Commuting - Rack Trunks

Hi.
I commute 18 miles a day. Every day I bring the following with me to work:
-> Laptop
-> Change of clothes (Tshirt, underwear, socks, shirt)
-> Raingear (just in case)

Occasionally, I also bring food (tasty leftovers).
This makes for a pretty heavy backpack... and a sore back.

I installed a rack yesterday and put all my stuff in paniers. Granted the bike weights a ton now, but I feel... much lighter!

The problem is that my hill hits the paniers when I pedal (not always, depends on the position). This is very annoying!

Can anyone recommend a rack trunk where I could fit all my stuff. I am mostly concerned about getting my laptop to fit in there. It's a regulation size IBM thinkpad (R30) 12x10x1.5 inches

Thanks!!!

Wow, I wish I could my load down that small. :)

Wow, I wish I could my load down that small. :)
I messed up witht the TAB and ENTER :rolleyes:

Can you move your panniers all the way to the back of the rack? I had a simular problem on my old commuter bike that my wife now uses. On my "new" bike, it is longer and I also attach the panniers WAY to the back of the rack.

I have an A20 ThinkPad for work, but don't take it back & forth unless I must. If you have the standared laptop case, you cold strap it down on the top of the rack. I have done that a couple of times as well.

Sorry I didn't answer your specific question with regards to the HUGE trunk bag. I have not seen one big enough for my A20.

Good luck.

You get one of them REAL big saddle bags hey?

--

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/bags/index.html

http://rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/baggage_racks/
(check out the Hoss)

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Only thing is - taking the load up will offset your center of balance or something no? Keeping it low in the panniers keeps your handling a touch better - which is something to be considered when doing the two-wheeled dance in the city traffic...

If you get small paniers, or ones with a heel cutout, you will have less interference. Otherwise, use the mounting system to move them back. This is not so good for balance, but OK for small loads.
Carradice make some good pannier bags for carrying office gear.
Do you carry a repair kit as well?

Hi.
I commute 18 miles a day. Every day I bring the following with me to work:
-> Laptop
-> Change of clothes (Tshirt, underwear, socks, shirt)
-> Raingear (just in case)


I went through the same thing and even ordered the rack trunk from Ortlieb but myLBS wouldn't install it the length of the bike rack. At $250, **NO SALE**.

Instead, I settled my own 17X20 trunk.

1. Attach the trunk lenghwise on the rear rack with zip ties. Mine didn't sit flat, so I had to add some leveling shims.

2. Make a waterproof cover by cutting waterproof material to encompans the top, and sides then putting elastic around the bottom edge. If you don't sew, you can usually buy the rain covers based on the dimensions.

3. Now, just lift the cover, stow your bag, attach the bungee crosswise to keep the load seated and peddle off.

Total cost:

$2.97 17'X20'X5' Plastic Coated Wire Shelf Rack (GoodWill or $7.99 new)
6.99 Black paint (optional). Rack was white, I wanted black
1.99 8-10 zip ties
2.00 Army Alice Pack Army bag or some other waterproof vynil
2.00 3/8" elastic
.99 Securing strap or bungy (to secure crosswise across basket)
===
~17.00


No more baggies for clothes!

After two years about 3K miles, it doesn't leak, rock or roll. Holds a padded computer bag, change of clothes and small set of tools. Allows you to lift the cover and stuff unneeded gloves or whatever with one hand at stoplights.

Oh and make sure that computer is in a fully padded bag or you'll crack the display on the first pothole. Yeah, ah did that! :(

A few years ago, I used a RubberMaid container approx 10" wide by 14" long by 9" deep. Fastened it onto the rack of my old 3 speed with bolts through the bottom of container. Later I used it on a couple other bikes by bungeeing it onto a rack. The top snaps on & container is water tight. Don't remember cost but I think less than $10. These containers come in several sizes. Only downside is bike becomes difficult to swing your leg over & you have to remember to lean it sideways & step over the top tube & saddle. Don

NY,
Unless your bike is unusually small or your panniers unusually large I would think you can move the panniers back for enough for wheel clearance. If they want to slide forward you could wrap a little electrical tape around the rack just in front of the pannier suspension hooks to keep them from sliding. I wear size 12 shoes and have had this problem but managed to get the panniers far enough back. You may have to mess with it a bit to get things to work.

You can get a simple padded sleeve just for packing a laptop. Some are kind of expensive, but I have seen very inexpensive ones that seemed quite adequate. Something like this:

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=24392028&memberId=12500226

Meanwhile you could go to an office supply store and buy a roll of bubble wrap for a couple of bucks. Just wrap it in a couple of layers. Not as convenient as a sleeve but OK for short term until you can find something better. If your panniers aren't waterproof you can get dry bags from places like sierratradingpost.com or campmor.com. These are designed for kayaking and such. They aren't expensive. Check here:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/product.asp?base_no=68407

Yes all this gets a little bulky, but that comes with carrying a laptop on a bike safely.

Here is an update on this story.
You guys were right, all I had to do was move the paniers further towards the back to get more clearance. It does look weird, but it works. I will try to also adjust the rack to get a better look.

Here is the sad part of the story... I adjusted the paniers before leaving work to get home. The first few minutes of my ride were spent checking clearance of the shoe... until I hit a pothole and found myself on the ground and covered by horse manure (52nd & 11th)....
My wrist is still a bit sore and my leg, like my ego, very bruised. I did not ride yesterday (snow/rain/ego) but am back at it today...

This is my 3rd fall this winter.... I am still sore from the 2nd one... morale is a bit low. Why am I doing this? Am I sane? Should I stop before I really hurt myself?.... I do love my bike commute, but...

The fall did no damage to the bike or computer, but I will look into the sleeves as suggested here.
Thanks for the advices.

My brain can hold about 7 things in before something falls out. Ive had some near-crashes when Im trying to avoid one trouble and another one appears. Usually its the third one which gets me.
I think we can learn something from those aviator aphorisms. My favourite is "Fly the aeroplane". Whatever you are doing, your very first priority is to ride the bike, not mess with bags or lighting or gloves etc.
If you are going to fall, you must wear gloves, and keep your limbs close in to avoid damage .If you have time, relax a little and enjoy the flight, it hurts less than if you tense up.

[QUOTE=NYCommuter]
This is my 3rd fall this winter.... still sore from the 2nd. Why am I doing this?


QUOTE]
Major Grief! I had this same problem last year. Ice, bad equipment, my own mistakes left me falling before recovering from the previous.

So now when changing or adding stuff, I run it through a set of comfort tests. Your comort test will vary, but here are mine.

Bounce test***Raise the front tire up about 12" and drop the tire. Same for the back.

Rock 'n roll test***Stand over the bike and sway it hard left and right several times. HARD.

If all is cool, then I run it for 10 mi on some trail or side street. If all is still cool then it's good to go BUT guarded for the next 50 miles. etc.

Hang in there.