Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!cmcl2!rna!cubsvax!peters From: peters@cubsvax.UUCP (Peter S. Shenkin) Newsgroups: net.bicycle Subject: Re: front panniers and low-rider rack Message-ID: <444@cubsvax.UUCP> Date: Mon, 3-Mar-86 12:06:58 EST Article-I.D.: cubsvax.444 Posted: Mon Mar 3 12:06:58 1986 Date-Received: Wed, 5-Mar-86 06:38:47 EST References: <1217@decwrl.DEC.COM> <849@hercules.UUCP> Reply-To: peters@cubsvax.UUCP (Peter S. Shenkin) Organization: Columbia Univ. Bio. CG Fac., NY Lines: 22 In article pgf@mtung.UUCP (Paul Fox) writes: > ... While we're at it, what are people's opinions of front vs. rear > panniers? Are fronts plus a seat pack and handlebar bag sufficient > for long-weekend kinds of tours? Fronts-only would seem to be a > better weight distribution than rears-only, but is that > significant? I've never ridden with any sort of panniers, though > I've been a semi-serious rider for years. > It's considered better to try to distribute the weight, if there's a lot of it. If there's only a little, it's better in the back, because any weight in front impedes your low-speed stability (which relies on quick corrections with the handlebars). Weight down low in front may actually *increase* high-speed stability, by resisting deflections due to "road noise" -- rocks, cracks, etc. Weight up high in front makes steering a bit unstable, and current thought is that one should avoid it. That means no handlebar bag; however, most tourists do keep at least a small handlebar bag for the map pocket and a very few necessities (perhaps a bandana and a bag of trail-mix) that one wants to get at easily. Peter S. Shenkin Columbia Univ. Biology Dept., NY, NY 10027 {philabs,rna}!cubsvax!peters cubsvax!peters@columbia.ARPA