Commuting - "Blue Collar" Commuting

Hi All...It seems that so many bike commuting discussions assume (implicitly and explicitly) that the commuter has an 'office job'. Lots of pannier manufacturers seem to have briefcase-type bags for the usual compliment of papers, a laptop computer and such. I work in a cabinet shop, and would be interested in thoughts/discussions about bicycling and bicycle products that deal with hauling various tools and related items. Any takers?

Yea i agree. most people here are going to an office. I have not read anything about others.

My brother is a union glazier (glass work if you didnt know) in manhatten and the shop he works out of also does a lot of metal work (a lot of welding and things). I am trying to gett him to commute to work. If you come up with anything good please let me know. I think tools are much heavier then what some office guys bring.

I work in a cabinet shop, and would be interested in thoughts/discussions about bicycling and bicycle products that deal with hauling various tools and related items. Any takers?
Not so great for large tools but a pretty good setup for carrying lunch and other essentials for "Joe Sixpack". Or myself coming home from shopping. The lunch bag in this case was carrying a 35mm camera and two lenses.

Click to enlarge
http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/4057/dscf1118sg1.th.jpg (http://img474.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf1118sg1.jpg) http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/7229/dscf1119jh1.th.jpg (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf1119jh1.jpg)

I do golf course maintenance. I don't have to carry a bunch of stuff to work, as they supply all the tools, but since I get off at 2:30 Tues, Weds, Thurs and noon on Fri, it's not unusual to see me with my golf clubs on my Burley Flatbed Trailer to get in 18 in the afternoon.

Before I got this gig I was doing private contracting and hauled all kinds of power and hand tools on that trailer.

Also hobby related gear; fishing tackle, crab traps, castnets, etc.

I also use a Burley Solo if I want a covered trailer or a Wike Woody Wagon if I'm taking one of my canoes or kayak to a local river or the bay.

Hi All...It seems that so many bike commuting discussions assume (implicitly and explicitly) that the commuter has an 'office job'. Lots of pannier manufacturers seem to have briefcase-type bags for the usual compliment of papers, a laptop computer and such. I work in a cabinet shop, and would be interested in thoughts/discussions about bicycling and bicycle products that deal with hauling various tools and related items. Any takers?

The mechanic at my LBS is a bike commuter. In fact, he doesn't even own a car. All his tools are at work though so I don't know how you'd even begin to haul a bunch of heavy tools. Can't you leave them at work?

There were some BF members here that used trailers or xtracycles to haul their tools around to job sites.

+1 Xtracycle....I'm trying to save the money for one.

There were some BF members here that used trailers or xtracycles to haul their tools around to job sites.

Just to add; I like single wheeled trailers as they basically track where the bike tracks so you can add one to the bike and not be overly concerned about where the trailer is on the road. I’ll also note that I love my Xtracycle but I do understand that a trailer might work out better for some people/uses.

I work in a shop programming lasers, mills, etc..
When I have to tote something into work I'll use a combination of my rack-trunk bag, backpack, lumbar pack, and child trailer. I've hauled over 150lbs worth of gear before.

Hi All...It seems that so many bike commuting discussions assume (implicitly and explicitly) that the commuter has an 'office job'. Lots of pannier manufacturers seem to have briefcase-type bags for the usual compliment of papers, a laptop computer and such. I work in a cabinet shop, and would be interested in thoughts/discussions about bicycling and bicycle products that deal with hauling various tools and related items. Any takers?

I commuted to blue collar jobs for years on an old Raleigh 3sp. Only time I really dragged tools back and forth was at the end of jobs or when I quit working for a specfic company. I used a canvas mason's bag strapped to the rack most of the time. When I had to carry alot of tools they went in my Cannondale bugger. There a bunch of nice utility trailers out there now. I saw one this past weekend that was basically a big Rubbermaid container on a wheels. What was neat was the attachement was a quick release air chuck. Don't know what brand, or if it was home built but it was great.

Aaron:)

I commuted to blue collar jobs for years on an old Raleigh 3sp. Only time I really dragged tools back and forth was at the end of jobs or when I quit working for a specfic company. I used a canvas mason's bag strapped to the rack most of the time. When I had to carry alot of tools they went in my Cannondale bugger. There a bunch of nice utility trailers out there now. I saw one this past weekend that was basically a big Rubbermaid container on a wheels. What was neat was the attachement was a quick release air chuck. Don't know what brand, or if it was home built but it was great.

Aaron:)

My own take on the airchuck system and the trailer I made:

+2 on the Xtracycle.

I've hauled more than I can imagine on it. I've carried about 70lbs of equipment (for firedancing and fire tool repairs) on it with minimal change on the handling of the bike.

Just to add; I like single wheeled trailers as they basically track where the bike tracks so you can add one to the bike and not be overly concerned about where the trailer is on the road. I’ll also note that I love my Xtracycle but I do understand that a trailer might work out better for some people/uses.


One of these setups...Bob Yak with a toolrax

There a bunch of nice utility trailers out there now. I saw one this past weekend that was basically a big Rubbermaid container on a wheels. What was neat was the attachement was a quick release air chuck. Don't know what brand, or if it was home built but it was great.

