It looks like it'd be okay on the bike, but upright all the weight is pivoted into the lumbar, on only one side of your back. Definately use the handle if you're walking with it, or don't carry much. It is padded, the T2 site sez the laptop portion interior is lined in corduroy? Seems they've gotten so big their copy is probably off, although there is Cordura Corduroy out there, my wife made a stunning jacket out of some this past winter.

You can save yourself a few bucks by buying it from one of the other people selling it. Carringcase.net, Lots of yahoo stores, onlineshoes.com, rei.com, shopper.com, zappos.com, brilliantshopper.com, nextag.com. Many of these retailers sell Timbuk2 for less than Timbuk2 and offer free T2 Ipod cases and laptop sleeves + Free Shipping. There is even a colour choice available (navy/royal/navy) from these retailers that Timbuk2 does not itself stock, so check it out before buying direct from T2, their own site is apparantly for suckers.