Originally Posted by
andyprough
If you like a rack, I say put a rack on there. It's only 4 or 5 small screws max - you could easily take it off any time in a couple minutes.
I like the look of the quick-release hanging bags - very classy. I might eventually get one for certain occasions. But they aren't going to help me haul around 25 pounds of groceries (like today - 20 pound bag of dry dogfood plus a couple of items), so that would severely limit my definition of "commuting" to mean "to-and-from work only". I like "commuting" to mean for me: going to work, going to visit mom and dad, meeting my kids for a movie, going to the grocery for my wife, going to the hardware store, going to church, etc. I couldn't do most of that without a rack that can carry a lot of different loads, but when I don't want it on there, the rack is off in a couple of minutes.
Same here. As with my previous comment, it's pretty clear that there are 2 kinds of commuters that ride, car replacement riders, and those that ride only on specific trips, such as to work and back. I cannot be bothered with very small solutions, as i often carry up over 50 lbs several miles. In summer everything fits in my shorts pockets, and backpack is used for anything larger or anything i dont want flopping around in a pocket. I do see some roadies with large backpacks, but i dress for the destination as well as the trip. For instance, if it's 2 degrees out, im gonna be wearing my triclimate north face jacket, hat under helmet in place of the pads, multiple things to stop the wind, and often 2 thin thermal pants under jeans. The triclimate i can then take apart and just wear the liner & take an outer shirt off. Thats where my backpack comes in sometimes, as i'll go into a starbucks or a movie or cafe, or the occasional grocery stop. I cannot fit the liner and shirt in a small thing on the bike. Conversely, on warmer daysit might be nice to have everything in a small seatpost mounted container or handlebar bag to keep my shorts unladen for maximum comfort, then i can ride to the park, skip some rocks and leave all my stuff locked up on the bike...
- Andy