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briefcase on a bike

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Old 08-31-15 | 06:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Papa Tom
I think what rewq has been trying to say is that he doesn't want to have to settle for a nylon briefcase that looks like something an 8th grader would carry to school. Even though a person rides a bike to work, he/she sometimes has to look like a "regular" person once he/she is there.

My Vaultz briefcase cost only $30, but it is suitable and acceptable for the type of work I do. That's because when I need to carry it into a "tech" meeting with big wigs from the town, it looks expensive and it looks rugged. A messenger bag or any of those other bicycle-specific bags look like kids gear to me.

That said, the Steco rack comes close to what I would like (and what I think rewq would like), but that's a really awkward looking carry-angle.
Bingo - there is nothing I can add to this!!!

Steco rack really does come close to my wishes.
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Old 08-31-15 | 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Cyclosaurus
I have a Timbuk2 shift pannier which is a messenger bag with pannier hooks. Never had any issues off the bike. They are on clearance now at REI Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - Medium - REI.com
I was excited to see this, but the bag you link to is a regular messenger bag, not a pannier; there are no rack attachments. The Timbuk2 Shift appears to be discontinued, and none of their current panniers look as appealing to me.
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Old 08-31-15 | 11:09 AM
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Brompton A bag https://www.ecovelo.info/images/brommie-23-1200.jpg
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Old 08-31-15 | 11:11 AM
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I guess I feel like the point of a briefcase, or indeed a laptop, is that it's supposed to be portable. So you should toss it into a rack or large pannier. If you have it hanging off the bike it's going to get muddy and scuffed and scratched and maybe crushed.
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Old 08-31-15 | 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by wilfried
I was excited to see this, but the bag you link to is a regular messenger bag, not a pannier; there are no rack attachments. The Timbuk2 Shift appears to be discontinued, and none of their current panniers look as appealing to me.
Apologies for the bad link. You may have to keep your eyes peeled on ebay to find it if you really want one. This bag looks similar, maybe it would work for you? https://www.bikebagshop.com/ortlieb-...er-p-1724.html
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Old 09-01-15 | 12:23 AM
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No worries. I currently use a Hyalite commuter pannier, which works well enough. It's basically a waterproof roll top sack with shoulder strap. At that discounted strap, I might have jumped on a pannier that looked more like a messenger bag, but I probably wouldn't pay full price for it.
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Old 09-01-15 | 07:04 AM
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Originally Posted by wilfried
No worries. I currently use a Hyalite commuter pannier, which works well enough. It's basically a waterproof roll top sack with shoulder strap. At that discounted strap, I might have jumped on a pannier that looked more like a messenger bag, but I probably wouldn't pay full price for it.
Right, that's exactly the same situation I was in. Just happened to come across the Shift on clearance, otherwise I wouldn't have paid the $.
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Old 09-01-15 | 10:31 AM
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It would be overkill, perhaps, but a Cetma Cargo HALFrack would get the job done easily.

Here's the one on my bike, coming home from Home Depot this weekend after installing it and going shopping by bike instead of always in my car.



Manufacturer's website: HALFrack ? CETMA Cargo
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Old 09-02-15 | 07:57 PM
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I have a white Ortlieb Downtown bag that is pretty much briefcase size. The QL3 clips work well and mean there's nothing grabby on the bag itself. Costly, but it's holding up really well. I like it a lot.


Ortlieb and RackTime rack on Fantom Outlaw commuter
by curtis corlew, on Flickr
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Old 09-03-15 | 07:18 AM
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People keep saying "briefcase". Does the OP mean "attache case"? There are lots of kinds of briefcases and it would help a lot to know what kind is intended.
I have stuffed briefcases (not attache cases) into vertical panniers on a rear rack, and I have strapped briefcases (not attache cases) onto the top of a rear rack with a bungee net.
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Old 09-07-15 | 01:03 PM
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Personally I'd like to see the Ortlieb Downtown bag attach to the top of a rack with the RackTime thingy. I have a hangup with the asymmetry of a single pannier and trunk bags dimension don't work with my laptop. Outside of the Rivendell SackVille SaddleSack I can't find anything that sits on top of a rack and is shaped like the Downtown.
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Old 09-07-15 | 02:06 PM
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You are describing this : https://www.ortlieb.com/en/produkt-d...e=Trunk%20Bags

It uses their watertight zip like closure . rather than the flap, that the Downtown can use being vertically oriented.
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Old 09-07-15 | 03:14 PM
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Given what it sounds like you are carrying (files only, up to several pounds) you could keep your "big boy" leather briefcase at work to use for professional meeting requirements and simply transport your files back and forth with an inexpensive, waterproof, bike specific solution.
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Old 09-08-15 | 02:19 PM
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Just a quick update....
In the end, I bought an inexpensive sort of half-basket from a shop here in Croatia....costs 15 USD...good thing is that it is cheap, easy to mount and take off (simple hooks) and not a typical lady style basket.

Busy Basket / Naslovna / Busy Basket - Ko?arica za no?enje prijenosnog ra?unala i poslovne torbe na biciklu

So far it feels good, very practical, no worries of anything being stolen, balance is fine, my only worry is that it might not last too long, as it jumps a bit when I meet bumps on the road, and it is not top quality built.
But it is as cheap as possible....

thanks to everyone!
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Old 09-09-15 | 08:00 PM
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I had a deuter office briefcase style bag and noticed they used ortlieb hardware. When I was ready for a new one (nylon was fading) I found out they had stopped making that bag. So I bought a leather briefcase and added a stiffener and attached ortlieb hardware. Going on 2 years now and it is fantastic. I have a cover i use in the rain.
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