Commuting - Laptop stowage

I have about a 10-mile one-way commute on a combination of paths and roads. I have been carrying my laptop in may backpack and am kinda tired of it. I have a rack on my bike (Scott Sub 20), but am affraid its going to get bounced too hard back there. What are my options? Is there some sort of something that will go on my fixed rear rack which will cushion the ride or am I stuck carrying the thing??

I'm wondering the same thing. I was considering the rack idea - but I don't have a rack on my bike, so I am stuck carrying it to and from work. Fortunately, it's just on Sundays, and I only have to go uphill no less than three times. But, I am sick of carrying it. (Yet, I need to because I need something to occupy myself while at work Sunday mornings. Last week, I didn't bring it - so I cleaned my bike instead. This weekend, I will bring it...watch movies or something.)

Arkel briefcase: www.panniers.com

I'm using Dell notebook briefcase as a pannier.

Have you tried a messenger bag with the laptop? I have a laptop that I carry 9-10 miles each way and have no problems as long as I use a messenger bag. I use a Timbuk 2 bag that is made to carry laptops, but I am sure they all the companies make similar bags.

I'm using Dell notebook briefcase as a pannier.

Any hints on how you set that up? I'm sure I could figure out some lashing solution, but I'm looking for a better idea.

I have a soft case for my iBook (forget the brand now but its just thin foam the exact size of the iBook - no extra pockets of anything - came from the Apple Store). I just put it in my Ortleib pannier and it travels fine.

Have you tried a messenger bag with the laptop? I have a laptop that I carry 9-10 miles each way and have no problems as long as I use a messenger bag. I use a Timbuk 2 bag that is made to carry laptops, but I am sure they all the companies make similar bags.
That is exactly what I use and the same comfort. Even with laptop, a few other items, shoes, clothing I don't notice it at all during my 9mi commute (and have done 15mi commutes with it as well with same comfort)
I find this loaded messenger bag feels heavy when in briefcase mode with strap over one shoulder as I walk to bike, but as soon as I put it over neck and shoulder and it rest on back the weight goes away.

If I was going to do it again I'd probaby get a standard messenger bag without a padded laptop compartment and a separate padded laptop sleeve. That way the I could dual use the bag to carry more stuff when not commuting. (such as grocery shopping)

Al

+1 on the messenger bag. Many people think they're just glorified backpacks, but, well, they're not. They're totally, completely different. Try one and see what you think!

I carry a (rather heavy) laptop 15 miles each way in a Chrome bag, and also barely notice it.

- Warren

I can't comment regarding the laptops in messenger bags, but they are great. I have a cavernous bag made by a local buisness that are just superb. They are totally weather proof by having the bag lined with the same material used in dry bag's. My bag straps on over my shoulder with a thick strap coming under the arm pit. Unlike the chrome bag where the under arm strap is really just to keep the bag from sliding around, all the straps on this bag are under tension. Even though my bag is absolutly massive it is still comfortable, by adjusting the length of the three straps (padded shoulder strap, a strap that would normally just be a continuation of the shoulder strap, and the pit strap) you can move the bag around on your back till you find the "sweet spot" where the wheight seems to vanish.
Before I got a messenger bag I never thought that they were that good because I figured that they were basically a weird back pack. I bike eveywhere and I allways use my messenger bag, I still keep one panier on my bike to carry tools, my cable lock and keep my U lock from bouncing around too much, everything else goes in my mess bag, I have not yet managed to over load the bag. I have stopped at the library on the way home from school, picked up ten books and loaded them into my bag along with all of my school stuff, and my clean (non sweaty) clothes, and two 1 liter nalgene bottles. I imagine carrying a laptop would be a snap.

I have a Targus backpack. It's basically just a plain pack except one of the big areas has a padded area for the laptop to slide into and a strap over the top. I also like it because, like a messenger, people don't know what's in there, looks like a plain pack. I wouldn't feel to good carrying around one of the cases that shouts "HEY LAPTOP HERE!!!".

I carried the laptop in a backpack for a while, and it certainly gets very uncomfortable after a while (12 mile each-way commute for me)

Now, I use either a messenger bag or a pannier. The messenger bag is way more comfortable than a backpack. I bought a standard messenger bag (Chrome Metropolis) and use a laptop insert. It's very comfortable, even when loaded up with laptop, clothing, lunch etc.

The pannier is also fine. I carried the laptop to and from work in the pannier for about a year over some pretty rough roads, and it never caused any problems.

Get a Palm

Have you tried a messenger bag with the laptop? I have a laptop that I carry 9-10 miles each way and have no problems as long as I use a messenger bag. I use a Timbuk 2 bag that is made to carry laptops, but I am sure they all the companies make similar bags.
Winner!

I also do that, it works fine and I am aware that the puter is not hitting-banging anything

I tried panniers to carry my computer and books to school. On the maiden voyage, the pannier fell off and I managed to run right over it (the one holding the computer, naturally). Of course, since I'd have liked to get a new computer, the one I was carrying wasn't damaged at all. But I went back to the backpack (or just leaving the computer at school since I don't use it much at home anyway).

Thanks for all the info! I just 'gave up' and bought an Ortlieb Office Bag off the clearance rack locally. Seems liek alot of weight on one side of the bike (workaholic=taking too much crap home each day) I was going to use it this morning, but I have not had the time to mess around with adjusting the the clips to fit my rack correctly. Maybe this weekend. Finally something on my bike which isn't black.

