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no rack, no pannier - are you sure you are commuting?

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no rack, no pannier - are you sure you are commuting?

Old 01-02-08, 07:26 PM
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no rack, no pannier - are you sure you are commuting?

I was asked this question today by a guy who apparently lugs half his belongings with him. My bike has no pannier, no rack and is in exact same form I use it for CX. Am I considered a commuter or just a "guy who rides his bike to work"?
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Old 01-02-08, 07:32 PM
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There is a difference between a commuter and a "guy who rides his bike to work"? He is just jealous that you can get by without looking like a bike nerd.
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Old 01-02-08, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by qw1a
I was asked this question today by a guy who apparently lugs half his belongings with him. My bike has no pannier, no rack and is in exact same form I use it for CX. Am I considered a commuter or just a "guy who rides his bike to work"?
A guy who rides his bike to work is a commuter.
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Old 01-02-08, 08:31 PM
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I've seen people commute riding full suspension bikes wearing baggy clothes, camel backs, and full helmets. They're still commuters; silly commuters perhaps.
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Old 01-02-08, 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by vik
A guy who rides his bike to work is a commuter.

Anyone who lives in one place, works in another, and travels between the two is a commuter.
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Old 01-02-08, 08:50 PM
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Definition of commuting - Commuting is the process of travelling between a place of residence and a place of work.

Like mentioned above the guy is probably wishing he can commute without carrying all that stuff he has.
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Old 01-02-08, 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by qw1a
My bike has no pannier, no rack and is in exact same form I use it for CX.
Ditto! I use a backpack
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Old 01-02-08, 08:54 PM
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Backpack here. I rarely find a need to carry more than a change of clothes, my lock, some tools and assorted pocket items. If I really need to carry more, I take the train or a zipcar.
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Old 01-02-08, 09:19 PM
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I use panniers, but it's mostly empty. Some days I've got nothing on me but an ATM card to buy a sub at lunch with. Usually I brown bag it though, so there's lunch. And almost always I carry a phone (turned off, just for emergencies) and a camera. I don't carry a lock or anything like that. Sometimes I'll have some fresh clothes or something in there. Maybe even a whole new 8 pack of soda. So it can vary from a credit card to 30 pounds of stuff in 2 panniers. But typically it's one pannier half full, and I could see, especially in the summer, riding around with almost nothing.
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Old 01-02-08, 09:23 PM
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I run a mess bag. Big deal. Sounds like the fellow has some personal concerns. Pity his family.
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Old 01-02-08, 09:42 PM
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clean bike with back pack for me - dislike fiddling with mudguards and racks more than I dislike an occasionally damp ass
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Old 01-02-08, 10:55 PM
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I used to carry too much stuff between work and home, but no longer.

In fact, my summer commuter is a single-speed with airfree tires, so I carry absolutely nothing most days

I like the freedom of less... which is why most of us bike, yeah?
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Old 01-03-08, 03:14 AM
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Sounds like he might be a little jealous that he can't keep everything he will need at work like you and I do.
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Old 01-03-08, 06:56 AM
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At most I haul my rack trunk and a handlebar bag. No panniers, no backpack, no huge amounts of stuff. I drive once a week to replenish my locker with clothes for the week, and all I have to haul each day is my lunch.
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Old 01-03-08, 06:59 AM
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No panniers for me, and I bike commute 3-4 days a week. I use a large seatbag (Carradice Barley), but occasional commute on one of my better road bikes with a smaller seatbag. The days that I drive, I replenish clothes and other supplies although I can carry a surprising amount of gear in the Barley.
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Old 01-03-08, 07:26 AM
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The very least I'd carry is a small repair kit and first aid kit. Which is half a pannier. I can get by with a saddle bag if it's just a flat repair kit.
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Old 01-03-08, 07:33 AM
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So really all you guys that are not hauling all your stuff to the office everyday... you have jobs that provide uniforms... or what?

Or you actually drive one day a week... meaning you have to have a car to haul your clothing?

