Switching from backpack to panniers?

[eminva]

This is almost the exact opposite of the question I was thinking of asking! Anyway, I’ve always used a rack so I will attempt to answer your questions:

I have a rack and a trunk bag with optional panniers that can be opened. Most of the time I can get everything I need in the main compartment and keep the panniers zipped up. When I need to bring my laptop or something else large home I open the panniers and they are very spacious. Everything handles very well regardless of weight distribution. It might be a problem if you are carrying serious weight, but I never tried. I did ride for a while without the rack when I got my new frame and the bike did seem more zippy, but you get used to it. If you have tabs on your frame for the rack it shouldn’t affect your tire changing efforts. If you don’t have tabs, you need a special rack. Let me know and I can steer you in the right direction on that.

I don’t think I could get a laptop in the trunk bag, though. It’s more of a cube shaped space. You might be able to find something specialized that would do the job.

The question I had for the troops is this: how tolerable is a backpack or messenger bag in the heat? I had major surgery a couple of years ago which ruled out carrying anything on my back, but I think I could do it now and was thinking of making a switch at some point in the future. However, it’s bad enough out there in 90+ degree heat, so I can’t imagine adding a backpack. But I see plenty of people doing it so I guess it’s okay.

Liz (who looks uncool no matter what so the rack is the least of my worries)

[Joe Chapline]

I use one pannier as a briefcase that hooks to one side of the rack. I like this one because the front edge is angled so you don’t hit it with your heel. You can get it for the right or left side: http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FCP

It actually looks much better than the picture. I’ve never had any problem carrying a load on one side only. I don’t understand the physics of it. You’d think it would be a problem, but it’s not. The rack does not interfere with changing a tire. You’d unclip the pannier first, of course.

[Mark Blacknell]

@Greenbelt – yes, you will notice the weight of the rack & pannier, but it’s not huge. One pannier isn’t really a handling problem – I bike back from the grocery store all the time with 20 lbs on one side w/ no issues. You won’t get anywhere near that w/ clothes and a laptop. That laptop is my only reason for hesitating at endorsing the transition from backpacks to panniers wholeheartedly. I’ve never been particularly comfortable about subjecting my laptop to the shock (however padded) of being connected directly to the bike. By putting it on my back, it’s *far* more insulated from shock than in a pannier. That said, there have to be a load of people who commute with laptops in panniers all the time. Anyone here ever heard of a problem? My objection is based entirely on theory, not experience.

@Em – in my view & experience, a backpack is preferable to a messenger bag. It’s a bit easier to control the load positioning, and you can get backpacks with padding that preserves some spacing between your back and the pack as a whole.

[DismalScientist]

I ride an old-school touring bike and just bungie cord my briefcase to the rack. I am going to experiment with an old school racing bike using wider tire. There are racks that clamp only on the seatpost and can be easily removed when not needed. It think it will be possible to mount relatively light-weight luggage on top of such a rack. I don’t think such a rack would be good for mounting paniers. However, such a rack and mounting system might be a solution for you.

[Riley Casey]

I commute with a back pack and TWO panniers. My formerly fast Jamis Coda has gotten noticeably slower over the years too with the addition of fenders and 40mm city tires as well but it fits better the way I ride. Anyway, the rack itself weighs almost nothing. The panniers hook on to the rack and can be removed with just a few moments effort. On one side I have a ‘grocery’ bag net style collapsable bag. The carries my yellow jacket and not much else unless I have actually done some shopping. It comes off entirely for pleasure rides. The other side has a smaller zipper close bag with my flat kit, folding bike repair tool and some rags for clean up in case of road repairs. That is always on the bike, even for long rides ( 60 miles is long for me ). The rack is less a hinderance in getting the rear wheel off than the chain and assorted drive ware is by itself. With serious weight in the shopping bag handling is impaired to some degree, with the bags empty I suppose I have simply gotten used to it as I don’t notice any effect now. I’ve been a ‘bike as transportation’ rider for some time now rather than ‘bike as recreation’ rider so my perspective may be skewed a bit

[Megabeth]

I truly like my backpack in the winter…it keeps me warm and cozy. But, during the summer, it does become more noticeable but not unbearable. (I have been known to carry sneakers, a change of clothes and 3 bottles of wine or a full load from a stop at the grocery store on some commutes home but do appreciate the “lighter” days – especially when it’s 90+ degrees outside.)

