I gave up driving at the end of April '10. Since then I have did everything with my bike, with a few exceptions when the bike hasn't been working like it should and got forced into walking instead.I've carried loads up to 70 pounds climbing hills with that kind of weight...on my back.

When I was planning on giving up driving I knew I had three big things I had to deal with that I would have to use the bike for. They would be the challenge. I thought about how I might work around the hinderances and finally decided to use a trailer. I built a nice trailer that was going to work great for me. It was riding/handling super. Fortunately, one day I missed a hole in the road and ended up having the eye bolt on the trailer snap in two. Before I could get another eye bolt, had to ride to the hardware store to get one, someone walked off with the trailer. THANKFULLY. It weighted a whopping 30 pounds. Here in the hills of NH that's 30 extra pounds up every climb.

When I went to replace I was trying to think of a lighter weight way to go and then I finally thought about being a ???REAL??? cyclists and ended up making some homemade racks. They weighed in under 10 pounds and caused me nothing but trouble.

Finally at the end of the winter I said the heck with it and dropped down to use the old trusty standby...the daypack. I had been using a daypack for the small load trips, heck even doing laundry. I started using the daypack for everything. I knew it might take a bit longer but the daypack sit right on my back and weighed next to nothing. It didn't interfer with the riding in anyway whatsoever.The weekend before Easter I was finishing up some house cleaning and wanted to take the cardboxes, etc to the dump. I knew with the daypack I was going to have to make several trips. I also knew I had a backpack in the other room. The same backpack I had used to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. I fought with the idea and finally decided to load it up and see how it would go when I got on the bike. Would the backpack get in the way of pedalling or anything else. I tried it in the kitchen and everything seemed okay. The next morning I made the trip to the dump and haven't looked back since.

Now I carry 50-70 pounds on my back in the backpack and don't think a thing about it. It keeps the weight of any gear centered in between the wheels. The only trouble I have ever noticed was climbing steeper hills...seated. You have to watch out that you don't end up trying to pop a wheelie. Never thought I would end up having the front wheel come off the ground but it sure did. I make sure to stand up whenever I climb that hill anymore.

Sure it may give you a sweaty back, but unless you are riding that slow your going to end up sweating anyways. Who cares. Having the convienence of having everything together in one nice, neat package and not having to worry about your gear getting stolen when you decide to take a stroll down a hiking trail somewhere makes it all that much better. Any would be criminal is going to have to take you out before they take your gear as you can take your gear down the trail with you. By having everything centered between the wheels should also help to reduce to wear on the bike/wheels. I'm using an old Cannondale road racing bike to do all my riding. Rarely do you see me without a pack, the daypack or backpack, on my back while I'm out riding.

I'm looking at doing some touring action possibly in the next month or so and I plan on using the backpack. I wouldn't even consider using a rack/pain the a** system. Instead of having to make sure to balance weigh side to side and front to back you load the backpack up so the heavy stuff is on the bottom. Everything else is much simpler and as an added benefit you also have theft protection.