dedhed

I notice no imbalances. 25m/day, >4K/yr, often 10-15 Lbs in the pannier. I can still Half a$$ track stand at a light. I've not found it to be an issue.
One arm isn't Popeye and one Olive Oyl yet!

ortcutt

Left side. My panniers are banana yellow, with extra bits of reflective tape, and I want to be noticed.

jputnam

Likewise. I've been running left-side-only since I started bike commuting in the 1980s and haven't noticed any muscle imbalance as a result. Typical commuting load these days is around 20 lbs, all hung on the left.

colleen c

After reading the replies, I've decided to move it back on the left side. It seem to make more sense. What nodachi said above is something that I never gave thoughts about but it is natural for puddle of water to accumulate towards the sidewalk. Also with gearing on the right side, sooner or later some of that mess from the chain or gear may travel it's way toward the bag. I have notice myself to remove the bag and toss it on top of the bed when I get home. Not a good thing if the bag will get more dirty from that side. Come to think of it, some of the extra weight from having the pannier on the left may even offset the weight off the gearing and chain. Hmmmmm...... something to think about but nothing to do with safety reasoning

Thanks all.

Boudicca

Put an extra light on the back of the pannier for extra visibility. You can't have too many lights.

Oh, and I'm on the "left side" camp too. Makes the bike feel wider.

cyclokitty 

I put my pannier on the left and when I stop I lean on my left leg. Some panniers have an extra loop on the edge facing traffic for an extra light. I've never used mine but maybe I should.

InTheRain

Left... all the reasons for keeping it on the left when I ride with a single pannier have already been mentioned.

Bain19

someone make this a poll

BengeBoy 

I ride with my pannier on the right in the mornings, and on the left in the afternoons on the way home.

That's because of the way my bike is leaning when I mount the pannier -- when I pull it out of my garage in the morning, the right side is exposed; when I pull it out of the bike locker in the afternoon the left side is exposed.

I first I thought I was stupid to do this but it really doesn't matter, and it saves me all of 3 seconds that I'd otherwise spend twirling the bike around to switch it. Those 6 seconds a day really add up.

genec

Left camp here... for the width look, the reflector aspect and the fact that the left side handle has a leather grip that opens to accept the right side nylon handle (they snap together to make one unit). So the left side is more comfortable to carry by itself.

destikon

I don't have a pannier, just a rack top bag. If I did I'd set it one the drivers side as I lean my bike against the wall at work/home on the passenger side.

Catgrrl70

I rotate sides to make sure the wear on my rack is evenly distributed.
But I prefer the left side for visibility on the street.
I also discovered that if it's on the left side and for some reason your bike tips over then the weight of the pannier will tip it left, away from deraileur and other such important things found on the right side, while simulaneously providing impact protection so the left side remains virtually undamaged.

roadie66

I keep mine on the right side, the only reason is that i have an extra light on the traffic side do what ever feels better for you try it on both sides. and please please pleas don't block your light.

kmac27

Notice no imbalances? Do you do any weight bearing exercise? Sometimes you can't see it, but you can sure notice it if you use weights.

Also muscle imbalances are a prime motivator for lower back pain. 75% of tennis players in 1995 exited a tournament due to lower back pain. Most likely caused from a muscle imbalance in the chest, lats, abs, and lower back. They get all twisted up.

Also on the physics explenation I don't agree with that. Put a pannier on the right side of your bike and make a sharp right turn. Now try the same sharp turn with the left pannier.

Oh yea if your abs don't show its hard to tell a muscle imbance. A muscle can be bigger than another, but weaker evening out the strength difference. However, this doesn't negate the fact that it is tighter than the smaller duplicate muscle. Then again most people don't know about the negative impact due to muscle imbalances.

Brittain

I only commute with one pannier. At first I used my right pannier, but I switched to the left, not so much because of the widening of the bike or any other good reason, but I end up swinging my right leg off the bike and end up on the left side after I arrive at work, so I figured it's more convenient to have my pannier on the same side I am.

Plus the way I store my bike at home is much more conducive to using the left pannier.

colleen c

Good point, this could have been one of those things that I would have damage after it's too late. You may have just save me a deraileur. Thanks


I've just relocated my bike parking here at home and now it's more easier for me to get thing in and out of my bag from the left side after reading these suggestion.

dedhed

z

Nope haven't noticed. Might just have to do with the rock climbing, humping 100#+ cast iron fittings and valves at work, yard work, skiing, miles of grouse hunting, or any number of other activities my body goes through in the course of the day/month/year. I have run the pannier on both sides for various reasons and really don't notice any difference in turning stopping or anything else. Maybe I'm just unobservant or am so in tune to the bike I just automatically compensate without any thought. I guess I just ride the bike and don't over think it. There's enough thinking to do with traffic.

I have been told often I have an imbalance in my cranial mucles though.

wheel

It depends on what day of the month it is.
https://img704.imageshack.us/img704/2103/p1170558.jpg