I prefer the backpack over a messenger bag. My backpack has an additional strap that closes on the front of my chest so there is less shifting around but even without that strap I like it just fine. Messenger bags just don’t stay put for me.

I have recently considered switching to holding my stuff on the bike, just haven’t taken that plunge, yet. I’m appreciating the input here on this forum.

[Joe Chapline]

I have fenders on my commuter bike now, but for many years bike racks did double-duty as a back fenders for me. The back fender is more important than the front fender. I had a rack with a solid middle section that helped keep a lot of the water from the back wheel off my back. Before that, I had a rack with a spring-loaded center section. When it rained, I could clamp a newspaper or piece of cardboard in there for a fender. It was also perfect for carrying a basketball — it would pin the ball to the back of the seat. I’d post a link, but I don’t know if they sell those any more.

[JustinW]

I commute with my laptop and various other bits (clothes, lunch, etc.) and find no balance issues at all even if just one pannier is used. Low CG plus location close to the centerline must somewhat negate any ill effects, balance-wise.

If I commute on my road bike(sans rack) then a backpack is my only option. Don’t like the heat factor at all, and I am leery of putting the laptop in the backpack due to aeries … Perhaps needless … Over having my center of gravity much higher.

Short answer: try both ways and see what works best for you.

[CCrew]

@Mark Blacknell 4088 wrote:

@Em – in my view & experience, a backpack is preferable to a messenger bag. It’s a bit easier to control the load positioning, and you can get backpacks with padding that preserves some spacing between your back and the pack as a whole.

I’ll respectfully disagree. Aren’t opinions great? (grin)
I find a backpack bulky, cumbersome, and hot. If you need to get to something quickly it has to come off.

A *good* messenger bag isn’t in your way, holds a ton of stuff and doesn’t slide around. Now when I say a “good” bag, I’m not talking the Timbuk2 wannabes or stuff that half the places sell as a messenger bag. They should be called messenger *style* bags. Personally I use a Chrome Citizen, but companies such as Crumpler, Mission Workshop, all make nice ones. Chrome is what a lot of the bike messengers wear. Messenger bags frequently get a bum rap with cyclists as everyone and their brother sell bags claiming to be messenger bags and in reality they’re just a fashion accessory and not functional. Like buying high heels with cleats

Paramount is the bag having a sub strap that goes across your chest, and a bag that’s designed to go across a specific shoulder which means there will be right and left versions. On my Chrome, I can unsnap the chest strap, spin the bag to the front, open it, spin back around and keep on getting on without even stopping. And I carry a Macbook in a Booq case and an iPad most of the time, in addition to a change of clothes, tools, tubes, pump, and assorted junk.

I have a bike with rear rack, and the Topeak trunk bag and/or separate panniers. I find the aerodynamics annoying, weight on the rear wheel unacceptable, and the bike top heavy when loaded.

Just personal opinion

[Dirt]

In-line with my “I want to be Frank Sinatra when I grow up” mantra, I do things my way. Insert snarky comment here.

Due to some shortcomings of my old fixie commuting bike, I ran for quite a while with a rack on the front and using only one front pannier. On a nErMyL day (that is “normal” for you humans) I would have between 7 and 10 pounds of stuff in the pannier. When I’m working from home and at the office, that weight jumps to almost 30 pounds. It started as a necessity since the old commuter was a super whippy steel frame that could barely handle my weight and pedaling, much less 30 pounds of crap strapped to it. What I found was an amazing ride dynamic.

My biggest complaint about having weight out back is that I easily get into “tail wagging the dog” mode when I get honking up a hill. Basically when I get out of the saddle to sprint up a hill, the rack and panniers have a profound impact on the direction the bicycle goes. The net result being I become a missile with great propulsion, but zero guidance. (That’s not a good thing.)

