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I am looking for a used set of panniers, basically cuz I am broke after buying a new bike for my son and myself this year! I checked out ebay and bid on a set from REI. I was just wondering about the size. I plan on using them for weekend camp outs. I am a good packer (from back packing). I guess my main question is, "is there a down side to buying a bigger pannier than you really need?" I know the dangers of more room, more stuff you can pack= way too heavy. Anything else I should think about?
Hi Barb ~ Yes, there is a downside to too-large panniers. If you tour with only rear panniers, it will really degrade your bike handling. I was testing out some large Arkel panniers on a two-day "shakedown" tour last fall, and found that my bike handled fairly poorly because of too much weight on the rear and not enough on the front. The front end was real squirrelly. I ended up going with a smaller size pannier in the rear and a small set of front panniers, which balanced the weight on my bike far better. In fact, it handled as if there were no panniers at all on it! I've read that you should actually put more weight in your front panniers than in your rear, since a larger % of your own body weight is already on the rear of the bike.
Also, if you have a bike with short chainstays and you have largish feet, your feet might actually hit large rear panniers. I had this happen even though my feet aren't that large, because I have very short chainstays (my touring bike is a Bike Friday).
Other than that, of course you want to pack as light as possible, and large panniers that encourage everything-but-the-kitchen-sink type packing will only make you curse on every climb. I think you'd be better off with front and rear panniers in smaller sizes to better balance your load.
Good luck!
Emily
Barb -
If you're used to thinking about packing for backpacking you should be all set. The downside to bigger panniers is just what you thought - that you can fit more stuff in them and that you may then end up carrying more than you need.
I started in the world of touring by using panniers, then I bought a Bike Friday and started using a trailer. I actually prefer the trailer for fully loaded touring (or if I have to fly to my tour!), but there are still trips where I will use panniers. In fact, I'm trying to plan a long weekend trip in Maine where I will be using only my front panniers (they're smaller than the rear panniers) mounted on the rear rack. It will be a B&B and hotel trip, so I definitely don't need as much stuff.
Emily is definitely right about using front & rear panniers on fully loaded trips as opposed to putting all of the weight on the back of the bike. I've also heard that more of the weight should go in the front - but it never ends up that way for me. (Although I met another person out touring who only used front panniers. He said he liked the handling of the bike better than with just rear panniers. Guess we're all different!)
You might find my PanniersOrTrailer.crazyguyonabike.com article useful.
Do you have plans for your first tour?
--- Denise
Denise- yes I am planning on a short weekend trip on the North Country Trail. I am "breaking in" my boyfriend at the same time, so I plan on just 25 miles up, camp/fish for a day then return home. I'll be on a mountain bike, which is heavier in front anyway. I'm not sure I could put a rack and panniers up front on the MTN. I will for sure on my road bike.