Do you prefer lots of organization or just dump and go?

[gerv]

I got a double pannier setup.
Left pannier contains: Lock, Lunch, Laundry (ie. used day clothes).
Right pannier contains everything else.

I find it's the easiest way to remember where stuff goes. Stuff that starts with "L" in the left, everything else on the right.
I assure you I have no OCD problems

That a pretty good trick, except that I only carry items starting with the letter L, so my left pannier would be kinda full

[devianb]

Only thing I have a specific place for on my bike is for a beverage.. Everything else I just make fit in what ever bag I have at the time and go.

[SMorrison]

.

it's 4:00 am and I'm 10 yrs old maybe less. my siblings and I are bringing luggage down to the garage for my Dad to pack the car for our summer trip to the cape from new york. we were only allowed to bring the luggage to the car cuz Dad had to pack it just so. we were allowed some personal things in the cabin. I never wanted to be like that but I am.

I dream of dumping stuff in my rack truck but I know everything fits better when I think about it.

Ha! Thank you for bringing back that memory (good ones)!

I see where I got some of my O-C tendencies.
.

[truman]

This is what I've evolved to over the years - it works for me, and keeps me from forgetting things by knowing where to look
In my Backroller pannier, from the top, down:

Lunch
Office trou rolled with office shirt
Office shoes, with undies in one and socks in the other (doesn't matter which shoe they're in)
Topeak pump in inner pocket.

In my seatbag:
Tube
4&5mm Allen wrenches
Multitool
Puncture kit
CO² inflater with 3 cartridges.

In my shorts:

Left front: wallet, keys
Right front, iPhone in sweat-baggie
Right cargo: RFID Badge for office
Left cargo (optional): Headphones +/- iPod Nano.

[kevmk81]

messenger bag:
lunch
work clothes (pants, shirt, underwear, undershirt, socks)
towel & wash rag
every once in a while - a random item, like something specific for work, or a 1/2 gallon of something or other, or a kleenex box, replacement toiletries, etc...

messenger bag pockets:
2 co2 cartridges
multi tool
first aid kit
wallet

saddle bag:
2 tubes
2 tire levers
co2 inflator
flat kit
house key (always stays in saddle bag)
work ID badge (always stays in saddle bag)

jersey pocket:
cell phone

Only need to pack work clothes, towel, wash rag at night for work the next day. I pack it neatly.

On the way out from the office, it's more of a hurry up job, I roll my extra clothes (if I layered for the trip & too hot for return trip), try to neatly pack my work clothes, then shove everything else in the bag & go.

Worked for me so far, cold, hot, rain, wind...

[Frosty861]

Just like packing my backpack, I put everything on top.

[fietsbob]

2 front panniers.. puncture repair & rain gear in 1,
other one has $, glasses, checkbook.
and extra space in both..

[slcbob]

I'm anal-retentive enough that my desire for a place for everything tends to succumb to my annoyance that everything, in most packs I've tinkered with, doesn't quite fit in its place and gets horribly inefficient when poorly compartmentalized. So I've gravitated over time toward the gaping maw approach. Like AdamDZ and others, I find that a small bag or two for the miscellaneous trinkets gives me enough convenience / organization. My main one is a little zip pouch job from Eagle Creek, but ziplocs and misc stuff sacks are good, too. The benefit of those is that they can go from my pannier to my backpack to my usual aircraft carry-on, etc., and I can keep some semblance of my normal organization with them.

[essiemyra]

there is definitely a level of organization for me. I put my keys, wallet and cellphone on an outside pocket of the pannier. I put my clothes in the bottom neatly folded set in the way for order of use. My lunch is on top of that and I pull that out and deposit it in the closet before I shower in the ladies room. My lock is next to my lunch so as not to squish it, also that is the first thing out of my bag. After I shower I put everything just as orderly. If everything is in the same place everyday then I never have to wonder where it is.

[alexaschwanden]

My rear trunk bag has pockets which I use for the smaller things, but for the bigger compartment i put everything else in it.

[genec]

Whether on your bike or on your back. Do you like 'a place for everything and everything in it's place'? Or just a big gaping maw to dump/shove/stuff into?

I like organization and lots of pockets for different items... that is one reason I am not a big fan of the newer panniers... which tend to be one gaping maw...

[genec]

I'm anal-retentive enough that my desire for a place for everything tends to succumb to my annoyance that everything, in most packs I've tinkered with, doesn't quite fit in its place and gets horribly inefficient when poorly compartmentalized. So I've gravitated over time toward the gaping maw approach. Like AdamDZ and others, I find that a small bag or two for the miscellaneous trinkets gives me enough convenience / organization. My main one is a little zip pouch job from Eagle Creek, but ziplocs and misc stuff sacks are good, too. The benefit of those is that they can go from my pannier to my backpack to my usual aircraft carry-on, etc., and I can keep some semblance of my normal organization with them.

I understand the little bag concept... but to me it just means sorting through a bunch of little bags that all settle to the bottom and constantly change position.

With pockets on the pack or pannier, at least the "little bags" stay in one place.

[TRUMPHENT]

I found that a six pack cooler, is an excellent insulated lunchbox that fits perfectly in bottom of my back pack. Next, go in the shoes. Rolled up shirt and slacks follow. Finally the bike stuff that might be needed enroute. If, I have a flat, I want everything necessary right at the top of the pack. Commute often enough and you will develop your own order and systematic way. I now devote a water bottle cage to this thing called a Cage Rocket. It carries innertube, CO2 inflater and cartridges, levers and a pack of glueless patches. In my fantasy cycling commuting universe, being late to work because of a flat is not possible.

[CliftonGK1]

I commute on my randonneuring bike, and everything has a place. Berthoud front bag has a main compartment, front pocket, l/r side pockets, l/r rear pockets:

Main compartment: lunch and rain gear or extra layers
Front pocket: zip ties, baggie with spare batteries
Left side: wallet
Right side: house keys
Left rear: phone
Right rear: camera

The rear is a Carradice Pendle; main compartment, l/r side pockets

Main compartment: Clothes and such
Left side: repair kit
Right side: space blanket (it's a rando thing, don't ask), more repair stuff

[daredevil]

I TRY to keep my panniers organized, but it never seems to work out.

me too....

the older you get though, the more important organization becomes because of the horsebleep memory.