I'm able to ride to work again! My question is: when I rode before I could leave my clothes at work (I had a real office, now I'm in a cube :( so I used a daypack to carry the misc. stuff I needed. Now I'll need to bring clothes with me. I'm looking at larger (2,000cu in) backpacks & considering a messenger bag. I liked wearing a backpack beacuse it felt like a part of me and moved when I did. Messenger bags seem like they'd flop around and not move with me but would possibly hold more (I'm considering the Timuk2 pro messenger medium). I don't want to put a rack on the bike, I'd rather move my body rather than muscle a loaded bike around. What are your thoughts and experiences?

I think a rack makes more sense, and I use a messenger bag because mine fits on the rack better. However, on the body, no brainer, backpack stays in place better. Hate the sweaty back though.

Messenger bags are designed - surprise - for riding bikes. They have a chest strap that secures it fairly well to your body. Mine only tends to move around when I have it really overstuffed; otherwise it sits pretty solidly in the small of my back. I have a Timbuk2.

I tried using a 2K ci backpack, but the top of it pressed against the back of my head on my road bike, so I gave up on it real quick. Maybe if I had a bike with a more upright riding position I would have had more success.

As a side note, when I worked in a cube, I had black and brown shoes, plus ties and a shoe shine kit in one of the closeable upper "shelves". I also had a good-sized full-length garment bag that I just hung up and used as a closet. Could hold 3 or 4 clean shirts and pairs of pants.

After being a bike courier for almost 8 years and now being a devoted bike commuter with a 30 mile round-trip commute, I recommend the backpack. My shoulders will never be the same from that courier bag. I'm tellin' ya, there's nothing worse than lugging around an overstuffed courier bag. I took mine off when I got home from my last day of couriering and haven't put it on since! I found a great pack (made by deuter--why do germans engineer such great packs?) w/ a mesh thingie to keep it off my back and allow air to circulate. As a bonus, it keeps things like books from digging into my back which is a little sensitive after breaking it in September (got hit from behind on the way to work). I can stuff lots of clothes and shoes and shampoo bottles and notebooks in the backpack and still ride comfortably--I think it's maybe 1500 cu in, but I can't remember exactly. With creative packing, my clothes are not usually wrinkled. Ultimately though, I suppose it's all a matter of personal preference. Can you try both and decide which you like better?

Messenger. Get one with a chest strap, or don't get one at all. Really, feels light as air.

I feel more agile with a backpack than strapping all that weight to the bike. Below is my favorite. It has great features including mesh pads for air flow. And I consider a waist strap essential. This one is made by SwissGear (model: Synergy, $69 at BestBuy)

Depending on the day and the bike I am riding I will use either. Though I trnd to lean towards the messenger bag

one strap is not enough if you carry much weight. there are some packs that have a mesh back to keep it off your back so only the straps on your sholder and the pad on the bottom get any sweat. my last one was liek that. but I kept overstuffing it and killed the zipper. but if possibme use a rack it's so much nicer. I had to commute a year on my racing bike with a pack. what a pain when I had to carry 10 pounds.

messenger bag, but make sure to get a strap pad...having that thick strap abrade your neck is not fun.

Messenger Bag. I have done the lot from paniers to backpacks to racks. There is nothing to compete with the messenger bag. Much better than anythign else in my opinion. I do an 19 mile round trip each day with one. I would consider the large Timbuk2 if I were you. That is the one I am using and I find that I rarely fill it but sometimes I need it if I have shirts, trousers, shoes etc.

I have already posted extensively to another thread on this one. Look up my posts and you should find it.

Brian

Get a Chrome Metropolis. My wife got me one for Christmas. That bag is great. Comfortable, huge and seems well made. Carries everything I need.

I have both a Timbuk2 commuter bag and an el ocho messenger. The commuter doesn't have bike straps, and the messenger is too small to fit my laptop, two law books, and gym clothes in it all at the same time. (I think my textbook writers are paid by the word.) So I switched to a small internal framed hiking bag from Kelty. I get a little bit sweaty by the end of my 6 mile (one way) commute, but it was worth it to carry everything I needed. And if it was a particularly heavy day, I could use the waist strap to take the load off my back. .

