Commuting with a single (rear) pannier
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,906
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,932 Times
in
2,557 Posts
Ben
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,906
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,932 Times
in
2,557 Posts
Ben
#28
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 526
Bikes: Too many to list
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Nanaimo, BC
Posts: 2,014
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 86 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I try not to rock. I have no expertise as to why I do not.
But I do know that if I rock when I have my son on the back it is a dangerous combination. His seat is attached only to the seat tube and therefore it amplifies the pendulum effect making it difficult to ride.
But if I have just panniers I will just rock a little, I want to mitigate any potential for problems.
I fear the forces on the bike when rocking with a load will damage something.
But I do know that if I rock when I have my son on the back it is a dangerous combination. His seat is attached only to the seat tube and therefore it amplifies the pendulum effect making it difficult to ride.
But if I have just panniers I will just rock a little, I want to mitigate any potential for problems.
I fear the forces on the bike when rocking with a load will damage something.
#30
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 526
Bikes: Too many to list
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm beginning to suspect that the issue is with the quality of my pannier - it's possible that it doesn't maintain its lateral stiffness well under load. Of course I can't possibly visually observe this while riding!
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 119
Bikes: 2017 Giant Trance 2, 2016 SOMA Wolverine, 2015 Diamondback Haanjo Comp
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That rack also puts the bag further back than most racks, something that those of us with big feet and short chainstays can appreciate. That said, its not perfect. Some people dont like the weight that far back, and the rack itself is useless for trunk bags, since the top is so narrow.
#32
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,974
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,536 Times
in
1,045 Posts
I have a theory that some people could enjoy cycling much more if they paid less attention to advice from every Internet expert, blog, and/or soothsayer posted on the Internet about the quest for the ultimate this, or the most efficient that. Especially if the advice given is based on racing/competition cycling and is being applied willy-nilly to commuting or daily transportation bicycling. Just a theory though.
#33
one life on two wheels
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 2,552
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 18 Times
in
15 Posts
It's one of those things, rocking on a bike, that may have some theoretical benefits, but if it's making it harder to balance the bike with a pannier you're probably cancelling out any perceived benefit from this practice. It's a can't have your cake and eat it too scenario. You're trying to ride your bike like a roadie, except your trying to do it using commuter equipment. Recipe for failure.
Last time I rocked my bike like that was when I was a kid on my bmx. I've never found it translates well to a larger bike, load or no load.
Last time I rocked my bike like that was when I was a kid on my bmx. I've never found it translates well to a larger bike, load or no load.
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,904
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2604 Post(s)
Liked 1,933 Times
in
1,213 Posts
It's one of those things, rocking on a bike, that may have some theoretical benefits, but if it's making it harder to balance the bike with a pannier you're probably cancelling out any perceived benefit from this practice. It's a can't have your cake and eat it too scenario. You're trying to ride your bike like a roadie, except your trying to do it using commuter equipment. Recipe for failure.
Last time I rocked my bike like that was when I was a kid on my bmx. I've never found it translates well to a larger bike, load or no load.
Last time I rocked my bike like that was when I was a kid on my bmx. I've never found it translates well to a larger bike, load or no load.
#35
Senior Member
People stand to pedal? Only on the mt bike for me. My one pannier causes no issues. Unless it is over loaded with beer.
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cascadia
Posts: 1,206
Bikes: Jamis Quest Comp
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I have a theory that some people could enjoy cycling much more if they paid less attention to advice from every Internet expert, blog, and/or soothsayer posted on the Internet about the quest for the ultimate this, or the most efficient that. Especially if the advice given is based on racing/competition cycling and is being applied willy-nilly to commuting or daily transportation bicycling. Just a theory though.
Or vice versa, 'you can't commute on a road bike!'. Admittedly, my road bike is on the cheap side of things, but I commute on it just fine, for several thousand miles now...
Perfect is the enemy of good enough.
"Oh, but I don't want the drag of a dynamo or IGH!" Using some online calculators, working backwards from my average speed, I commute at ~170 watts. Let's say a dynamo takes 9w, and the IGH 8%(Based on some quick googling of drag for each). So on a perfect derailleur drivetrain, at 170 watts, I go 16.7 mph. Taking away 8% and then 9w, I'd be going 15.8. OMG! Almost a whole mile per hour!
For my 15 mile commute, the time difference, is, wait for it...53.9 minutes vs 56.9. So...3 minutes.
I selected 'tops' as my position in the calculator initially In the drops, I'm calculated to go 18.8/17.8 mph. For 47.9/50.6 minutes.
My personal philosophy is that for recreational/training rides-if the efficiency/speed difference is less than the variance between changing position or direction(wind), I don't care. Let's make a decision based on other factors than speed/efficiency.
Admittedly, I'm going to dabble with TTs and Tri's next year. I'll probably be finicky and picky and worrisome about details then. But commuting/fun rides? Stop worrying. Put a leg over the top tube and start pedaling.
