My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card' tour in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While we could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each, I'm considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one lightly loaded pannier? An additional concern is that we'll be touring in the Napa/Sonoma/Coast region and are therefore likely to encounter some seriously twisty descents. As New Englanders, we can handle hills, but the twists and turns we just don't have up here.
I suppose we could simply take turns lugging both paniers (my wife is a stronger rider than I, so no quips about chivalry).
As an alternative, I'm thinking of investing in one of those rack trunks with collapsible 'mini panniers'.
My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card' tour in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While we could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each, I'm considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one lightly loaded pannier?
I sometimes use a single pannier and have never even been able to notice the difference. Unless you're planning on carrying gold ingots or something similarly heavy I wouldn't worry about it.
An additional concern is that we'll be touring in the
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Napa/Sonoma/Coast region and are therefore likely to encounter some seriously twisty descents. As New Englanders, we can handle hills, but the twists and turns we just don't have up here.
I seem to remember some pretty decent twisting roads in New England when we lived on the right coast and didn't need to make any fundamental adjustments when we moved to the left one. Some of the hills are longer here but the grades are generally reasonable. The Napa and Sonoma valley areas let you choose how many hills you want to tackle since there are ways around many of the major ones.
My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card' tour in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While we could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each, I'm considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one lightly loaded pannier? An additional concern is that we'll be touring in the Napa/Sonoma/Coast region and are therefore likely to encounter some seriously twisty descents. As New Englanders, we can handle hills, but the twists and turns we just don't have up here.
I suppose we could simply take turns lugging both paniers (my wife is a stronger rider than I, so no quips about chivalry).
As an alternative, I'm thinking of investing in one of those rack trunks with collapsible 'mini panniers'.
Thanks,
Kyle
Used to carry a single pannier with anywhere from 10 - 40 lbs of paper inside (I was a bike courier), and never noticed the offset until it hit around 30 lbs. Even then, it was fine at speed, just slow corners got a bit twitchy.
My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card' tour in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While we could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each, I'm considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one lightly loaded pannier? An additional concern is that we'll be touring in the Napa/Sonoma/Coast region and are therefore likely to encounter some seriously twisty descents. As New Englanders, we can handle hills, but the twists and turns we just don't have up here.
I suppose we could simply take turns lugging both paniers (my wife is a stronger rider than I, so no quips about chivalry).
As an alternative, I'm thinking of investing in one of those rack trunks with collapsible 'mini panniers'.
I have ridden quite a bit with one pannier too. The only time I notice any imbalance is when I get off the bike with the pannier really loaded. Under those conditions the bike wants to sort of fall over and turn to the side away from the pannier.
Arkel sells a pannier designed to be used only on one side. They have a page of testimonials here:
In article <uw9Vc.154444$8_6.31270@attbi_s04>, "Kyle.B.H" <[email hidden]>
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My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card' tour in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While we could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each, I'm considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one lightly loaded pannier?
I split a pair of panniers between my two commuting bikes. I've never had a problem with unbalanced loads. I have even carried an auto starter in a pannier and had no trouble riding. I was pretty careful but it didn't take a serious effort to adapt.
My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card' tour in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While we could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each, I'm considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea?
No, I do it all the time for commuting. It doesn't appear to affect handling at all.
"Kyle.B.H" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:uw9Vc.154444$8_6.31270@attbi_s04...
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My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card' tour in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While we could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each, I'm considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one
lightly
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loaded pannier? An additional concern is that we'll be touring in the Napa/Sonoma/Coast region and are therefore likely to encounter some seriously twisty descents. As New Englanders, we can handle hills, but
the
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twists and turns we just don't have up here.
I suppose we could simply take turns lugging both paniers (my wife is a stronger rider than I, so no quips about chivalry).
As an alternative, I'm thinking of investing in one of those rack trunks with collapsible 'mini panniers'.
Thanks,
Kyle
One of the things I like about touring is the chance to shift the weight around between riders depending who is feeling stronger that day. Oh, and the one that carries the panniers gets an extra icecream.
"Jim Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Kyle.B.H said:
My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card'
tour
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in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While
we
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could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each,
I'm
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considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one
lightly
Quoted message said:
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loaded pannier? An additional concern is that we'll be touring in the Napa/Sonoma/Coast region and are therefore likely to encounter some seriously twisty descents. As New Englanders, we can handle hills, but
the
Quoted message said:
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twists and turns we just don't have up here.
