Panniers full of beans

[Dougster]

In preparation for my first tour to France, I put on my 4 panniers and bar bag. I filled them full of assorted tins from the kitchen cupboard to approximately the weight of all my gear - about 20kg. I could hardly move the bike but once I got started it was fairly straightforward and the handling was not as difficult as I had anticipated. I tackled a few steep hills and was surprised that I didn't have to dismount. On the flat it felt very confortable and with a following breeze it was great. My regular loop takes about 1 hour 15 minutes and fully loaded I did it in about 1 hour 20. I can't wait to get going now but I suppose I should put the beans back where they belong and get the touring gear sorted out. I'll be using Bigtallfatbloke's list to keep me right.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

I'll be using Bigtallfatbloke's list to keep me right.

...is that such a good idea?

 

[Cathryn]

You might want to take it more slowly when loaded and not try to bust a gut...a loaded bike is much harder on the knees and it took us probably about a fortnight to really get used to laden panniers etc. I'd give yourself a bit more of a chance to acclimatise.

Now we're back, what's weird is getting used to the unloaded bike. I actually feel a bit insecure on Liesl now and have to get used to it all over again.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

Beans are for wimps...real men use concrete

...actually I prefer riding with a load as well. Ok it's bit harder, but I enjoy the few extra inches the traffic gives me when they see the load

The bike feels more stable loaded I feel, well mine does anyway. I have a tendancy to forget to pace myself when I first load the bike up & I ride as fast as I usually do, then blow out to quickly.

 

[Dougster]

Good advice, Cathryn, I'll take it easy.