#37
Senior Member
#38
Senior Member
Intentionally rocking the bike sounds like an awful waste of energy - energy that should be used to go forward instead of sideways and trying to keep from falling over.
I watched the youtube video pasted by yankeefan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kTxj0_pBxY&t=1m00s
It doesn't look as if the rocking motion was really intentional, just part of the movement like swinging your arms when walking comfortably. You don't intentionally swing your arms to go forward it's part of keeping balance.
So when I'm climbing and standing on my pedals, yes the bike does rock a little but it's not because I'm forcing it. It's because I'm using my legs to push down on that side of the bike it does make climbing a bit faster. But it's inefficient so minimize the side to side motion, I lean as forward as I can over the handlbars. When I push with my legs, I'm actually pushing a bit backwards - more inline with the plane of the bike.
I watched the youtube video pasted by yankeefan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kTxj0_pBxY&t=1m00s
It doesn't look as if the rocking motion was really intentional, just part of the movement like swinging your arms when walking comfortably. You don't intentionally swing your arms to go forward it's part of keeping balance.
So when I'm climbing and standing on my pedals, yes the bike does rock a little but it's not because I'm forcing it. It's because I'm using my legs to push down on that side of the bike it does make climbing a bit faster. But it's inefficient so minimize the side to side motion, I lean as forward as I can over the handlbars. When I push with my legs, I'm actually pushing a bit backwards - more inline with the plane of the bike.
#39
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 526
Bikes: Too many to list
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have a theory that some people could enjoy cycling much more if they paid less attention to advice from every Internet expert, blog, and/or soothsayer posted on the Internet about the quest for the ultimate this, or the most efficient that. Especially if the advice given is based on racing/competition cycling and is being applied willy-nilly to commuting or daily transportation bicycling. Just a theory though.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking out advice from more experienced cyclists -- in fact that's why we're all [posting] here! Some of us do more with our bike than just hauling our a** to back and forth to work. I actually do agree that a lot of the advice given by pros are of little value to a non-competitive rider (e.g. get a carbon handlebar instead of alloy because its 0.001g lighter and reduces your drag by 0.001%). However something as basic as how to get more power from your pedal stroke is relevant to anybody who rides their bike for more than 5 miles regularly, especially when the advice doesn't cost anything to implement. Even more so if you do recreational riding or sportives.
Thanks everybody for your feedback. I didn't realize that standing to pedal was so controversial around here (or is it just rocking the bike while standing that is so outrageous?). I've been doing it for months with two loaded panniers (and occasionally a backpack) with no problems, its only recently since I began riding with a single pannier that I've felt a bit off and wanted to know if this was common. Apparently it isn't. Maybe it's my pannier, or maybe its just mental. I'll look into it further.
#40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 526
Bikes: Too many to list
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If anybody apart from me still cares, I found out the cause of my balance issue! The frame mount for my U Lock broke around the same time I began riding with a single pannier so I usually toss my U lock in the pannier. Turns out that my U lock moves around a fair bit during my ride (especially out of the saddle) and the movement in weight was affecting my balance. A simple fix of securely tying my U lock to the top of my rack using a piece of rope and my balance issues were solved
#41
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
#42
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,448
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3148 Post(s)
Liked 1,713 Times
in
1,034 Posts
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 96
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I rode for the first time last night with a pannier -- with my heavy Kryptonite chain, purse and a couple other items. I think it was a little more squirrely on the road, but I think that may have had more to do with the fact that I had takeout food for three people in my front basket. Mostly I was surprised at how little I noticed the one-sided weight differential.
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 927
Bikes: Death machines all
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
Liked 86 Times
in
63 Posts
Agreed. I often carry 25 lbs in my solo rear leftside pannier, and only notice the eccentricity when making quick maneuvers.
I rode for the first time last night with a pannier -- with my heavy Kryptonite chain, purse and a couple other items. I think it was a little more squirrely on the road, but I think that may have had more to do with the fact that I had takeout food for three people in my front basket. Mostly I was surprised at how little I noticed the one-sided weight differential.
__________________
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 927
Bikes: Death machines all
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
Liked 86 Times
in
63 Posts
@chaadster, I've noticed your bike pic in a couple threads, and never get tired of looking at it. There must be traffic slowdowns on your route from the rubber-necking!
__________________
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
#46
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,448
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3148 Post(s)
Liked 1,713 Times
in
1,034 Posts
@chaadster, I've noticed your bike pic in a couple threads, and never get tired of looking at it. There must be traffic slowdowns on your route from the rubber-necking!
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA. USA
Posts: 3,804
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1015 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I find loading the front easier to deal with. My standard setup is a single front pannier. Works great.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Cyclosaurus
Commuting
12
09-05-15 01:19 PM