My son went off to college and wants to bring a bike out there. The problem is he's been riding one of my road bikes, the Davidson I had custom built for me 30 years ago, and I don't want him to leave it chained up outside in the rain. It is just too nice a bike, with the original Campy NR components on it although I converted it to 10 speed wheel and chain. So, rather than buy a used clunker for him to take I offered my MTB, my Trek 8000 from 20 years ago, that I use as my commuter. It is all original except the tires which I switched to slicks when I started using it as my commuter bike, and in fact rode it yesterday to work. I've probably put as many miles on my commuter this year as my road bikes.

So my problem is this, I have 3 road bikes left, the Davidson, my Kuota carbon fiber bike, and my Zilioli, a classic steel Italian bike with all Campy SR pantograph on it. What NONE of these bikes have of course are eyelets for a rack. They are all built as lightweight racing/training bikes. I've used each of them at least once to ride to work and every time I do it I have regretted it. This is mostly because I have to use a backpack to carry clothes and I've become used to attaching my Knog messenger bag/pannier onto the rack on my Trek as it is made to do. I get sweaty enough as it is, and a backpack just creates a puddle on my back.

I should mention that I don't have a shower at the other end, nor would I want to leave clothes in my 31st floor office to change into as I don't want to walk through the corporate offices in my biking clothes. I do have a spot to clean up a bit and change on the lower level of the building, where the few other cyclists will go as well. I also have indoor guarded bike parking, so I can leave any of my bikes without worry.

So, I'm left with either a backpack or a messenger bag slung across to carry my clothes at this point. Any good ideas for alternatives? And NO, I do not want a fifth bike! N+1 is not in the works, although you could argue its N-1+1!