UKH

Morning all

I'm cycling from Christchurch (Dorset, not NZ) around the Isle of Wight this weekend and taking part in a couple of the IoW Fell races on Sat and Sun, I'm staying in a B&B.

I will be on my road bike and have swapped my rack from my hybrid onto it, the trouble is it suddenly feels very heavy, and that's before I even think about attaching panniers with weekend kit. So, do I stick with it, or do I go fro a small rucksack and a sweaty back?

Many thanks, TtB

In reply to Tony the Blade:

panniers every time. it's not just the sweaty back but the aching shoulders. with the weight on your bike you'll barely notice it - with the weight hanging off your shoulders you'll really notice it

In reply to Bob Hughes:

Great - that answers it most clearly. Thank you

In reply to Tony the Blade:

ooh, I disagree about not noticing the weight on the bike. Personally I find a bike far lighter to ride with a rucksack than panniers. But agree about the sweaty back,

In reply to Tony the Blade:

Not just the sweaty back; the extra weight will kill your bum. Panniers every time - if correctly fitted you won't notice them. The bike will just feel a bit heavier.

In reply to Tony the Blade:

Last time I decided a lengthy road ride after work with my commuter rucksack was a good idea I regretted it. Not only sweaty back but after a while I found myself wriggling about trying to re-settle the shoulder straps better, and because cycling unlike walking seems to have my back curving outwards rather than shoulders back, I developed a mid back sore from the rucksack too.

In reply to Tony the Blade:

I found that even by just attaching the rack, the bike's handling is noticeably heavier. Pannier(s) on and it's a completely different ballgame, but more comfortable in the long run. The downside is more faff.

In reply to Tony the Blade:

On mountain biking trailquests I've even found that the low C of G afforded by panniers makes the bike more stable.

Off road though panniers are a pain if you need to lift the bike.

In reply to Tony the Blade:

Got to admit I have been swithering on this for a while. I fitted a rack to the MBK to carry some serious kit into Ben Alder last month, and it was definitely the right thing to do.

I have also fitted one to my hybrid commuter, that I do 24m hilly miles to work on a couple of times a week, and I do find I notice the weight on the bike. I am less sweaty on my back, but as I am in the National Sweating Team, that's still a fair bit as I work hard.

Can't decide which I prefer yet, but I'm going to give it a few more weeks.....

In reply to Tony the Blade:

Panniers every time for heavy and prolonged trip. Lower centre of gravity is more stable.

In reply to earlsdonwhu:

Thank you to all for your replies, it would appear that panniers are the way forward. They're fitted now so think I'll still with them.

Thanks all, TtB