3+ ways to carry cargo: but what about handling?
11-29-07, 07:07 PM
#51
Señor Wences
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You Two are so cool.
I commute with about 55lbs cargo.
When I was carrying 15lbs I used rear rack with a basket attached (similar to milk crate setup).
Than I got additional 30lbs to carry on my commuted and I mounted Bobike Maxi in the rear, but about 15 lbs did not fit and went to the backpack.
A recent addition is a front rack with a basket attached. Makes big difference with not hitting the rear cargo with the backpack and not arriving to work with sweaty back.
I don't have a picture of my newest setup, but here is a picture before I added a front rack:
And before you ask - yes - the center of gravity is quite high, especially when cargo jumps up and yells - "Daddy - look out - squirrel!!!"
PS: Thank you BikeForum members for suggesting Nashbar Front Rack - a great little thing.
When I was carrying 15lbs I used rear rack with a basket attached (similar to milk crate setup).
Than I got additional 30lbs to carry on my commuted and I mounted Bobike Maxi in the rear, but about 15 lbs did not fit and went to the backpack.
A recent addition is a front rack with a basket attached. Makes big difference with not hitting the rear cargo with the backpack and not arriving to work with sweaty back.
I don't have a picture of my newest setup, but here is a picture before I added a front rack:
And before you ask - yes - the center of gravity is quite high, especially when cargo jumps up and yells - "Daddy - look out - squirrel!!!"
PS: Thank you BikeForum members for suggesting Nashbar Front Rack - a great little thing.
11-29-07, 09:47 PM
#52
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I ordered one with the rack bag designed for it and they sent the bag with two racks, one listed as costing $0.00 on the invoice.
Never did figure out why they sent a free one and I don't plan on giving it back.
11-30-07, 06:36 AM
#53
THAT GO
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Carrying stuff is what the Utility Cycling forum is all about.
12-02-07, 01:09 PM
#54
Cycle Dallas
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If you ever want another one, I have one still in the bag, never been used.
I ordered one with the rack bag designed for it and they sent the bag with two racks, one listed as costing $0.00 on the invoice.
Never did figure out why they sent a free one and I don't plan on giving it back.
I ordered one with the rack bag designed for it and they sent the bag with two racks, one listed as costing $0.00 on the invoice.
Never did figure out why they sent a free one and I don't plan on giving it back.
12-02-07, 01:58 PM
#55
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I was tossing out a stack of reading materials from our bathroom and ran across a Nashbar catalog from a few months back. They were running a special on the front rack and bag. If you bought a bag, they would throw in a rack for free. I'm guessing you paid for both a bag and a rack, thus the free rack.
12-02-07, 02:25 PM
#56
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Panniers for sure. The downside is that you probably can't bunny hop with them, but the upside is that handling is very consistent. You can hold lots of stuff. Use either one or two, depending on how much to carry. Your stuff is in a waterproof container. Easy to attach/detach to the bike. I think adding extra weight to your upper body (ie, backpack or messenger bag), is a really bad idea. The potential for creating hand/arm/back/crotch problems is too great. I have a set of the Novara Commuter panniers. I use one as a gym bag, and the other for my college stuff. I only need to carry one at a time and the one-sided issue is only a problem for riding with no hands. The roads around here are bad enough that I don't really ride 'no-hands' much. For hauling a LOT of stuff, a trailer can't be beat.
12-02-07, 02:31 PM
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I'm saving for an xtracycle simply because I'm always overloading the bike. It just makes sense if you move a lot of stuff a lot of the time.
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12-02-07, 03:53 PM
#58
Sumanitu taka owaci
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Unless I go to the trouble of getting an Xtracycle or a trailer, I see three ways to carry cargo:
- A backpack, which I'm using now. (Others might choose a messenger bag, but I have a backpack.)
- On top of a rack (in a trunk or tying the pack to the top of the rack).
- Suspended from the rack, in a pannier.
A backpack is cheap and easy to take with you anywhere, but it puts extra weight on your butt and gives you a sweaty back. Yet I used one for years, and still do, sometimes.
A rack with a trunk*, bag, or backpack strapped to it takes the weight off your back/butt and is more aerodynamic than panniers, but it's hardest of all three to access your stuff without unstrapping everything.
Panniers are the most convenient option, easily accessible, can carry a great deal of stuff, but are the most expensive, catch a little wind resistance, and unless you can remove them easily, give thieves something to look into.
I currently use a backpack strapped to a rack with a cargo net. That way I can remove it easily, carry it with me anywhere, use it as a backpack if I want, and it's behind me where wind resistance isn't as much of a drag.
But for carrying a load from the grocery store, nothing beats panniers, unless you want to use both a trunk and a backpack together.
Take your pick, they all work in their own way.
*EDIT: unless you don't have to strap it down and it's easily detached.
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Last edited by LittleBigMan; 12-03-07 at 06:15 PM.
