Commuting with a backpack... UGH!
 

I have a new road bike. It's not my main commuter, but I'm enjoying riding it, and with the weather being fairly decent today (dry) I thought I'd give it a try as a commuter. The bike is fabulous. But, I got a reminder of why I don't commute with a back pack. That's how I started about 8 years ago - with a backpack. Then I got a touring bike that became my main commuter (it still is) and went with a rack and panniers. On my previous road bike, I had a carradice quick release block on the seatpost with a quick release bag that carried a good amount of stuff. I don't have that hooked up to the new bike and I don't know if it will work with the smaller diameter seat post. So, backpack it was if I wanted to commute on the road bike.

The pack is still in great shape. I had to make adjustments to the straps as others have used it for various purposes. My load wasn't all that heavy or bulky and it wasn't uncomfortable. The temperature outside was 47 degrees and foggy. I had on an under armour shirt, a thin wool pullover, and a very breathable cycling jacket as the outer shell. About 10 minutes into the ride, I started to get really warm. Soon I was sweating profusely. By the time I arrived at the front door at work, my hair and upper body were soaked. Most of the ventilation on the outer shell of my cycling jacket is through the vents on the back of the jacket. The pack on my back effectively closed off those vents. Work doesn't have a shower. It was a good 15 minutes of sitting in front of a fan to dry off and stop sweating.

It's supposed to be 70 degrees when I go home. I'll be able to throw the outer two layers into the pack and ride home in a t-shirt and shorts. I'm hoping this will be more comfortable, but not expecting it. The ride home is a gradual uphill grade for about 4 miles and the temperature, while comfortable, will still be 23 degrees warmer than this morning. If I want to commute with the road bike, it will have to be with a different method than a backpack. I'm hoping that my carradice quick release block will fit the smaller diameter seat post on the new road bike. And well, the wet weather will be hear soon, so the sane option will be to use the touring bike with the rack and panniers.

Or you could just take into account the extra warmth that the backpack adds and ditch a layer or two.

I think I arrive at my destination with a sweaty back even if I only have one layer (which is what it will be on the way home.) I have seen backpacks that are raised off your back and use a mesh material. That would probably work fine for a one layer commute. I'm hoping my carradice works out.

SQR Slim saddlebag

http://www.carradice.co.uk/timthumb2...-886.jpg&w=280

My bag is not nearly that big, but that's a picture of the mount.

It's funny how preferences differ.

I'd rather have the weight on my back than my bike, especially when I'm lugging my laptop.

I have two backpacks, a HD one for laptop days and a nice lightweight for when I'm not carrying so much...

During that glorious 63F-every-morning commute week there were a couple of days in which I arrived at work with barely any sweat after my usual 12-13 mile ride. I rode with my Chrome Industries backpack for easier filtering, because everyone was saying traffic would be hell that week (Papal Visit). I only had my usual polyester t-shirt and shorts. Some fellow commuters had arm/leg warmers or tights under the shorts - I knew i'd burn up if I put on more layers.

For most of my commute days I use my touring bike. It has been converted to an e-bike. So, I don't even think about weight - it's going to handle whatever I throw on there and it's not going to make a difference in my effort. So, for heavy days, it's e-bike. For lousy weather days it's e-bike (it has full length fenders and flaps.) Nice days, light load... I'd like to ride my carbon fiber road bike. I just looked at the carradice website. It stated that the mounting block should fit seat posts 25mm to 32mm - mine is 25.4mm.

I've been thinking about this problem as well. Here's my idea. Well, it's not a new idea, but basically I'd cut out two strips of some kind of foam, perhaps something like a quarter section of those foam pool noodles, and somehow fasten them to the back of the backpack, effectively raising them off of your back, and thus allowing air to circulate between it and your back. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to give it a go this weekend, as soon as I can find a pool noodle, which is difficult to do this time of year.

Anyone else try something similar?

So you got sweaty back from cycling ?? wow !! what a tragedy, I feel so sorry for you, you're lucky to be alive... Seriously OP you're making a big issue out of nothing... I've been using backpacks and messenger bags for over 8 years now. Does my back get sweaty ?? Sure it does. So what ??. I've come to accept sweating as something that's part of being a human. Sweating is one of the positive side-effects of exercise.

