Touring - Tour with Backpack or Panniers??? Need Advice....

I'm turning to this forum nice I know you guys that tour will probably have the answer when packing gear.
I ride road a road bike ( cannondale R600, 63 CM, full ultegra/ Durace) , but long distances, I have crossed France 4 times. Riding about 100 miles a day, sometimes more/ sometimes less. I travel VERY light, but my photo equipment is a bit heavy, I've done my last trips with a backpack, weighing about 20-25 lbs.

I am considering putting a rear rack on my bike and strapping my backpack to it. Is it better to ride with a light backpack or to strap that weight to the bike?
How does putting your equipment on the bike affect its handling?

This is the rack that I am thinking about mounting on my bike to strap my backpack to:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=112&subcategory=1079&brand=&sku=17039&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Racks

Most things I have read is that it is not a good idea to ride with a backpack, if anyone has advice or opinions please let me know.
Thanks for the help.

Spend the money on a decent (not Nashbar) set of panniers and a good rack.

Here are some threads to look through that might answer your questions.

http://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=3859090

I'd highly recommend a trailer instead. Either get a BOB with the waterproof bag, or stick your backpack into the trailer.

Strapping a backpack to a rack would be like trying to use a 4 x 5 view camera with a monopod. :D Use the right tool for the right job, you'll be much happier.

Does your bike have pannier -mounting eyelets at the rear dropouts?

Bo - Yes I prefer panniers; however, I am concerned with the jarring (sp?) of your camera gear within the panniers that you would not have experienced with the gear in a backpack.
What I do with a small computer is I put it in the top of my sleeping bag sack, and that sack is on top of the rack over the rear fenders - hence no vibes. I have been using a water proof sack (a "barracks bag") you can get at Army/Navy surplus stores for around $30.
Meanwhile, if you are going to go with panniers of any type pay whatever you have to in order to go waterproof, i.e., Orliebs, etc.
Fred.

Camera gear will be fine in either panniers or a trailer, if it is packed properly; and I can't imagine that panniers have all that much less road shock than a trailer. Cameras are rugged and should be packed into a padded case anyway. If you're really paranoid, the Bob Ibex has suspension. (I might add, cost-wise a BOB is about the same as Ortliebs + a good rack....)

The advantage here is that he can stick his backpack right onto the trailer if he wants, which is a superior solution to either wearing it or putting it on a rack. The last thing you'd want is a miscellaneous strap getting loose and getting tangled in your spokes. ;)

Waterproof panniers are handy but not that critical. You don't need waterproof backpacks, so why wateproof panniers? A garbage bag as a liner performs the same function.

I cycel pretty fast and light, so a trailer is really our of the question. My bike doesnt have eyelets so I think that I will have to end up strapping my back pack to the rear of the bike, when I stop I'll put the back pack on, waterproof isn't a concern as I'm not cycling through any real rainy season - southern France is usually dry in August. Speed and lightness is the key factor here, so I assume I'll have to search for panniers, and a rack that is more than just a standard rack.

Does your bike have pannier -mounting eyelets at the rear dropouts?
no I don't is there a way to mount a rack without eyelets?

does anyone have any thoughts on riding with a daypack/ backpack on? I usually carry a few pounds of clothes and 10 pounds of photo gear, so my pack would weigh 20 pounds max.

Eyelets were a rarity at one time, and touring bikes didn't have them. Which is why even today the "rack" eyelets are basically fender eyelets. There are any number of ways to get racks on a bike without eyelets. There are lots of threads here on that.

"http://www.rayjardine.com/", has some short stories on touring with light packs.

no I don't is there a way to mount a rack without eyelets?
Check out the Tubus attachments from Wayne at The Touring Store.

http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/Fit%20Solutions/FIT%20SOLUTIONS%20PAGE.htm

Riding with a backpack doesn't make any sense for anything but very short distances.

I have a BOB Ibex trailer, and it works very nicely with a road bike. Especially with only a 20-lb. load you wouldn't even notice it too much. The extra weight is a small price to pay for the added comfort of getting the load off your back. IMHO, a trailer is a very good solution for carrying gear, if one has to tour on a road bike.

But if you're opposed to the idea of a trailer, and as racks can be difficult to install on a road bike, you should perhaps consider a saddlebag. The largest ones should be able to easily accommodate just about anything except an 8"x10" Deardorff. Take a look at Carradice's Super C and Camper Longflap models.

I use a fanny pack on my road bike for light (credit card) touring. The seat ends up taking all the weight and its hard to know the pack is even there.

For large fanny (lumnar type) packs, try these guys:
http://www.mountainsmith.com/products.asp?categoryId=4
I've used various of their packs for years.

Riding with a backpack doesn't make any sense for anything but very short distances.

I have a BOB Ibex trailer, and it works very nicely with a road bike. Especially with only a 20-lb. load you wouldn't even notice it too much. The extra weight is a small price to pay for the added comfort of getting the load off your back. IMHO, a trailer is a very good solution for carrying gear, if one has to tour on a road bike.

But if you're opposed to the idea of a trailer, and as racks can be difficult to install on a road bike, you should perhaps consider a saddlebag. The largest ones should be able to easily accommodate just about anything except an 8"x10" Deardorff. Take a look at Carradice's Super C and Camper Longflap models.

EXACTLY what I was looking for, the Super C, and Camper packs are awesome. I will have to go get one ASAP, Thanks!!! I ride light enough that I thinkik can survive for about 6 days out of one of those.

Bolen,
I'm a photog and ride a road frame, I've found using a trailer (burley flatbed) works very well.
My preferred way to tour is to ride to one location, hang out for a few days, and then ride to the next. That way I don't kill myself constantly hauling gear, and don't miss out on photo opts because I'm needing to keep up with a biking schedule.
I've been using a Pelican case on my trailer, and modified THIS (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=236014&highlight=home+cobbled) bag into a camera bag/messenger bag/pannier. I ride to my destination, and then load what camera gear I need to the Osprey bag from the Pelican case. I like using the Pelican case on the long hauls for protection from weather and wrecks.

EXACTLY what I was looking for, the Super C, and Camper packs are awesome. I will have to go get one ASAP, Thanks!!! I ride light enough that I thinkik can survive for about 6 days out of one of those.

Saddlebags are great, but there are a few things to consider:

1) If you don't have a Brooks with eyelets, it'll be hard to mount the top straps.

2) Thigh rub could be a problem.

3) If you have a smaller frame size, the larger bags can hit your tire.

Bagman saddlebag racks can help with all of the above. Or you could jury-rig something...

http://www.wallbike.com/content/carradicehacks.html

I met a guy touring South America with a 65L backpack. He was completely comfortable with it (but admittedly I thought he was nuts :))