nightc1

I'm on the minimalistic side of things. I dont' really have to take much at all to work.

I plan to get a seatpost mountable rack though... something I could strap a small backpack too... so I can avoid sweaty back.. yet also avoid having a rack on my bike for my regular weekly bike trail riding.

Still what I carry is very minimalistic. The more weight I have to take the less I'm going to want to do the 18 miles each way.

Buglady

2 smallish panniers and a biggish handlebar bag (which I should downsize really; it's turning into a purse...) to hold work clothes, rain gear, lunch, U-lock, small tool kit (multi-tool, 1 wrench that fits my oddball Raleigh, tire levers, patch kit, tube, Swiss Army knife), small first aid kit, cell phone, baby wipes, water bottle (I need a bottle cage!). I could pack lighter if I left clothes at work, but I'm afraid if I did that I'd end up with no pants one day.

Probably about 10-15 lbs altogether, but considering I ride either an old touring Raleigh or a Norco mountain bike that has been dubbed "The Tank," it's not a lot in the grand scheme of things.

cyccommute 

Okay. No other 'reasonably sized fruit' carries well.

cyccommute 

With that much stuff, your bike will handle better and ride less like a brick by carrying it over the front wheel. And a touring bike would probably be a better choice than any other bike.

You need racks like these



and to carry the bags like this



without the rear bags and the tent stuff

jamesdenver

Rack trunk with lunch, shirt, wallet/cell, bike lock if doing errands on the way home and other small misc. stuff.

I keep dress shirts, pants, and shoes at work.

Spring/fall I commute with more as it's chilly in the morning, but warm in the afternoon so I cram my jacket/gloves into my trunk.

tlc

About 2KG worth, tops - a few tools, spare tube, extra water, wallet/phone/keys.

Since I refuse to pay the ridiculous prices asked for "proper" bike luggage, I roll it up in a heavy-duty supermarket carrier bag and bungie it to the top of my rack - waterproof, lightweight,cheap.

I use the car to ferry a week's worth of clean clothes etc. into work at the weekend.

Spreggy

My new routine (with new bike, w00t!) is to pedal to the gym bright and early, work out, then pedal to work. So my laptop, breakfast and gym stuff (towel, change of clothes, toiletries bag) all go in one duffel bag on the rear rack, and there's a seatpost bag for the emergancy kit (patches, levers, tube, multitool, lock). That way the laptop comes into the gym with me in one package.

Bob J

Probably around 15lbs for work.
U-Lock, Pad lock, cable, tool kit, spare tube, lunch in insulated bag w/ ice pack, wallet, cell, and keys.

I don't even want to think about the trip to school, on heavy days I gotta carry books for three subjects + laptop.

hairlessbill

Now that it's warm, this is all on the bike or in my Carradice saddlebag:

multi-tool
tire levers
spare tube
pump
wallet
cellphone
am/fm radio
cable lock
coffee mug/thermos
rear blinkie light
sketchbook
pen
keys
windjacket (depending on weather)

Probably weigh 5lbs if that. 50lbs? wow, that's a lot of stuff.

jimmuter

About 36 years of baggage. I carry it with me everywhere I go.

lil brown bat

I commute with my laptop bag, which may or may not have the laptop (it may stay locked to my desk at work at night), wallet, cellphone, various small things like gum, maybe some papers...underwear, clean shirt, maybe pants or I may have left laundry at work...a few misc laptop cables. Then I have my underseat bag with lights, GU packets, Alien etc.

GreenAnvil

Anywhere from 10 to 100lbs, and only God knows...

In a locker at work I have:
- towel (change it every week)
- shoes (for important meetings)
- hiking boots (great trails right behind the office and need something rattlesnakes will have a hard time biting on)
- sandals (wear them every day +1)
- toiletries

On my bike I always have:
- small pump
- cyclocomputer
- light and battery (goes in the water holder; need it because most times I come very early in the morning and might stay very late)
- Garmin eTrex Vista Cx GPS (sometimes I don't go straight home but might explore around, and I'm new to the area)
- the rack

When I'm commuting "light" I put a trunk which has:
- tire levers
- spare tube
- multi-tool
- wallet and Tungsten E2
- batteries
- U-lock
- another lock and chain for the front tire (has quick release)
- another lock and longer chain for the back tire (same reasons)
- city/area and trail maps (just in case the GPS acts "funny")
- a change of clothes of one of the side bags
- 4-5 small meals on the other side (I eat small meals and drink LOTS of water rather than 3 square meals)

Most times I also add a couple of Novara panniers (and fold back the Topeak trunk side bags) carrying:
- change of clothes
- 4-5 small meals
- might take my laptop home to complete projects
- might take anywhere from 1-3 web development books
- might take a Nikon D70 or N75 with lens (18-70mm for the D70; 28-105mm for the N75; I stop anytime I see something interesting)
- and I leave space just in case I want to stop by Walgreens or the grocery store to get some things

I'm totally car-less, so I do all my shopping on my bike, and when I do...
- I add the trunk, the Novara panniers, and also hook up a BOB Yak (which weights 15 lbs), and then on the BOB I can carry anywhere from 30 to 70 lbs, and then I pedal a couple of miles uphill to go home.

And most times I also carry a Camelbak.

