Originally Posted by Aeroplane
Either way, keeping the weight low with panniers really, really helps. I had a trunk rack for a while, but I just got sick of the feeling when I was standing up and really cranking.
I haven't replaced my trunk pack yet just because I haven't got around to it yet. Once I put my u-lock, pump, repair kit, first aid kit, t-shirt, socks and (sometimes) novel in the trunk pack and strap it to my bike it totally changes the handling. I cannot go above about 15km/h no handed with my trunk pack without the handlebars and front end of the bike violently shimmying. As soon as I take off the trunk pack I can ramp it up as fast I can go no handed with no problems. I'm wondering if throwing on only a single pannier will throw the bike handling off less? Then I feel like I'd be going in circles!