Touring with a light pannier

Iain Jones <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

I'm considering doing some touring between youth hostels, only two-three
days long at the moment, with enough luggage to pack one medium-
sized pannier. Is it more advisable to spread it across two though to make
the bike more balanced, ie. for cornering, or doesn't it make a great deal
of difference? I'm thinking mainly of Wales' twisty lanes, especially the
downhill ones - I'd keep my speed down anyway but I don't want to crash
down on any tight bends!

How much does your luggage weigh?

I personally prefer 2 panniers but have take quite a lot on singles
without mishap.

1 pannier is often easier to carry off the bike.

I like having a bit of extra space when I want to remove a layer or two
or get tempted by shops.

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

Helen Deborah Vecht said:

Iain Jones <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

I'm considering doing some touring between youth hostels, only
two-three days long at the moment, with enough luggage to pack one
medium- sized pannier. Is it more advisable to spread it across two
though to make the bike more balanced, ie. for cornering, or
doesn't it make a great deal of difference? I'm thinking mainly of
Wales' twisty lanes, especially the downhill ones - I'd keep my
speed down anyway but I don't want to crash down on any tight
bends!

How much does your luggage weigh?

I personally prefer 2 panniers but have take quite a lot on singles
without mishap.

1 pannier is often easier to carry off the bike.

Strap between the two and hang on shoulder.

Quoted message said:

I like having a bit of extra space when I want to remove a layer or
two or get tempted by shops.

And that's the reason two is better.

Actually, thinking about it, I would bungy a rucksack to the rack rather
than use one. Just my take.

Iain Jones said:

I'm considering doing some touring between youth hostels, only two-three
days long at the moment, with enough luggage to pack one medium-
sized pannier. Is it more advisable to spread it across two though to make
the bike more balanced, ie. for cornering, or doesn't it make a great deal
of difference? I'm thinking mainly of Wales' twisty lanes, especially the
downhill ones - I'd keep my speed down anyway but I don't want to crash
down on any tight bends!

It's very unlikely to degrade the handling unless you load it extremely
heavily. If you want to be sure, test it; stick your maximum load into
one pannier and go for a short local ride. Providing the load does not
shift relative to the bike as you corner it will be fine.

--
Joe * If I cannot be free I'll be cheap

In message <[email hidden]>, John
Mallard <not_me@all.?.invalid> writes

Quoted message said:

Iain Jones said:

I'm considering doing some touring between youth hostels, only
two-three days long at the moment, with enough luggage to pack one
medium-
sized pannier. Is it more advisable to spread it across two though to
make the bike more balanced, ie. for cornering, or doesn't it make a
great deal of difference?

[...]
I agree with the others. One pannier is not a problem handling-wise.
I've been out with every combination from one very full single rear pannier
to 6 (2 front and back, bar bag and rack top bag - also all very full).
Each combination feels different and each combination affects the handling
of your bike. However, if you are already quite comfortable with your bike,
it only takes a couple of corners and stop and starts to adapt to the new
'feel'.

Yep, though I did *really * heavily load single rear pannier once and
that made for some odd handling, but that was unusual. In normal use
I've not had a problem.

Quoted message said:

So, it's your call on the choice between 'simple bag simpicity' for security
and Helen's 'Isn't it nice to have lots of spare room'.
I'd be more inclined to the latter.

So do I.

Quoted message said:

You could perhaps 'permanently install' one pannier to your bike. (Cable
ties, chain, whatever - and only use it to store stuff that people wouldn't
want to nick - Yesterday's socks, shorts, tea bags, sudocream etc.

TBH, when touring I've left a fully loaded bike in all sorts of places
and not had any theft problems. OK I'd try not to leave it anywhere to
risky, such as the middle of big cities, but for most touring I'm in the
country side or small towns.

Quoted message said:

Another possibility, and one I use myself occasionly, it to use two small
front panniers as rear panniers.

If I was only going to need the space of one pannier then I'd use my
Carradice Camper Longflap saddlebag with an SQR mount. It's handy
because it's lid design means you can squeeze extra stuff in
--
Chris French, Leeds

On 15/5/05 12:47 pm, in article [email hidden], "chris

French said:

Quoted message said:

TBH, when touring I've left a fully loaded bike in all sorts of places
and not had any theft problems. OK I'd try not to leave it anywhere to
risky, such as the middle of big cities, but for most touring I'm in the
country side or small towns.

You are more likely to get it blown up by the bomb squad than nicked if it
is in anything like a big city.

...d

Helen Deborah Vecht <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Iain Jones <[email hidden]>typed

How much does your luggage weigh?

I haven't tried packing the stuff yet but it would be a light change of
clothes, snack food for during the rides (larger meals from cafés/pubs),
shower kit, and maybe other odds and ends like a camera.

Quoted message said:

I personally prefer 2 panniers but have take quite a lot on singles
without mishap.

I did a test run on Sunday with one pannier, mostly empty though except for
snack food and cold/wet weather gear, and it gave no trouble.