I bought this trailer with hitch attachments and RubberMaid-like box in Germany about 6 or 7 years ago for 40DM or $40 (I forget which). The box has needed a little reinforcemnt with duct tape but still works fine. The coupling is just like a car trailer and hitch but smaller.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/4498/trailersm6.th.jpg (http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trailersm6.jpg) http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2604/trailerframefx0.th.jpg (http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trailerframefx0.jpg)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4757/trailerhitchsi4.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trailerhitchsi4.jpg) http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/6366/trailerballyl5.th.jpg (http://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trailerballyl5.jpg)
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/9359/kynastwtrailerev6.th.jpg (http://img245.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kynastwtrailerev6.jpg)

The xtracycle is dreamy, but a trailer is easier to leave behind when you don't need it. I'm a trailer lover, so I'll offer up a few thoughts on trailers:


B.O.B trailer is easy to pull, low risk of hitting something, but requires a special skewer which can be a problem sharing with multiple bikes or with a solid rear axle (i.e. internal hub).
Burley and similar kid trailers are easy to pull, hold more weight than you'd guess, and can be found second-hand pretty easily, but have more aero drag at speed and protrude significantly to the left of your bike tire line. Burley makes a low profile, cargo only version that is pretty extensible. A sheet of plywood and/or rubbermaid action packers are good mods to any dept store version of these trailers.
IMO, trailers that attach to the seatpost affect the handling of the bike with any significant weight in them. You can correct for it, but trailers that attach to the axle or stays don't affect handling as noticably.
Finally, as a cabinet maker, you probably have good access to "scrap" materials. Ever consider building one?

the "Oyster Bucket" panniers sound like a good solution to this issue. 1/8 inch thick ABS plastic and probably big enough to fit a tool-belt in one and hammer/other tools in the other.

if Oyster buckets aren't available in your area, cat litter is also sold in suitably similar containers...in which case you can even call them sh!tty panniers.

I originally thought this thread was going to be about commuting in a cut off flannel shirt based on the title :)

Found the trailer I saw...it is a BikeR Evolution (http://www.bikerev.com/) trailer. Very well thought out.

krazygluon...I was thinking along the same lines...more like...how do you make steel toed work boots fit in toe clips:D :p (I didn't use them;) )

Aaron:)

For trailers this is a great reference:
http://www.bikeroute.com/TrailerMatrix.php

For the Rubbermaid box trailers I think these are cool:
http://www.bikesatwork.com/bike-trailers/
(Three models that hold 2, 4 or 6 boxes)
25481

Hi All...It seems that so many bike commuting discussions assume (implicitly and explicitly) that the commuter has an 'office job'. Lots of pannier manufacturers seem to have briefcase-type bags for the usual compliment of papers, a laptop computer and such. I work in a cabinet shop, and would be interested in thoughts/discussions about bicycling and bicycle products that deal with hauling various tools and related items. Any takers?

When I do wiring for sound, I use a different bag. Most backpacks have heavy compartment dividers. The pack weight combined with heavy tools makes the thing just too heavy. For my tool bag, I use an older backpack with the dividers carefully cut out. Then for the tools, I have a thin pouch that unfolds with each tool in a slot. The pouch goes at the bottom.

Next is a clear dividier box for connectors and such. Looks like something for fishing tackle.

BikeTony for you maybe you can use the folding pouch for files and such and leave the heavier stuff like drills in a locking box at work.

When we needed a gel coat repair on our boat, I was amazed that the estimator arrived by bike. Rather than jump in his truck to drive around the huge Dagmar's boat yard, he just hoped on a bike. with this measuring tape, small notepad and whatever in the overalls.

I carry a bike tool box in my panniers on a regular basis. I do a bike recycling project at work, plus work on my own bikes at home, so the tool box needs to go back and forth every couple of weeks. I have Aiom LaSalle 40 Litre panniers, so the tool box just fits. I've carried my laptop on the other side, too.

My bike tool box isn't overly heavy, it just has mostly specialized bike stuff - spoke wrenches, cone wrenches, chain tools, tire levers, crank removers, etc. It weighs about 20 pounds or so.

I'm also in the process of rigging up a mountain bike for work for checking sewer manholes in easements. I'll just use a bungie chord to keep a pick, hammer and wrenches attached to the rack and bike frame.

My friend used to commute to our roofing job. Boss kept all the tools in his truck, so if you can get to keep your tools at the shop locked up, wouldn't that be the solution?

Great responses, everyone. I am always interested in how folks find different ways to solve similar problems. I have used a BOB trailer for hauling all sorts of things, including a small Italian virginal (look it up)! A canvas 'rigger's bag' in a rubbermaid bin can hold a good selection of hand tools, with my trusty drill in the large openning of the bag. When on bike, one has to be discriminating about packing tools (heck-about packing just about anything), as they are so darn heavy. It WOULD be cool if a manufacturer had a reasonably weather-proof pannier/trunk bag made especially for those of us that haul tools around. Thank you, everyone that took the time to share your thoughts and ideas.

Best wishes, Tony

I work as a motion picture lighting technician, and fortunately I don't have to carry much more than a standard messenger bag's worth of hand tools and meters on a normal day. 99% of the time I can either leave my tools at the stage, or load them (with my bike lock, of course) onto our equipment truck the day before and let the teamsters carry them ;)

The few times I actually have to carry tools on my bike, my bag fits pretty well into one of my Ortleib panniers. With Autumn and Winter coming, the other one's going to be dedicated to cold weather gear.