March 14, 2006

Arkel Overdesigns is a Canadian manufacturer of bicycle panniers. As their name implies, their products are overbuilt, tough-as-nails, and designed for people like me who plan to live out of them for months at a time.

I'm going to be traveling with a number of small, expensive gadgets - a laptop, an iPod, a digital camera, a GPS unit, etc. When I'm off the trike, they'll need to come with me. What you're looking at here in Super 3-Dee Omniview™ is the Arkel Bug. It's a pannier that converts into a backpack, and is perfect for my needs.

I know quality when I see it, and this thing reeks of it. It has the same waterproof zippers as my Gore-Tex rainsuit. The mounting hardware is solid machined aluminum. When I pulled it out of the box, I was puzzled by a swatch of Cordura nylon fabric among the various manufacturer's tags, with a slice halfway through it. Was it included for repairs? Then I saw the tag next to it. RIP ME! DÉCHIREZ MOI! it demanded. Do other bags measure up to this test? Est-ce que les autres sacs résistent à ce test? Other bags might, but I could not rip that swatch, despite the slice. The whole bag is made of the same stuff.

Fitting panniers to a trike with 20-inch wheels can be a tricky business, and I wasn't at all sure that the Bug would work. But it fit onto the rack and cleared the ground with room to spare. The lower potion of the Bug's backplate is angled outward so that it won't interfere with the operation of the rear derailleur, which is just plain smart. The straps stow away behind velcro-secured panels when it's on the rack, and they're comfortable when wearing it as a backpack.

The Bug rocks! I only wish it came in black with blue highlights, to match the trike...and my shoes...