http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Single Panniers... left or right side? en Sun, 31 May 2026 21:41:30 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-207824 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 13:44:21 +0000 Darkerside 207824@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>On the recumbent I'm a lefty, as it keeps the pannier slightly further away from splashes from passing vehicles and grunt from the chain.</p> <p>Also I'm pretty sure it gets just as manky from brake pad dust... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-207814 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 12:36:44 +0000 kaputnik 207814@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Reviewing my earlier post, I now find that I put my pannier on the left hand side and not the right.</p> <p>I can't remember why I changed. It's certainly not too convenient for how I store the bike as it means the pannier is on the wall side and harder to pack/unpack. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-207804 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:03:24 +0000 wingpig 207804@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I mis-packed my Pannier for Life yesterday so had to stick that on the right to stop the small dense item stuffed alongside the large light items being at the end where it could flap against the wheel, meaning that the heavy proper pannier went on the left. It was only a mile to the house from the shop but it was still very weird; if I have a heavy left-hand pannier it's usually accompanied by an even heavier-than-normal right-hand pannier. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-174020 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 18:29:18 +0000 chdot 174020@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/15294909353/"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8571/15294909353_28c9b61a6c.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-54505 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:52:40 +0000 chdot 54505@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well you know...</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5096" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5096</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-54501 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:35:23 +0000 kaputnik 54501@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>nice bar / stem / saddle / seatpost / mudguard / bottlecage / cable outer co-ordination there. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-54494 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:17:34 +0000 chdot 54494@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/6759641133/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6759641133_6102971e47.jpg"></a></p> <p>Great how photos make bikes look clean. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-30780 Sun, 08 May 2011 11:45:01 +0000 Its_Me_Knees 30780@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Always a pair. Because I'm a Virgo. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-30717 Fri, 06 May 2011 21:18:45 +0000 wingpig 30717@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Now that I've had a rack for a couple of weeks and have been pannier'd up...</p> <p>If it's my wife's EBC/Vaude briefcase-style thing it goes on the left, as it's asymmetrical and interferes with my heel if it's on the right.</p> <p>If it's the Karrimor Iberian donated by a friend it goes on the right, as he could only find the right-hand one in his garage. I need to build a little rack-stay-extension thing as the rack we were donated by a wife-colleague appears to be an EX1 and the pannier's as far back as it can go in order to not interfere with my heel and thus flaps a little and has been caught in the spokes a couple of times and got a little bit ripped. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-10801 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:00:02 +0000 kaputnik 10801@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Usually the right because of the "I wan't to make the bike fatter on the traffic side" reasoning. However I think the main driving factor is what direction I've parked my bike in the hall in - if it's come in forward through the front door it would go on the <strike>left</strike> right (duh!) and if it's come in backwards or 3 pointed in the kitchen then it goes on the left. My most unbalanced bike act recently was a 6kg keg of ale on one side and nothing on the other. Made a slow and interesting ride across town to deposit it off for an extended 48 hours of pre-imbibing settling tinm.</p> <p>I usually commute with a messenger bag though, just enough space for glasses case, shirt, tie and a change of undercrackers and some odds and ends like a pen, inner choob and some rubber bands. Everything else (towel, trousers, shoes, suds etc.) lives in the office. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-10795 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:01:55 +0000 LaidBack 10795@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Last pic explains why I feel the 'lefties' are being under-represented on the poll. <em>(We need a full enquiry!)<br /> </em><br /> When you park your bike against anything it's generally the right hand side that goes against the 'anything'? (well it is for me)</p> <p>So if you're pannier is on right it has to be removed first?</p> <p>Unless of course you park your bike the other way round! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-10790 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:57:00 +0000 chdot 10790@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/4850499810"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4850499810_761f432618.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/4850489226"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4850489226_a388e2501a.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9759 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:50:37 +0000 chdot 9759@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/4775209406"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4775209406_5302feffbe.jpg"></a></center> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9661 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:33:02 +0000 Cyclingmollie 9661@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I voted right because I dismount and push a bike on the left to avoid getting covered in oil. Having the pannier on the left would get in the way while pushing the bike. But when I used panniers a lot I solved the problem by always using two. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9612 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:58:04 +0000 LaidBack 9612@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><strong>expatCanuck</strong> Arkel Commuter - seem like stylish bag. Not that common here. </p> <p>Odd how the whole 'start off on right hand pedal' is at odds with the normal side of the road to drive on (ie mainland Europe and Americas).