oh, and i'm going to need this...

yesterday was my first day of commuting with my panniers. i decided that i didn't need the backpack any more, because it was way too much weight for my back. also, when it rained the backpack wouldn't fit under my rain coat and would get wet. my panniers came with these rain covers that look like a radio active shower-cap [that doesn't sound right]. they have an elastic rim and they pull completely over one side of the pannier, locking out any rain, snow, or mud that i come across. the panniers themselves, have a pretty elaborate closing system. first there is a drawstring that kind of keeps things contained, then there is a flap that closes over everything and buckles tightly over one side. also, my panniers have a few hooks that keep it attached to the rack on the bike [this is all very important information for the later part of my story].

so yesterday i was all excited to have finally rid myself of the sweat-generator, and ride freely into work with a dry unstrained back. with the backpack, i was always forgetting stuff. i had the stuff i needed to change into at work, the stuff i needed to get "clean", the stuff i needed to fix my bike, the stuff i needed in case the weather got rough, lights and batteries, and the misc stuff i needed just to function, like wallet, cell phone [s] etc. with the backpack, i had just a couple of pockets and most things would have to commingle at the bottom. where i packed everything played a huge roll in how comfortable i was going to be on my ride. if i put a book, or battery too close to the front, it would touch my back, and i usually had to stop and reorganize out on the road. which was not fun with screaming cars, and unfavorable weather conditions. with the small pack, things would get full in a hurry. i had to be a master packer to fit all the stuff i "needed." for years i have been stuffing it to the max, until the pack was so dense that one of the zippers gave out. now i have to ride with an open pocket, hoping that it doesn't rain, and that i don't turn upside down spilling all my misc stuff.. because that was the pocket for the misc stuff.

now, however, i have panniers. these things have enough space and enough pockets to hold just about anything i need.... and i need a lot! of course i need to carry around my bike lock, because i may have to stop at the store on the way home, and i really hate leaving my bike outside unlocked. i need my rain coat because it looks like it may rain sometime... actually in colorado, it can rain any day, really hard... for about ten minutes... then it's sunny again. so i definitely need a rain coat. also i'm going to need a tire pump, and tire changing tools.... wrenches, etc. i need my work clothes, which include a light coat in case i get cold at work. oh... lunch, i now have room to carry lunch. my cell phones, ipod, extra gloves. i guess that's about it! i have everything i think i need... and then some :)

as i rolled down the street the bike felt really smooth. the extra weight made everything very stable. i could ride with no hands and move all over without altering the direction at all. i had never ridden with panniers, and it was kind of a neat feeling at first. then there was the up hill. oh my god! i had to work like crazy just to get up this little bump in the road [there goes my sweat free back :(] too bad my bianchi doesn't have a granny gear. the best it has is about a 1:1 [i think, i'll have to check]. it really is a weird feeling to climb with heavy panniers. the weight is in a weird spot, and i guess i have to get used to it. when i had the backpack on the weight was reversed, i was the heavy one and the bike was really light. i'm thinking that i like the pannier way better....

the next issue came when i got to work. i tried to park my bike outside my cube like usual. however my stupid panniers were so wide i was blocking the entrance to the cube next to me. i didn't think the guy would have minded too much, but i'm sure he would have joked about it till something gave. i parked my bike in the next building somewhere out of the way.

hmm.... how am i going to get my clothes to the restroom so i can change? i couldn't just detach the pannier. this thing was on for the long haul. i had to carry my stack of clothes back over to my building and change in the restroom. then i had to carry my cycling clothes [which were not lycra!] ... ok i confess i had been wearing lycra leg warmers. i didn't want to wear my wind pants today, because they just are not warm enough. [i hope this confession doesn't ruin the llm.] so it wasn't a big deal really, to have to carry around my cloths, but in general it is not very professional to carry around underwear and socks in an office setting.