courier bags ftw for versatility (have carried legal boxes, groceries, v v large flat things (4'x4'), and lots of beer) and load handling. backpacks ride too high by design: they're meant to have weight supported on your waist, which pushes the load up behind your head on a bike. every time i've worn a backpack riding, i've let out the shoulder straps a ton so that it rides lower. and flipping a courier bag to the front is excellent for crowd navigation, esp when you've got a HUEG bag like me (L Baileyworks).
they suck for walking around, tho. like, bad. and now that most of my riding is commuting (ie - same stuff everyday), i'm thinking of getting panniers. then again, they blow if you're trying to do any kind of fancy bike handling
― the valves of houston (gbx), Tuesday, 21 October 2008 17:42 (fifteen years ago) link
courier bags suck for the backsweat, tho, man. i was changing shirts every day when i got to school this summer.
― the valves of houston (gbx), Tuesday, 21 October 2008 17:44 (fifteen years ago) link
I love the Carradice saddlebags even tho have never ordered one, they just look like prime touring gear. But less so when you have you leave yr bike parked outside, is the problem.
this is a good point. for my primary use (commuting), it's fine, since i can bring the bike indoors at point A and point B.
― collardio gelatinous, Tuesday, 21 October 2008 17:52 (fifteen years ago) link
gbx, tell me how you got something 4 x 4' in your courier bag.
― Vampire romances depend on me (Laurel), Tuesday, 21 October 2008 18:03 (fifteen years ago) link
i didn't put it "in" the bag, Laurel!
0) Put empty bag flat on the ground1) Open flap. 2) Lay v large flat thing (usually a print of some kind, in a cardboard sheath) on top3) Take the straps from the flap and make them as long as possible4) Clip!
― the valves of houston (gbx), Tuesday, 21 October 2008 18:41 (fifteen years ago) link
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2066/2492596157_fe5256dae2.jpg?v=0
kinda like how this dude's got a box under the flap, but not in the bag
― the valves of houston (gbx), Tuesday, 21 October 2008 18:43 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/images/productImages/OU2673-031x.jpg has been great thanks to highly adjustable straps. If it's really heavy I'll strap it to my rack.
― NasenFlutin', Wednesday, 22 October 2008 00:41 (fifteen years ago) link
Bike-specific rucksacks (not too heavy mind) are way better than courier bags which are unstable and poorly weighted. But fashion always wins these polls.
― Mark C, Wednesday, 22 October 2008 22:09 (fifteen years ago) link
*yawn*
― my other son is a zamboni (gbx), Thursday, 23 October 2008 04:26 (fifteen years ago) link
i mean, do you really think that fashion dictated anyone's decision here?
― my other son is a zamboni (gbx), Thursday, 23 October 2008 04:28 (fifteen years ago) link
Yes! Do you really not? If it wasn't for fashion everyone (who needed to carry stuff often) would have panniers.
― Mark C, Thursday, 23 October 2008 11:59 (fifteen years ago) link
There are definite practical advantages to strapping to you back; speed of dismount and width of bike. Your balance and turning characteristics will be different too.
I am trying to decide between panniers and courier bag for school in january.
― Dead Cat Bounce (Ed), Thursday, 23 October 2008 12:03 (fifteen years ago) link
incidentally I saw a vaguely fashionable ladies handbag with pannier clips yesterday which I was pretty impressed with.
― Dead Cat Bounce (Ed), Thursday, 23 October 2008 12:05 (fifteen years ago) link
Carradice Bike Bureau is an awesome piece if yr using a pannier rack. I have an Ortlieb office bag, and the Carradice is better IMO. The Carra SQR bag, if you have 2" of seatpost or more showing, is fantastic, really hard to beat.
― The Plastic Fork (Pashmina), Thursday, 23 October 2008 12:37 (fifteen years ago) link
― Mark C, Thursday, October 23, 2008 6:59 AM (1 hour ago) [IP: 85.211.101.65] Bookmark
No, I wouldn't. Panniers can't carry boxes, groceries, and funny-shaped things. Their capacity is limited when compared to a large bag, and they fuck with how your bike handles. "People who carry stuff often" = most couriers, and they don't use panniers, by and large. If everyone were serious about carrying shit, they'd all have big ass front racks and be riding extra-cycles.
― my other son is a zamboni (gbx), Thursday, 23 October 2008 13:12 (fifteen years ago) link
I must say ~I prefer panniers for groceries, my poor back can't cope with that much beer.
― Dead Cat Bounce (Ed), Thursday, 23 October 2008 13:17 (fifteen years ago) link
I guess now they wouldn't hamper my grocery getting, in that my trips are much smaller now that I live really close to the store. Then again, I live close enough to walk, now.
