Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - newb: messenger bag - Left or Right shoulder?

So I'm giving up my old-school JanSport backpack for a messenger bag. :p Pretty set on the Chrome Metro, but I have one question... left or right shoulder? I've never even really swung anything around me while on a bike, but my guessing is that if you are right handed, you generally get a left shoulder bag... and if you are left handed, you generally get a right shoulder bag. Is this correct?

Just do what feels right. Borrow one from a friend or try one at a store. I like mine on my right shoulder, but I think most people prefer the left, you'll know which feels good to you.

Just do what feels right. Borrow one from a friend or try one at a store. I like mine on my right shoulder, but I think most people prefer the left, you'll know which feels good to you.

There's not a single store that carries a fixed gear within 300 miles, let alone a messenger bag (for riders). I guess I'm gonna have to go down to Parisians and try swinging some purses around. :D

yeah, just do what feels best to you.

with that said, you're correct about the right handed/left shoulder, left handed/right shoulder thing, but that's not always the case. i guess it's kind of like regular and goofy footed stances in board sports.

but anyway, if you decide that you prefer a right shoulder bag, just make sure the one you get is designed for it.

good luck!

but anyway, if you decide that you prefer a right shoulder bag, just make sure the one you get is designed for it.



+1

I wear mine on the right shoulder (right handed, go figure) and I have one designed for the left and it sucks. I'm getting a new one next month.

You can make a ghettoized mess bag to try which shoulder you like best. Take your backpack and run the right shoulder strap to the left bottom attachment strap or vice versa. Leave the other straps unconnected. It is not a perfect sling, but it may give some idea about which shoulder you like best. You will have to reverse straps to try the other shoulder.

over the right shoulder is nice for unimpaired line of sight when you're in the bike lane and need to check behind you for cars about to run you off the road.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I guess I just think about it too hard. I think that because I'm right handed, I need left shoulder bag. BUT then I think that because I am right handed, that the weight needs to be on the strong side shoulder (right shoulder). Also the looking over left shoulder would warrant right shoulder bag. Another thing I was thinking about was on a right shoulder bag, the one hand to keep on steering wheel would be strong side as well.

Chrome has a Money Back Guarantee, so I guess I have some reassurance if I decide that the opposite shoulder is best.

There's not a single store that carries a fixed gear within 300 miles, let alone a messenger bag (for riders).

I'm willing to bet you can find somewhere in bham that has timbuk2s. Also it's less then 150 to your nearest fg freindly store.

I'm willing to bet you can find somewhere in bham that has timbuk2s. Also it's less then 150 to your nearest fg freindly store.

Camelback is all I've found. Motorcycle shops is all I've been pointed, just for backpacks.

I used to live outside B'ham, so ya, I guess I'm 150 miles now. :D

Alabama Outdoors
3054 Independence Dr
Birmingham, AL 35209
United States
205.870.1919
Kinnucan's
1199 S. Donahue Dr.
Auburn, AL 36831-1029
United States
334.887.6100
Kinnucan's
6820 East Chase Parkway
Montgomery, AL 36117
United States

New Paltz Outfitters
188 Main St
, New Paltz NY
United States
845.255.2829
Southern Trails
5143 Atlanta Way
Montgomery, AL 36109
United States
334.272.0952
Spoke N' Trail
4453 Old Shell Rd.
Mobile, AL 36608
United States
251.341.1669
Trailhead Inc.
604 Andrew Jackson Way
Huntsville, AL 35801
United States
256.534.1333
Werner's Trading Company
1115 4th St SW
Cullman, AL 35055
United States
256.734.5673

just the registered dealers.

Most bags that are shoulder specific are designed to go over the left shoulder. I've been carrying ambidextrous bags for decades now, and I always use my right shoulder. I never thought about it, that's just how I like to do it. The only problem is now I want a shoulder specific bag, because they fit better, and are easier to adjust the strap length on the fly. the problem is that because I'm "left swing" I have fewer choices.

My advice go with what's comfortable, but if all else is equal get used to wearing it over your left shoulder, and you'll have far more options down the road.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/messenger-bag/walmart-messenger-bag.jpg

thats how you wear them. duh!

erm, I'm a leftie and wear mine on the left shoulder (wearing it on the right felt like some kind of parallel universe, awkward and not comfortable to me) Its really all accoring to feel. if you really don't have a place that sells the bags around (c'mon , even old navy sells some cheap knockoffs) just grab a duffel bag and see which side you naturally swing it over (but swing it over messenger, not purse style)

Or you could get a BaileyWorks (http://www.baileyworks.com/). They have a reversible strap so you can try out both. Their bags are highly regarded as well.



Chrome has a Money Back Guarantee, so I guess I have some reassurance if I decide that the opposite shoulder is best.

Chrome has a Money Back Guarantee, so I guess I have some reassurance if I decide that the opposite shoulder is best.
might want to look a little further into this, as it may only cover defects, etc.

might want to look a little further into this, as it may only cover defects, etc.

Money Back Guarantee

If you're not satisfied with your purchase, for any reason, return the unused item in its original condition (within a reasonable amount of time), for a full refund, less shipping costs. We will refund shipping costs if the return is the result of our error. Please return the item in the original box or a package of sufficient size to accommodate the item. Please don't roll or cram the bag in a tiny package, this results in damage to the product which may result in only a partial refund.

If you screwed up, and ordered the wrong bag, or the color you ordered doesn't match your new outfit, we want you to be happy so we will exchange the item at no additional charge other than the difference in price between the two items and the associated freight charges to send the replacement item back to you.

might want to look a little further into this, as it may only cover defects, etc.

I do my homework. :) I even searched the forums for an hour and found nothing on left/right shoulder.

I just ordered a left shoulder Metropolis.

i wear mine on my left, but i think i'd prefer right. the only think i don't like about left is that it's kind of hard to look over my left shoulder when the bag is loaded, and i usually look over my left shoulder when i'm riding.

but it's easy to get into with my right hand while i'm biking.

*crashing head on desk*

you seriously needed to solicit opinions on WHICH SHOULDER YOUR BRAND-NEW MSGR BAG SHOULD GO OVER?

*crashing head on desk*

you seriously needed to solicit opinions on WHICH SHOULDER YOUR BRAND-NEW MSGR BAG SHOULD GO OVER?

I don't know about everyone else, but I generally get opinions and reviews on products before making a purchase of the unkown.

Are you from the roadie forum?

Hey, mplsminx, you were soliciting opinions on whether 52/14 is too high a gear last year...

Ok, that was low. But I was also wandering which shoulder I would prefer if I were to get a mess-bag. You see pics both ways, and while I swing my backpack on my right shoulder when I'm lazy, which would point to the right shoulder, I guess I'd want to access a mess bag with my right hand, so it should go on the left (is that even correct?) The one I'd buy is reversible, so I'm in luck, I guess.

I carry my backpack lazily on my right shoulder, but since I get into my bag with my right hand, I wear a left shoulder bag.

My gf is also right handed but likes her bag lefty, which she thinks is the result of owning one of those single-strap, triangular backpacks where the zipper is on the wrong side, so she's trying to get used to wearing it left shoulder again.

It seems like this issue has already been covered to death, but all the other righties I know wear it on the left, and my lefty friend wears his on the right, so the standard convention is a pretty good guide. Just my 2¢.