Commuting - bike + panniers + work stuff = 43lbs is that a lot?

I have a fairly old (10 yrs) and heavey mountain bike for my commuter, don't know how much it weighs, but all i have in the panniers is a laptop, U-Lock change of clothes (not including shoes) and stuff needed to shower.

all of that weight at the rear of the bike makes it handle differently, but it's ok while riding, just while walking the bike or carrying it up stairs to may apartment.

I don't mind the weight, part of the reason I bike to work is for exercise and I have a short commute. Bring on the weight, wind and hills!!! :)

How much does your bike/panniers/gear weigh for your commute?

Well, I commute to several places, so the weight of my gear depends on where I'm going. The lightest my bike can be for a commute is U-lock, spare tube, tools. But if I'm going to school, I've got rain gear, towel, change of clothes, lock, tools, tube, and backpack with books etc.

When fully loaded to go to school, I must have over 50 lbs of stuff on the rear rack. It sure makes the commute a little tougher, especially when biking 25 km one-way to school after a sleepless night.

By the way, I know what you mean by walking a heavy bike; I actually had my first bike accident ever when my fully-loaded bike tipped over as I was going over some stairs! Garbage can broke my fall, though... :o

I don't like the sensation I get when I get out of the saddle on a tough climb with over 50 lbs of gear on the rear rack as my road bike gets extremely wobbly. Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced this?

douper,

Same setup as you, about 40-45 lbs.

How much does your bike/panniers/gear weigh for your commute?

i carry anywhere between 3-20 pounds of stuff with me on my commute, so what you're talking about seems pretty reasonable.

i don't know what my commuter weighs in its current setup (and i don't think that i want to know either), but i suspect that it's close to 30lbs with the rack, fenders, empty panniers, frame pump, and tool kit.

and then there are the days when i stop for additional fluids on the way home...

I weigh in about the same but I use a road bike and a trunk bag (that is usually quite full).

I don't carry anything but a U-lock and raingear. However, I have a heavy European commuter bike, so weight is something over 30 lbs. (interesting thought -- the lighter the bike, the more stuff you have to carry?)

Most of this summer, I have been dropping off my daughter at day camp on the way to work. That's about 90 lbs, for bike, trailer, and child. Interestingly, the reduction in effort from "empty trailer" to "no trailer" seems larger than the reduction from "child in trailer" to "empty trailer". Perhaps aerodynamic drag is a factor.

Paul

I frequently experience the wobbly bike effect, as I'm likely to pick up a watermellon, on a whim, along with the couple of groceries that I set out to purchase. If I know that I'm going to haul a heavy load, I'll take the trailer, because it feels better, even though it does lend a substantial drag to the ride.

See similar thread http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=58974

Sounds about right. I'm at 39 lbs without lights, empty panniers and no water bottles.