A question for all those pannier users...
 

Do you ride exclusively on pavement?

My gut tells me that you probably do, but not really sure.

Yes, all pavement. Although one 2-block section of Laurel Street is so full of potholes that calling it "pavement" is generous...

yes

but what difference would it make?

On the commute? Sure. With panniers generally? No.

I ride on a couple of short dirt/gravel sections.

No.

I tend to bias my commute to the pavement, but end up with about 5% hardpack or gravel. Whether the bike's wearing panniers or not has no influence on what surface (paved, gravel, hardpack) I choose to ride.

My old commute had a mile or two of single track that I would ride with my lightly loaded (clothes/lunch/work boots) panniers and I never had any issues with them and there were plenty of rocky/rooty sections of trail. They are even cheapy panniers from Axiom.

I usually ride on pavement, but not always. I've toured for long distances on dirt roads with panniers without even thinking about it. I wouldn't do a technical mountain bike trail with panniers, but other than that, I wouldn't hesitate to use panniers on any surface. They do look a bit dorky, true, but a hot, sweaty back is even more dorky, and not having to support the weight on your own body is way easier over any longer distance.

New post:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...k-Alternatives

Not sure what bearing that thread has on this one, but I gave him my two cents anyway :)

My commute was all on pavement, but I've done quite a bit of touring with my panniers as well that involved considerable travel on unpaved surfaces.

My commute includes these cobbled climbs (which become descents on the way home)...

http://www.brucew.com/images/vsalon/...ay-1-sepia.jpg

http://www.brucew.com/images/vsalon/...ay-2-sepia.jpg

...and a section between them that's being allowed to revert to unimproved. It goes from asphalt, to broken pavement, to gravel, to packed dirt with some loose sandy sections, and of course, mud when it's wet.

I use panniers. (And 25mm or 28mm road tires, depending on the bike.)

No. I ride on gravel, dirt, roads and MUPs with panniers. Why would anyone ride on pavement only?

Nice commute TSL

MUP includes a couple planked in Rail trestles,
[so as to be able to walk/ride between and either side of the tracks]
shared with a Trolley car, used for tourist sightseeing.

requires attention to not drop a wheel in the gap in planks for train wheel flange.



And, FWIW, there are a few blocks of brick paved streets, here.

Indeed. I only use a pannier when it's too hot for a backpack, and I'm only pavement of some sort for almost all of the trip.

No

If I need to get somewhere,I run on what's between it and me.

Not exclusively, no. On one of my regular routes, I have a 1.5-2 mile stretch of canal tow path that is dirt/gravel with large rocks to negotiate. I will say that riding this stretch on my MTB with my cheap Avenir panniers led me to seek out higher quality hardware for them, after two hooks loosened completely in as many weeks. Although I had no problems with the hardware on my regular commuter rig, I decided the tougher hardware was worth it, in the long run.

I would have no hesitation running panniers over rough stuff, though I'd be careful to inspect them regularly, lest some part fail prematurely. I do think the constancy of vibration is tougher than the occasional (or even frequent) pothole, pavement irregularity or curb hop, though this is purely based on anecdotal evidence and no science :-)

No. A couple of years ago did a 35km each way commute that was 90% off road with panniers. Had no problems at all.

Sometimes I hit the gravel roads down by the bay on the way home. It's too buggy this time of year, though. Oddly, gravel roads aren't nearly as much of a problem for my panniers as are disjointed sidewalk slabs, below-grade manhole covers, and the one time a 2x4 was across the road and I rode over it.

Yup, I have about a mile of this...Also, I have about 3 miles of shoulder to ride that damn near qualify for "off road" status. Never had an issue with the panniers except them getting a little muddy it is has been raining.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/6...7c3ffab8db.jpg

Did yer have a run at the stupid geese? I don't like them.