In the past I've advocated for tail bags. Lately I've been using a backpack because it works better for logisitics, but I still don't really like wearing the thing.

This is the Commuter forum, have you met us?

Yeah, but if we didn't make a big deal of these little things there'd be very little to talk about here.

I share your dislike for backpacks. My commuters are set up for Lowriders and the small Ortleibs. When I do ride one of my good bikes, I use the small cheap Black Diamond backpack (~$30 at REI). I was pleasantly surprised at the ventilation of this not fancy pack though it is a big step down from keeping the gear on the bike.

Ben

When I don't ride with a backpack I don't sweat nearly anything like I do when I do ride with a backpack. No, it's not a big deal. Enjoy your sweaty back. Go ahead and wear your down coat in a sauna. I don't believe I said anything about exercising... I was talking about commuting.

When I was working, I used both to carry my gear. Backpack lost out to the messenger bag quick. I just seem to like it better and sweating was never an issue for me. I was lucky that none of my jobs minded me sweating anyway.

There's always the weather!

when I commute on my roadie I wear my back pack. it makes me sweat, but under 65F not much mor than without. a couple of years ago I got the idea to put a mesh back rest (like the kind mused on office chairs and car seats) between the backpack and my back. it pushed my shirt against my back and I sweated any way.

I rode in the same conditions this morning (44F) but just wore a thin long sleeve wool baselayer. I'd have worn a vest but I left it at work. My back and front get wet from sweat when I ride. I have to navigate some narrow pathways on a bridge at high speed and prefer not to have any extra baggage on the side of my bike. I like the wool as it doesn't stink when I get to work so I usually wait for an hour or so before having a shower. By then I've cooled down.

i put a clean t shirt in the backpack, seemed obvious. then again i work a sweaty constructiony job so, not having a shower really doesn't matter, maybe a clean t shirt and deoderant.

Can you stash extra clothes at work? Most days, I commute on my road bike carrying no more than my wallet, badge, house key, and lock. It's pretty nice. :)

I hate using a backpack on a bike. I used one once in a while as extra space when shopping when I had already filled two Ortlieb panniers and a large rack bag. I simply leave my panniers on and use them. Unfortunately I arrive all sweaty anyway. :D

My solution to avoid the sweaty back from backpack may not suit everyone, but I have recently switched out from having a rack bag on my rack and instead have fitted a large Axiom Rear Basket, which my backpack then fits into well enough, so that I then just need some bungee cords to ensure the backpack stays put.

Rolltop backpack commuter here and for me, it really is the only thing that works. I don't have bikes that use racks, panniers, and the likes, and more than likely never will. I have grown accustomed to the bag on my back and prefer it there. It feels funny to ride without it. So my back gets a little sweaty when I arrive at work. I get there a few extra minutes and get cleaned up in the bathroom. Always have deodorant and what not to use as showers are not readily available unfortunately. For tonights ride home, it actually kept my back a little warm in 49° weather. Learn to properly layer and it really shouldn't be that much of an issue.

Is 4 miles your whole commute distance? Or just part of it?

So your normal daily commuter is an e-bike?
Is it possible you are not doing as much work on it as you are on your road bike?
This could be a major cause of your sweat.
The backpack covering your venting is exacerbating the situation.
Perhaps a jacket with a different venting scheme?

I started out splitting my commute between days, so I would carry the following day's clothes in the car. Then I started commuting the whole round trip in a single day, with a backpack, but that sucked because of the sweat and just general fatigue with the backpack on my back for 15+ miles. So finally I just rigged up my road bike (my primary commuter) with a rear rack and trunk bag, with fold-out panniers. Ahhh much better!

If you don't normally commute on your plastic bike, but want to use it on nice days, I would plan ahead with weather forecasts and such. Take the clothes for that day on a prior day, and then just don't carry anything extra. Lightweight mode. Sometimes I leave my trunk bag at work if I know I'm driving the next day, and commute home in "lightweight mode" with nothing on the rear rack. It can definitely make for a faster ride.