If I can't cycle then I'll buy cycling stuff instead..

[Looeez]

I'd planned to use just the one pannier most of the time so I hope I manage to balance okay. I do have a single grocery pannier that I thought I'd use on the other side when I have more to carry.

I use my bike to run errands on the way home from work and at the weekend so I wanted a bag I could take on and off and carry easily that would look more like a normal bag. I'll see how I get on with the attachment - if it's too much of a hassle it won't be so useful to me.

I'll post a review when it arrives next week.

[CommuterChick]

I've been riding with just one pannier, the Arkel Bug, for a couple years now, without any problem. see http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/bac...asp?fl=1&site= . It's designed to take off and use as a backpack and frankly until this fall I thought I made the wrong pannier choice because I almost never use it as a backpack. But I've finally made the plunge into almost-night riding home -- I ride home through the neighborhoods and on the bike paths near my office, then put my bike on a bus as soon as I hit the stretch of busy road, and that's the one time I find it handy to whip the Bug off and on my bike, and just throw her on my back for a short stretch from when I get off the bus til I'm on a long, climbing bike path again.

Punch line -- no problem with balance at all, and I pack that pannier with breakfast, lunch, papers, clothes, workout gear, you name it. You'll be fine with a one-sided load.

Marcy

[madscot13]

I ride with one pannier all of the time. My bike is my car and so I have grocery panniers to hold whatever I need. I go to school with it and I just load by backpack with my books and computer into one side- no problem. When I go grocery shopping I do the same thing. My body automatically adjusts for it and I don't even have to think about it. The only problem is tipping once I am off the bike.

[LadyinWhite]

I ride with one pannier all of the time. My bike is my car and so I have grocery panniers to hold whatever I need. I go to school with it and I just load by backpack with my books and computer into one side- no problem. When I go grocery shopping I do the same thing. My body automatically adjusts for it and I don't even have to think about it. The only problem is tipping once I am off the bike.

The only time I ever have trouble is when I am carrying a gallon of milk in the grocery pannier and nothing to balance it. I definately have to be careful at stops and getting on and off to keep from tipping in a hurry! What a mess that would make. I also don't use my road bike for groceries, I use my daughter's mtb. I think the upright position makes it a little easier.

[Geonz]

I also have put stuff on only one side, though now I've got the Xtracycle I don't need to.
I'm also thinking that the weather forces have decided that I mocked them by saying it wasn't bad enough often enough here for studded tyres. Foot of snow heading our way, with 30 mph winds... though I reckon even studded tyres wouldn't be enough for that