Psimet2001 

I ride a 47 mile round trip commute anywhere from 2-4 days a week. I have to ride to a fitness club that is within 1-2 miles of my final destination so that I can shower. I change into work clothes there (khaki-polo type of business casual), and then ride that last mile or two to work.

I have made some of my own discoveries over that time. I ride a road bike with mostly race type geometry so I am pretty much stuck with carrying everything on my back in a messenger bag (Chrome Metropolis).

I have noticed that I am very sensitive to weight and weight distribution in that bag. I have to pack the heavier stuff as high up on my back as possible.

So... in my pursuit to reduce weight I first ditched my shower bag - the kind most men have for toiletries when traveling - for a shoe bag that looks like it is made out of some kind of Tyvek type material with a drawstring that I got on an international flight a while back.

Then I ditched a full fluffy towell for the thinnest/smallest full size towell I could find. Then the other day while at Dicks Sporting goods I came across an MSR pack/camp towell. That thing seems to be perfect. It is their blue colored "Original" type towell. Tiny, lightweight, and dries quickly while hanging up in the office.....so....questions:

1. The camp towell seem to have a funny chemical odor that washing has yet to eliminate. Any suggestions?
2. That towell is relatively expensive ($15.00) and I am not sure it will last long. They have nicer ones at around $30, but does anyone use one and know about how long they will last?
3. Any other tricks for lowering the weight of my pack (without getting a new bag)? I carry Shampoo in a small travel bottle, a bar of soap, deodorant, face wash, shower shoes (normal flip-flops with high density rubber sole), a couple of plastic sandwich boxes with sandwiches, 2-tubes, 2-3 CO2 cartridges, inflator, tire levers, a couple of batteries as backups for my blinkies, work pants, underwear, socks, and shirt, and multi-tool that's about it.

4. With winter coming up can someone recommend a good commuter jacket that I can wear in temps 20-50ish that I can wear under my messenger bag, and still cover my work clothes and not drench them in sweat during that last mile or 2?

5. Does anyone know of something else I can use instead of that shoe bag that has material that will breathe, but is constructed to last longer?

Cassiel

I switched from a messenger bag to panniers for many of my commutes where I have a lot to carry. I have a racing-type bike as well, but I can still put a rack on it and attach my Ortliebs. It's saved my back and saved me sweating out my clothes to a ridiculous degree (I wear athletic clothes to commute in and change at my destination, but I used to sweat so much under that bag that my shirt wouldn't dry out before I went home half the time).
As for the jacket, I wear a ShowersPass (showerspass.com) jacket (sorry, forgot the model, but from what I hear they're all good). It breathes ok, and would be just fine for those two miles if you ride relatively easy. The one I have is just a rain jacket but I wear a sweatshirt under it, and because of its waterproofing it holds heat in pretty well too. Here in Portland we have to worry much more about rain than we do about cold temps, but in winter it ranges 30-50 most mornings.

marburg99

You and i share almost the same scenario. The gym that i shower at has lockers so i keep my stuff there...i'm not supposed to, but i asked the manager and he was kind enought to allow it. I also use the MSR towel to dry...I used to use a thin "swimmers" towel (dimpled cotton) that i picked up at a swim shop. It was very light and dried well...that could be an option. I havent tried "the absorber", but that could also work for you. Its that towel that is used to dry cars...i've used that when i go backpacking and it works VERY well. It dries extremely fast, but you have to be careful on the shape that it dries in...

as far as lightening the load...
ask if you can keep a small bag there with your toiletries...
I keep my deodorant and hair product at work

I would highly suggest a rear rack that attaches to the seatpost so you can use panniers.

As far as a commuter jacket goes, for that temp, i would just layer really good. Maybe a synthetic long sleeve shirt then a wool sweater a la smartwool and finally a insulated vest. Down if you can spring for it...that will save weight and also keep you warm. For the 1 mile to work, i would carry an extra synthetic t and use the same wool vest and wipe down at work...that way you dont get your clean clothes sweaty. My .02.

jim24

I pay 5 bucks a month for a permanent locker and 5 bucks a month for towel service. Worth every penny to me. Do they offer similar service?

Jakelin

I'd second the locker and the towel service. You can keep all the toiletries you need in it, lighten up the pack and don't have to worry about forgetting something. The other thing I do is do a run in on a day off where I drop off my clothes for the week. That eliminates a lot of weight as well. I only do a 30 mile RT, but I quickly realized that I was carrying too much weight and found creative ways to lighten up.

johann

I prefer panniers, but a saddle bag like those from Carradice or Rivendell might be an option if you want to get stuff off your back.

Psimet2001 

They do not offer a locker or towell service. There is absolutely no leaving anything at it. Clothes need to be with me at the shower - not work.

I do leave my clothes and the towell, etc. at work when I know I am driving in the next day to lighten the load for the trip home.

kill.cactus

I own the same packtowel by MSR.
The chemical smell bothered me, so I soaked it completely in water for about 10 seconds and rang it out.
The water flowing out of the towel was yellow. Enough said.

Repeat that till it releases clear, clean water. Then you're good to go and the smell is gone

PS - the MSR towel seems to be holding up well.
HAND WASH IT THOUGH. It makes it last SOOO much longer (as in like 50 percent longer!)

Good luck

tsl

Good heavens, man! You're trying to weight weenie a towel and Tyvek toiletries bag? I think you're posting in the wrong forum. Just in case I've misinterpreted...

This is the Holy Grail of cycling clothing--and just as elusive.

No, you're not stuck with anything, except perhaps for choices you don't *want* to take. My fair-weather commuter is racing geometry. I've fitted it with a rear rack. The hardest part was getting my head past the concept. Execution was easy.

