hello all,
a few months ago i switched from a back pack to a seat-post supported bag for my commute (35-ish km round trip), to save my aging back. it does help, considerably, in that regard. however, i am not surewhether it is the solution i had hoped it would be. my experience is it really affects handling, probably because it sits quite high, and, yes, maybe because i do overstuff it. On my surly pacer it often feels like my whole bike is bending when i am out of the saddle. on my far chunkier single-speed it is much better but the lack of gears and extra weight nearly breaks my knees up even moderate hills. for those who can compare, do panniers impact on handling as much as seat post mounted bags or large saddlebags? of course, it is possible i just need to accept the difference in feel and not push so hard, but i hate feeling limited in terms of how much i can exert myself. panneirs may well be the best option, but i have never ridden with them.
thanks!