Bike Friday loaded for post office!

[sgtiger]

I was wondering why you would be sending off you BF, since I know you love it. Heehee! Glad I was way off.

I'm very impressed that your husband was able to fit all that on there. That's very cool.

Are those the Arkel panniers that he has?

[Crankin]

Wow, I don't think I would be able to ride with that load! Of course, I am a wimp. What did he say about the ride?
I once rode to the library with some very heavy and big books in my pannier. On the way home, when I went to get in the lane to make a left across a busy road, the heavy load really messed me up, causing me to almost crash! I almost couldn't get clipped out when I went to pull over and stop. I ended up getting off my bike and walking it across the street. I found that the heavy load, plus the fact that I was on my hybrid bike, which just feels different, totally threw me off in a spot that I maneuvered on my commute several times a week on my road bike.

[emily_in_nc]

Wow, I don't think I would be able to ride with that load! Of course, I am a wimp. What did he say about the ride?

He rode three miles to the PO and then another 13 around the area taking the "long way" home. I asked him if the ride got a lot easier after he dropped off the packages, and he said "Hmmm...I really didn't notice the difference". I was surprised, although the two packages together weighed around 10 lbs, so not excruciatingly heavy, and the tall one was the lighter one, so he wasn't really off-balance.

[Jo-n-NY]

Emily....Very Cool!!!

~ JoAnn

[tulip]

What a great photo! When I was a bike commuter, I often carried only one pannier with my laptop in it (I kept clothes at the office). I had no problem with having more weight on one side than on the other when I was moving. When I stopped, however, I noticed the difference.

Wow, you are inspiring me to get back to my daily post-office commute, which is 7 miles round trip, and since I don't commute to work anymore, it's a good way to get in some regular miles. The do add up.

[emily_in_nc]

Are those the Arkel panniers that he has?

Yes, they're great. We each splurged and bought a full set (front, back, handlebar bag, and Tailrider) back in '04 for a self-supported tour in NY state. The tour was a great success, but I had a serious cycling accident (described in arielmoon's thread about her own dog/bike accident) the following spring, and we haven't managed to tour since. But we do use the panniers for "errand rides" still and hope to tour again one of these days!