OK, no I didn't. I did take off the rack, bag, and panniers and the transformation is absolutely astonishing. My bike is fun to ride again!

When I first rode the bike, I was absolutely amazed. I was gliding. GLIDING. Amazing ride. Then I figured, "I'll do the right thing," put a rack, panniers and a bag on the bike and haul groceries to save gas, save the environment and overall do the right and honorable thing as a Green Party eco do-gooder.

Yeah yeah yeah, the bike suddenly became a leaden, slow to turn, very harsh-riding, slow to accelerate, knee pain inducing monstrosity. I rode it that way for almost two years for grocery hauls. I hated it, but I was unwilling to give up on the illusion that bikes can and should be used for utility. I've given up on that dream and ride for fun now. I took off the rack and everything attached to it, and bingo! It's wonderful to ride again. For whatever reason, I don't get that same huge grin-inducing fun factor I first had when riding but it's a huge step up from boat anchor rack/pannier days.

Oddly enough, carrying the u-lock and cable don't seem so onerous in a backpack. Stowed in a rear bag along with the rack and panniers was just awful. For whatever reason, carrying weight on my person poses less of a problem than hauling it on the bike. Adding a ton of weight to the rear of the bike impacts handling adversely to a degree that I never suspected possible.

Of course, the problem is, I either have to drive or make multiple trips hauling groceries in my backpack now whereas before when I had two panniers, one smallish bag AND a backpack it only required one. But that's a tradeoff I'm willing to accept. I choose fun over utility.