Carrying a laptop
 

I've been commuting for years, but this is my first year with a laptop. I've been carrying my laptop in a swissgear backpack, and riding with it on my back. It's fine, actually surprisingly comfortable for a book bag. Most of my bikes have rear racks and pannier bags, which of course are not big enough to hold my backpack. I've thought about getting a protective sleeve for the laptop, to carry it in panniers.... but then I run into the issue where I am loading a backpack, or switching all my crap into my panniers. Anyone have a clever solution they are using??

I commute with a back pack. I have a small sling pack that goes cross my back and I use that for most travel. On days when I have to move the laptop I use the back pack. I wrap it in a plastic grocery bag of it's raining. So far no issues. My ride is fairly short (20 min).

I have had panniers before but I'm not sure I would be comfortable riding with the laptop in the panniers due to the possibility of water being splashed up by passing cars. My paranoia; maybe not yours.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2872e5961.jpeg

I use two panniers. Right one, with bike stuff,
is locked to rack. All office items go in left pannier. I use a laptop sleeve and have power supply at home and office.

(I’m lucky; I can store work clothes at office and there is a shower.)

I put my backpack in a wire basket, which is lashed to my rear rack.

Ah! Nice! Didn’t even think of that. Nice and simple.

Works for me too. I use those stainless steel hose clamps to hold the basket on. Wald still makes wire baskets.

I have commuted for last ~5 years using a TIMBUK2 commuter pack. The bag is advertised as "water resistant" and the bag has lived up to this. The bag will keep my stuff dry when pitted against my sweat or light rain or mist. But anything more than a drizzle and I have to take extra measures.

So I carry an extra plastic grocery bag folded up in one of the pockets. If rain is even remotely expected, I'll wrap my laptop in plastic bag and nestle between my clothes.

CJ

In this photo I am carrying my backpack on the rack, a laptop in one basket and a small tape recorder in the other (archive project).
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3830d12421.jpg
otherwise the baskets stay folded:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f318f872bd.jpg

Below is my leaving for work photo. The laptop is buried inside a backpack tossed onto the rear basket. In the case of a deep basket, you do not even to strap the pack.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...88173f8ec2.jpg

Laptop in a bubble mailer thing in the panniers, backpack for my clothes.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fb9d3e6bc6.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6e7c4e44ee.jpg

Bubble wrap is brilliant! I may try same!

Here's how I did it. Unfortunately, I haven't used it much this year.
Laptop case Quick Release

Most of the time, I do the same thing, but with a front basket. It made things so easy when I did not have to move stuff from one bag to another.

When I do use a pannier, I have a small bag that carries critical small stuff like keys, badge, phone, and wallet. Tools and spares go in a seat bag.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1f6dd47c1.jpeg

I use a messenger bag from Timbuk2. Seems to work out great!

I've tried all the above. I do tend to ride faster than average and didn't like futzing around with panniers - especially since I tend to ride home into a headwind every day in the spring and don't need a wind block.
Messanger bag (with cross strap) worked best for me. Gave me the flexibility of a backpack, without any of the sweat (and lower center of gravity). Timbuk2 has a variety of sizes.

Ortleib Gravel Pack is great for me, super size, waterproof roll top, shoulder strap


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...108d292de9.jpg

I used your method today. I only had foam, so the protection was probably minimal. I’m going to take a closer look at the other suggestions here too.

Thanks everyone for weighing in! Lots of clever solutions.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...39e71c768.jpeg

Wow, not your average commuter bike. That wheel is nearly kissing the seat tube! I’ve looked at Ortlieb panniers a lot in the past, always thought they were nice.

I think the basket and a backpack is probably where I am headed. I don’t want to put one on all my bikes, so I have to see which one I ride more often. I’ve been rotating bikes too often at this point... but that is part of the fun for me.

Looks pretty secure. How easy is the cord to take on and off? Can it be moved to other bikes if you wanted?

It's a couple of bungee cords strung through the seat frame and around the front of the seatpost, then secured to the rear of the rack.

I have one setup on my two bikes with a rack, So I don't move them from bike to bike. (I wear the backpack on the rackless 2-speed)

I started doing this about 20 years ago on the green bike and replaced the bungee after 10 years.

I put the orange cord on the black bike when I bought it in 2015 and replaced the cord after 3 years.

I bought a box of bungees at Harbor Freight 20 years ago, and I think I paid $12.

Before that I had fastened a milk crate to the back rack and put the back pack in the crate, like I saw other people do.

Then one day a picture of this way of doing it just popped in my head.

On the black bike (without baskets) when I have something to carry besides the back pack, I strap it to the rack and wear the backpack.

I know there are more elegant systems you can buy, but this has worked for me, especially since I like to wear the backpack out to the bike shed (and back to the house), and from the bathroom in the office where I change, to the warehouse where I park the bike. And I can wear the backpack when I run errands to the bank, store, etc. It has a pocket for my water bottle, and if I'm going to be long I clip my helmet to the pack, too.

If I went with a pannier it would have to be the kind you could wear as a backpack. If I needed two panniers, I guess I'd have to carry the other.

You are right, in an effort to shorten the "beltstay" dimension for agility on this cycle (AC01) , BMC pulled the wheel/fender right into the seatpost (as they do with their road-bikes).

This move has some downsides:

1. Fewer tire options with the tight clearances. (those are 32mm slick tires in the photo)
2. Fewer pannier setup possibilities due to heel-strike concerns. The Gravel Pack is one option that works well.

If you already have a rear rack on each of your bicycles, you can move one basket around to any of them. The way I fasten the basket to the rack is to lash it down with velcro wrap-straps, available from Lowes and such. These hold very well but also allow re-configuration easily enough.

The green straps in this photo are the velcro.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...56e31aa76d.jpg

I use my Ortlieb Back Rollers and love them, but I've considered getting this, especially now I'm taking a laptop to and from work:

https://ortliebusa.com/product/office-bag-2/

I have used a messenger bag and waterproof panniers. Day after day of carrying a heavy laptop in the messenger bag started to get to my back and shoulders. I prefer the panniers and have had no issue with water soaking through on rainy days. Though I'm careful to avoid puddles and I don't ride in driving rain.