filtersweep

After breaking a bead, I now also carry an extra TIRE.

mirona

That's a good idea. I have a couple extra folders laying around.

Mr_Super_Socks

When you drive to work you are also carrying:
spare tire;
jack;
tools;
emergency shelter, heater and cooling system (i.e. the car itself);
stereo;
sun visors;
maybe sun glasses;
headlights;
and if you're smart and well-prepared for roadside emerencies:
a can of fix-a-flat;
jumper cables;
an emergency blanket;
flashlight;
flares;
road markers.

I fit those things or their equivalents in one pannier. pretty efficient if you ask me.

Mr_Super_Socks

actually, I don't carry flares or jumper cables, but you get the idea.

Camel

I carry:

-Raingear, allways a jacket even if it's 90F-and rain pants bellow 70.
-Work clothes (scrubs-or use spares at work).
-Small towel (or spare at work), hairbrush.
-Tools/spare parts (~3 lbs).
-Lunch+snacks.
-Wallet.
-Cellphone.
-Pager (when on call)
-Mace.
-Technical manual(s).
-Medical Journal(s).
-Novel.
-Camera (my toy, so I try to allways have it about).

The same if I drive, excluding tools+raingear. The texts/journals are the most weight for me, but tend to "disapear" when I've left them at work. Even from secure locked drawers! I also read them at home (just for fun), and occasionally need to check them when on call.

cheg

No trailer, just a pannier:
Keys, work badge, wallet, cell phone, sunglasses, glasses cloth
Dress shirt (other clothes are transported weekly)

Tool bag, spare tube, lock

Seasonal: light jacket, heavy jacket, rain pants, arm warmers, leg warmers, helmet cover, light gloves, heavy gloves, helmet cover, shoe covers, wool cap, balaclava.

The problem is that often there's a big weather difference between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM around here. It can go from 34 and clear in the morning to 55 and raining in the afternoon. I have to guess what it's going to be like at the end of the day.

mac

TRUNK
- wallet
- keys
- lock
- 3 allen wrenches
- multipurpose tool
- jackknife
- tire repair kit
- inner tube

LEFT PANNIER
- waterproof sack containing:
* breakfast, lunch, snack
* utensils
* spare batteries

RIGHT PANNIER
- 2 waterproof sacks containing:
* change of clothes
* towel
* deodorant

* small electronic eqiupment used at work

swwhite

A classic milk crate does not have a solid bottom, so it can be just set on top of the rear rack and held in place with cable ties (or zip ties, or whatever those things are called).

In my case, I was worried about stress being concentrated at the points of attachment because I want the crate to last a long time, so I did the following, which is a bit dorky but works:

The rear rack comes with a flat surface that has four holes in it. (I had a very old rear rack that did NOT have the platform on it, so I assume there are variations in rear racks. My new one DOES have a flat spot on the top of it where one can set something.) The space on the rear rack between the side rails is wide enough that a piece of 1/4 lumber will rest there. I put a piece of 1x4 board there and fastened it to the top of the rack with four machine screws, washers, and locking nuts. I made the board long enough to stick off the end of the rack a bit. Then I cut of square of quarter-inch perforated hardboard ("pegboard") the size of the bottom of the milk crate and attached it to the 1x4 board with machine screws and nuts. (Actually, I'm describing it this way because it makes sense. The assembly has to be in reverse; get all the proper holes drilled, then attach the pegboard to the 1x4 and then that whole assembly to the rack.) Finally, I set the milk crate on the pegboard platform and fastened it to the pegboard with four cable ties.

This method works for me because at my age I don't care what I look like. My rack is black, and the crate is black, so I could camouflage the wooden parts with paint, but I'm too lazy. I keep bungee cords in the crate and try to ride with the rack otherwise empty, so I am ready to stop at the grocery store on the way home if necessary. Also, I have found that the crate is a handy place for attaching the tail lights.

Note that the crate will obscure a reflector attached to the seat post. Because I have a seat bag with tools, the 1x4 board has to stick back far enough so that the pegboard can be back far enough so the crate can be back far enough so that the seat bag will fit behind the seat.

CAMOBAP

If the employer doesn't supply a locker, then isn't it a good idea to have shower stuff? I carry a small towel, soap, shampoo, etc. I don't see a way around it. Generally I also have my lunch. I carry a lightweight rain jacket too because the weather changes unpredictably and it seems simpler to just have it rather than trying to remember to take it when it seems a good idea and then not having it when I'm wrong or forget.

And I have to get clothes back and forth to work as well. At least a pair of shoes or two can simply be left at the office...

Panniers seem a better approach than messenger bags in the DC area because having something on your back when the humidity is 90% and it's warm detracts from the point of the exercise, which is to enjoy the ride. So thus one is stuck thinking about racks and so on.

zebano

Front light + rear light, patch kit, frame pump, water bottle, took kit (allen wrenches + screwdriver) on bike.

In my backpack: work clothes (shirt, shorts/pants, socks, underwear - shoes are at work), towel, lunch (a salad, sandwich or soup, apple, banana, granola bar), clothes for the ride home (its about 50 degrees in the morning and 80 after work), a book or portable chess set and chess life magazine (for lunchtime), wallet, keys, cell, badge, portable bike lock (kryptonite cable type).

