In my experience, as handlebars get higher and closer to the rider the better some weight in a basket works. The dual effect of reducing front end weight (lightening the front wheel & feel) AND increasing body weight on the rear end of the bike makes a front load seem ideal. If you ride drops, especially below saddle height, I imagine you'd feel the additional weight much more acutely than I do. I've had shoulder problems for a long time and prefer Bosco's or similar on most of my builds. My 98 Riv Road (converted to 650b w/ 42's) did not want front weight when I picked it up w/ drops that were out and down. Once converted to uprights it feels better with rack, basket and at least lock than it does unweighted.
Why a basket & bag over front panniers? To me it's easier to balance the load with my disheveled loading process. It's also somehow less serious looking. Front/Rear panniers seem like a serious touring set up, a basket feels like riding for fun. I DO use a Riv Large saddlebag for grocery getting (in addition to the front basket & bag) & a banana sack for everyday use. To sum it up, I think rider position + geometry dictate where the weight will feel best, however, one can get used to about anything on a bike given time. Happy Riding, Eric N Indpls On Friday, February 2, 2024 at 1:36:29 PM UTC-5 John Rinker wrote: > Patrick, > > Lovely photo of the flowers in the panniers. > > This discussion, like many about human preferences, it's so much about our > habits and that to which we've become accustomed. > > An argument can be made that flowers are better carried in a front basket > so the rider can enjoy both the view, the scent, and the pleasant thoughts > of the recipient of such a beautiful gift. > > Cheers, John > > > > On Friday, February 2, 2024 at 10:09:23 AM UTC-8 Patrick Moore wrote: > >> This is a very good reply; yes, I am very attached to rear loads on >> Rivendells, have always come back to good rack and panniers for serious >> load carrying, and have found my Rivs to suit rear loads while being >> awkward with front loads, but yes, that is simply my preference. >> >> Anyway, interesting to hear others' opinions and reasons. >> >> I liked the baby and marmot in baskets. Instance to contrary: Recall >> seeing a young man riding around carrying his miniature Chihuahua in a >> backpack with nose sticking out. I can't get any of my dogs to like wheeled >> transportation, front or rear or automobile. >> >> Favorite old photo of rear load: >> >> [image: image.png] >> >> >> >> On Thu, Feb 1, 2024 at 8:51 PM Alex K <ack...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> There's no right or wrong way to carry your gear. Front baskets and bags >>> are convenient for quick-grab city use. I also prefer the way bikes handle >>> with front weight. A lot of us can't stand that tail-wiggle that comes from >>> overloaded rear panniers. I know that I would rather do a Costco run or >>> carry my cornhole boards on a front rack with bungee cords. I have tried it >>> all and I will never ride with rear saddlebags again unless I'm on a long >>> tour and my my handlebar-mounted Large Fabios's Chest, Swift Industries Jr. >>> Ranger Panniers attached to my Pass and Stow rack, Rogue Panda Frame bag >>> and BagsXBird Goldback medium saddlesack don't provide enough storage space >>> for me. >>> >>> It seems like the OP is quite attached to rear panniers because it suits >>> his personal riding style. From the tone of the responses to some of the >>> replies, OP is looking for either validation or to be convinced that there >>> is a BETTER way to ride/load. But bikes are so deeply personal. That's why >>> we ride and tinker and convert and trade. So we can find the bike style and >>> set-up that suits us best. I personally can't stand rear-weight, simply >>> because of "how it feels." TAIL-WIGGLE is like nails on a chalkboard to me. >>> I also love the aesthetics of high-mounted front loads, I just find it more >>> pleasing to look at. >>> >>> Final point: I don't think that The Everyman rides Rivendells. Folks who >>> can afford these bikes are a privileged few, and many of us have spent >>> YEARS tinkering, switching out racks, switching out bags, saddlebags, >>> Fabio's Chests, Carradice bags, etc. etc. So the fact that so many >>> Rivendell-listers choose to ride with front baskets and bags means that >>> through trial and error, we have decided that it works better for us and it >>> "feels better." NOT saying it IS better, even though I feel just as >>> strongly about front-loading as OP does about rear-loading. But if we all >>> rode the same way, how boring this would all be and how would I be able to >>> pick up cheap niche bike gear at a discounted rate when all you indecisive >>> Riv Riders decide that "PAUL BRAKES ARE OUT AND V-BRAKES ARE IN!!!" or >>> "BROOKS SADDLES ARE OVERRATED. I NEED A BERTHOUD!!!" >>> >>> (And babies like riding in front-baskets) >>> >>> >>> [image: 0-1.jpg][image: IMG_5539.jpg][image: IMG_7392.jpg] >>> >>> On Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 5:26:41 PM UTC-8 Stephen wrote: >>> >>>> I have basically the same reasoning as Ian, and also live in a city and >>>> dont want to leave bags on my bike when I lock up, plus i like my daily >>>> bag >>>> to not look too bikey (I use the shopsacks). Convenient and easy, easier >>>> to >>>> pile up with whatever shit i want, take a jacket or sweater off if i get >>>> hot, sling my lock into it. Does it affect handling? yep, but i dont >>>> really >>>> mind that much for riding around town. If my situation was different maybe >>>> id do things differently, but I tend to like having a at least a small >>>> basket available for an around town bike. I like the way it looks too. >>>> >>>> -stephen >>>> >>>> On Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 7:47:17 PM UTC-5 Patrick Moore wrote: >>>> >>>>> IMO, baggage ought to complement the handling characteristics of the >>>>> bicycle. My benchmark idea of handling has been formed by 30 years of >>>>> riding Rivendells which, IME, do best with rear loads, or at least loads >>>>> biased toward the rear and not the front. >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Feb 1, 2024 at 5:18 PM ian m <darkg...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> I'm not sure how it makes more sense to put a bag into another bag >>>>>> than into a baske >>>>> >>>>> -- >>> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>> >> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/3233976c-37aa-4840-9159-daa6e5f71ec5n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/3233976c-37aa-4840-9159-daa6e5f71ec5n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> >> >> -- >> >> Patrick Moore >> Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> Executive resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, letters, and other writing >> services >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> *When thou didst not, savage, k**now thine own meaning,* >> >> *But wouldst gabble like a** thing most brutish,* >> >> *I endowed thy purposes w**ith words that made them known.* >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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