Originally Posted by
PaulRivers
First of all, you can't call "BS" on something like this. "BS" would be if I said "Messenger bags always flop around and they're all crap." I've read several threads from people here who have had this problem with a messenger bag - hit a corner, and it slid around on their bike. Maybe you have one that doesn't - great. Please share. But there are definitely some that are difficult, "BS" it is not.
Second, what bike do you ride? My comments were regarding one of the twitchy road race bikes were you are rather leaned over. There's nothing I can put on my back at all that I don't notice while riding that bike. My flat bar bike is no problem. Even my more upright road bike is pretty decent. But on my leaned over, twitchy road bike anything at all on the back is noticeable the entire ride.
I commute on my race bike, which has a big saddle-to-bar drop, with my messenger bag pretty often. I'm also an art student and usually carrying a lot of stuff in my bag. The bike has only slid out from under me once on a commute and that was because I didn't take the corner correctly, but the bag always stays in place. I've also taken that bike + bag on rides lasting several hours, the only real discomfort is from a sweaty back and maybe a bad adjustment. A good bag will be comfortable if you know how to pack and adjust it well.