --- oh tra-la-la-la

[scaryseth]

You did what I was going to suggest. Love the adjustment options on those bags. But they do wear on the rack, even when the play is minimized.

[OldCog]

Thanks for your help - not sure what type of wear you are referring to.

I will move them forward maybe half an inch - should still be fine

[Alan]

Originally Posted by OldCog

After bowl of gruel and some grog for dinner, I went out the garage to reconsider my options and plan of attack for Sunday.

ROFL! Love your problem-solving approach! Also, thanks for the tip on Ortlieb adjustments. I have heel-strike issues, too. I use flat pedals in part just so I can move my feet around, and while it's less of an issue with them, it can still happen when I slide my feet back. I'm in the market for new back bags and that feature is very nice to know about. Anyone know if other rear panniers have fore/aft adjustment systems with as much range as Ortlieb?

[q`Tzal]

Had that heel strike problem in bits until I got my Surly Karate Monkey frame (I like disk brakes and big diameter wheels); then it got worse.
Had to dump my old Jannd heavy rear rack and replace it rather expensive Tubus
The old Jannd rack survived >10 years of grocery weight loads but it was to small. It was maybe 1/2" solid aluminum rod.
The Tubus (hollow CrMo tubing, roughly same diameter) I saw at River City looked too thin walled to survive but after a few years of use I found that my concern was misplaced.

Of course with feet our size finding decent, or ANY, cycling shoes has been more of a battle.

[keithwwalker]

My solution was to get a Nitto Campee front rack.

[OldCog]

Wow that is a smashing looking bike Mr KeithWalker !

Did my first ride on Tuesday with new pedals and shoes. You get so much more power when you are snapped in -- and not having to avoid heel strikes.

First impressions of the Forte Boulevard pedals are good