12" Powerbook. Small enough to fit almost anywhere. :) I put mine in a specially-modified InCase neoprene sleeve lined with 1/8" ABS, then into the pannier or backpack of my choice. Before that, I just carried my Palm IIIxe and keyboard.

One time, I was taking someone else's laptop to work to repair it during my idle moments. I put it in its case and all of its accoutrements in a Nashbar grocery-bag pannier. A little risky, but this was an ancient laptop that handled it well. :)

As far as messenger bags go, Bailey Works (http://www.baileyworks.com) make a "253" bag for bike/ everyday use, and a super pro strictly for bike use. They also make laptop inserts. I commute 20 mi. daily with my laptop in a 253 and am very comfortable. Other companies like http://bagaboo.hu will build an integrated "laptop pocket" into the bag.

Don't carry it on a rack.

In younger days I used to transport electronic chips between facilities of an aerospace manufacturer. I never had a chip fail when I carried it in a backpack, but they did if I lashed them to the rack on my bike.

I really like my Tom Bihn Monolith (http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0330). Its elastic, inner sleeve suspends my 12" laptop in "portrait orientation" (on it's side), has semi-hard panels, and fits into my panniers no problem. It also has D-rings for attaching a shoulder strap, though I generally just use the little handle straps on top. The bag comes in a variety of sizes, and the company website lists popular laptops and which size you should get for them. Finally, if you care about this sort of thing, they're made in Washington state, not by exploited kids in some faraway land.

I use an Arkel Commuter to tote my Macbook Pro back and forth 10 mi . I am still somewhat apprehensive each time I boot it out of sleep at either end of the commute but it's been fine so far.

the biggest problem I've had is that it is indeed too much weight on one side of the bike. So much so in fact that it torqued my chainstays enough to cause an awful SQUEEK every rotation when I had just a bit too much in it. I've taken to carrying one of my old panniers on the right side with tools + clothes in it for ballast, and only carrying the computer in the Arkel. Wish the colors matched though...

I was carrying my laptop in a incase sleeve to work in a Chrome Metropolis bag. The comfort of carrying it depended on how well (or poorly) I packed my bag. As of Friday, I decided I'm no longer carrying my laptop; I hardly use it at work and it's safer at home (and it's my own personal laptop, to boot). If, for some reason, I do need it at work, I know I can bring it along no problem.

I carry my laptop to class three days a week. Like a couple other people here, I'm using the Timbuk2 laptop messenger, and it works great. It's not perfect - it wants to move a bit too much if I try to sprint when I've got it loaded up with the computer and all my other gear, and space is a bit limited with the computer in there, but it's pretty good. I think that next time I will go with a Bailey Works bag with the laptop in a separate sleeve, both for a higher-quality bag and to free up some space when I'm not carrying the computer. But the BW with laptop sleeve was a bit too expensive to go for before I'd really tested the messenger bag concept (the Timbuk2 is my first messenger). Ah well, perhaps in a few years!

... I'm using the Timbuk2 laptop messenger, and it works great. It's not perfect - it wants to move a bit too much if I try to sprint when I've got it loaded up with the computer and all my other gear,
I called T.2 and asked for a x-harness (used on their other mess bags) instead of the belt harness. This fixed all the shifting problems and is more comfortable.

Al

noisebeam, I'm not clear on what the difference between the two is - so far as I can tell, the laptop messenger comes with the exact same strap system as their classic messenger. Perhaps you're thinking of the Metro?

I tried various bags and whatnot to carry my laptop between work and home...with little success (that I was pleased with). I ended up talking to some of the help desk guys and was able to get a hold of an older laptop that someone had replaced a few months prior. Since I don't need tons of computing power when I'm working at home in the evenings (I'm on call), the older laptop works great. Added bonus - I don't have to carry the laptop back and forth any longer. I do still carry a USB key with the few documents and etc. that I may need at home, but believe it or not, it's easier to find a way to carry a 2oz USB key than a 8lb laptop.

If this is at all a posibility for you, I would recommend looking into it.

I put my laptop in my pannier. I've also used bungee cords. Both work for me.

I spent several months of last year commuting with a notebook in an Arkel Briefcase (http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/briefcase/overview.asp?fl=0&site=). It's quality is top notch, and I didn't encounter any problems whatsoever. I'd highly recommend this beastie, especially if you need a "professional" briefcase once at your destination.

A more recent addition to their line is the Commuter (http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/commuter/overview.asp?fl=0&site=). I don't have any experience with this model but would expect it to work equally well.

noisebeam, I'm not clear on what the difference between the two is - so far as I can tell, the laptop messenger comes with the exact same strap system as their classic messenger. Perhaps you're thinking of the Metro?
My Tb2 laptop bag I bought 2yrs. ago came with a restraining strap that connected to each bottom corner of the bag and straped around ones waist. It was a bad design.
The non-lap top Tb2 bags used a restraining strap that connected to the primary strap via a velcro loop that had a buckle on it, the other end connected to a corner of the bag.

I just checked the tb2 website and noted that the Laptop Messenger (which didn't exist 2yr ago) is pictured with the diagonal retaining strap. I have what is now called the Commute I guess.

I often use both the waist and the x-strap for maximum control. But I find with just the x-strap nothing moves either unless I hop and then I may need to wiggle my shoulders to re-shift the bag back into place. With both restraining straps things don't even move when I hop as the belt keep the bottom of the bag snug to my back and the x-strap keeps things from moving side to side.

Al