Originally Posted by
cdalefan
I know that it is really a matter of what and how much you carry, but I am torn over the overall dimensions of Ortlieb panniers. Are the Sport packer plus panniers big enough for a daily commute? I only want to carry one on most days. I am concerned that the Bike Packer is too large overall for a daily commute.
Also, are the pairs of Ortliebs right/left specific or can you switch them from side to side?
Anyone have thoughts?
The Ortliebs are big enough for you to live out of them for months. If you need them for an everyday commute, you are carrying too much stuff! I'm amazed at the amount of stuff that people feel than need to carry to work. Leave a pair of shoes and a bag full of shower stuff at work. You don't need to huck that junk back and forth every day.
Leave a towel at work. You don't need a fresh towel everyday. Change it out when its level of funkiness goes past your personal comfort level (which should be more than one shower). I change my every...um...few...weeks...yea...that's right weeks. I'd never go a few months
Computers? Do you really need to carry your work home with you? An 80 hour week just means a 50% pay cut
Plus this is your perfect excuse to not have to huck it back and forth to work. "Gosh boss, I'd love to take the computer home tonight but do you really want to replace a $4000 if I crash? I'm thinking about the bottom line here."
Me? I carry lunch, a pair of pants, shirt, socks and underwear. Along with that I carry my wallet, house key, knife and plastic self (company ID
). Plus all the stuff I need for the bike ride.
Pare it down. This ain't a car.