briefcase on a bike
 

Hi everyone,

I was wandering if any of you are carrying briefcases on you bikes, and how do you do it?
For me, two methods are not an option; front basket and rucksacks.

I have found this thing, seems fine - Topeak Office Bag MTX- it actually serves as a briefcase, which is good as you get 2in1, otherwise you should put briefcase in something and then take it out + it's mounted above the wheel so it doesn't disturb balance. I haven't had it in hands so I don't know how much can it be spread to carry a bit larger files etc as it is designed for laptops.

Do you have any other ideas or products...this one is also a bit expensive.

thanx!

I wish I had some more time and resources to invent exactly what you are looking for. I use a small Vaultz briefcase for work and I would love to be able to just strap or clamp it onto my rear rack. This Topeak bag doesn't look very practical for anything. I want MY briefcase!

Ortlieb Bicycle Commuter Rack Top Bags

View the Office Bag at http://www.ortliebusa.com

Yes, it is expensive but add up the cost of the contents and compare. I do not own this product, but I do own some of the other bags by them. If you go to the main Ortlieb page you can maybe find something else that will work. I know how important a briefcase can be, I carry one daily.

Just wondering what made you think like this?

Unfortunately there is just one video on yt showing it, and it seems ok, but I will still have to check it myself.

We should all register on some Dutch bike forum, they ride most of all the other nations, if they havent found solution then all hope is gone. Such a simple and useful thing and so much trouble finding one.

I commute with a backpack on a rack. I would get a rack, a cushioned bag for the briefcase, and bungee it to the back rack.

I own the Office-Bag from Ortlieb, great bag the Large is huge. I do put a grocery bag pannier on the other side to balance it out, and put some of the contents in there. The problem is that you end up carrying too much since these bags are so huge. These bags ride back and forth on my Surly LHT when I use it as a commuter.

I just got a Sackville Saddlesack in Medium for my Raleigh SS. But, if you went with the larger model here, i suspect it would easily hold a briefcase plus a bunch of other stuff. These things aren't cheap, but they are awesome huge. The medium carries my computer, spiral notebook, shoes, pants, shirt plus my lunch without issue. I use the medium without a rack, but the Larger mounts to a rack only, but you can see from the pictures, it's massive.

Good luck,
T

Arkel makes a pannier mounted briefcase, but it is HUGE.

http://www.ecovelo.info/images/arkel-briefcase-02.jpg

The problem with all of the rack mounted brief case type bags is that no matter how well the mounting hooks are covered when not in use, cloth flap, etc., ultimately, if you walk a fair distance with them daily, they will mess up your trou.

Have you considered a messenger bag, to either carry the case or replace it all together. Command TSA-Friendly Messenger Bag 2015 - Timbuk2

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 have a Wald 585 basket attached to my rear rack via stainless hose clamps. It would accommodate a briefcase just fine, if held down from above by a bungee. When I transport delicate things, I just wrap them in a plastic bag to protect them from the elements, and I leave the bag with the bike when I park it.

I think it's worth looking for creative ways to deal with having to haul a giant laptop computer back and forth every day, if that's what you're doing. Naturally this depends on the nature of your work, and what's on your computer.

Turning the hook on the outside should solve this.

Both of these Timbuk panniers look great, however, I cant see how they are mounted on a bike - if even possible?
Carrying it on a shoulder is not an option - simple rucksack can do it.

Actually, I will not be carrying laptops, just files, sometimes one very light, sometimes several weighting 6-7 kg total.
So a normal business/lawyer type briefcase that can be mounted on a bike is what I am looking for. Nothing fancy and elegant, but not a sport bag. But it looks as there is no such thing.

The Topeak one I posted firstly is the only one which seems decent and practical to me, if there is enough room in it, Amazon reviewers mention that it is a bit smaller then advertised.

PS I just now realized that this is an USA forum - greetings to all from Croatia.

The Dutch don't over think it. But here is the American solution (yes, that is a production bike specifically to carry a briefcase).
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=473977

I really really like the idea!!!

Milk crate on a rack.

I am doing the exact same thing on my Novara Gotham.

The rear rack I put on my Schwinn Varsity back in '70 had a little hook on one side that was specifically made for holding the handle of a regular briefcase. There was a spring-loaded tab that closed over the top of it to keep the handle from popping out when hitting bumps. The briefcase just hung down on one side of the rack like a single pannier. Haven't seen any racks recently with that feature.

In some instances, yes, depends on how the shoulder strap mounts on the bag.

The back of mine looks like the first pic, with long metal hooks. I think this must be the 1.0 version. I bought mine on a steep discount because it was being discontinued. The second pic below shows the 3 hook system that is on the current version (2.0). I just picked up a couple of Timbuk2 Cog panniers (my wife stole my Shift to use on her cargo trike) and they use the same mounting system. In both cases the hooks fold to the side so that you can carry it comfortably off the bike. Hope that helps.

https://bikeabouttown.files.wordpres...117-102155.jpg

http://www.shop.calledtoservebags.co...242628137.jpeg

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=474093

This is back view of the topeak....ugly ugly...damn, there is no such thing as briefcase on a a bike.

Steco Attache-mee briefcase carrier for bicycle rack


<http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=474138http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=474153

Our-products | Steco B.V.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=474179http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=474180http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=474181

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.

The "akward" angle is to prevent heel strikes with larger briefcases. On the old Schwinn racks, the hanger was all the way to the rear of the rack.