Bare- Back Mountin'

[jonny jeez]

I've replied to a few post's recently about the virtue of wearing a rucksack and how it doesn't effect my riding and how I cant really tell I'm wearing it.

Which I really considere(d) to be true.

But I may be changing my mind.

Last night, after a bit of a dodgy weekend recovering from last weeks rides in, I decided to try and change the journey home a little (my Journey home is always less enjoyable than the trip in). I had very little to carry (aside from a blackberry, wallet and repair kit) so stuffed everything into the top peak bag I keep everything in (in the rucksack to make everything nice and easy to loose in one go!) and set out "Bare-Back".

It was really weird, I felt really light and a lot more articulate, my rear vision was massively enhanced (or at least the feeling of it) and I span home in all time record time!!

Admittedly I have got the fitness up a little over the last two weeks, but it was one of the best (if not the best) rides home I have ever had and I climed my "nemisis" hill at the end of my ride with relative ease.

I'll have to try it again tomorrow night with the bag and see if it was a fluke

 

[Moodyman]

Me too. Ditched the backpack 6 months ago and been riding with a pannier. There was a noticeable improvement.

 

[HaloJ]

Me too. Ditched the backpack 6 months ago and been riding with a pannier. There was a noticeable improvement.

Same route I went. Nicer not having the weight on my back and now I also do my shopping and drag that home in the panniers.

 

[rh100]

Panniers for me too. I ride to work in office clobber so a sweaty back from the backpack was a no no. I like the feel of the bike with panniers aswell.

 

[downfader]

If you dont need to carry much then a saddle bag is more aero than a pannier bag. If you have a rack then also consider a rack-bag, as with the saddle bag it sits right behind you and doesnt create as much drag as a rucksack or pannier bag.

 

[addictfreak]

To be honest I dislike both. Although when I have to, I ride with a rucksack. Usually only commuting to work, and I take all me gear on the first day so I can bare back the rest.

We did the c2c a couple of years ago, unsupported so it was a case of carrying 3 days worth of gear. Rucksack was quite heavy and made the trip pretty unpleasent.

 

[Moodyman]

You could always take the David Cameron approach. Carry nothing and have your driver follow you in a car with your stuff.

 

[Moodyman]

Just had a closer look at the title.

Looks like a bedroom phrase rubber Jonny.

 

[sadjack]

If you dont need to carry much then a saddle bag is more aero than a pannier bag. If you have a rack then also consider a rack-bag, as with the saddle bag it sits right behind you and doesnt create as much drag as a rucksack or pannier bag.

I'm with you on this. Saddlebag for me

 

[fossyant]

It's called Ultra Gravity Training - shove all your heavy kit in a rucksack/pannier and you'll be flying for the weekend runs....

 

[WimbledonCyclist]

Come on guys. This forum is also for the under-eighteens. What's next after all this bare-back, drag, saddlebag (surely some new deviant activity I have yet to savour) and "heavy kit" talk? So how do you all lighten the load when the "bag" is particularly heavy after a few days' abstinence (i.e. non-cycling)? I trust you all have a towel to hand ...

 

[Clamson]

I have considered panniers for a while now, as my shirt is creased by the time I get to work no matter what happens (and I have to put it in a carrier bag so it isn't drenched in sweat).

Not convinced the panniers wouldn't be ripped off at 35 mph though - I lost an expensive light that way...

 

[HLaB]

Not convinced the panniers wouldn't be ripped off at 35 mph though - I lost an expensive light that way...

That won't happen if you've got good pannier. I've never been that fast with mine, traffics' too dense but I've never had problems at about 28-34mph with Ortliebs.

 

[downfader]

I've done over 30 with the pannier bag. Mines a cheap outer edge tarpaulin one so it just slots on. The Altura and Ort' ones have special release buttons and lock on.

 

[cyberknight]

Regularly do 35+ down a couple of hills and mine have not fallen off yet !,mind you they are a bitch going the other way .

I find you can carry extra stuff as well when your not worrying about weight on your back, he aint heavy hes my backpack !
I used to use a backpack sans handles with bungees on top of the rack and my bananas were regularly mush due to vibration i find panniers keep your stuff neater.