Living Car Free - How do I not be so bulky?

I like having everything i need for the day with me when i commute by bike but sometimes my bag just gets so bulky and i like to ride really fast. does anyone have any suggestions on ways to cut down?

Can you get a ride to work once per week with all the clothes, shoes, socks, and toiletries you'll need? That way you won't have to carry them daily.

I leave my shoes, a towel and soap at work, so I only have to carry a change of clothes. It drastically reduces the size of the backpack I need.

When I have to carry a laptop too, I have to ride the bike with the rack and panniers though.

I like having everything i need for the day with me when i commute by bike but sometimes my bag just gets so bulky and i like to ride really fast. does anyone have any suggestions on ways to cut down?

Maybe this is a dumb question, since you say you like to ride fast, but do you use panniers, or a messenger bag or backpack? I use panniers because I like not having loads attached to my body, making me sweat too much, but they do produce a lot of air resistance. For me it's not that big of a deal, since I rarely go faster than 25 mph anyway, usually even slower. For you, if you want to move quickly, and if you don't already use one, maybe you should consider a messenger bag. Big loads, very little air resistance, and virtually no annoying balance issues. There's a reason they were originally used by messengers.

I carry everything I need with me in one bag. I make sure my work clothes are rolled up pretty tightly. I pack a lunch, spare tube, pump, toiletries including a small towel and a few other things. Weight comes to about 10 pounds. I was carrying up to 18 pounds at one time, but over time, I managed to weed out quite a few items.

or just keep riding and get used to hauling the stuff

Yeah I use a backpack but i actually always end up stuffing the back pack so it is really full. Next fall i will be carrying a laptop as well so i wonder if a bigger bag might be needed. Also i eat a lot so I like my food to be not squished!

Extra weight will be noticeable mostly when climbing hills. if you ahve a flat ride, it doesn't as much difference.

Rear rack with a bag on top (not sides) is pretty aero, no sweat issues.

I think it's partly a matter of your personality. Some people feel the need to carry stuff for every contingency, while others prefer to travel light.

How big of a backpack is normal?

How big of a backpack is normal?

Depends where you stand on the Kitchen Sink <> Über Minimalist continuum, and "normal" would be not quite large enough to fit your "essentials". "Stuff you can't live without" expands to fill the volume allotted. The Backpack/Messenger Bag/Pannier choice is one of personal preference and mood, I think the question here is one of size and weight.

You need to dump out everything in your bag and decide if you honestly & truly need it, if not, leave it at home, if yes, see if you can find a smaller/lighter alternative. Give everything a true risk assessment i.e. what would be the worst thing that would happen if I didn't have this item vs the frequency that the situation would actually arise. Take your kit's before & after weight, rejoice in your accomplishment and be ever vigilant that it doesn't get overweight again.

I recently did this exercise and managed to trim my 2 1/2 pound tool kit to just under a pound and gave away a lot of the clutter that I truly didn't need. My running bag is overdue for a clean out, it's next on the hit list.