I am the captain on this setup. The packs are Source Hipsters and they were purchased directly from the manufacturer during a sale before Christmas. They were nearly 50% off. Definitely more comfortable than backpacks.
The shifting is working out great. There’s no more communication required then if I was doing it all. It’s really convenient when doing a quick stop that requires braking and shifting simultaneously. I work the brakes and say “easy pedal” while she gets the shifting done. I have a stand that allows me to test out the drivetrain so I don’t need to ride the bike solo other than very short distances.
my stoker’s happy so that’s all that matters right?