Originally Posted by
wolfchild
I feel a lot more balanced on a bike and handling is much better with a backpack then with loaded panniers. I also prefer to keep my personal belongings on me, rather then leave them on a bike.
When I go "thrifting"... unfortunately the thrift stores allow purses, but not backpacks, so the backpack is sometimes locked with the bike, sometimes checked inside. Pretty much any other time, the pack is with me. Good panniers could be brought with a shopping cart.