So, I haven't developed great speed but I know I'll get there... Then on the weekends I just go out and have fun.

GreenAnvil

MyPC8MyBrain

Here in Colorado there is a huge variance between winter hauls and summer hauls. Winter takes both panniers for layers, different gloves, hats, goggles etc etc. Life threating weather awaits those that are unprepared for it.

Summer is a light backpack with lunch, varying levels of work clothes, a tube, tool, and other minor misc stuff. Light and easy. I much prefer the summer haul.

Tadley Porter

Normal weight of stuff is 12 to 15 lbs. Mess bag is my brief case, so it normally contains some work docs, electronic gadgets, pens. Then I add full change of clothes (maybe I'll start leaving shoes/belt like others do). Sometimes bring exercise clothes for running or tennis for a lunch workout.

At work I usually have towel, toiletries, running shoes (for lunch hour run).

I don't include the weight of seat bag with tools and tube, rear rack, water bottle as I treat it as part of the bike since I always ride with that stuff.

huhenio

a divorce

Zeuser

- GPS
- Horn
- Front light
- Tail light
- Water bottle
- Trunk bag with
* Tire levers
* patch kit
* pump
* Priesta valve adapter
* mutli-tool
* iPod in carry case with its own speaker
* Small digital camera
* Office stuff like mini notebooks, USB key, USB laptop drive enclosures, pen

Optionally:

- Lunch
- Book and/or office paperwork
- Side bag with Nikon D200 and zoom lens

Az B

I can't leave anything at work, so I have to carry everything. Luckily, our dress codes aren't strict and riding into work is encouraged (unlike some other places I've worked) so overall it makes it easier.

In the summer I can fit all my clothes and toiletries in a trunk bag. I also carry some chamois butter, reflective vest, and a couple Cliff bars. In the winter when more clothing is involved for both the ride and work, a couple small panniers work great.

Az

cyccommute 

Look at Bike Friday. They make a rack for their folder. It would probably fit yours with some tinkering.

Here's another that's really cheap.

Winter76

I only have a laptop, a change of clothes and my lunch is all that I need to commute with. I just put it all in my back pack and off I go. My guess is 6-10lbs?

Freud

My work clothes(Slacks and a button up shirt.) my Lunch,a book, keys, wallet, Jersey, Shorts, gloves, sunglasses, pump and the usualy spare tube, levers, etc.

knucklesandwich

Mess bag with:
cell phone, blackberry, keys
small notebook (planner), a few bills/mail, Financial Times, stamps, checkbook
granola bars, banana
socks and underwear (the rest of my clothes generally stay in locker at work, and are dry cleaned at the little rip-off convenience store in my office bldg)
red blinky attached to bag
I bring in lunch supplies 1x a week too- bread, cheese, meat, carrots, yogurt
U-Lock comes to work with me on Mondays, stays on bike rack all week, and goes home on Fridays

Seatbag:
tire levers, patch kit, multitool

Bike itself:
frame pump, front and rear lights,
thermos of coffee if I get around to making it in the morning (or office joe is craptastic)

legot73

Everyday:

U-lock, lights, pump, multitool, raingear, gloves, gloves, work clothes - about 10lbs

Some days:

Add laptop and/or a weeks worth of breakfast/lunch groceries for about 30 lbs+

commutr

Like AZ_B, I can't leave anything at work. We have unlocked desks out in the open, and no lockers. Luckily, we have a lax dress code. However, as exec mgt, I have to frequently dress up for things. I've been packing everything into my backpack. When the panniers arrive, I'll have more space and can hopefully continue to pack everything. I may get a suit pannier to hang over the other panniers as well. My goal is to go car-free and not drive stuff back and forth to work weekly. Public transportation isn't an option as the nearest stop is 5 miles away. I'll become an expert at packing everything onto the bike in short order. There is a shower at work in the gym, but no storage space.

The current packed list is:
dress pants & shirt (sometimes full suit & tie)
dress shoes
towel & toiletries
toolkit, spare tube (i may replace this with kevlar tires)
laptop and various paperwork folders
phone, wallet, keys, pepper spray, garage door opener
and fig newtons for the 15 mile ride.

My desk drawers double as drying racks for the towel and biking clothing during the day.

tarwheel 

I take the minimalist approach. Once a week, I drive and bring in fresh clothes, take home my dirty laundry. Keep shoes, spare pants and towel at work as well as soap, shampoo, etc. I keep my bike in my office, so I don't have to carry a big lock.

On my bike, I keep basic tools, spare tube and repair kit, small cable lock, pump and CO2 inflator in my seat pack. In the pack, I also carry my lunch, cell phone, eyeglasses in case, wallet, spare change. I fit all this in a Carradice Barley, but if I don't need to bring lunch I can fit it all in a large Jandd seat bag if I really want to go light or riding my good bikes. All my gear combined probably weighs less than 5 lbs.

JR97

For those that can't keep clothes at work, the best invention ever is convertable pants. I've got one pair that are as office appropriate as dockers. Those get me by a couple of times a week. I've also got another very light pair that are nice for the chilly mornings, but go back to shorts for the ride home.

It might not seem like a lot of weight difference. However, my ride is over 13 miles each way, and I notice it. For me, it's the difference of having the drop down panniers in my trunk bag dropped or not. On a very light day, I can get just get by with my large handle bar bag.