Is It Hard to Cycle With Panniers?

Panniers have become more and more popular in the last few years. And you may have wondered if it is hard to cycle whit them and whether it is stable at all. In this article, I will share whit you everything that I learned over the years of cycling whit panniers.

Panniers are the most easier type of cycle begs to ride with, because they are the most stable and can receive the most weight in them. Cycling whit one pannier is also a great solution for commuting and short rides. They can also be easily removed and carried as a bag.

Cycling whit panniers is probably easier than you think. The first time when I purchased panniers and put them on my bike I can barely notice the difference. While riding the bike I didn’t feel any change at all, but where I do feel it is when walking the bike. For me personally, it’s not that big of a deal but it might bother some people.

Do Panniers Affect Balance?

Every single pannier is designed to keep the bicycle in balance during the ride. It’s because all the weight is in the lower center of the bike, the closer the weight is to the center the more stable it is. Stability also depends on the weight you have in your bags, the less weight you have the more stable your bike will be.

Also, it will be a little bit hard to ride upon a big uphill. But at least you will have strong legs!

Do Panniers Slow You Down?

Panniers do slow down the bicycle especially on the uphill road but it’s nothing significant. It also depends on how heavy your panniers are and how much weight you carry on the back wheel.

In my panniers, I usually carry quite a bit of stuff and I didn’t notice any significant difference in my speed. From my analysis, I found out that panniers took me around 3 kmph (2 mph) out of speed which is not that bad.

Is It Stable to Ride With Just One Pannier?

It is stable to cycle whit just one pannier but it’s not nearly as stable as the two. When you put a single pannier you make an uneven balance so you need to compensate that as a rider. It also depends on how full pannier is. If it weighs 0-4 kg (0-8 pounds) there will not be a significant change in balance. But if it weighs more than 4 kg (8 pounds) you will notice the big difference.

There are many situations when it is better to pick a single pannier over the double one. Unlike bicycle touring, you don’t need to carry lots of extra food, water, sleeping equipment, etc. Usually, you will carry spare clothes, a towel, lunch and those things that are not really heavy.

One pannier will be enough for commuting and will make your bike feel much lighter during the rides. It will also make an uphill ride much faster and easier.