Having the weight on the front wheel made me aware that it was there when riding…. I needed a bit more care when going into a tight turn… but I should probably have a bit more care there anyways. I found that the bike handled MUCH better when climbing or getting out of the saddle.

Bottom line: It looks silly. I loved the ride. It looks silly.

The stooge-mobile with the bucket panniers packed full of toys going to Toys For Tots before Christmas.

Did I mention that it looks silly?

[Dirt]

I like messenger bags better than backpacks. They’re a little more difficult to get positioned perfectly, but they tend to be much easier on my shoulders, which have both been pretty seriously injured in the last decade or two, and I breathe better with them. Belts on backpacks tend to inhibit my breathing when they’re tightened enough to do their job. Everything I just wrote is completely false. I really just like the messenger bag because it makes me feel hip and cool and I desperately need that for my self esteem. Can someone direct me to the location of the next fixie hipster skidding contest???

[StopMeansStop]

@Riley Casey 4090 wrote:

I commute with a back pack and TWO panniers. My formerly fast Jamis Coda has gotten noticeably slower over the years too with the addition of fenders and 40mm city tires as well but it fits better the way I ride. Anyway, the rack itself weighs almost nothing. The panniers hook on to the rack and can be removed with just a few moments effort. On one side I have a ‘grocery’ bag net style collapsable bag. The carries my yellow jacket and not much else unless I have actually done some shopping. It comes off entirely for pleasure rides. The other side has a smaller zipper close bag with my flat kit, folding bike repair tool and some rags for clean up in case of road repairs. That is always on the bike, even for long rides ( 60 miles is long for me ). The rack is less a hinderance in getting the rear wheel off than the chain and assorted drive ware is by itself. With serious weight in the shopping bag handling is impaired to some degree, with the bags empty I suppose I have simply gotten used to it as I don’t notice any effect now. I’ve been a ‘bike as transportation’ rider for some time now rather than ‘bike as recreation’ rider so my perspective may be skewed a bit

Can you show us some pics? Sounds like a nice setup.

[Joe Chapline]

I Googled the Chrome Citizen messenger bag that CCrew mentioned, and it DOES look very cool. I found a video about it, and the guy said you can put ice and beer in it, no problem. My interest is piqued. @CCrew: thanks for the details about what makes a good messenger bag. @Dirt: another great post. Now I want a front rack.

[eminva]

Thanks everyone, for your input — appreciated.

This whole thread, especially Dirt’s photo, is making me flash back to middle school when my brother had a paper route and I had to do it for him on the weekends when he went off camping. There were racks and panniers on the front and rear. If I remember correctly they were made out of two by fours and canvas. There was also a messenger bag, but not a cushy Chrome bag, but a huge, flimsy muslin affair. I remember one day when the rig was so heavy I could not get it going, so I had to keep coming back to the house for a refill of newspapers. Oh well, kept me in school so I could someday have an office job . . . which I ride my bike to.

Dirt, the hipster skidding contest, as well as the sidewalk riding contest, salmon contest and CaBi fashion contest are all right outside my window on L Street, all day, everyday.

Liz

[creadinger]

I’ve been riding with a rack and panniers for 5+ years now and I love having my bike carry the weight instead of my back. I think what did it for me was when I did the C&O canal over 3 days with a hiking pack on my back. After 60 miles my legs were fine, but my back was so tired and sweaty!

For commuting I usually use both rear panniers. One for utility stuff like spare tube, pump, keys, wallet, phone, and the other for my change of clothes. I know that there is a slight difference in weight having the rack and at least one pannier always there, but I’m a few pounds+ overweight myself so it’s not a big deal. I don’t carry a laptop, but I know that many cross-country touring cyclists carry them in their bags ok.

I should say that my two main bikes are a steel touring bike, and a cyclocross bike that I frankensteined into a commuter, so I don’t have a super-fast carbon bike that might look silly with a rack.

The only thing I do not like about the rack and panniers is the cost. A good rack costs $50 and then a good set of panniers with rain covers or water proofing can be $100.

[Author]

Posts