Help me find a decent rucksack!

[lycradodger]

I work from home a couple days a week and have to lug in quite a lot of books and things, as well as my gym kit, when I do cycle in so I'd need pretty big panniers. As my mountain bike is only little (as I'm only little) I'm not sure what size of rack/bag I'd need and if that would unsteady me once loaded.

I'd second(/third/fourth, whatever) panniers. Particularly if you've a heavy load - they will be way comfier, and are generally more spacious than any rucksack that is designed for cyling. I commute regularly with one pannier and have never noticed a problem with balance. I'd probably be more concerned about an overly large rucksack waving about high up on my back - from the sounds of it you would need something way bigger than the 20/25 litre ones being mentioned above.

Panniers come in pairs anyway, so just use two rather than overloading one and you will have no issues with balance.

Ideal solution might of course be panniers for the bike AND a larger rucksack for walking/hiking - if you're a true lady then surely you will want as many bags as possible...?

 

[PatrickPending]

I've had a deuter raxce x bag for 5 years now - its seen a lot of use (use it every day on my commute)has a mesh type thing to keep the main bag away from your back - so my back doesn't get sweaty - great for long rides if you dont have to carry too much

 

[Bug]

I have one of the Edinburgh Cycle Co-Op ones and it's probably seen me over 5000 miles on my back and still as good as new.

The whole pannier/rucksack debate is more individual preference than some would have you believe. Personally I find the airflow system on my rucksack is more than good enough to prevent a sweaty back. As opposed to "srw" above, I find that panniers unsettle my balance more than a rucksack does.

 

[domtyler]

Quite a few people have now said that panniers have upset the balance of their bikes, I find it extraordinary as I frequently carry heavy loads using panniers and have never noticed my balance being effected by this. I carry my daughter to nursery on the child seat and she can have an unsettling effect as she is perched high up above the bike. The panniers are designed to place the load low down though so lowering the centre of gravity which actually improves balance over an unweighted bike.

I would be interested if those people who have said that panniers have unbalanced them could enlighten me as to the specifics, i.e. have they been carrying large loads on top of the rack or just used one pannier instead of balancing over the two etc.

 

[biking_fox]

Dom - 1 panier (not rack top) because I've only got 1 bags worth of stuff. And carrying 1 panier is quite hassle enough, 2 would be a major pain, as opposed to a rucksack which leaves the hands free for opening doors, fishing out passes / money etc etc. Could I have carried on riding with it, and become accustomed. Yes of course. but it just didn't seem to offer any benefits greater than the inconvenience, so I went back to the rucksack.

Maybe it's partly the bike set-up, I can imagine that a stiff MTB with squishy tires on might not notice the effect as much as alu roadbike.


Racktop bags do work well if you've only a small amount of stuff - sweat free back, and little balance alteration.

 

[domtyler]

Okay, thanks for responding BD!

I guess if you have to handle the pannier bags off the bike a fair bit then they might be more annoying to use?

 

[HLaB]

Thanks for all the replies- you've given me some really helpful food for thought! I work from home a couple days a week and have to lug in quite a lot of books and things, as well as my gym kit, when I do cycle in so I'd need pretty big panniers. As my mountain bike is only little (as I'm only little) I'm not sure what size of rack/bag I'd need and if that would unsteady me once loaded.

Personally for lugging about books and things I'd use panniers as well as the comfort thing, I actually feel more stable with the weight on the bike, lower down rather than on my back and find they can hold more than a rucksack. But each to our own I read the C+ review of the CoOp backpack and they rated it.

 

[BentMikey]

Backpacks/messenger bags are OK, and fine for shorter journeys and lighter loads. As soon as you go longer distances and heavier loads, panniers, saddlebags, or a tailfairing are much much better options.

 

[Jo25]

Hi twinkle,

I use the berghaus 24seven 25 for my 8 mile round trip commute and to be honest, its totally fine for me. Its a good bag, nice water compartment and useful pockets. The shape of the bag means that the straps don't restrict my breathing (as some have said rucksack do) and the airflow system works reasonably well, though as I have a steep climb, I do tend to 'glow' quite a lot on the way to work. I don't find it restricts me in any way, though I do only usually carry clothes and food, so nothing too heavy most days. Having said that, I have never used panniers....

 

[zimzum42]

panniers are good, but they make nice bikes look crap.....

if you've got a racing bike, the last thing you want is panniers, it's like using a ferarri to tow a caravan.....

 

[goo_mason]

I've never tried panniers because they're impractical for me at the mo; I have to carry the bike down 5 flights of stairs and then try and squeeze it and me through a narrow door. There'd be no room with panniers on the side of the bike, and there's no way I could carry the panniers off-bike until I got down and outside.

There's no 'ground floor' for me to put the bike down and wheel it out of the door either - the steps continue down to the door (which opens outwards), under it and down to the Close outside - so it's a door on a stair in effect.

They'd just be too awkward. Of course, I might consider them on the MTB if I ever moved flat. But I'd never sully the sleek looks of my SCR2 with panniers

 

[Plax]

Thanks for all the replies- you've given me some really helpful food for thought! I work from home a couple days a week and have to lug in quite a lot of books and things, as well as my gym kit, when I do cycle in so I'd need pretty big panniers. As my mountain bike is only little (as I'm only little) I'm not sure what size of rack/bag I'd need and if that would unsteady me once loaded. The edinburghbicyclecooperative bag looks good- we have a store locally so I may take my bike in to try the bag and also have a chat with them about a suitable rack and panniers. I'm still veering towards a rucksack as I see them as more versitile as I can use it on other occasions too like hill walking and days I take the bus. As a lady I obviously glow instead of sweating (haha!) so I don't need to worry too much about a dripping back!

As a fellow lady that has used both panniers and rucksack, you'll probably find that you'll glow quite happily regardless of what luggage device you choose (I find it's my sport's bra that contributes to my glowing back ).

I was quite happy to use a rucksack, but it really does make you overheat in the summer. I have switched to panniers now and much prefer them. I also have a carradice barley saddle bag which you can fit quite a bit into, and tend to put my clothes and lunch in a single pannier (I used to leave a weeks worth of clothes at work in my locker, but I had to give that up for a lab worker as I'm a pen pusher and have an office, grumble grumble). I've never found that a single pannier unbalances the bike, although I do alternate which pannier I use.

 

[HJ]

I've never tried panniers because they're impractical for me at the mo; I have to carry the bike down 5 flights of stairs and then try and squeeze it and me through a narrow door. There'd be no room with panniers on the side of the bike, and there's no way I could carry the panniers off-bike until I got down and outside.

There's no 'ground floor' for me to put the bike down and wheel it out of the door either - the steps continue down to the door (which opens outwards), under it and down to the Close outside - so it's a door on a stair in effect.

They'd just be too awkward. Of course, I might consider them on the MTB if I ever moved flat. But I'd never sully the sleek looks of my SCR2 with panniers

I used carry a rucksack for years, then I discovered panniers, way better, but then I only have to carry mine down 3 flights of stairs, but thats nae bother (get it back up after a hard ride can be). My wife has found a simpler solution, she just buzzes and I have to go down and fetch the panniers up for her, she can carry her own bike though...

 

[goo_mason]

I used carry a rucksack for years, then I discovered panniers, way better, but then I only have to carry mine down 3 flights of stairs, but thats nae bother (get it back up after a hard ride can be). My wife has found a simpler solution, she just buzzes and I have to go down and fetch the panniers up for her, she can carry her own bike though...

Maybe I can train the cat to behave like a pack mule...

 

[wafflycat]

Maybe I can train the cat to behave like a pack mule...

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