[Closed] Panniers on the front of the bike?

I like it, try to balance the weight between the two.

I don't find I need the space really even on long tours but I've used them to redistribute the weight. Adds weight too of course but the bike handles much better.

Or are you talking about front only? Seen some Johnny Foreigners doing that.

front only. i use just 2 panniers

Or are you talking about front only? Seen some Johnny Foreigners doing that.

This. Very popular configuration with the Euros. Be aware that front panniers normally sit lower so are smaller than rears. However, you could balance it out a little with a trunk bag or similar.

Yes, I find front loading the bike gives much better handling once you get used to the slower handling. Depends on the bike having the right geometry of course, and a stiff enough fork of course. Tubus Tara rack keeps the panniers centered on the front axle and keeps the bike balanced nicely so I can stand up and pedal hard without the bike feeling like it's twisting in the middle! I never ride with weight on the back if I can help it.

I use a maddison m rack, £20. Used for a few months, no problems with axiom bags. Run panniers front and rear on my Marin pine mountain. Used now for long distance with 2.6 schwable Moto X tyres

Depends on the bike having the right geometry of course, and a stiff enough fork of course

I doubt that, but everyone's is an expert.

I've used front panniers lots on longer tours, works for me.

There is a trend for using them with a saddle bag. IME weight is more of a psychological than real factor when touring, but I'm not about doing huge mileage (>60) daily.

So I'm happy with 4 panniers and a hb bag.

I did London to Paris with 4 panniers this time last year. No problems with the handling, just try to get the weight even between the two. I was riding a voodoo bantu with surly ogre forks and an aluminium rack, think it was a topeak one.

I doubt that, but everyone’s is an expert

I would of thought it's obvious? If you have a super flexy fork or floppy high trail geometry it's going to handle worse with loads of weight on the front. But whatever works for you...

bike is a surly ecr. plenty stiff enough.

cheers all. gonna give it a go this years tour

Just be careful riding too close to the kerb if you have big panniers on the front. Very much like getting a stick in the spokes, don't ask me how I know 😂

we did in canada a couple years ago.

meant we had loads of space for food when on extended periods of no shops.

never really noticed they were there the rest of the time .

I think you would be fine, but I would go for smaller panniers designed for front use. Nick Sanders used only front mounted panniers when he did his 80 day round the world trip back in the 80s.

Personally I hate the effects on steering and handling of all that weight flopping around with the steering

Yes, I've done it on long tours. It takes a while to get used to how the bike handles. Takes a new skill to pedal while standing up. Mine was on a surly long haul trucker so your bike will be fine.

Just because you have them, doesn't mean you have to fill them but it's nice to have the option.

What wheels do you have? Just build a nice 36 spoke, 3 or 4 Cross, straight gauge rear wheel. The amount of weight including water made my rider weight irrelevant.

yup, tried it, smaller size may inhibit volume. [edit - see you're front only]
Only problem was ruts on double tracks tended to snag the panniers.

This was on a Peregrine, which IIRC was set up to take front panniers over rear for stability.

I use 4 panniers on my Long Haul Trucker on long tours when I need the space. Multi week tours.

My Trucker handles fine with 2 or 4 panniers. My rear wheel - Spa Cycles built 36 spokes with a hefty Sputnik rim carried me and full camping gear across the USA twice including some gravel roads without needing trued. Good wheels are all that is needed for weight. Front panniers if more space is needed. The Sputnik is 150-200g heavier than some rims but that's lighter than adding a front rack and panniers. In the context of a loaded touring bike it isn't noticed.

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s176p349/SPA-CYCLES-Handbuilt-Wheel-Rear-Sputnik-Deore

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s116p67/RIGIDA-Sputnik

If you're worried about the rear wheel, another option is to get a sturdier rear wheel (as I see has been mentioned already) - 36 is not unusual, but tandems often use 40 or even 48 spoke. JD Tandems in Gargrave will be able to sort you out with what you need, tandem hubs are often 145 OLN but the last wheel we ordered from them had a 135 hub and a spacer.

https://www.cyclingabout.com/best-carry-load-bicycle-touring-front-rear-panniers/

Blackburn lowriders and a set of panniers on the front was standard when I ran my kiddyback tandem. Couldn’t add them to the rear as I had a babyseat and a kid stoked. Weight I never worried about. 20L a side is your max really.

That is a good article - I don't agree with everything he writes, but it does break down the pluses and minuses of each setup. Nothing to stop a bit of experimentation too, what works for one person/bike might suck for someone else.

I used 4 panniers and a bar bag on my Vaya in 2016. Front panniers were 14 litres each side on a Tubus Tara lowrider, rear panniers were 20s, tent was strapped to rear rack. I did have a low speed wobble but I might have put too much stuff on the front. Will try again this year, although I'm debating about using my Longitude with skinny tyres instead to see how that works as a tourer.

Tried it on the Disc Trucker.

Fine, but found it needed a lot more thought and concentration to steer smoothly.

I'm sure it's just a matter of getting used to it.

Borrowed a Tubus rack to try, but couldn't seem to get it to fit properly - had to bodge it a bit.

Knob end hipsters have also taken to front racks so I’d say it must work

But in all seriousness my experience is that if you are sticking to roads they are not a bad idea. Also helps prevent front wheel lifting on nasty climbs...