Panniers
 

I'd would like to do a poll, but don't know how.

If you use Panniers, do you:

A) Leave the panniers on at all times
B) Put on the panniers only when you think you might be using them.
C) Leave one on, put the other one(s) on only when needed

I'm trying to decide what to do with the rear pair I just got.

The only bike I use paniers on atm is my grocery getter and except for the parts of winter were i need it for snow biking it only sees use getting groceries so I guess I choose A)Leave the Panniers on at all times.

Paul

I have panniers, but I take them off when I can and frequently use only one. Alot of the time, especially when grocery shopping I'll take them off when I get home anyway. It is easier to carry the pannier to the kitchen than any other method.

I'll put on panniers when I need them.

Crazylady has 'em on all the time though!

I see how it is Tom. You make Crazylady do all the work. :D

I plan on keeping the pannier...only one right now...on BLB. She was built to be a hauling beast.

Nope, I pull a trailer for touring gear and errands. ;)

Mine go on and off in way less than a minute, so I leave them in the garage unless I need 'em. Actually there's not much reason for that--they go on an old mountain bike with fenders and a rack, and I don't use it for much except short-range errands and groceries. I could easily leave them on.
If I had only one bike, though, I'd remove them. They add some aero drag (probably not enough to matter, at my speed), and being out in the sun all the time is tough on nylon.

Panniers
 

I've added a poll for Wogster and merged his thread to this one.

Good poll question. I'm still planning to get panniers before too long, I think and was wondering this myself.

I leave my panier packs on all the time, but that is also because it carries my spare gear: Spare tire, tire patch kit and compact tool, mini pump, lock, small emergency pack with some bandaides, pack with rain gear (you never know when you'll be caught by a suprise rain storm), and 2 bungy cords. Sure it adds a few pounds in total to the ride, but it is better than being caught unprepared and stuck somewhere unable to help yourself, or get soaked to the bone.

Happy Riding,
André

I use my bike for commuting most of the time, so the panniers stay on all the time. Sometimes I leave one at work (with shoes, pants, shower stuff etc.) and commute with the other one to carry shirt and underwear.
Like André I have my spares + rain gear in the pannier so I make sure I carry that one back and forth.

If I go for a weekend ride, I often leave them on incase I decide to pop past the store. If I'm going a long distance I'll swap it for the bag that sits on the rack (more aerodynamic).

I have panniers but don't use 'em. If I were doing grocery runs, I would, but otherwise, it's a pain in the neck -- you have to haul 'em with you anytime you lock up the bike...naaaah, too much trouble. Likewise for commuting, I have to take my bike up an elevator, which means the bike goes vertical, and that just does not go with panniers.

I was participating in a 33 mile charity ride this weekend and had left the panier packs on. I did remove the non essential stuff (i.e. no rain in forcast so rain gear came out), no spare cloths, and only a little extra food and drink as I was not sure what I'd have available during the ride. This dropped my packs by about 6 Lbs, but I kept the toos, spare tire, and pump. Good thing I did. At the first rest stop there were three people I was able to help adjust their bikes quickly. I had the alan wrenches with me and that is all that was needed. They could have waited for the repair truck to come, but that might have taken a while. I felt nicely vindicated for always carrying extra "stuff" with me. I was glad I did not need the spare tube or pump, but it is nice to know I would have been ready if needed.

Happy riding,
André

I don't carry a spare tire, but my Alien (with all the hexes you'll need) goes in an underseat bag, and my pump straps on the frame. Don't need panniers for repair gear unless you're carrying some pretty bulky repair stuff.

I commute with one pannier on, and take it off to go into work. I dont leave the panniers in the garage with the bike (Old garage, too many spiders!)

I use them as needed. Since I live in hill country, I'll remove as much weight as I can. It's easier to take it off the bike than off the rider.