Loaded

Doing 50 today all loaded up.  This will be my first ride ever with panniers.  Riding to Palo Alto and back so its pretty flat.  But I'm doing Mt. Eden so that short climb should give me a good idea what it's gonna be like lugging that extra weight uphill.

Quick stop in Saratoga.  Carrying panniers was about what I expected.  More later.

Car Show today in Saratoga

So, I ended up doing today's ride about 1/2-mph slower than it took me on May 11th without panniers. Frankly, I would have guessed that I was 1-2 mph slower.  Partly due to being in better shape now, I suspect.  Panniers work great.  My legs do touch (barely) the lever that secures the rack to the seat post, but I found that if I turn it a little, it doesn't rub.  You just have to make sure it's tight and not turned too much or the rack is going to come off, and I'm thinking that would be bad....very bad.