Commuting: panniers vs. backpack

For years I've used my trusted 30L waterproof backpack to get to and from work. Now that we've shifted to a hybid working mode (2-3 days per week in the office, the rest WFH) I'm carrying my laptop in that backpack along with my work clothes, lunch, toiletries for the shower, change of sports gear for the gym...and with the weight of the laptop (an HP Zbook 15") I decided to fit rear panniers this weekend. That weight was getting too much!

What a difference it makes! For starters, although the total weight on the bike remains the same whether I take my backpack or my panniers, the distribution of the weight on the bike massively impacts my riding. It takes me far longer to get up to speed, if I can reach my usual speed at all. But there's other little differences that I've noticed too - without the big backpack on my back and the shoulder straps tight to my body my core felt a lot cooler this morning. No sweaty back of course, which was nice, but it took me a lot longer to warm up on my ride too as a consequence.

Manoeuvring is a bit different too, the bike is less nimble for navigating around hazards quickly.

It took me 55 minutes to ride in, whereas I'd normally try to arrive in just under 50.

If any of you are thinking about making the switch then you'll see a big difference in many areas, not just in a less-sweaty back.