City Cycling - Carrying Goods and Not-So-Goods

picture via Kevin.Chang

A common problem facing many cyclists today is the issue of how to transport goods, items and property in general by means of a bicycle. As a mode of transport, the bicycle is very often considered primarily and perhaps solely for the purposes of transporting usually one person from place to place; yet being a versatile machine, the bicycle is more than capable of being a load-carrying conveyance as well.

Ways of transporting stuff

Various methods emerge of carrying loads by bike. Generally speaking these can be divided into three categories: in a rucksack, in a pannier, or in your hands. I intend to leave out any discussion of trailers, because although they look great, I haven’t had any personal experience of them. Perhaps that’s a road test for a future date!

So we’ll just have a look at the pluses and minuses of these different methods; each to their own purpose is ideal, but overall it should become fairly clear where the author’s allegiances lie!

Pros and cons of rucksacks

Rucksacks, then. These were a staple of my haulage diet during the first four years of my university experiences. I found them to be quite handy. You put your gear in the rucksack, sling the rucksack on your back, ride to your destination, jump off and there’s very little hassle in the whole thing.

So. A quick overview of the advantages of using rucksacks:

• Availability. Rucksacks are readily available for bargain prices.
• Hasslefreedom. As the rucksack is attached to you, you can often pretty much ignore it during your ride.
• Versatility. When you arrive at your destination, you can walk off with your rucksack, just like any pedestrian. This contrasts slightly with the use of panniers.

Then there are the disadvantages of using rucksacks:

• Unfixed weight. Weight that is not fixed to the bicycle is free weight, and can have an impact on acceleration and braking. It can also affect balance, for example when shifting your weight standing on the pedals to climb a hill.
• Temperature. On warmer days, a rucksack pressed against your back is a significant accumulator of heat, and can result in discomfort of all descriptions.
• Weight. The rucksack is resting primarily on your shoulders for the duration of the ride. If you are travelling any significant distance, you will likely develop soreness here.
• Capacity. Rucksacks may be roomy these days, but there is still a limit to the amount you can carry this way. An 85 litre rucksack will not be practical for cycling.

Using rucksacks effectively

The advantages speak for themselves; the disadvantages can be avoided or obviated to some extent in the following ways. The unfixedness of the rucksack can be counteracted by tightening the straps so as to fix the weight more solidly to your body. For the temperature, many rucksacks have an aerating hollow on the surface that rests against your back, resulting in less heat accumulation. While there is a limit on how much you can carry in one rucksack, one rucksack is not the limit; I have on occasion donned two rucksacks for high capacity – one 35 litre rucksack to the front, and one 75 litre rucksack to the rear (the straps of the rear are placed over the straps for the front so as to secure both effectively). This is almost practical for a regular person for the carrying of belongings up to about 3 stone over a distance of a few miles. Bear in mind the unwieldiness of the dual-rucksacking, and the effect it may have on mounting and dismounting.

However, all things considered, rucksacks have their limits for use with bicycles. They do very well up to a certain level, and are then overtaken by the following solution.

Pros and cons of panniers

A quick description of panniers is that they are purpose-made bags which affix to the ‘pannier rack’, a metal frame attached to (usually) the rear of a bicycle. A regular pannier rack has the capacity to take three custom bags: one on each side, and one on top. Their positioning places the top bag behind the seat post, and the side bags behind the circle of motion of the cyclist’s legs. They have a high capacity and are made to last.

Briefly, then, the advantages of panniers are:

• Fixed weight. Opposite to rucksacks above, weights fixed to the bike are easier to manage as they do not shift with the movement of the bike, thus making acceleration and braking more consistent and predictable.
• Freedom. The cyclist is free from the encumbrance of a rucksack affixed to him or her, which is surprisingly liberating. Cycling technique often improves after the swapping of panniers for rucksacks.
• Capacity. You can carry more weight in the panniers than you can in a rucksack, in general, with less fuss. Consider it like putting stuff in the boot of your car instead of driving with it on your knee.

Panniers are not without their disadvantages, though:

• Versatility. Panniers are not as easy to carry away with you at the end of your journey. Many panniers have a simple carry-handle, which can get tedious and tiresome if carried over a distance. On the other hand, a number of panniers come with straps for ease of carrying – or you could make your own if you felt ambitious.
• Security. If you are travelling with multiple panniers, you may not feel like carrying them all with you at all times – but you can’t leave them with the bike as they are made of fabric and generally (with a few exceptions) do not lock. If you can manage to work your locks so that they secure the panniers to the bike, and have a spare padlock to link the two zips together, however, you may be on to a winner.
• Braking distances. With the extra weight you can carry, the sluggishness of the bike may surprise you. Take it easy to start off with, and you won’t be caught out at that junction at the bottom of the hill.

Using panniers effectively

As a post-graduate law student I find panniers to be very effective for carrying bundles of documents and large numbers of books and files. The lack of a rucksack leaves me free to cycle the way I want, while the panniers transport large volumes of materials for me. The first few journeys with panniers felt hard for me, but I soon adjusted to the extra fixed weight and it’s done my ability some good as well. You will greatly enjoy the first time you cycle with the panniers removed after having had them on for any length of time.

Carrying things in your hands

The final option to consider really is holding things in your hands as you cycle. This is left for only the most necessary of journeys with your belongings and should never be used in preference to rucksacks or panniers. The golden rule is only to occupy one arm, and to leave scope for emergency usage of the brake lever or handlebar on that side. As for side, the recommended side to hold things with would necessarily be the left, as you will want the right for your primary brake.

The upshot of this article is that a bicycle can be used very effectively for transporting your stuff around town. If you’ve only got a few things, or you have some walking to do at the end of your bicycle journey, take a rucksack. Otherwise, invest in some decent panniers. And finally, always be realistic about the amount of weight you can take by either method.

Buy a rucksack or some panniers.

Happy Cycling :)