I stand corrected...

I've also been asked about the meaning of the word "pannier". Apparently I have been somewhat mistaken about the etymology of this word, if not the definition.

A pannier is the same thing as a saddlebag on a horse or motorcycle. On a bicycle, panniers usually hang from a rack mounted over the rear wheel, though there are also smaller front panniers that mount to a rack on the front wheel, sometimes used for bicycle touring.

I borrowed this image from Arkel OverDesigns to illustrate the concept (hopefully they won't mind, in exchange for the free advertising). I use this particular bag, and I love it. It has backpack straps integrated on the backside, so you can carry it off the bike.



Anyway, I had been of the opinion that the word was French. Both Sheldon Brown and Wikipedia disagree on that point. While it is derived from the French for a bread basket, the word itself is English. It's pronounced PAN-yer, not pan-YAY.

I suppose bicyclists use the older, more specific word "pannier" vs. the more common (in motorcycling and horses) "saddlebag" in part because it's easy to confuse "saddlebag" with the very different "seat bag" (which could also be called "saddle bag", since the "seat" on a bicycle is also a "saddle"). But I'm probably somewhat wrong about that as well.

A "Seat bag" (or "saddle bag") on a bicycle, while we're on the subject, is a small bag that hangs below the seat. It's usually used to hold spare tubes and small repair items, as well as perhaps some change, an ID, and possibly a snack. The larger ones could even hold a lightweight rain jacket.

Here's another pic borrowed from Arkel:


So you can see, a seat bag (saddle bag?) on a bicycle is a much different beast from a pannier. And an old dog can learn something new.