</p> <p>Of course on the single track roads of Highland Scotland you are never on the wrong side of the road! Continental tourists do sometimes pull into the right hand passing places as they forget. The worry is that they keep left once it goes two way.</p> <p>I am glad to see that left hand pannier vote is catching up...;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9587 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:02:55 +0000 expatCanuck 9587@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh, and I picked up an Arkel Commuter this past weekend, and have been using it on the left side. So far, so good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9586 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:00:47 +0000 expatCanuck 9586@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><strong>@LaidBack</strong></p> <p>&gt; Does everyone dismount their bike from the left<br /> &gt; in all countries which drive on the other side<br /> &gt; than our little UK + Ireland anomaly I wonder?</p> <p>Hmmm. I suspect that it varies by rider &amp; conditions. All other things being equal (and they never are), I (raised in Toronto and now living in Boston) mount &amp; dismount on the left. Feels easier &amp; more natural to me. </p> <p>But if I have to pull over to the right (curbside) in traffic, I'm more likely to dismount on the right, away from traffic. Similarly, if I'm entering traffic from the right (curbside), then I'm more likely to be mounting from the right.</p> <p>Cheers,</p> <p> - Richard </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9347 Sun, 04 Jul 2010 10:41:56 +0000 chdot 9347@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Ooh cheeky so and so! :-D"<br /> <em><br /> <strong>I</strong></em> didn't identify owner...</p> <p>(and I won't say which are your legs) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9345 Sun, 04 Jul 2010 10:10:07 +0000 Min 9345@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ooh cheeky so and so! :-D</p> <p>You didn't see me with the sleeping bag strapped on as well. I<br /> managed to leave it with my friends to collect later.  </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9343 Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:20:20 +0000 chdot 9343@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/4758978238">Classy</p> <p><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4758978238_0b16d92891.jpg"><br /> </a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9316 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:50:24 +0000 Kirst 9316@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's a whole other discussion. My last bike had a step-through frame and flat pedals, and my natural inclination is right foot on the ground, push off with left. My new bike has a crossbar (took me a few days to get the hang of that, I'm a <em>lady</em>) and rat-trap pedals with toeclips and straps. I've had to get used to those and found it easier at first to clip my left foot in but couldn't then get my right one in while moving, so I was a) cycling with just one foot clipped in and b) leaving my left in and touching down with my right. Now if I put my right foot in first I can get my left in while I'm moving, but not the other way round yet, so I'm still having to touchdown with my left and push off with my right, which is very awkward for me. I just need to keep practising.</p> <p>I mount from and dismount to the left though. But when I had the step-through frame sometimes I did it from the right just out of badness. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9314 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:19:59 +0000 LaidBack 9314@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><strong>Kirst</strong> That's logical enough. I still think the lefties are being under-represented in the poll though. Going to organise a campaign to get more people voting left!</p> <p><strong>expatCanuck</strong> Good to hear from you.<br /> Does everyone dismount their bike from the left in all countries which drive on the other side than our little UK + Ireland anomaly I wonder?<br /> I think they still do - as people favour pushing off with right foot and touching down with left <em>(except on this forum I bet!)</em>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9313 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:58:52 +0000 Kirst 9313@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If I dismount on the left, and the pannier is on the left, it's hard to balance the bike against me and get things out of the panniers. It's much easier to lean the bike against me and deal with a right pannier. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9285 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:14:23 +0000 expatCanuck 9285@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot </p> <p>&gt;&gt; What are you balancing? </p> <p>Ummm ... me on the bike.<br /> I'm sure that I *could* put the pannier on the left,<br /> but it doesn't feel, uh, right. &lt; sorry ;7) &gt; </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9278 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:25:12 +0000 chdot 9278@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@expatCanuck</p> <p>Welcome</p> <p>"Right side for me, primarily as a balance thing."</p> <p>What are you balancing? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9277 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:18:15 +0000 expatCanuck 9277@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>North American here (Boston by way of Toronto), new to this forum.<br /> Right side for me, primarily as a balance thing.<br /> It just feels better that way ... even tho' (analyzing it logically, which I don't), since I typically dismount on the left, it'd be faster access if the pannier was on the left as well. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9152 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:39:41 +0000 Min 9152@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Sorry Min, i guess i didn't word the question as well as I might! "</p> <p>That's okay, I'm just sayin' :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9149 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:34:47 +0000 LaidBack 9149@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"otherwise it just looks odd"</em></p> <p>I have also seen some people put a left hand pannier on the right hand rack. So rear pocket and refection strip face forward! Not quite as bad as cycling with your front forks the wrong way round (!) </p> <p>Also spotted a cyclist with a front pannier 'lo-rider' rack with one pannier at front wheel on the correct side;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9148 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:29:16 +0000 Arellcat 9148@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mmm, good point! So important in fact that it was worth mentioning three times. :-D</p> <p>ADMIN EDIT </p> <p>Sorry about repeats - can't explain - now deleted! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=979&page=2#post-9139 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:17:12 +0000 chdot 9139@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"otherwise it just looks odd"</p> <p>and the bike doesn't... </p>