Travelling light

I'm quite well known for cycling round with 20kg of crap in my panniers. On a typical day the contents might include:-

Small saw & Secateurs (for doing sustrans-type maintenance on cycle routes)
Pump, bell spanner, multitool, spare inner tube, puncture repair kit (belt and braces approach)
D-lock
Waterproof trousers, overshoes.
Sandwich box
spare pair of shoes, socks.
spare lights


...etc etc.

However, recently, having moved up to Greystones Heights I'm starting to question why I carry all this stuff. We have a heavily fortified bike shed at work so why do I need a lock? (for going out at lunchtimes, duh - but I could keep a lock at work anyway. )

If I got a puncture or other breakdown on the commute, wouldn't I just walk home?

I could buy a sandwich at lunchtime...etc etc.

So yesterday, having lugged #139's worth of fireworks up to work from the fireworks shop, I thought , well sod it, I'm going to come back down in the c*r to get this anyway, so I might as well leave the panniers behind as well, and I have to say the ride home was a lot more pleasant.

This morning I just used the top box for sarnies and rain legs, so I'm cutting down!

We'll see how it goes...
leave the panniers