Pannier or Rucksack?

[Cedric]

I realise this might be nitpicking, but what's best in terms of cycling ease (not convenience)? I ride to work with one side mounted pannier on a rack. I sometimes ride without the pannier and am surprised that there is a noticeable difference. Other than the additional weight, I'm thinking that the pannier is not very aerodynamic and creates a lot of drag. I also suppose that you are adding weight to the area of your bike that already has the greatest load; the rear mech; cassette and yourself. I'm thinking about going back to a rucksack. I think that the rucksack nestled behind my back will be more streamlined, the weight will be a "mobile" weight moving with my body and not a "dead" weight, and that I will be able to put the extra weight into my peddle stroke. Is this a load of bollocks?

 

[hackbike 666]

I have both,that's probably why im slow.

 

[gary r]

i find a pannier much better,I hate the sweaty back you get wearing a rucksack! also the rucksack obscures any reflective material you might have on your top.My ruck sacks also used to end up soaking wet from sweat & not very sweet smelling after a while!!!!

 

[Black Sheep]

i use either depending on what i'm taking and what i'm doing

i think i'm faster with the pannier as i am not as restricted in leaning forward for the bars.

 

[ianrauk]

Pannier for me... hate using rucksacks as per the OP's reasons above

 

[skwerl]

messenger bag any day

 

[Willow]

another vote for the pannier

 

[Cedric]

What advantage does a messenger bag have over a rucksack then?

 

[Ivan Ardon]

Changing from a rucksack to a pannier has made my commuter into a far more useful machine.

 

[skwerl]

What advantage does a messenger bag have over a rucksack then?

less restrictive. you don't have the straps in the way of your arms.
people say they have a smaller contact patch than a rucksack too so the swear issue is reduced. i don't know as I swapped from an Deuter Air Race to messenger bag. The air race was less sweaty

 

[MacB]

pannier here, started on rucksack, never tried messenger bag

 

[Eat MY Dust]

I find that now I don't use a rucksack or messenger bag that I use the drops more and also climb out of the saddle more, this makes for a more enjoyable experience.

 

[summerdays]

Pannier for me too

 

[HJ]

I realise this might be nitpicking, but what's best in terms of cycling ease (not convenience)? I ride to work with one side mounted pannier on a rack. I sometimes ride without the pannier and am surprised that there is a noticeable difference. Other than the additional weight, I'm thinking that the pannier is not very aerodynamic and creates a lot of drag. I also suppose that you are adding weight to the area of your bike that already has the greatest load; the rear mech; cassette and yourself. I'm thinking about going back to a rucksack. I think that the rucksack nestled behind my back will be more streamlined, the weight will be a "mobile" weight moving with my body and not a "dead" weight, and that I will be able to put the extra weight into my peddle stroke. Is this a load of bollocks?

Probably...

 

[Plax]

I started off with a rucksack and then moved onto panniers. Definitely prefer the panniers. No disernable difference in performance of the bike with panniers and it feels more liberating. I found I got a sweaty back, sometimes a pain in the shoulders and it made me over heat quicker when I had a rucksack (a proper hiking one).

Now I tend to just use a carradice saddle bag (the Barley) which I can squeeze in a change of clothes, toiletries and lunch in. I'll only use panniers now if I'm taking my shower stuff & towel to or from work or if I know I've got to carry something that won't fit in the saddle bag. I have the SQR system which is fab as I can swap the saddle bag between bikes (my hybrid hasn't got any braze ons for a rack).