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Why do so many of these bikes have a massive bag on a front rack
(instead of in the back / like with a regular rack above the back wheel).
Is that just en vogue right now or do people prefer the handling?
I never liked to have much weight in front of the bars, I have never been a professional / long distance / "touring" cyclist or whatever you call that so genuinely curious as to why people seem to prefer this kind of setup.
Here in Berlin people who carry stuff usually have these bags you hang on both sides of the back wheel. Well, actually the majority of people I see just uses backpacks.
salad-
- bike handles better. Less 'flop' when you're out of the saddle, climbing, or stopped.
- weight is better distributed across the wheels.
- you can get things out of your bag without stopping
- I loath having a sweaty ruck sack on my back, nice cool airflow without it and no bad neck.
- bike handles better. Less 'flop' when you're out of the saddle, climbing, or stopped.
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Handling is so much better with front loading.
I’ll try to explain.
If cornering and you brake with your front brake, the bike stands up and wants to go straight on, not around the corner. This is what it feels like with rear panniers. The bike fights corners.
When you use your rear brake in a corner, it causes the bike to lean in/corner better. That’s what it feels like front loaded. The bike corners like it’s on rails.
Also easier to climb steep gradients because the front end doesn’t want to pop up.
It’s one of those things you have to try to believe how good it is.
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Why do so many of these bikes have a massive bag on a front rack
(instead of in the back / like with a regular rack above the back wheel).
Where have you been??
Your weight is already at the back, putting a rack on the back already stress the rear end of the bike a lots.
Plus, more importantly, it's connected to the frames which mean unless it's a touring frame, will handle noodly.
Most front load bicycle are on the fork only, meaning the fork take the weight, leaving the frame alone allowing it to be nice and lively.
spotter
TM
edscoble
I'ev only got a crap phone photo to hand.
Deffo at the ugly end of the functional scale, but nice to ride.