Originally Posted by
andyprough
What the heck do I need to carry to work?
A computer.
A change of clothes (or two, depending on the heat and rain).
Lunch.
Bike tools and a lock.
Library books my wife has checked out that I need to return.
A load of groceries on the return trip.
Crap from the hardware store for my wife's home improvement projects on the return trip.
Plants for my wife's garden on the return trip.
And a lot more. I haven't even started listing all the stuff I carry for the kids. Some days what I really need a rack, panniers, a pack, AND a heavy-duty bike trailer.
Like I've already commented previously, this wasn't a general comment to every pannier laden cyclist on this thread, it was directed at the OP who wanted a carbon bicycle. He would be better served by a touring bike if he actually needed to carry that many things thus defeating the purpose of having a carbon bike.