Paniers are WEAK!!!! A MILK CRATE is all you need!
Seriously though, I love my milk crate.
1) It was free! (politely asked the cafiteria manager at school if I could have one. He was so surprised I asked in stead of just taking one, he gave it to me and offered a second!)
2) The weight is centered on the bike. Dont have to worry about the weight of paniers throwing off the steering of the bike.
3) I can just drop stuff in. I keep one bungy cord on the crate, to keep my back pack in when I take a spill (kept my gear from getting smushed last sunday on the way home from work!)
4) It qualifies me as a SUPER FRED!
. That and my slime lime refelctive vest, helmet and safety glasses
I'm thinking about getting a front rack, mounting the milk crate up front, and getting some wire baskets for the back of the bike......
Look! On the road! It's a dork! No, its a geek! No, its SUPER FRED!!!!!
Billy