Ex-messenger voting for BaileyWorks messenger bag. But it all depends on your riding style. If you need the chest strap to keep the bag on your back then just go with a backpack. But the whole thing about all of the weight being on one shoulder means you are riding too upright. If your riding correctly the weight will be on your back and move with you.

Again, the best advice is too leave as much of your crap at work as possible, especially the shoes. I have a brown and black pair that I alternate that have never even seen my home.

I use the Reebok Slingbag (http://store.reebok.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1734695&cp=1320288.1125568&clickid=hmp_geardrop_3&parentPage=family). I found that a backpack was always ackward when I needed to find something quickly. This is a good compromise between the two that works well for me.

don't listen to these messenger bag dolts. you wanna carry 20 or more lbs on one shoulder or 2? also the messenger bags tend to get in the view path of glass/helmetmounted mirrors.

go with a back pack and get a rack to put the pack on.

dank makes nice back packs.

20 pounds is too much for one shoulder? You really are frail arent you?

I feel more agile with a backpack than strapping all that weight to the bike. Below is my favorite. It has great features including mesh pads for air flow. And I consider a waist strap essential. This one is made by SwissGear (model: Synergy, $69 at BestBuy)

Nice look'n pack. How much does it weigh?

try carrying that 20lbs for a long while. i dare you to ride and walk everywhere you go with 40lbs in a messenger bag. i have to do that so i use a back pack.


why would you carry 40lbs of crap with you everywhere you go. Lets be realistic here, 20lbs is a lot of crap already, unless you are a super studious student and carry ALL your books with you, you won't be carrying 20lbs. I carry my laptop, change of clothes and shoes with me plus some random notebooks and other crap and it's still under 20lbs all in a manhattan portage bag and it's more than enough. Most backpack zippers can't handle too much weight anyways and you can't store things neatly enough. if you have to have a shirt and pant, it'll get wrinkled easily in a backpack. Go with a nice messenger bag, it'll carry everything you need and more. Timbuk2, manhattan portage and chrome are the bigger companies and they make very nice bags in varying sizes.

I tried a messenger bag and I hated it. It flopped around no matter what I did. Now I have a Camelbak Feratta which is as big as any backpack, bigger if I drain the water out of it.

Where I live, a lot of people do 30 mile round trip commutes on road bikes and I don't see any of them with messenger bags, they all use backpacks or racks.

try carrying that 20lbs for a long while. i dare you to ride and walk everywhere you go with 40lbs in a messenger bag. i have to do that so i use a back pack.



40lbs??!!! that's how much my pack weighs when i do a week of back country hiking! What can you possibly be carrying around that weighs that much? For me it's 2 changes of clothes, food for seven days, tent, sleeping bag, mess kit, stove, etc...

FWIW i have the medium size Timbuk2 that i got for valentine's day. It's good stuff, and it's big enough to take on weekend travel trips (non bike). It's also very comfortable, and on the bike i haven't had any trouble with it shifting aruond. The sternum strap works perfectly. My only complaint is that it's hot. I sweat buckets so having a non-breathable material on my back for a long time is icky. Rides under 10mi or so, or at a slow pace aren't bad though. I greatly prefer it to my EMS backpack, even though it holds slightly less. And to whomever recommended the strappad, i second that.

you can't store things neatly enough. if you have to have a shirt and pant, it'll get wrinkled easily in a backpack.

