Teachers, how necessary is a rack would you say?
- Thread starter lmow20
- Start date
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alasdairgf
New Member
- Location
- Liverpool
I teach at uni, and though I have some old panniers in a cupboard somewhere, I usually use a backpack in any case. My commute is short (just over 3 miles), and I seldom have more than a few kilos of paperwork (marking etc).* If I had any more, or a longer trip, I'd def use the panniers more as I'm one of the sweatier members of this parish and get "backpack back" pretty easily!
A rack and panniers weigh very little - probably the same as an empty backpack at a guess - so weight shouldn't be an issue. It's the hassle, for me, as my old pannier straps take about 3-4 mins to attach or detach. Modern panniers though prob clip off simply & quickly, so again prob not that much hassle. Is there something else you're avoiding? Destroying the clean lines of your road bike, etc etc?
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* In fact, that's just changed again as our uni has moved to online marking of almost all coursework... which means no more cycling down to the park to do some marking on the grass on sunny days... boo.
A rack and panniers weigh very little - probably the same as an empty backpack at a guess - so weight shouldn't be an issue. It's the hassle, for me, as my old pannier straps take about 3-4 mins to attach or detach. Modern panniers though prob clip off simply & quickly, so again prob not that much hassle. Is there something else you're avoiding? Destroying the clean lines of your road bike, etc etc?
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* In fact, that's just changed again as our uni has moved to online marking of almost all coursework... which means no more cycling down to the park to do some marking on the grass on sunny days... boo.
Black Sheep
Guru
- Location
- Rammy
I go the other way, I prefer to have the weight on the bike and not on me.
I used to just use a backpack but swapped to panniers when I swapped to a road bike. They make little difference to the handling of the bike although I would recommend making sure of two things, 1, that you mount the pannier where it doesn't catch on your leg while pedaling 2, that when you put a foot down at a junction etc, you use the foot thats the same side as your pannier (if only using one)
So for me, its now almost essential (partly due to needing to cary A3 sketchbooks when I was at uni)
I used to just use a backpack but swapped to panniers when I swapped to a road bike. They make little difference to the handling of the bike although I would recommend making sure of two things, 1, that you mount the pannier where it doesn't catch on your leg while pedaling 2, that when you put a foot down at a junction etc, you use the foot thats the same side as your pannier (if only using one)
So for me, its now almost essential (partly due to needing to cary A3 sketchbooks when I was at uni)
marmalade400
New Member
Just get a decent rack and panniers, seriously, a kilogram or two is not going to kill you. Modern panniers click on and off in seconds and not only would you have adequate carrying capacity for almost anything you might need to take to work but you could even get some shopping in on the way home too!
Black Sheep
Guru
- Location
- Rammy
Get a bakfeits 
Absolutely necessary I would have thought. As a mere trainee teacher, I sometimes found I was having to stick the 2nd pannier on the bike to take all the stuff I needed for the day. One pannier's worth might have gone into a backpack but 2 panniers worth would have been too much. A rack at least gives you the option to carry more.
Besides, I much prefer panniers and don't like wearing a back pack on a bike.
Besides, I much prefer panniers and don't like wearing a back pack on a bike.
Arfcollins
Soft southerner.
- Location
- Fareham
Rack and pannier (usually just the one) for me. I hate the feeling of a back pack when I'm cycling, so am happy to put up with the additional air resistance from the pannier. Added benefit is that when I do weekend ride without the pannier the bike feels a bit nippier - the 'banging your head against a wall' syndrome!
campbellab
Senior Member
- Location
- Swindon
I preferred a pannier over a backpack, less sweaty back and just felt less restricted. Never really thought about the drag, could always get a bag that sits on top of the rack?
As a trainee teacher you will carry so much crap back and forth you will need lotsa storage. When you are employed you get to dump stuff where you please and don't have such a paperwork burden. Mark at school if needs be, better to seperate your homelife anyway.
Didn't take any books back and forth, just clean shirt and underwear with shoes trousers wash kit towel left in changing room. Missus manages to fill two panniers each way with all her crap... Difference 'tween an ICT teacher and a Drama teacher I guess. She complains that another teacher goes past her everyday with just a small daysack everyday.
As a trainee teacher you will carry so much crap back and forth you will need lotsa storage. When you are employed you get to dump stuff where you please and don't have such a paperwork burden. Mark at school if needs be, better to seperate your homelife anyway.
Didn't take any books back and forth, just clean shirt and underwear with shoes trousers wash kit towel left in changing room. Missus manages to fill two panniers each way with all her crap... Difference 'tween an ICT teacher and a Drama teacher I guess. She complains that another teacher goes past her everyday with just a small daysack everyday.
CanucksTraveller
Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
- Location
- Hertfordshire
Looks like it's decision made already, but I'll add to the chorus of support for panniers on a rack.
I only cycle a few miles each way but a backpack makes me very sweaty, back and pits. (The straps pull all your clothing into a bunch in the armpit area).
I do it in comfort with a couple of 35 litre panniers, room to do the shopping on the way home as a bonus! Dry back, dry pits, comfy cyclist.
I only cycle a few miles each way but a backpack makes me very sweaty, back and pits. (The straps pull all your clothing into a bunch in the armpit area).
I do it in comfort with a couple of 35 litre panniers, room to do the shopping on the way home as a bonus! Dry back, dry pits, comfy cyclist.
snailracer
Über Member
Teachers is fick
Seriously, I prefer to put the load on my bike rack to avoid wearing holes in the shoulders of my clothes.
Jaguar
New Member
- Location
- Norfolk/Suffolk
Me too. Even a small rucksack gives me too much pain in my neck and back. The bike (Galaxy) can carry 5 bags of groceries in her (4) panniers and a tray of Cokes (24) on the rear rack, and I don't notice the weight once I'm moving
Well, having used both, there are definate sweat advantages to having panniers, however, I do ride faster with the satchel on my back (hills, you are using the weight of the bag down on the pedal, rather than pulling it at the back etc) - I just wanted an empirically derived solution rather than a theoretically driven one that's all.
