ragboy

Just wondering...

Pig_Chaser

I think panniers are super cool, but then i am not.
I lent my bike to a coworker to try out while i was out of town and i took the rack and panniers off for him. I was worried i wouldn't want to put them back on. Didn't need to worry, i think the bike looks better with em.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...postcount=3149

ok_commuter

Bike messengers with bags make panniers not hip to people who think bike messengers are the ultimate in hip.

I don't give a s**t about bike messenger fashion and I triple-heart my panniers.

ragboy

This beg the question -- why do some people think bike messengers are hip? Is this because of their rebel-like lifestyle in the big city, and if so what makes that hip?

Just trying to sort it out philisophically.

rturpen

North Texas cross winds

tjspiel

Panniers turn bikes into the cycling equivalent of a minivan or stationwagon. It's possible to be hip and practical at the same time, but it's not easy.

Having said that my family does own a minivan. If I ever do something hip it'll be by complete accident.

tacojohn

1) Bike messengers are hip because of that "urban warrior" mystique. Faster than a car in the city, zipping along, doesn't seem to care for him/herself but actually is probably acutely aware of everything around them. It's just a culture that has been built up really well and is marketed very well by some companies.

2) Panniers take what is a sleek, slim, almost two-dimensional shape and add bulk, weight, and heft to it. Bikes are can be broken down into simple geometric shapes. A triangle, two circles, and a couple of straight lines. Adding a square or another triangle-type shape makes it unnatural. It's a simple vehicle that gets complicated. Simply put, when you put panniers on a bike, the new shape and profile don't scream "bicycle" anymore to the average joe.

girljen

I personally admire the bike messengers I see because they can ride single speeds in Denver. We have a lot of hills, and not much oxygen. Hardcore!

That being said, I also triple-heart my panniers. I never ride 'naked', my bike always either has panniers or the trailer attached to it. I like being able to carry stuff.

bigbenaugust 

Easy answer: they are way too comfortable to be hip.

ricohman

Panniers are super cool...........

ItsJustMe

This is the first I've heard about it. I wouldn't even have a bike without them, now that I've had them. I feel the same way about fenders and kickstands too, and I've heard those are apparently so unhip their pants fall down.

ragboy

well said


I commute with just one pannier. Thinking of getting a messenger bag just for variety.

jrockway

Panniers are hip.

If you want something that's not hip, take a look at the goofs that ride with bags or backpacks. Sometimes I fall off my bike laughing at them. "I am riding a piece of metal designed to carry weight. Instead, I'll make my back do it! I'm super cool!"

Otter 718

See, that's a pretty romantic picture there, but I'm just not sold.
Bike messenger = UPS driver + Chinese food delivery guy... how does this add up to "cool"? Also, Quicksilver was not a good movie.

sean000

Well...I think the messenger bag fad peaked a few years ago. I'm not saying messenger bags are bad, or that they were just a fad (I own several messenger bags as well as panniers after all). But for awhile I was seeing more pedestrians with messenger bags than bicyclists with messenger bags. Faux messenger bags were also the rage for the pedestrians... a shoulder bag that looks like a messenger bag, but has no third-leg strap.

I actually see almost as many panniers as messenger bags where I live now. When I lived in Washington, DC the messenger bags outnumbered panniers by far. I also see a ton of trailers here in Bellingham.

Of course there are practical factors: I can't put a rack and panniers on my old racing bike, so when I ride it I carry a messenger bag if I need a bag. On my touring bike I have a beautiful Nitto rack that is usually sporting nice looking Arkel or Ortlieb panniers.

As for hip... well if your messenger bag, panniers, basket, etc. make or break your hipness, then hip you will never truly be

I've ridden in a couple of local alleycat events that attracted about 100 of the hippest local cyclists, and I saw all kinds of bags. In fact, it seemed kind of boring and predictable to show up wearing a messenger bag. I saw a lot of baskets and panniers. Plastic bucket panniers seem to be catching on in a big way. I also saw some trailers and a Surly Big Dummy (the Surly with the Xtracycle platform on the back that a passenger can ride on... and it supports huge panniers). If Surly is promoting panniers, you know they will be the next big thing in bicycle accessories! Kids everywhere will start trading in their Pistas for Xtracycles.

Sean

chinotex

Add lightning bolts, then they'll be hip enough.

RogerB

Who gives a ****?

atbman

Why on earth would anyone care?

capolover

Same reasons pocket protectors aren't hip. It just seems like overkill.

If you reaaaally need to carry that much stuff maybe you need a scooter or motorcycle.

/shrug.

I'm a minimalist myself.

I think choppers with them look lame as hell too.

daintonj

They turn your bike into a wheeled suitcase, you are essentially riding on a more agile version of what a tourist drags through an airport. Of course we look like giant nerds commuting to work as you've taken a device which can be used for pure fun and added things to make it practical.

Which is cooler a Lotus Esprit or a Chrysler Voyager? Please note that cooler is not some subjective thing wear a mirror using, dork plate wearing, accountant can say 'being able to carry luggage is cool' 'cos it aint. Driving very fast European sportscars* and not having room in your car for more luggage than an overnight stay in a flash hotel with you girlfriend is cool, luggage and practicality isn't.

*Note: American Sportscars are not cool, they are the automotive equivalent of Tom Selleck.

MrRamonG

LMAO... I think that statement sums it up nicely.

77midget

I love my panniers. I am not too concerned about how I look, and my panniers and trunk bag have more than enough space for everything I need to shuttle to and from work.

aMull

Agreed with you. The best looking bikes to me are the fixed and single speed ones, because they are so simple and uncomplicated. However i don't think of panniers as uncool, i sometimes wished i had some when my backpack gets heavy. It doesn't happen often so that's why i keep using it.

Flamadiddle

Panniers are probably more hip than my bright orange Deuter backpack.

BikeManDan

I can carry a hell of a lot more stuff on my bicycle than a i can my motorcycle. A LOT more.