My mommy didn't teach me how to fold so I learned from the Brits. Many Brit cyclists will tell you that if you fold or roll clothes to the size of the pack, the stuff won't wrinkle. I lauged till I tried it. I can carry a dress button down shirt, silk or regular...no wrinkles at all. Same with dress pants.

why would you carry 40lbs of crap with you everywhere you go. Lets be realistic here, 20lbs is a lot of crap already, unless you are a super studious student and carry ALL your books with you, you won't be carrying 20lbs. I carry my laptop, change of clothes and shoes with me plus some random notebooks and other crap and it's still under 20lbs all in a manhattan portage bag and it's more than enough. Most backpack zippers can't handle too much weight anyways and you can't store things neatly enough. if you have to have a shirt and pant, it'll get wrinkled easily in a backpack. Go with a nice messenger bag, it'll carry everything you need and more. Timbuk2, manhattan portage and chrome are the bigger companies and they make very nice bags in varying sizes.


Apple PowerBook - 5.6 lbs
2 law textbooks - ~5 lbs each, so 10 lbs
Shoes, gym shorts, shirt, sports bra, etc - ~3-4 lbs
Powercord, ethernet cable, pens - 1lb
Bike Lock & cable (because mine didn't come with a bike attachment) - ~5 lbs
Water bottle, food, random crap - ~2 lbs

Being conservative, since sometimes I have to bring all of my books home, this is easily over 20lbs. No backpack failures yet!! Or back failures. All thanks to Kelty!
*sitting by the mail, waiting for my sponsorship check*

And trust me, I am not super studious :D I just live a distance from home.

I have a large Timbuk2 pro messenger bag. With 20lb. of stuff in it, it just didn't work (in terms of size or weight) for 21 miles a day, so I went back to my panniers. Great with less stuff in it for less distance, though.

Should have bought the medium.

Nice look'n pack. How much does it weigh?

re: SwissGear Synergy by Wenger laptop backback (swiss army knife folks)

Sorry for the delay. Don't know the weight (don't want to dump it out and measure I guess) but it's comparable or lighter than other laptop backpacks. I carry my laptop and files with me both ways every day. Loaded total usualy exceeds 25 lbs. On the rare days when I don't take a backpack, I feel like I'm barely touching the ground and can't wait to devour those hills with extreme prejudice ;)

I like my Specialized messenger bag.
http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/equip/04BagMessenger_d.jpg

I've been commuting for a massive 4 weeks now, so take everything I say with a grain of salt :-)

For the first week I used a backpack. That was OK. Then the second week I was on call and had to use my Crumpler 'Crisp Suit' which I bought prior to cycling. Painful as all hell, until I realised I was carrying it far too low on my back and it was pulling me backwards. Adjusted it and it was great. However I am now looking at the Chrome Bags as they are larger and waterproof.

Messenger seems to work better for me.

If it doesn't fit/sit good, it's gonna hurt. Save yourself somemone and try to get the proper fit before running out and buying something else. l There are many websites that explain proper fit for both kinds of bags.

When I use my back pack (day pack size) I loosen the staps so it rides lower on my back than if I were carrying it while hiking. So, the pack essentially rests on my mid/lower back without any significant weight on my shoulders. I started doing this because it felt better and seemed more aerodynamic. I got a messenger bag (Bailey) and it seems that when adjusted correctly it's in about the same position on my back as the backpack with the loosened straps (mid/lower back). I was told that this is the proper position. The messenger bag does a better job stabilizing the load in this "proper" position due to it's strap configuration. I get the sweaty back syndrome whether I use the back pack or the messenger bag. For my generally light daily commute load (undies, socks, wallet, keys) the back pack works fine and the large Bailey would be overkill. When the load gets heavier the backpack is unstable unless I cinch up the straps. Then it feels wrong. I guess I'm thinking that back packs are fine for light, small loads. But, with heavier, bulkier loads a messenger bag (or rack and panniers) makes more sense. I suppose you could attach the waist strap of the back pack. But, that seems really wrong.

Sorry for rambling . .

Thanks all for your thoughts. FYI - I after reading Christie 133's account of 8 yrs as a bike mssngr and now Deuter backpack fan, I did some web research on Deuter, which revealed rave reviews so I ordered a 1850cu in backpack. Having been comfortable with a BP before, I want to stick with what I know (for now). My main concern was size but this pack is bigger than what I used before and I figure I can always add a seatpost rack for any small "overflow". I'll let you know if I end up switching.

