Ideal Weight Distribution with 2 Panniers?
10-24-13, 09:39 PM
#26
Sage
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Jan Heine (Bicycle Quarterly) did a wind tunnel test and found otherwise.
Perhaps more surprising to many, front bags were more aerodynamic than rear ones. A handlebar bag was more aerodynamic than a Carradice saddlebag that extended just slightly beyond the hips of the rider (see photo at the top of this post). Front panniers (on low-rider racks) were more aerodynamic than rear panniers.
10-24-13, 10:46 PM
#27
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The best one is the one you discover on your bike. The number of containers, one pair panniers one dry bag, doesn't describe the weight carried or consider the nature of your bikes handling which is where "best" matters.
10-29-13, 11:24 PM
#28
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Jan Heine (Bicycle Quarterly) did a wind tunnel test and found otherwise.
10-30-13, 01:14 AM
#29
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As to the bar bag/Carradice thing, that matches my experience and is logical. However I doubt the pannier thing. Since Jan provides zero data, one has no way to know what was tested and how. My guess would be that at considerable yaw angles, large rear panniers would create more resistance than small front panniers. However, real-world experience does not seem to bear out Jan's blanket statement, i.e. that the same gear stowed in identical bags would create less resistance up front than in back. If you look through the many ultra-light touring and bikepacking photos on this forum, I don't think you'll find anyone who stows all their gear up front. Most try to hide it behind the rider and use bar or frame bags. I doubt that they're all wrong and Jan is right. We know for sure that drafting is easier than having our nose in the wind. We are also still waiting to see racers running 32mm tires because they are faster.