I suppose we could simply take turns lugging both paniers (my wife is a stronger rider than I, so no quips about chivalry).
As an alternative, I'm thinking of investing in one of those rack trunks with collapsible 'mini panniers'.
I have ridden quite a bit with one pannier too. The only time I notice
any
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imbalance is when I get off the bike with the pannier really loaded. Under those conditions the bike wants to sort of fall over and turn to the side away from the pannier.
Arkel sells a pannier designed to be used only on one side. They have a page of testimonials here:
"Kyle.B.H" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<uw9Vc.154444$8_6.31270@attbi_s04>...
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My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card' tour in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While we could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each, I'm considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one lightly loaded pannier? An additional concern is that we'll be touring in the Napa/Sonoma/Coast region and are therefore likely to encounter some seriously twisty descents. As New Englanders, we can handle hills, but the twists and turns we just don't have up here.
I've carried a heavy car battery in a single pannier and not had any problems riding with it. Handling the bike loaded like this while dismounted needed a bit of care though. Beyond a certain angle of lean it became a handful.
My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card' tour in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While we could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each, I'm considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one lightly loaded pannier? An additional concern is that we'll be touring in the Napa/Sonoma/Coast region and are therefore likely to encounter some seriously twisty descents. As New Englanders, we can handle hills, but the twists and turns we just don't have up here.
I suppose we could simply take turns lugging both paniers (my wife is a stronger rider than I, so no quips about chivalry).
As an alternative, I'm thinking of investing in one of those rack trunks with collapsible 'mini panniers'.
Thanks for the links. Why do they advise to always place the single
pannier
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on the road (left) side?
Bike is already heavier on right because of transmission system.
I don't think the weight is significant, but I usually put a single pannier on the left since: - cars give me more room if the bag sticks out some on the left - the pannier is less likely to rub against high curbs, bushes, etc. - may not need to remove pannier when changing rear tire - on one of my bikes the pannier on the right pushes on the derailer cable interfering slightly with the shift adjustment.
On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 22:07:22 GMT, "Kyle.B.H" <[email hidden]> wrote:
I had a problem with one pannier once. It was on the left side, full of cans and goods from the grocery store. A lunch time run. The entrance to work is on a hill. I rode up to the door, with the left side to the downhill, unclipped from the right pedal- typical for me- and the bike tipped to the left. Hard, fast- no time to unclip from that pedal and I took a tumble.
A combination of an unusual position, more weight than I hardly ever put on one side, and a mental lapse. Other than this warning- pay attention to the weight distribution when you stop- I've never had a problem.
considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one lightly loaded pannier?
Lightly loaded is fine. A single pannier is only a nuisance with a very heavy load. -- David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!
My wife and I are embarking on a self-supported, 4 day, 'credit card'
tour
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in a month or so, and I'm working out the baggage requirements. While we could potentially squeeze by with a handlebar bag and rack trunk each,
I'm
Quoted message said:
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considereing leveraging the one set of panniers I own, of which we could each take one. The question is - is this a bad idea? Are we going to encounter imbalances, shimmies, and other nasty resonances with one
lightly
Quoted message said:
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loaded pannier? An additional concern is that we'll be touring in the Napa/Sonoma/Coast region and are therefore likely to encounter some seriously twisty descents. As New Englanders, we can handle hills, but
the
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twists and turns we just don't have up here.
I've carried a heavy car battery in a single pannier and not had any problems riding with it. Handling the bike loaded like this while dismounted needed a bit of care though. Beyond a certain angle of lean it became a handful.
"Trevor Jeffrey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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Dave Kahn wrote in message
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I've carried a heavy car battery in a single pannier and not had any problems riding with it. Handling the bike loaded like this while dismounted needed a bit of care though. Beyond a certain angle of lean it became a handful.
In what way?
It wanted to fall over and took a lot of strength to restrain. This is handling the bike while dismounted remember. There was no such problem when actually riding.
"Trevor Jeffrey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
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Dave Kahn wrote in message
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I've carried a heavy car battery in a single pannier and not had any problems riding with it. Handling the bike loaded like this while dismounted needed a bit of care though. Beyond a certain angle of lean it became a handful.
In what way?
It wanted to fall over and took a lot of strength to restrain. This is handling the bike while dismounted remember. There was no such problem when actually riding.
I wondered with such a heavy battery, how the rear wheel responded during riding.
