Riders with heavy back packs in Indy...

[Kimmyt]

I commute with a pack. I haven't found it makes that much of a difference, honestly, I suppose if it was off-balance on my back or filled with awkward bulky things that poke me, maybe...

But then I'm pretty much used to doing lots of things with a pack. A well-adjusted one won't really even feel like it's there, I mean it will add weight, but it won't throw your balance off that much, especially if you're just doing normal road riding.

It also helps to have a pack with hip and/or chest straps so that you can keep the pack close to your core and keep from feeling like it's pulling you off the bike.

I think if someone is a timid rider who is unsure of their balance to begin with on a road bike, putting a pack into the mix is a recipe for disaster. If you're comfortable on your bike, it shouldn't make a big difference.

K.

[spokewench]

I don't ride with a pack on my recreational rides - don't like to carry a bunch of stuff for a fun ride. If I can't fit everything I need into my pockets in my jersey, I don't carry it. The only exception to that is when I mountain bike and need to be prepared for anything on the mountain, then I carry a larger camelback (the mule). It is heavy cause it has a large bladder, but I will then carry more clothes, food, etc. on the other compartments and attached by bungie cord thing.

I wear a back pack to commute, although it is not large. The most it has in it are underwear, socks, a pair of shoes and clothing for work; with my tire changing equipment, hair brush and a small wallet. It probably doesn't weigh as much as my mountain bike camelback fully loaded!

I don't find that it overbalances me one way or another. It is kind of hot just like a camelback on your back, but no big deal. I'm not usually riding hard since I'm commuting.

spoke

[RoadRaven]

My partner rides with a back pack if he has too take clothes to where he is going... he usually gets a sore back.
I very rarely ride with anything on my back, cause it takes so much pleasure from the ride.

When I start commuting regularly (which will be when I am no longer a school taxi service) I am going to get panniers on a steel frame bike set up in the same configuration as my road race bikes.

I guess we both ride in racing position, so that may affect the discomfort levels, but I also feel unbalanced with a load on my back...