― my other son is a zamboni (gbx), Thursday, 23 October 2008 13:31 (fifteen years ago) link
wow looks like carradice changed the bike bureau back to leather straps. i like the look of leather, but would hate to use a that style buckle. that said, the fastex ones on mine arent great either. i was hoping they would improve them.
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Thursday, 23 October 2008 17:00 (fifteen years ago) link
wtf they went to a spring loaded rixen attachment that imo is fucking dire. booo.
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Thursday, 23 October 2008 17:20 (fifteen years ago) link
Pannier v courier bag boils down to extra weight on bike v extra weight on rider. As Ed points out, the placement of the weight affects handling. Riders going shorty distances in urban areas prefer the nimbler handling and look to courier bags, while more long haul riders probably would favor panniers.
― Super Cub, Thursday, 23 October 2008 17:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Though it can't be great for bike handling, I usually ride with just one pannier. When I commute I use the left pannier to carry my work shoes, my three (count 'em) locks, my lights, etc. and have a rucksack on my back with my actual work stuff. When I ride at the weekend I use the right pannier to carry various tools, inner tubes, maps, food, drinks, etc. This way I don't have to keep packing and unpacking them depending on the type of ride.
― The Resistible Force (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Thursday, 23 October 2008 21:07 (fifteen years ago) link
i always ride with just the left pannier, and even with 30lbs in it, once you're rolling you dont feel any imbalance. its very wtf.
― Booker van Permalink (Hunt3r), Thursday, 23 October 2008 21:10 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Wednesday, 29 October 2008 00:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Thursday, 30 October 2008 00:01 (fifteen years ago) link
I personally think panniers should have beaten rucksacks, but there you go.
For me: Courier bag ~ Panniers >> Rucksack
― krakow, Thursday, 30 October 2008 09:42 (fifteen years ago) link
LUGGAGE ADVICE SOUGHT
lookin to get some new luggage - not fancy but well constructed - a big rolling suitcase and a garment bag that attaches to it so they roll as one
plz recommend - and for bonus points tell me where to buy in nyc
― ice cr?m, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 15:33 (fifteen years ago) link
airline crew IIRC get Travel Pro luggage for free
― baout.com (dyao), Tuesday, 22 September 2009 15:38 (fifteen years ago) link
Site New Answers strikes again? Wasn't the orig thread an ILB one?
― that stupid-ass cannibal pen-pal of yours (Laurel), Tuesday, 22 September 2009 15:40 (fifteen years ago) link
lol also ps i love to ride my bicycle
― ice cr?m, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 15:44 (fifteen years ago) link
http://velorbis.co.uk/images/stories/slideshowimages/Long_John/VELORBIS_Long_John_2.jpg
― cozwn, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 16:05 (fifteen years ago) link
Ortlieb make an airline carry on rolling bag that is also a pannier, not what you wanted but worth knowing about.
― Mornington Crescent (Ed), Wednesday, 23 September 2009 13:56 (fifteen years ago) link
the lightweight internal sleeve on my carradice bike bureau is tearing at the corner seams. its not robust enough to carry a netbook + legal pads.
i would recommend bike bureau to anyone though. it is otherwise very bomber and very smart, i use it for everything.
― iro with the brown bag (Hunt3r), Wednesday, 23 September 2009 16:04 (fifteen years ago) link
think im gonna make bucket panniers
― holosystolic murmur and the thrill (gbx), Wednesday, 23 September 2009 18:39 (fifteen years ago) link
and get a small backpack, sick of the mess bag
carrying records on a bike - any great ideas other than strapping a milkcrate to a rear rack?
― kind of loam but mostly sand (los blue jeans), Thursday, 22 April 2010 06:18 (fourteen years ago) link
Panniers?
― Mark C, Thursday, 22 April 2010 10:09 (fourteen years ago) link
how many records? I wouldn't want too many in a milk crate, too top heavy.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Thursday, 22 April 2010 10:34 (fourteen years ago) link
something like 30 records, over 17 miles or so.
Big panniers could probably work but I was trying to be cheap. Weight distribution wise that is probably the way to go though.
― kind of loam but mostly sand (los blue jeans), Friday, 23 April 2010 03:46 (fourteen years ago) link
msgr bag imo
― _▂▅▇█▓▒░◕‿‿◕░▒▓█▇▅▂_ (Steve Shasta), Friday, 23 April 2010 04:01 (fourteen years ago) link
pretty sure someone makes dj bags, dont know capacity tho.
― fat mantis (Hunt3r), Friday, 23 April 2010 04:20 (fourteen years ago) link
was this ever ported
― loudmouth darraghmac ween (darraghmac), Sunday, 11 December 2016 23:54 (seven years ago) link