Edit: oh yeah I also have rain gear, arm warmers and leg warmers with me in case I need them.

Makoa

My employer doesn't provide a locker or a shower. I leave a small towel, wipes, deodorant, etc. in a desk drawer at work. I also leave work shoes at work.

PaulH

I carry no tools, no change of clothing, rain gear only if I expect I might need it. However, my rack provides a very useful ability to carry significant cargo. If it warms up or stops raining, I don't want to have to wear hot clothing. Sometimes I need to pick up something on the way home. I may not have any stuff to carry, but that I like have the capability to do so.

Paul

Nicodemus

mobile phone, wallet, keys, tobacco, underwear. That's it.

I keep my work clothes + cleaning stuff at work, and I don't understand why all the other stuff is necessary for something like commuting. Considering how rarely I get mechanical trouble, it seems a tad overdone personally.

AndrewP

When driving I have spare wheel, jack, jumper cables, jug of windshield washer, my briefcase and umbrella. All this weighs more than my bike plus 2 water bottles and all I carry in 2 panniers.

Sloth

Pannier:

Notebook PC
Clothes
A couple of bananas or apples or whatever
Spare tube, tire liner, patch kit, tire irons, multi tool, baby wipes

Handlebar bag:

- Wallet, cellphone, chapstick, powerbar

djgonzo007

Like you I take the essentials just a change of clothes in a backpack (of course I have what I need to change flats). I don't like the look of panniers but even if I did there's no place to hook them up on my road bike anyway.

Krazy Koz

I take:

-spare innertube
-small pump
-tire levers and a patch kit
-hex keys
-a couple of books
-spare set of shoes (since I wear cycling cleats while riding)
-change of clothes
-cell phone
-u lock
-LED tail and head lights in case I have to ride after dark
-wallet
-keys

And, since I have been rather obsessive about my diet for the last couple months:

-post ride snack
-late breakfast
-lunch
-afternoon snack
-water bottle (in the cooler section of my bag)

sydney_b

Lately I've been using the trailer because I am working on a project that requires I use Windows and I don't want to install an emulator on my Powerbook. (Can't leave 'em at the office because I don't really have one since I move from building to building over the week and have no place to lock 'em up.)

I'm finding the trailer to be darn convenient. Course, as the mom, I have lots of errands to run ... groceries, drop this off, pick up that ... not to mention large bags of shredded paper from one office ... (good for the garden compost pile). My burley is like the back of my station wagon. Everything stays dry and is easy to load and unload.

Santaria

I'm gonna give up all these wasteful items I carry; from here on out its just me, a pair of running shorts and my memory! Who needs shoes, they're so much extra crap to deal with. Now...this is simplified to the bone.

pft.

[edit]i no spel gud[/edit]

gudel

I have these in the saddle bag: spare tube, tire tools, small philips screwdriver, small towel, 4 CO2 cartridges and CO2 inflator. on my messenger bag and pants pocket, I have 6D maglite, knife, backup knife, pepper spray.
Travel light

I-Like-To-Bike

You mean when you drive do NOT carry a spare tire, tools (at least tire changing tools), jack, jumper cables, flashlight and a glove box full of stuff? Your car trunk empty too? When you drive you do NOT "carry" a full set of front and rear lights? No horn? When you drive you do NOT carry an adequate locking mechanism?

No wonder you don't understand why a commuting cyclist carries stuff to be prepared for credible possibilities.

notfred

Yeah, my car has lights on it, and an adequate locking system. If you hadn't noticed, these come built in as part of most cars.

My bike also has lights and a decent locking system. These are parts of my bike. They're attached to it in a semi-permanent fashion, just like on the car. I do not buy luggage racks or panniers or trailers for either vehicle to haul around boxes of extra lights and locks.

And yeah, the car has a spare tire, and the bike has a pump and patch kit. Niether is packed into a bunch of extra bags and trailers hanging off the vehicle.

And yes, my car trunk is empty, my glove box has my registration in it, and no I don't have a flashight in the car.

Next are you going to ask about whether I carry a frame, wheels or handlebars? I'm not hauling these things around with the bike, these things ARE the bike, just like my lights.

And I'm not trying to say that no one should eve carry anything by bike. I'm just wondering what people need to have four panniers and a trailer for on thier trip to work. My bike fully loaded has one backpack strapped to the rear rack, and that's all. It's more than enough space for anything I'd need on the typical day.

Roody

I'm in the minimalist camp. I take my clothes in a backpack with my lights, my wallet, my keys and ID badge for work. That's about it. I pack a dollar instead of a tube and pump, as the bus runs within two blocks of every point in the city, and it has bike racks. Oh, I just started taking my own lunch too.

Nimmy

My guess would be a few bungee cords. I've seen it done before, and it works great.

eubi

In a trunk and two panniers:

Tire changing tools & Extra tube
Misc hand tools and repair items: Wrench, Allens, Screwdrivers, Chain tool, nipple wrench, zip ties and duct tape.
Spare light
First Aid Kit
Work Clothes (includes shoes)
Work files
Lunch
PDA
Cell Phone
GPSr if I decide to do a Geocache on the way home

Soap, razor and towels stay in my desk at work.

Over done? Maybe. I have a very long walk home if I can't fix something.

But the important thing is I'm not making YOU carry it!