Utility Cycling - Riding to and from school with a backpack and guitar?

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Nate3000
05-01-09, 04:32 AM
Hello all.

I'm planning on riding my bike to school and back 5 days a week, but I have a bit of a problem. I have to bring with me a very heavy backpack and heavy guitar case on the trip. I have some ideas on what to do, but need some guidance.

For the backpack, I would like to get a trailer, but am not sure what to do. I've googled briefly, and found this (http://www.bicycletrailers.com/Burley-Cargo-Nomad.pro) and this (http://www.bicycletrailers.com/Croozer-Cargo-Trailer.pro). Any thoughts? Better ideas?

For the guitar, I would like to get a soft case (it's really more of a guitar shaped backpack, actually) which can be worn as a backpack. But would wearing a guitar-backpack while riding throw off one's balance?

I am very interested to hear (read?) all of your suggestions/comments/pearls of wisdom/whatever.

daven1986
05-01-09, 04:57 AM
I have seen many people wear guitars on their back while cycling. However for the backpack have you considered a rack and panniers?
teacherbill
05-01-09, 06:21 AM
In my humble opinion, look at the used child carriers or if you are inclined you can also find them at the various -Mart stores. I bought one from Sams and it lasted through 2 children and many other objects.

badmother
05-01-09, 03:32 PM
You need a longtail!
Nate3000
05-01-09, 07:29 PM
You need a longtail!

What is a longtail?
AllenG
05-01-09, 09:57 PM
What is a longtail?

http://www.xtracycle.com/

http://homepage.m ac.com/awcg/.Pictures/XtraLite/XL3.jpg
StephenH
05-01-09, 11:01 PM
I would think a guitar is light enough that it wouldn't throw you off balance if worn as a backpack. Might catch the wind a bit.

For the heavy backpack, one possiblity is a bit basket on front- sort of depends on what kind of bike you have. A 10 lb Wald basket would look funny on a 15 lb carbon fiber bike.
Nitram
05-04-09, 04:51 PM
If its a thick bodied acoustic sort of guitar i wear a guitar backpack. It can get sweaty though.
If its a solid body electric i use a well padded gig bag and strap it to my rear rack with bungee cords (strings facing up). Just remember that you have a guitar neck sticking out the rear of your bicycle.

I use panniers for everything else.
crackerdog
05-05-09, 08:46 AM
You could put about half of the heavy stuff in the backpack in a separate smaller bag that you could put in one pannier or basket and then the backpack in the other. When you get to your destination, you could put the small bag into your backpack and off you go.
urider
05-06-09, 09:00 AM
You definitely need a longtail bike:
http://yubaride.com
http://xtracycle.com
http://rockthebike.com

If you dig in the sites you see pictures of people carrying music equipment.