Panniers, to match or not to match

[Ming the Merciless]

Turnips? What foolishness is this?

To feed the chicken

 

[Ming the Merciless]

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Good foot clearance with nicely setback panniers there.

 

[presta]

We are all free to make our own choices. For most of us, we will have conformed to all sorts of norms along the way. When you are young, most people constantly worry what others think of them

I learnt a healthy disrespect for fashion at an early age .

I think that's an unfairly harsh dismissal of some peoples' choices.

Fashion isn't about what people choose, it's about why they choose it. There isn't anything wrong with buying anything if it's what you want, the problem arises when people buy something they wouldn't otherwise buy just to be one of the sheep that are following the latest craze. When everyone does that it becomes socially destructive.

Quite apart from what it says about the independence of mind of those who follow it, by driving alternatives out of the market, fashion denies choice for those with more independence of mind. It also leads to manufacturers producing goods with short lifespans that needn't last any longer than it takes for the fashion to wear off. It incites bullying of anyone who doesn't, or can't, conform. Finally, and most seriously of all, it's an environmental catastrophe having people throwing away perfectly good stuff just because the novelty's worn off.

This summer I was looking for some trousers, and found that the market appeared to be in the grip of a fashion for black and dark clothing. There's nothing wrong with black clothes per se, they look nice, and there isn't particularly anything wrong if some people want to bake in the sun because they're wearing dark clothes, either. The problem arises when most people buy them, so they become a craze that drives everything else out of the shops.

 

[Baldy]

Good foot clearance with nicely setback panniers there.

Thery're actually the small pair that would go on the front rack, all I really need for a weekend. The larger pair also sit right back on the rack away from my feet. Just as well really as I have huge feet.

 

[matticus]

Came out as a single pannierist a few years ago when challenging one’s identity became more accepted.

I strongly disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Thery're actually the small pair that would go on the front rack,

That is something I do too: if I know I'm not going to need much stuff on an outing, I will just use a set of front panniers at the back

 

[richardfm]

Please help as I’m struggling to decide - I have one black ortlieb pannier. To buy a second isn’t cheap, in fact it would be cheaper to buy a matching pair of something else. Or I could get a single of something else, but is that like having non matching socks?? (which, to be honest, I do!) Is this a cycling convention faux pas that will cause other commuters to laugh at me on the way past?

I've got a single black ortlieb pannier that I have been thinking about selling.

 

[freiston]

I've been occasionally cycling with one pannier (always on the drive side) since the early 80s, most usually when commuting/utility cycling when I only need the capacity of one pannier. It's certainly much nicer to carry than two when off the bike (unless stupidly heavy). Nowadays it rarely happens because I have discovered Carradice saddlebags and QR Bagman mounts. Shopping, if using panniers, is done with pairs.

All my panniers have been bought in pairs but I don't have two pairs of matching panniers, so if I'm riding with front and rear panniers, the front never match the back. Having a bit of spare cash at the moment, I have been very tempted to buy a pair of front panniers to match my rear Ortliebs but tbh, I'm quite happy with the way my front panniers (Altura Sonic 15 in drab olive) look irrespective of what's on the back.

But mismatching rear panniers - I would really struggle with that - I could only do it in a desperate emergency and I would hate every minute of it.