Commuting with a single (rear) pannier
 

Just curious, does anybody else find riding with a single pannier a bit difficult? I find that it skews my sense of balance because it places additional weight on one side of the bike. Its especially problematic when I'm out of the saddle and rocking my bike, even though the pannier itself doesn't move I still feel it disproportionately weighing down one side of the bike. The only fix I can think of is placing a pannier on the other side to counterbalance this, but then it means having an additional bag to haul around. Thoughts anyone?

Learn to gear down and stay on the saddle? At least that is what helped me when I was using pannier(s).

A single sided pannier doesn't seem to bother me, even with heavy books in it. I DO notice the extra weight relatively high up on the bike when I'm out of the saddle, but that's it. I think it's more mental than physical.

I try not to put a heavy load in mine when I use it, but I mount it on the same side as I mount/dismount the bike, so I'm ready for the bike to lean that way.

I like stretching my legs and relieving butt soreness. Plus I'm a bit on the heavier side so mashing is easier for me than spinning.

Nope never seems to bother me at all.

On the front is fine also, until I let go of the bars.

Same here, but I found I liked to stretch either on the flats or while coasting downhill :).

I notice the weight, but i'm 220-240 or so lbs the bike is 36 lbs, guess who's going to be affected more by 5 lbs of weight?

- Andy

I rarely use more than a single rear pannier (I put as much load as practical on the front wheel first), but I've never noticed any issues with the offset load. I guess the bike self-corrects... ;)

Doesn't bother me. I generally don't like panniers because 1) they are awkward to carry around when you take them off your bike, and 2) it's not easy to get stuff out so I only put stuff in that I won't need for a while. When I'm commuting I only put clothing in it so the pannier is light.

Anyways, have you ever coasted on a bike without actually being on the bike? I mean, the only part of your body on the bike is one foot on a pedal and the rest of your body all on the same side of the bike, with your hands holding the handlebars, of course. That's the way I usually mount my bike as I push off and swing my leg over.

If you can coast a good distance without actually being on your bike, then the imbalance caused by a single pannier should not be a problem.

This. How much are you putting in the single pannier??

Especially with commuter bicycles, racks and panniers, I'd think the bicycle and rider would be easily 160 lbs if not 200+. Even with 30 lbs in a single pannier, I don't think riding it should be that hard.

FWIW, I often use a single pannier, typically not more than 20lbs, never had any balance issues.

I can see problem for a kickstand - a single pannier could easily affect a bicycle without a rider.

Let me rephrase.

On an empty bike, standing on only one side of the bike, can you coast down the block? That's your body weight on one side of the bike and nothing on the other. If you can do that, they your balancing ability is good enough to ride with only one pannier and you should have no problem.

I have Wald folding baskets and usually split my load, but once in a while I'll have a heavy, non-splittable item and I only notice it when standing on the pedals, but it's not bad. I have 1.75" 26-inch tires. Does tire width make a difference?

Imbalance on the Front is more of a problem. I stow 2nd Back Roller inside the 1st and go to the store like that.

I don't mind riding with one loaded rear pannier, but I hate getting out of the saddle with weight back there. My preference is to put serious weight in front Low Rider panniers, even though I have to use two panniers because asymmetry is less than safe riding one or no handed. Hence half my bikes with racks don't even have rear ones.

The Ortleib panniers (front) that I use have good handles so carrying both in one hand is easy.

Ben

Then don't rock your bike. Learn how to stand and pedal without throwing the bike all around.

You want fun? Try two panniers loaded with groceries (about 30 pounds each) and standing. If you rock the bike then, the pendulum effect can knock the thing right off its wheels.

In other words, the single pannier isn't the problem. IME.

Strangely enough I can... I never thought about it that way :p

Riding normally with a single pannier isn't an issue... Its mainly out of the saddle climbing where I feel it dis proportionally weighing down one side of the bike

I learned that it was more energy efficient to rock your bike when riding out of the saddle as opposed to rocking your torso and keeping your bike straight, which is why I opt for the former.

I don't see why any rocking whatsoever is necessary. I'm not convinced that throwing either myself or my bike sideways improves on forward motion. As the Italian pros say, "Tranquillo".

But tom-A-to/tom-AH-to. We all have our own ways.

It's funny yankeefan, that immediately before seeing your current thread, this redsoxfan posted to a local MetroBoston thread:

I estimate that the loaded single pannier weighed around maybe 10 to 20 lbs, and did not noticeably affect bike handling.

From whom did you learn this? tsl as well as other posters has offered you good advice to help you unlearn a technique causing you problems with your sense of balance.

Rocking big time accomplishes two other things. More power max, especially in high gears and much kinder to the knees when in those high gears.

I know, everyone says shift to a lower gear. But some of us find riding fix gear can be at times a near spiritual experience. And we learn to ride accordingly. (And if you think about it, folks were doing the fix gear dance for 40 years before the derailleur was invented. It is all quite doable.) Since I do a large percentage of my miles on my winter fixie with often rather heavy loads, a set-up where the dance can be done is essential. Low Riders allow the dance with any weight. And if it is less efficient? So what? I got up the hill and still have knees.

Ben

I used to commute home from Kenmore Square to Milton via Goddard Ave in Brookline. The climb up Goddard Ave on a fix gear with a single rear pannier would not have been fun.

Ben

Bike rocking puts higher strain on the spokes. Over time, your spokes may fail, especially if you are a heavier rider and use poorly built wheels.

I know that hill well. That seems like an out-of the-way route to Milton, though I have commuted to Norwood by way of Milton. This morning with the pannier I rode up Centre Street into West Roxbury, also an only slightly less difficult climb, IMO.