Seatpost racks are good for up to 20 lbs of stuff, full racks can carry up to 80 lbs. Better full racks come with hardware to attach the top to the brake bridge through the brake bolt. You can use P-clips on the seatstays to hold the legs.

I used to be a dedicated backpack user until I tried using a rack trunk bag, supplemented occassionally with panniers. I can't see ever returning to carrying stuff on me instead of on the bike. At group rides, once they find out I commute by bike and that I ride to the ride, no-one dares mention my 380 gram rack (or nearly 400 grams of lights). The fact that I can hang with most and drop a few speaks for itself.

Bikingtoteach

I leave shoes and toiletries at work. Back rack is the way to go, I will never carry a bag again. 8 -10 beers can be transported easily on the weekend! I do not know much about small towels. Good luck.

rando

my old steel road bike had no eyelets for a rack but I used p-clips to attach one and they work just fine. I don't carry real heavy loads,I probably could not carry a case of beer on it, but a change of clothes and some tools in a large trunk bag and I'm good to go. I hate having stuff on my back.

madfiNch

You could try carrying a small chamois instead of a towel. Just wipe yourself down, ring it out and repeat until dry.. Not as nice as a full-sized towel, but it'll get you dry.

Psimet2001 

Thanks for the tip about the towell. I don't have much patience for hand washing so I might just expect 1/2 life out of it. I might try their nicer towell as well. They didn't have the full size one in the store, but I figure I can order it somewhere online.

As for the bike it has extremely short stays and they don't go up to the top of the seatpost. Brake bridge is in a bad place. I would be shocked if anything on the market actually worked on it. Took 3-4 iterations before I found a clip on fender that works.

I really don't mind carrying stuff on my back, but I want to reduce the weight of what I'm carrying in practical, easy ways like I already have.

As for weight weenie....I live on the road forum, but I have never been a weight weenie. My commuting rig isn't a pig, but it's no weight weenie bike either. Lights, fender, the wheels I built, etc....not lean.

Thanks again for the towell advice.

mike

Oh, my gosh, Pismet2001. You have a 47 mile commute and you are asking US for suggestions? My friend, I confess. We are not worthy! When you figure it out, please post your recommendation for the rest of us.

Spreggy

You sound like you're just begging for a rack! Here you go:

Mr. Psimet, it is hereby acknowledged that you are a competent and fully fledged roadie, with all the privileges associated thereto. You have been given clemency by this board to attach a rack, be it seat post or big rack, to your roadie ride.

You will one day look back and laugh at your pre-rack days, I guarantee it. I'm sure your local shop can slap a rack on your hard-to-fit bike in seconds flat.

Chuck G

1. Ditch the shampoo and face wash and just use soap. I use Ivory soap only (no shampoo) and my wife is impressed how soft my hair is.

2. Carry 1 tube + 1 patch kit (might save a few grams?)

3. I found a decent towel similar to a pack-towel in the auto section at Wally World for about $5. If you hate the evil empire an auto parts store probably has something similar.

Psimet2001 

- I'll think about it. I'd probably go for a seatpost rack.

smontanaro 

I have one of those chamois towels you see the divers towel off with in the Olympics. Dries reasonably quickly. I just fold it into quarters.

Actually, I'm kind of surprised the health club you use doesn't provide you with a towel.

Skip Montanaro

Psimet2001 

That's kind of like what I'm using, but much cheaper in price. Thank you!

As for the club...it's a Cardinal Fitness. Super stripped down health club. Made for people that want to get in, get out, and not pay a lot. They barely have a locker room and a shower. The only towells they have are the wash cloths used to wipe down machines.

Then again it is only $19 a month and you are always month-to-month. That and it is extremely close to work. I've already given work a load of crap for not putting in a shower during the last remodel. "We were going to, but I can't remember why we didn't. That would really be useful now that we have a few people bike commuting..."

knobster

Ever thought about getting a used, dedicated commuter bike? I switched to a cyclocross bike (Specialized Tricross) and am loving it. Very fast and can put all the necessary goodies on it such as a rack and fenders.
On Monday I tote my heavy stuff in (large towel and two pairs of khakis and a pair of jeans), I use a grocery pannier. Works well. Then the rest of the week, I use my trunk bag (Ortelib bike box 1) which is water proof and that is what carries my shirt and under garments along with lunch. Works out great for me.


I use the Showers Pass jacket as well and really like it. Recommended.

InTheRain

It doesn't sound like you carry alot. I tried the backpack thing... didn't like it. I have a touring bike that will take racks and panniers... but that is overkill for my commute. for commuting with a light load I use a carradice pendle saddle bag that attaches to the loops on the back of my brooks saddle. Carradice makes saddle bags much larger than the pendle. Give the carradice saddle bags a look.. they are waterproof, and no serious mods to your bike.

Psimet2001 

The bike I am riding IS my dedicated commuter rig. Apart from that I have my normal road rig (Giant TCR-C2), my fixed gear (converted BASSO), and a mountain bike (Fisher Tassajara that I hate to ride).

I'll have to chek out the Shower Pass jacket.

VeloLisa

I use this:
https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-QR-Beam.../dp/B000FI6WSG

and this:
https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-MTX-Tru...6444847&sr=1-3

Works fine for me. Using a proper sized shim, the seatpost rack stays secure and doesn't move around.
They make larger bags, but that size works well for me. I'm fortunate enough to have a shower and locker at work, though, so I don't carry towel & toilletries. But, I think I probably could if I had to.

I could never go back to a backpack!

Psimet2001 

I have a coworker who started commuting in and is using the Topeak setup. I like their stuff, but I just wonder about the stress a seat post rack would generate on the seat post. I am using a stock carbon post because that's what I had sitting around. I could probably stir up an older thicker AL one in my shop somewhere.....hmmmmm....