Commuting - Single Pannier

Hey all,

I've been commuting to work twice during the week after school (still in high school). I drive part of the way, then ride the rest, turns out to be 13 miles round trip on the bike. I've been using a messanger bag.

On the weekends, I'm gonna start doing to the whole thing riding, about 30 miles round trip. I need to carry an extra set of clothes, and shoes among other small things. One pannier will suffice, but I'm wondering if that will make the bike feel unbalanced?

Anyone running a single pannier? Left or right side? Any comments about it?

Thanks
Matt

Yes I run a single pannier on the non drive side to hold my laptop, clothes, notebook, etc. No balance problems. I put it on the non drive side assuming it might be cleaner there, don't know if it matters really.

Yes I run a single pannier on the non drive side to hold my laptop, clothes, notebook, etc. No balance problems. I put it on the non drive side assuming it might be cleaner there, don't know if it matters really.

Sweet! Thanks for the fast reply!

Your body adjusts and you barely notice it.

Both my wife and I use a single pannier all the time. You won't even notice it after 100 meters. Put it on the street side and you'll find that cars give you more room as it makes you look wider than you really are.

I run a single pannier when I need more cargo capacity than a rack trunk but less than a full set. No issues whatsoever.

One pannier will suffice, but I'm wondering if that will make the bike feel unbalanced?
Anyone running a single pannier? Left or right side? Any comments about it?
During the warmer months when we wear shorts and t-shirt at the bike shop, I only use one pannier. No off-balance feeling. If it matters I use the left pannier.
Can you leave the shoes at work (I do) so you don't have to haul them back and forth every day?

Conventional thought is that it goes on teh left. That makes the road side seem wider on this side and cars will give you just a hair more space. Othewise, functionally it makes no difference.

When i use panniers, its a single, on the Left side.

-Left side seems to cause drivers to steer farther to the left around you when they pass since it sticks out more.

-Left side protects your drivetrain from splashed water/snow/sludge from passing cars.

Here is a photo of my touring bike from last year.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/loaded.jpg

Note the full backpack strapped to a PVC plumbing pipe frame hooked to the rear rack. I never had a problem with this setup.

I ride daily with one arkel commuter pannier, on the left (non drive) side, with a laptop and my stuff enclosed. The only time it feels unbalanced is when I'm walking it or parking it. You do have to be careful, or it'll topple.

Otherwise when riding, it's barley noticeable, and far preferable to my now semi-retired messenger bag.

Have you considered a backpack?

I ride daily with one arkel commuter pannier, on the left (non drive) side, with a laptop and my stuff enclosed. The only time it feels unbalanced is when I'm walking it or parking it. You do have to be careful, or it'll topple.

Otherwise when riding, it's barley noticeable...

+1, I use the same setup. It works great.

Have you considered a backpack?

I've been using a messenger bag, for the 13 mile round trip rides, but for 30+ miles in 100+ temp, I owuld prefer to not have anything on my back :)


Can you leave the shoes at work (I do) so you don't have to haul them back and forth every day?

Yup, I had that same idea, and left my work shoes at the shop tonight.

Thanks for all the help guys, went ahead and picked up a single pannier (Trek).

Matt

Same with most folks, when using a single pannier it goes on the left side. Once winter comes around I'll be back to two panniers.

A lot of times I use the right side.
If I'm using the bottle generator, putting the pannier on the right lets the light be seen. Also, I often use an old bike (60's or 70's) with a kickstand. Putting the extra weight on the right side helps keep it stable.

But then sometimes I try to use the left one too. Figure the wear will even out more that way.

I'm thinking about going the basket with a bag in it route. Thinking about it. That's all. At least so far.

One Novara Transfer pannier on the left. Carry's a laptop, short and shorts.

Works great.

Left side generally makes sense because that's the side that most mount/dismount from, so then you have easier access to your stuff.

However, I now have a kickstand on my town/commuter bike (after years of resisting the idea, and boy is it convenient), and I'll sometimes use a pannier on the right to counter-balance the lean of the bike when I'm using the kickstand.

Single pannier works fine, just be careful when walking/leaning your bike as it can become unbalanced, also make sure you keep an eye on the rack bolts as one side can get loose and make things wobble or fall apart.

Shouldn't be any trouble while riding.

Funny to read you drive to high school - not really something people do here much (although there was one guy in my high school who did, he was a mature-age overseas student), funny the little differences you find around the world!

Left side for me as I also ride a motorcycle and the proper foot to put down first on that is the left foot. The weighting just is more comfortable for me on the left as a result.

I've never had a problem with just the one, although I'm considering getting one of those double kickstands for touring bikes to deal with the inevitable balance issues. Even with the pannier on the left side, my bike is still unsteady.

I use a single pannier all the time, on the non-drive side. Why? Because Arkel told me to, that's why! And it's so much more comfortable than a backpack or messenger bag.

It's against all rules of nature to use a single pannier because it messes with the balance of the universe. Well.................it might not BE unbalanced but it LOOKS unbalanced and everybody knows that looks are everything.
I always use either 0 or 2 panniers.

Conventional thought is that it goes on teh left. That makes the road side seem wider on this side and cars will give you just a hair more space. Othewise, functionally it makes no difference.

Couldn't have said it better myself.