Keep back pack or get panniers?

andy83

my daily commute is not that far, max 6 mile round trip but use my bike for a lot of fitness riding aswell

my main question is shall i continue using my normal back pack or get some panniers?? Dont really want the panniers stuck on all the time so are theyre anyout there that can be clipped on and off easy, (i am meaning the bag and clip). Also would having panniers put a lot more strain on my back wheel. My bike is a gt agressor with slick tyres on and the frame is quite sturdy. dont have a great deal of storage for my bike so having the pannier brackets on all the time is not really ideal for me

thanks in advance

biondino

The weight increase will be marginal so the bike will take it fine. I think it depends on how inconvenient or uncomfortable you find the backpack? If it's heavy then you could exacerbate any back issues you have.

andy83

to be honest its not uncomftable, just feels like i cant get all i want in my bag and not realy best idea to leave clothes at work for a week, work in a residential home and they would prob get mixed up with all the residents lol.

dont have any back issues either really. looks like may get a bigger bag then lol. just dont think its worth hassle of taking off panniers all the time. hopefully when buy house within next two years will have garage for bikes so can have plenty of room and more than one bike

Kieran_Burns

Always nice to see someone else asking the same questions

I'm wondering about panniers at the moment for my commute. My main problem is the heat being trapped by the rucksack - my back is dripping wet by the time I get home - I just don't know if the panniers will negatively affect the handling of the bike or even just get in the way.

I have to admit that looking at the simple design of them and realising the bags themselves can be quickly clipped off and on does make it tempting.

I think that my main problem is that I've always been a leisure cyclist but now I am commuting I can't get my mind into a new way of thinking: the bike is a commodity NOT a toy.

il_principe

Try a courier bag? I've converted to one from a rucksack and much prefer it, much more room, less sweaty back business and I can access it without taking the whole thing off my back. Got mine from R.E.Load:

http://www.reloadbags.com/

roger_merriman

i'll 2nd the courier bag, a lot more comftable i find, you may well be differnent.

if your still struggling with space, and it being 6 miles there and back? what about a hack bike, park it on the street etc,

Dudu

It beats me anyone ever cycles carrying a rucksack.

It makes your back sweaty and raises your C of G so that your bike-handling is compromised.

I've avoid using one unless I have to (when i'm delivering a road bike and have to get the train back, so need Normal People's Clothes and shoes).

Panniers are good. You can carry as much or as little as you want and they don't bugger up the handling unless they're overloaded.

Front lowrider-style or limpet panniers are even better, and actually improve handling by sticking your front wheel onto the road when you're cornering fast.

Kieran_Burns

Thanks Dudu - that's me told

I'll cycle in over the weekend to one of the two good cycle shops in Derby and get some sorted on the spot.

I assume you can get some that can just pop straight off and be used like a normal case?

blorg

Panniers are great, they basically all clip on and off in a second (although you would need to leave the rack attached obviously.) I have a Tortec Ultra Lite rack on my tourer which weighs 400g.

I do use a backpack occasionally with my road bike or fixie but wouldn't want to do any distance with it.

Colzer1

I originally commutted with a pac on and decided to change to panniers last winter as I felt i was more visable in the dark nights. I used them twice as to be honest I found them a real pain and went back to riding with a pack on. I bought one of the excellent pacs from Edinburgh cycles which are made by Vaude and bike specific. I now have my used only twice panniers up for sale on e-bay.

I ride approx 20 miles to work in the morning and have no problems with a pac on.

Kieran_Burns

Colzer1 wrote:

I originally commutted with a pac on and decided to change to panniers last winter as I felt i was more visable in the dark nights. I used them twice as to be honest I found them a real pain and went back to riding with a pack on. I bought one of the excellent pacs from Edinburgh cycles which are made by Vaude and bike specific. I now have my used only twice panniers up for sale on e-bay.

I ride approx 20 miles to work in the morning and have no problems with a pac on.

have you got the link for the sale?

OldSkoolKona

Do those that use panniers find they cause any issues with how much they jut out to the side? Would like to get a set, but some bikes I've seen with them seem to have quite an overhang to the side (perhaps they're overloaded?) which would make me worry about available room for cars passing too close or for squeezing through traffic..

london_commuter

I've recently changed from using a backpack to a single pannier, attached to the left. I've never had a problem with scraping or hitting anything. I would go for it because it will ease the strain on your back and the sweaty back syndrome is eradicated completely :-).

The handling was a little strange to start with but after one commute I got used to it.

knight2k

I wouldn't worry about making the bike wider with panniers OldSkoolKona, they're rarely wider than your handlebars.

They are also usually reflective from behind, thus making you more visible in the twilight commutes home that will be with us soon.

Always better to put the weight on the bike rather than yourself.

Coriander

Another advantage of a pannier (one hung on the right hand side of the bike) is that many people report car drivers giving them a wider berth as you appear wider to them.

