ganchan

I'm happy to have the added cargo capacity of rear rack and panniers, but I sure do feel the difference once my u-lock, laptop and other daily items make their way onto the bike. The front end has gotten a bit twitchy, so now I'm thinking about adding a front basket and throwing the u-lock into that....and maybe some other items too....

Where will it all end? Will my hybrid turn into a pack mule? Will I ever lift my bike off the ground without fear of herniating myself again?

I don't where I'm going with this. Feel free to pile on.

rumrunn6

I wonder if you would also be more prone to a high speed death wobble. do you ever go downhill up around 30mph?

Leebo

Why are you carrying your laptop and u lock? Keep the U lock at work. Laptop for working @ home? Leave it there or just transport a thumb drive of what you need.

ganchan

It hasn't come up yet. I don't have any downhills of more than, say, 3 percent grade on my regular route. But I do feel a minor difference in the steering.

ganchan

Because I like to work in various coffee shops, libraries, etc. And since I don't have a car, the bike's the only way to get there.

knobster

You could go with something like this: ABUS folding locks - Locks / Bike Safety and Security
Then leave the U Lock at work. For laptop, what I do is when I'm traveling, I leave the work laptop at work and take my Macbook Air and use Citrix to access any work apps. Maybe your IT department has something similar.

fsir

It ends when you decide it ends, grasshopper. Any bike you buy that is too big to carry with you will necessitate the need for a heavy lock. Taking into account my own requirement for a simple bike to get me around town (casual riding), I applied minimalist philosophy to the problem. Whatever it is I plan on carrying, shrink it. Be it the bike itself or the accessories and electronics that accompany me, find the smallest example of one I am comfortable using that meets my need for portability.

I thought, I want to eliminate the need for a lock entirely as well as the worry involved with leaving my bike by itself. Solution: a 14" wheeled lightweight folding bike I can take with me everywhere, even camping if I don't want to leave it in my car. Problem solved.

Laptop too bulky? Consider trying a tablet.

See the eyeglass case attached to my seatpost in the attached picture? Inside there is the smallest bicycle pump made, Airbone, as well as the standard repair tools and equipment.

If you don't have anything against riding with a backpack, anything else you need can go in there. Or get a handlebar bag that doubles as a backpack when you're off the bike.

Want more gears for hills? More gears can add weight. Consider getting a single speed and adding a Velospeeder electric rim motor (the size of an egg) instead when it is released like me,.

The point is try to shrink your concept of "bicycle" and the accessories down to still useable examples that are ultra portable so nothing necessitates a lock or requires you to leave it behind.

Whatever it is, it's almost guaranteed someone has thought of a way to shrink it down to a portable or pocket size version.

fietsbob

N+1 add a stripped down bike to go with the one ready to haul anything.

CrankyOne

I've got a front frame mounted rack (Stecco) with a wine crate that I carry gobs of stuff in. Quite happy with it and easily slides on/off.

ganchan

This kind of ties back to another thread I started about having a dedicated "windy day bike" that would stay as lightweight and cargo-free as possible, and letting a second bike serve as pack mule on non-windy days. (I suppose the "windy day" bike would be some aluminum thing with drop bars/aero bars, etc., and the other bike would be, well, anything strong....)

Dave Horne

It's a poor craftsman who blames his tools.

ganchan

I think you have a point. I'm just going to weight my bike down with whatever crap I think I need and "suffer into truth," as Aeschylus would say.

I'm drinking some milk right now, to strengthen myself.

fietsbob

Pedal-electrics seem popular offerings amongst the NL bike companies . the tailwind one way . the pedal assist on the way back.

dynaryder

Ever use it? I had this nifty little Crankbros pump;two sides for Presta/Schrader,gauge,high pressure/high volume setting. Then I helped a friend fix a flat with it on a ride. Now I use a Topeak Morph. Hose,so I don't have to hold it on the valve,t-handle,so I can brace it on the ground for pumping,and a decent size so it doesn't take a million pumps.

I couldn't imagine having to use one of these to fix a flat. UN would prolly consider it cruel-and-unusual punishment.

fsir

i just got it a few days ago so haven't had the opportunity to use it yet. But I'm determined to make it work. They're only 14" wheels on my bike so I'm hoping it will be quick to pump up from fully deflated. But seeing as you brought this up, I will do a test tomorrow and see how I like it. I bought it online so there was no pre-test, btw.

MichaelW

Indeed there are many paths to enlightenment. On can take the virtuous cycle of less weight, less effort and a lighter wallet.
On can take the path of weight acceptance, a bike should weigh what it needs to weigh, but no more.
Many commuters and everyday riders stray onto the path of unnecessary weight, burdening their journey with attachments that serve no purpose.

My own bike has IGH, dynamo lights, rear rack, bolt-on fenders, all serving a purpose.