When I started commuting I had both a messenger bag and backpack. I started with the messenger and swapped to the backpack. I prefer the back pack. My biggest issue with the messenger was it would slide to my side on occasion causing a weight distribution problem and interfere with my pedeling. When it was on the back it was ok but would slide around too easy. The backpack simply did not have any of those problems. I tend to carry a lot of weight and the backpack did a better job. Not to mention I had a rack and bike pack as well. It was already full with road goodies and working gear.

My biggest issue with the messenger was it would slide to my side on occasion causing a weight distribution problem and interfere with my pedeling.
You didn't have a stabilizing strap that went around your midsection?

My messenger slides around sometimes too...I think it's just a problem with Timbuk2 bags.

The other thing with timbuk2 is that you have to shift the bag on your back so it sits flat before strapping it, otherwise it WILL be oncomfortable and will shift badly. They really need to angle or hinge the strap....if they hinge it, they should use stainless steel hardware.

I have been commuting for 2 years now. I drive one every two weeks to bring clothes that I keep in my locker. I have a Kelty backpack with alloy slats that contours to my back and distributes the weight nicely. However, my Timbuk 2 bag is my favorite. I ride with two physics books and a math book. I put my tshirt and socks under the books so they pad my back and I don't feel the books biting. The messenger bag has a chest strap and easy adjust buckles. I find hiking the bag up higher helps with distribution and if pulled snug, there is no side to side motion. The backpack tends to put more stress on the shoulders. Also, on the rainy rides, it's easier to cover the Timbuk 2 with a trash bag and cover than the Kelty.

My messenger slides around sometimes too...I think it's just a problem with Timbuk2 bags.

The other thing with timbuk2 is that you have to shift the bag on your back so it sits flat before strapping it, otherwise it WILL be oncomfortable and will shift badly. They really need to angle or hinge the strap....if they hinge it, they should use stainless steel hardware.

timbuk2 bags arent really very good Messenger bags. I have a chrome metropolis and those bad boys are schweet. 2100 cubic inches with a sway strap. Padded shoulder strap with the ability to be as tight and high or loose or whatever you need to put it on the right part of your back.

For the record a proper messenger bag will put the weight on your back while riding not on your shoulders and keep it there.

You didn't have a stabilizing strap that went around your midsection?

No it did not. More of a simple portfolio with shoulder strap and long straps on the bottom for larger loads. I imagine a better bag with the straps you mentioned would be superior to what I have but the backpack works so well I plan to keep it as my main method for larger loads.

If it doesn't fit/sit good, it's gonna hurt. Save yourself somemone and try to get the proper fit before running out and buying something else. l There are many websites that explain proper fit for both kinds of bags.


What are those websites? My limited searches revealed nothing other than these postings and links to mail orders. I have a large messenger bag that my Dad gave to me (Pata-gucci), and it was just killing my shoulders. Please shed light on this 'how-to.'

try carrying that 20lbs for a long while. i dare you to ride and walk everywhere you go with 40lbs in a messenger bag. i have to do that so i use a back pack.

You've obviously never walked around all day with a laptop bag, accessories, a book, and a bottle of water. That's 20 pounds easy right there.

No it did not. More of a simple portfolio with shoulder strap and long straps on the bottom for larger loads. I imagine a better bag with the straps you mentioned would be superior to what I have but the backpack works so well I plan to keep it as my main method for larger loads.
My biggest complaint against backpacks was having the load shift forward under deceleration and smack me in the back of the head.

I just hook my backpack onto the back of my recumbent seat. No pressure at all, no pain, hardly notice the weight. If I have extra junk or grocery shopping I use the under seat panniers. BikeE AT--18 miles round trip every day. Still I try to travel as light as possible. Leave shoes and a dry change of clothes at work. Thankfully we don't have "dress code" where I work.