What is the secret you are not actually telling?
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Old 01-03-08, 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by genec
So really all you guys that are not hauling all your stuff to the office everyday... you have jobs that provide uniforms... or what?

Or you actually drive one day a week... meaning you have to have a car to haul your clothing?

What is the secret you are not actually telling?
I use one pannier with my clothes for the day and my lunch as well as a small tool kit. It could fit in a backpack so I could do without the rack, but I prefer the pannier especially in the summer. The rack also gives me the flexibility to carry more if I desire.

I have a locker in the gym near my office and I keep toiletries and my shoes in it, as well as a spare set of clothes in case I forget to bring something with me in the morning. I don't usually have to wear a suit at work, but I keep one in my office in case I need to wear one. There are dry-cleaners near my office when I need to have it cleaned.

I'm fortunate to have space to store things at work that I might need. But really, I don't keep that much stuff in my office and what I need to carry on a daily basis goes right with me on the commute.
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Old 01-03-08, 07:46 AM
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Originally Posted by genec
So really all you guys that are not hauling all your stuff to the office everyday... you have jobs that provide uniforms... or what?

Or you actually drive one day a week... meaning you have to have a car to haul your clothing?

What is the secret you are not actually telling?
I've got a back room job... fixing computers. And my commute doesn't make me sweat excessively.
I think it also has to do with your body... I rarely stink up or have a need to change clothing due to sweat.
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Old 01-03-08, 07:49 AM
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I would have told him to mind his own F'ing business.
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Old 01-03-08, 07:52 AM
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I think I was carrying half my wardrobe in my messenger bag yesterday. Hadn't commuted in sometime and could not remember what to wear at what temps. Plus, I wanted to experiment in using street clothes for my shorter winter commute.

Anyhow, you know what they say about opinions. Just like [fill in the blank] everyone has one.
I would ignore the fool.
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Old 01-03-08, 08:26 AM
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gear

Originally Posted by genec
So really all you guys that are not hauling all your stuff to the office everyday... you have jobs that provide uniforms... or what?

Or you actually drive one day a week... meaning you have to have a car to haul your clothing?

What is the secret you are not actually telling?

My Barley seatbag will easily hold a shirt, t-shirt, socks and pants if I need them -- plus my lunch, cell phone, glasses, and tools, etc. I leave a pair of shoes in my office as well as a towel, soap and shampoo, and several pairs of pants. So I really don't have to carry much on any given day. Once a week, I usually drive and take home my dirty laundry and bring in a fresh towel or pants if I need them, and some snack food. I usually need my truck at least one day a week to run other errands as well, such as going by the bank or the post office, so driving is not an issue.
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Old 01-03-08, 08:47 AM
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Originally Posted by genec
So really all you guys that are not hauling all your stuff to the office everyday... you have jobs that provide uniforms... or what?

Or you actually drive one day a week... meaning you have to have a car to haul your clothing?

What is the secret you are not actually telling?
About once a week I strap a gym bag with microwave lunches, snacks, and clothing to my rear rack. The bag probably weighs about 20 pounds at least, which added to a bike that weighs about 40 pounds itself makes the total ride a bit of a pig. But, that leaves me unloaded the rest of the week and allows me to not worry about packing stuff every day.

It's especially nice in summer when I ride my road bike with nothing but a seatpack with the bare essentials 4 days a week.
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Old 01-03-08, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by genec
So really all you guys that are not hauling all your stuff to the office everyday... you have jobs that provide uniforms... or what?

Or you actually drive one day a week... meaning you have to have a car to haul your clothing?

What is the secret you are not actually telling?
I ride a Dutch-style bike, wearing my office clothing. I do have a rack and use it to carry my rain gear.

Paul
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Old 01-03-08, 09:36 AM
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Lights and fenders, that is all that differentiates my bike when I commute versus fun rides. In the summer, I even ride the race bike. Backpack all the way here every day, year round. 14 miles each way. I have never tried a rack, but personally think they are somewhat nerdy.
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