If you commute with only a single pannier which side do you mount it on? Drive side or non? Is there a reason why you pick that side?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Personally, mine goes on the non-drive side because it's the side I mount/dismount on, so it's right there for me to mount/access/remove. For the record I'm right handed if that matters.

Same here.

I usually switch-up from time to time to keep the wear on my panniers about even. That said, non-drive side is easier for me to manage for the same reasons stated so I prefer it this way but drive-side means I'm less likely to inadvertently lean the bike against something that will damage the rear derailleur.

I agree both for convenience as stated but also since it makes the traffic side of the bike look wider and I think passing motorists leave a bit more room.

Non-drive side.

The side I mount and dismount on.

Road side for perception of drivers having better visibility. I put an extra flasher on the pannier strap in the dark/wet months.

If I have one on the front it will be non-drive side as well. That is only based on balance.

I am left handed, I noticed [MENTION=336334]the sci guy[/MENTION] mentioned that. That may only play a role for my front pannier through.

I was presented with mounting on the drive side the other day and I did not like it at all; felt weird, cumbersome, awkward and I ended up just switching sides anyway to mount.

Drive side for the same reason.

On the drive side, but not for the reasons already mentioned, but because it's the opposite side of the kickstand, and the bike is less likely to fall over.

Now there's a good reason...

This , Again?


I put 1 inside the other fill them with groceries and then both are on there for the return.

the NDS is against the wall in the entry where the bike parks..

Driver side for reflector tape on the pannier at night and cars see a wider bike and give you more room (my observation). Also I have mounted a blinkie on the rear pannier, which gives drivers a better distance perception with 2 separate and distant red lights on the back.

Drive side for the reasons mentioned.

Drive side here too.

As fietsbob noted, it does seem like a familiar topic.

If it's going to have expensive stuff (laptop), the side I'm less likely to ditch on, if it's just for clothes, then the side I'm more likely to ditch on. Which from personal experience seems to be more likely to ditch on my left side.

This is what I do and why. But putting it on the left side (in us) to make bike look wider makes sense to me, too.

Yep to both. Especially when the issue of balance is brought up.

so you mean on the non-drive side of the bike, aka the driver's (motorists) side.

i searched using the term "pannier" and on a skim down the list didn't see anything that looked similar.

Can't speak to the search function but I can tell you that I read the suggestion that the non drive side would make you look wider to traffic on Bike Forums. That sold me.

I can say that it was within the last 5 years. Maybe fietsbob's memory is better than mine and he can enlighten us?

Found it.

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...eft-right.html

I like carrying both panniers so that it is even weighted.

From the thread [MENTION=179204]scroca[/MENTION] linked.

This is an interesting point which may make me reconsider sides.

But this also makes sense and goes with my other idea of being wider to the cars on the left.

What's a kickstand?
Drive side for the sole reason that it is easier to reach into for loading & unloading, when bending over the bike from the NDS. This works especially well, versus the NDS, when you have your kickstand-free bike leaning against your body while you do this.

If i'm gonna carry something heavier, i tend to keep it on the left, because kickstand is on the left, and the bike wants to lean towards the weight - otherwise its on the other side for easier access to kickstand & glance checking tire inflation while rolling.

Edit: I should add that mine are side specific, and cannot be put inside each other, its a choice i gotta make before i set off. If it's a work trip i usually keep both on, if its not, i may take both off. Really depends on the purpose of he trip.

- Andy

I'm right handed. Always dismount to my left. Pannier mounts left-front.

I would mount it on the non-lean side so I could open it up. I usually lean my mike against stuff on the same side, so I would mount a single bag on the side where it's easier to get to.