After being a bike courier for almost 8 years and now being a devoted bike commuter with a 30 mile round-trip commute, I recommend the backpack. My shoulders will never be the same from that courier bag. I'm tellin' ya, there's nothing worse than lugging around an overstuffed courier bag. I took mine off when I got home from my last day of couriering and haven't put it on since! I found a great pack (made by deuter--why do germans engineer such great packs?) w/ a mesh thingie to keep it off my back and allow air to circulate. As a bonus, it keeps things like books from digging into my back which is a little sensitive after breaking it in September (got hit from behind on the way to work). I can stuff lots of clothes and shoes and shampoo bottles and notebooks in the backpack and still ride comfortably--I think it's maybe 1500 cu in, but I can't remember exactly. With creative packing, my clothes are not usually wrinkled. Ultimately though, I suppose it's all a matter of personal preference. Can you try both and decide which you like better?

I completely agree with Christie. Dueter makes the best pack out there. I ride with a flat bar so a backpack is best. If I commuted with drops I would probably go to panniers.

yes, i've noticed that messenger bags cant do this. you see, they have this magical quality that eliminates their ability to smack you in the head under the same conditions. i see.

You're right...its called a sway strap and the ability to be cinched really tight.

You're right...its called a sway strap and the ability to be cinched really tight.
Also the fact that a messenger bag when worn properly sits lower on your back than a properly worn backpack

I had a chrome citizen for a while. Hated it, my shoulders were sore off the bike and it still shifted with the stabilizer strap. Went back to a good ol jansport, much more comfortable to me as a student.

My mommy didn't teach me how to fold so I learned from the Brits. Many Brit cyclists will tell you that if you fold or roll clothes to the size of the pack, the stuff won't wrinkle. I lauged till I tried it. I can carry a dress button down shirt, silk or regular...no wrinkles at all. Same with dress pants.

And, if you use some of that leftover plastic from the dry cleaner and roll yourclothes in that, they will be especially wrinkle-free. You'll also be recycling and re-using.

:D

My biggest complaint against backpacks was having the load shift forward under deceleration and smack me in the back of the head.

My internal frame back pack has a waist belt that I wear and when cinched it too prevents load shifting. Mine also has a chest strap with elastic to prevent the shoulder straps from shifting too wide.

I have had a lot of experience with shoulder bags after a 15 year career in professional photography. I damn near lived with a DOMKE bag over my left shoulder with 25+ pounds of cameras, lenses, flashes, batteries, film, filters and miscellaneous crap. I tried the DOMKE on the bike as well. It was worse than the messenger due to its design. I do have one DOMKE that has a waist belt and when situated cross shoulder with the waist belt on it would probably work ok but still my backpack is the best option for me.

My internal frame back pack has a waist belt that I wear and when cinched it too prevents load shifting. Mine also has a chest strap with elastic to prevent the shoulder straps from shifting too wide.

.
Internal frame for commuting? Not for me pal.

Internal frame for commuting? Not for me pal.

I guess I am so used to being a mule with so much camera gear I often carried that a simple backpack is like nothing. The internal frame is light and the pack holds a lot but is rarely full. It sits well and has a ventilation channel as well as a hydration pocket for the Camelback bladder. I tend to be rather large (i.e.FAT) and hauling around my excess weight on a bike with the pack is very simple. Then again I am sort of new at this commuting thing with only a couple of months under my belt and no more than 10 miles round trip.

bikerben or whomever,
i have had jobs where i work in a warehouse and can wear politically incorrect t-shirts as well as other positions that required dress pants, an ironed shirt, blah blah blah, and since i am a female, they usually want you to put on make up? (i know they are crazy). I have deceided I just bike to work in what I wear to work. I can stink up the place if need be. Who cares. Really. And after a while you don't sweat on your commute because it is your bike commute and you do it daily and your body doesn't sweat right away. in the winter i may put on some snow pants or rain pants to keep stuff clean and keep the standard pair of black dress shoes under my desk. that is my solution. maybe not everyones.

What the heck........this week I'm trying a backpack......