Kieran_Burns

Could one of you experienced types please recommend a good set to buy (rack and pannier)

Nothing too fancy - I've already spent north of £300 on the bike this month :?

Dudu

OldSkoolKona wrote:

Do those that use panniers find they cause any issues with how much they jut out to the side? .

If you're using them properly (not too stuffed, drawstrings & straps done up tightly), they don't stick out any further than your shoulders (unless you have very thin shoulders).

Tobiwan

Panniers are great, adds a bit more wind resistance perhaps but well worth it for getting the load off your back and onto the bike. They do add a tiny bit more width but it's not significant imho.

There was another thread very recently about panniers, I think Ortlieb were in general the preferred option. Personally I've got Karimor ones but as they're 14+ yrs old I doubt you can get the same type anymore! Still going strong though, waterproof and rugged.

Here's the earlier thread: http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/foru ... ir+ortlieb

Dudu

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Could one of you experienced types please recommend a good set to buy (rack and pannier)

Nothing too fancy - I've already spent north of £300 on the bike this month :?

Ortlieb - a bit pricey but very waterproof, with modular clip-on bits to add extra pockets
Altura - not tried them, but they look OK
Carrimor and Carradice - ye olde traditional British panniers. They work, but not always too waterproof and may wobble if empty

philbill1973

I've got an altura urban 20, plenty of space for lunch / gym kit, quite a lot of reflective and not bad looking,

http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/products/U ... nnier.aspx

Mounted on a tortec tour rear rack, its light and has a reflector/light plate on the back.

http://www.actionbikes-online.co.uk/pro ... b0s79p1703

Clever Pun

london_commuter wrote:

I've recently changed from using a backpack to a single pannier, attached to the left. I've never had a problem with scraping or hitting anything. I would go for it because it will ease the strain on your back and the sweaty back syndrome is eradicated completely :-).

The handling was a little strange to start with but after one commute I got used to it.

you shouldn't just use it on one side all the time, you'll get an oddly shaped body as muscles are working to stop you falling over as the bike will be off balance, you should change it round to use them evenly

Kieran_Burns

Good link thanks - Ortileb seems to be the favourite.... not sure about the price though. Mind you they will need to be waterproof

Dudu

Clever Pun wrote:

london_commuter wrote:

I've recently changed from using a backpack to a single pannier, attached to the left. I've never had a problem with scraping or hitting anything. I would go for it because it will ease the strain on your back and the sweaty back syndrome is eradicated completely :-).

The handling was a little strange to start with but after one commute I got used to it.

you shouldn't just use it on one side all the time, you'll get an oddly shaped body as muscles are working to stop you falling over as the bike will be off balance, you should change it round to use them evenly

I'd go further and advise always using two, matching panniers with the loads evenly balanced, even if they're half-empty.

Nick6891

panniers are just better than rucksacks, there isnt much weight to affect the bike and it allows your back to breath when you dont have a backpack on

andy83

roger merriman wrote:

i'll 2nd the courier bag, a lot more comftable i find, you may well be differnent.

if your still struggling with space, and it being 6 miles there and back? what about a hack bike, park it on the street etc,

dont really want this as sometimes will use lunch break to go for ride whilst at work, and like my bike too much lol. i might have a look into a courier bag, still not sure bout the panniers.

the backpack doesnt cause me any problems apart from the sweaty back syndrome. only thing that worries me is me overfilling the panniers and back wheel collapsing, had awful experience of it before

blorg

There is no problem cycling with one pannier; I have done 300km cycles that way, feels slightly strange to start but get completely used to it within the first few km.

Tobiwan

I use one pannier all the time, moderately loaded (work clothes, basic bike tools, phone etc), and have to say I hardly notice the weight imbalance except when stopped (and it's not a big deal then either)

Kieran_Burns

So, people with single panniers - do you dress to the left or the right?

(oh and for the weird folk who drive on the wrong side of the road... could you mention that? )

dafruk

I hang to the left as a default, but never really thought about it. Basically where I chain up I usually put my bike right side first onto the rails so it's just easier to have it on the left.

I have Ortleib rollers too, I figured they were waterproof, have a good clip on-off system and are comfortable enough to cary around on the shoulder strap. A bit pricey but they've been going for about 5 years now so it's not that big an investment.

jedster

I use a single ortlieb panier (actually "office bag" - like a normal panier only more briefcase shaped) on the left side (although I actually think right may make more sense - making you look wider to drivers).

While dudu is right that two paniers would be better for balance (although this is not a big problem even when my bag is fully loaded) - the convenience of just having one wins the day for me. Having just one means I can hold the bike in one hand as I attach or detatch the panier with the other, I can carry a cup of coffee and the panier between the bike rack and my train, etc, etc.

J

Underscore

Kieran_Burns wrote:

So, people with single panniers - do you dress to the left or the right?

I dress to the right - to balance out the weight of the single pannier on the left of my bike!

Thinking about, I should probably use my right pannier as the reflective patch would be further into the road and might get the drivers to give a slightly wider berth...

_