Around town - commuting and errands - I almost always put everything up front and high. (My commuter has a passtow rack with a slightly modified Swift Industries Cetma Porteur bag - holds up to 40 lbs!) I find front high load easier to access when making frequent stops.
Road touring I put around 60% of the weight up front mostly in the Tubus Tara with some snacks, tools and other handy items in the Tubus bar bag. The other 40% on back panniers with heavier stuff in the back panniers on the side of the rack. I put my tent and sleeping bag on top of the rear rack. Off road touring I put every thing in the back. Most of the weight at the sides, some on top. As Grant says, it really is a matter of educating yourself as you ride. Even if I do something real goofy - like attach 30 pounds on one side up front with no counterbalance on the other side - I usually find a way to make do. On Sep 30, 5:08 pm, Bill Rhea <billr...@yahoo.com> wrote: > I just received one of the new Platracks the other day, and have it > hooked up on my 64cm QB. > > My intention was to use it specifically for touring, but am intrigued > by the new Slicker sack. So I've checked to see what it feels like to > have my normal commute load (laptop, clothes, lunch) on the front > rather than the back to see how it rides before throwing down the > money. > > Installation was a breeze, though I have a front B&M generator > headlight for which I fabricated a new bracket so that it would not > sit higher than the rack (and get in the way of big loads). > > It turns out that my Baggins "Adam" bag fits on the Platrack quite > securely - you can loop the seatpost strap over the hoop, run the main > compartment straps over the front of the rack, and even tuck the side > compartment buckles under the sides. That setup does not sway one > tiny bit, but it's not as quick to take on and off. The NS Lil' > Loafer goes on the rear Nitto bag support. > > Riding with the weight up front feels different, but not in a bad > way. However, I've really gotten used to the convenience of the Lil > Loafer up front - so easy to get at while pedaling. I like how quick > and easy the Slicker appears to go on and off, and the handle is a > plus, but my setup pre-Flatrack has worked great for years w/o > complaints. I guess I'm just a sucker for nice bicycle luggage :-) > > Anybody have any thoughts they'd want to share about carrying weight > up front vs. on the rear? Any other Platrack feedback? > > -br --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
