Thanks for all the replies, didn’t realize it was such a hot topic. I rode about 30 miles this weekend, which is about 3x the length of my commute, one-way. Rode about 12 miles round trip to an REI, with a backpack on, to test out different bikes (Surly LHT, a Clubman, and two Novara road-ish bikes). Then I went out riding again later in the evening with nothing on me or the bike. Here are my conclusions:
1. A backpack is not for everyone, and can ruin the fun of the ride. Other posts talked about the urge to just get the dang thing off, and that’s the camp I fall into.
2. My pannier only slows me down a tiny bit. It’s so negligible as to not even be a factor…. EXEPT IN THE WIND. When a cross or head wind really kicks up, I’m screwed. I just have to take it down to a leisurely crawl and not let it affect my mood. It might actually be an advantage in a tail wind, if I ever catch one I’ll let you know. Unfortunately the afternoon summer winds in Colorado blow from three directions at once… man I can’t wait for winter when its cold and still.
3. It ain’t the bike, it’s the engine. As true in this thread as it is in countless others. Adding commuting to my exercise routine has already exceeded my fitness goals that I struggled to achieve by just jogging on the treadmill. I need to be more patient and realize that being in true “cycling shape” takes more than a couple months.
4. The laptop is kinduva wild card. The only non-backpack set-up that I trust is having it in a protective sleeve, and then in the Ortlieb Office Bag pannier so it hangs vertically. With the rest of the clothes and rain gear in the bag, the laptop is secure enough that I can do this every day without risk of damage (knock on wood). Otherwise, I’d probably do a backpack with a truck basket as my daily set-up.
Miscellaneous notes: gotta love a bike with disc brakes and fenders! Most of the evening showers have been after I’m home from my commute, but I got caught in a good down-poor yesterday. It stopped by time I had to transition from the bike path to the streets, but the bike lane and gutters were still running with water. I however, made it home clean and dry, and had all the stopping power I needed at intersections or sketchy situations. Brilliant! Even after I go pro, I’m still gonna roll with fenders and discs.