When touring by bike there are sure to be quite a few cases when you’ll want to get off of your bicycle, go inside a retailer, take a hike, or just discover the encompassing space on foot. When such a factor occurs, determining a approach to carry your belongings might be tough.
Prior to now, I’ve merely carried one in every of my panniers in my hand. This methodology of carrying your belongings works, however is much from superb.
I not too long ago reviewed Lone Peak’s BP-500 Briefcase/Pannier and the PD-200 Mount Olympus Pannier/Day Pack. At present I need to speak about one different approach to carry your belongings when off of your bicycle and examine and distinction these varied strategies of hauling your gear.
Listed below are 3 methods you would possibly carry your gear when off of your bicycle:
The Lone Peak BP-500 is a briefcase that additionally acts like a pannier. A zipper on the again of the bag might be rapidly rolled up, exposing the hooks and bungee wanted to safe the bag to your bicycle rack.
The PD-200 Mount Olympus Pannier/Day Pack additionally works like a pannier, however this bag rapidly transforms right into a backpack. With one fast zip, two padded shoulder straps are uncovered and also you’re prepared for a hike.
The final method you would possibly think about carrying your issues is along with your handlebar bag. I’m at the moment utilizing Lone Peak’s H-100 Alta Handlebar Bag, which has two loops on the top in order that after I get off my bicycle I can connect a shoulder strap and use the bag as a form of purse when going right into a retailer or making different brief journeys round city.
So how do you resolve which pack it’s best to use in your bicycle tour? Properly, that relies upon.
The next is how I plan to make use of these varied packs when touring by bike:
The BP-500 Briefcase/Pannier:
The subsequent time I am going to Europe I’m positively bringing this bag with me. Once I went to Prague I spent the entire time on foot. I didn’t need to carry my issues round with me in my handlebar bag or in one in every of my common panniers, so I truly borrowed a backpack from somebody whereas I used to be there. If I might do this entire journey over once more, I might positively have taken Lone Peak’s briefcase pannier. I might have blended proper in and nobody would have even suspected that I used to be a touring bicycle owner.
The PD-200 Mount Olympus Pannier/Day Pack:
If I had been to journey to a spot the place I deliberate on doing loads of day hikes when off of my bicycle, I’d probably take the Mount Olympus Pannier/Day Pack. When masking lengthy distances on foot, I believe the backpack is the easiest way to go. However, I believe that carrying a backpack does look slightly touristy, so I’d solely carry it on excursions the place I knew I deliberate to do some severe climbing (away from the cities).
The H-100 Alta Handlebar Bag:
And lastly, if journeying down the Pacific Coast once more, I’d most likely simply use my handlebar bag as my technique of carrying my belongings when stepping off of my bicycle. There have been only a few instances after I let my bicycle go away my sight whereas on this tour and I doubt that this might change if I had been to do this experience once more sooner or later. That being mentioned, I might probably convey the Mount Olympus Pannier/Day Pack as nicely (along with the handlebar bag), simply in case I did need to use it.
As you’ll be able to see, which bag you’re taking with you in your tour goes to rely upon the place you intend to journey and the way a lot you need to mix in with the folks round you when you get off your bike. If you wish to camouflage your self within the cities, use the briefcase/pannier. If you wish to appear to be a hiker, use the pannier/daypack. And should you don’t plan to get off your bicyle a lot in any respect, merely utilizing your handlebar bag is probably going all you want.
That’s my opinion. What do you assume? How would you employ every of those merchandise when touring by bike? Are there sure circumstances when one pack is healthier than one other? What do you assume is the best approach to carry your issues when spending day without work of your bicycle?