| If you are considering touring by bicycle then you know | | | | thru puddles or in the rain. At high speeds the dirty road |
| that your Cargo System is an essential equipment | | | | water will shoot right onto your back, making for quite |
| component. So, what should you learn about bicycle | | | | an irritating ride, but with a small pack on top of the |
| cargo gear; well, there are many different types, but | | | | pannier platform this problem is solved. Still be aware |
| you should be careful which set-up you choose. | | | | that you need water proof cargo units, otherwise |
| Loading too much on the front wheels can cause | | | | everything you take with you will be soggy, moldy and |
| problems in steering at slow speeds and even | | | | wet. |
| high-speed wobbles going downhill on a bumpy | | | | It is difficult to keep any load in place on a bumpy road, |
| surface, which you will encounter along the way | | | | in high-winds or on high-speed down-hills. It's better to |
| somewhere if there are any hills at all. Some touring | | | | over secure your load, than risk cargo failure. Before |
| riders have complained that they catch the cross wind | | | | you start and at any breaking point, double check your |
| and make things quite difficult if not dangerous. | | | | load. If you are going to camp out in the open then |
| Handlebar cargo systems are nice, as they can be | | | | take the lightest possible sleeping bag and have it ride |
| used to hold maps, instructions and easy to get to | | | | directly behind you so that you can block the wind |
| food supplies like bananas, fig bars, power bars and | | | | otherwise there is virtually no chance of it staying |
| other high-calorie, high-carb nutritional foods, but a word | | | | where you want it to be during a 100 plus mile leg. One |
| to the wise, don't overload these cargo bags, it can | | | | bit of advice for those who choose the pannier |
| make steering tough and cause you to take a spill. | | | | systems, make sure your system secures both to the |
| How do you suppose I know that? Ouch. Most of the | | | | seat post or frame on the top and the rear axle frame |
| handlebar cargo packs are now much smaller, | | | | assembly on the bottom. Why? |
| probably for safety and they are fine if you do not | | | | Well, because most of the pannier units can hold a lot |
| overload them. Try to find the most aerodynamic | | | | of weight, 25-35 lbs, but if your system only connects |
| design to cut down on your relative wind footprint to | | | | to your seat post and it is made of carbon composite, |
| reduce drag. | | | | it may break, it's happened to me before, so head that |
| Rear mounted bags are not a bad option, but keep the | | | | warning. Additionally, if you have a carbon composite |
| load low using panniers. You see, if your gear gets too | | | | seat post and wish to run with a pannier cargo |
| high, then your load can shift and drag against the bike | | | | system, then change out that seat post for an alloy |
| or worse make you top heavy and threaten to topple | | | | post, for about $100 you can get a stronger alloy seat |
| you and ruin your whole day. You can put a small bag | | | | post which weighs about the same amount anyway. |
| on top of your pannier platform, which will also prevent | | | | Perhaps you will consider this when purchasing your |
| water from "rooster tailing" behind you as you drive | | | | cargo system. |