Laptop Protection
#1
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Laptop Protection
Right now I've got a Macbook in an Amazon Basics sleeve inside an Ortlieb pannier with some clothes. How are other riders commuting with laptops? I suppose good laptop backpack would better - but I can't do backpack in the summer.
#2
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Joined: Dec 2012
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From: South Austin, Texas
Bikes: 2010 Origin8 CX700, 2003 Cannondale Backroads Cross Country, 1997 Trek mtn steel frame converted commuter/tourer, 1983 Univega Sportour, 2010 Surly LHT, Others...
See this recent post w/ links on different thread for some ortlieb products. I most often carry my laptop in sleeve or wrapped in one of my ortlieb front or back roller classics. I also have nice laptop/office panniers from Racktime and Ortlieb that wife and I used when both teaching school.
https://www.bikeforums.net/19626827-post8.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/19626827-post8.html
#3
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,175
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
I don't use any protection at all. I'm carrying a Macbook Pro. I usually toss it in my pannier. It rattles around. So far, so good.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
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Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#4
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: South Central Michigan
I wrap my laptop in an old towel, and then put that in one end of my garment pannier. Anything heavy (laptop power supply, dress shoes, toolbag, apples for lunch, etc.) goes in the other end of the pannier. Loading it that way balances out the weight nicely.
https://try.twowheelgear.com/
https://try.twowheelgear.com/
#5
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Brompton has a pocket for them in my O bag, made by Ortlieb,
but a thumb drive by now should be all you need to transfer stuff to your bosses computer .
you expected to put out, work from everywhere all the time?
but a thumb drive by now should be all you need to transfer stuff to your bosses computer .
you expected to put out, work from everywhere all the time?
#6
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,175
Likes: 6,404
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
I carry my work-issued laptop on the off chance I have to work on something from home in an emergency. I've only had to do it two or three times in the 2-1/2 years on this job, but I work in the IT department, so we have to keep things running.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#8
Occam's Rotor
Joined: Jul 2013
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Thule makes "Gauntlet" cases that offer a hard, but lightweight shell. I put the sleeve inside that.
#10
GATC

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,839
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From: south Puget Sound
In a sleeve in a pannier works for me. I am currently using a laptop w/ solid-state drive but I have had a hard drive laptop in a sleeve in the pannier and the pannier launched and rolled around the street just missing getting flattened by a bus and the laptop worked just fine when I got it back.
#11
Both of my approaches don't really solve your problem, but I'll mention them anyway. The first is to have a computer at each end of your trip, and just carry data back and forth, or put it in the cloud.
What I did, to have a computer "on the go," was to get an utterly dirt cheap notebook that comes apart and doubles as a tablet. The low cost is my insurance policy -- if it gets damaged, I can replace it for less than what a service plan for a full blown computer would cost. Then I just put it in a padded sleeve and throw it into the bike basket.
Naturally, if you're transporting a computer or data, make sure everything is encrypted, in case of loss or theft.
What I did, to have a computer "on the go," was to get an utterly dirt cheap notebook that comes apart and doubles as a tablet. The low cost is my insurance policy -- if it gets damaged, I can replace it for less than what a service plan for a full blown computer would cost. Then I just put it in a padded sleeve and throw it into the bike basket.
Naturally, if you're transporting a computer or data, make sure everything is encrypted, in case of loss or theft.
#15
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Plano, TX
Bikes: Fahrradmanufaktur Trekking Bike, Lightning Phantom, bikeE AT, Radwagon3, HP Velotechnik Scorpion
I have a slim upholstered bag (not sleeve) for my 14" laptop which I carry in my Ortlieb pannier. Have been doing this for the past 2 years. No issues.
Office clothes and shoes go in the other pannier.
Office clothes and shoes go in the other pannier.
#16
I use a thin "incase" bag rather than just a sleeve. It has a removable shoulder strap and a few pockets. I carry it in a waterproof backpack now but I've used the same kind of set up in pannier.

I work relatively often at home or away from the office. As a software developer working on a variety of stuff, it's easier to have one machine that has all my dev environments set up the way I want rather than to try to keep two machines in sync. A lot of our source code is kept in the cloud so that's not the issue so much.
Modern laptops are pretty light and compact so carrying one on a bike isn't a big deal. If you've got an SSD you're not at much risk for HD damage related to shock or vibration.
I work relatively often at home or away from the office. As a software developer working on a variety of stuff, it's easier to have one machine that has all my dev environments set up the way I want rather than to try to keep two machines in sync. A lot of our source code is kept in the cloud so that's not the issue so much.
Modern laptops are pretty light and compact so carrying one on a bike isn't a big deal. If you've got an SSD you're not at much risk for HD damage related to shock or vibration.
Last edited by tjspiel; 06-16-17 at 11:35 AM.
#17
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From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito (Celeste, of course)
What's wrong with that? The sleeve will protect against most things, and the clothes provide padding if the bike tips over.
#18
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Maybe I'm just spoiled by having this ability.
#19
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,175
Likes: 6,404
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Yes, if I had a home computer. We have a VPN. Mine died, and I don't care, since I like the work-issued computer so much, and I'd rather not spend the money.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#20
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011
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Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
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