The best thing I ever bought for my bike was a set of panniers and pannier bags. Before, I used to cycle everywhere with a rucksack, I used to carry quite a lot – books to work, shopping e.t.c
When I got panniers, the pleasure of the daily commute increased alot. – Literally it was a load off my shoulders. Cycling with a heavy rucksack also makes it more difficult to look over your shoulder and have the flexibility a good town cyclist needs.
Recently, I also got a pannier bag which has a shoulder strap – so is useful for carrying around when off bike.
I prefer back panniers to front panniers.
The Sainsburys carrier bags on handlebar technique. More difficult to manoeuvre, especially if heavy.
Carrying a bike, on a bike, not really recommended
The front basket is surprisingly popular in Oxford. Fine if you’re slow and don’t mind taking corners more carefully. see: baskets
The Trike solution – solid if slow.
The messengers bag. Useful for times when you are walking as much as cycling.
Some rucksacks are less clumsy than others. This at least looks reasonably balanced.
Related
- Tips for commuting
- Panniers at Wiggle Cycles
Hi there!
Fantastic blog. Keep up the good work.
I am 27 and have recently (November 09) started cycle commuting in London (8 miles each way) having not been on a bike since childhood.
I started with a touring bike with panniers but as I have got into it (and boy is it addictive) I have treated myself to a decent entry level road bike. It has made my commute vastly quicker. However it has no facility to have panniers and to be honest it feels as though it would go against the grain to buy a lightweight roadbike and then add all that weight!
At the moment I use the road bike to commute and the tourer for weekend trails/tours with the other half as I can carry luggage/picnics, but i do miss the convenience of the panniers to take stuff to/from work.
Anway, my question is, where do you stand on the road bike/pannier dilemma?