fubar5

So what does everybody use to carry a change of clothes or other items during the ride/commute to work or wherever ?

technogirl

I have my Arkel UBP (Utility Back Pack). It's soooooo awesome. Very sturdy, and kinda neat lookin' too. I don't go anywhere without it, really--that and my little "Los Angeles Bike Tour" bike pack...carries my sunglasses and smaller items quite nicely.

fubar5

I am using a Eastpak backpack. It works really well so I am happy with it. I wish it had some padding on the side that is against my back though.

LittleBigMan

Sussette,

Is it the Lady Bug, or what? I thought about getting an "Arkel" pannier or pannier/backpack.

Fubar, it's too wierd, I use an Eastpak that was handed down to me (I am cheap), but I strap it to my rack. I can put it on my back in an emergency, but the sweaty back syndrome led me to use the rack.

When I'm walking (alternate exercise,) I strap on the Eastpack!

A pannier would provide me better balance, though.

jramsey

I use a Gap nylon messenger bag and a "milk crate" strapped to my rack.

I got the Gap bag on sale for $12.99 a couple months ago, since this model has been replaced. They had been $34.99 (USD). Last weekend, though, we saw all the old bags on sale for $1.99. I bought another one, plus a different style, as backups.

The bag holds my laptop and magazines. I put my "man bag", that holds my diabetes supplies and Palm III, in the crate. The crate also holds groceries and other purchases I make on the way home.

Jonathan

JonR

You'd look funny walking along with panniers strapped on. :dance:

JonR

I'm well pleased with my inexpensive Avenir panniers. They cost $24 about 4 years ago. For local use I don't see how they could be beat: lightweight, attach and detach with no fumbling in only seconds, tapered in front to avoid kicks from big feet like mine, and they hold a lot.

They might be too light for touring, but for day trips and in-town shopping they're ideal.

I have heavier Performance panniers with rigid backings, and they're fine but they're VERY difficult to get on and off, they are just as prone to leak in the rain as the Avenir set, they don't hold much more, and I never use them now.

LittleBigMan

I see your point...

Which reminds me, Arkel (Canada) makes some panniers that double as backpacks. :thumbup:

MichaelW

For most riding I use a single Carradice pannier, but for shopping trips I add the other one. They are light, stiff, water-resistant, and clip off in an instant.
Often, on a ride along the seafront, I will stop off for some shopping, and its amazing how much you can fit in a single pannier without affecting your balance.

JonR

I've noticed the same thing--to read some articles and books about cycling, you'd think it was courting disaster to have an unbalanced load. I've never been able to tell any great difference while in motion, though on some stops you can feel the imbalance. The convenience outweighs (so to speak) any little wobbles, at least on reasonably short trips. I suppose an unbalanced load might stress some parts of the bike more than usual--but bikes are pretty tough.

A F Baker

I bought a cheap bag with many pockets from WalMart . I fasten it to my rack with a rackstrap. It works very well for my needs.

fubar5

I notice that most of you have a bike rack. I will have to consider one when I get a bike.

JonR

I recommend the Blackburn mountain rack, at least if you get a mountain bike. Mine has taken quite a lot of beating (not off-road, just in crashes!) and is as good as new except for some scratches. And it's pretty reasonably priced for such a good rack.

fubar5

I was looking at a bikerack at nashbar and it siad it fit on virtually all bikes. I may not wind up with a mountain bike. I need to invest a serious chunk of my money in a long term mutual fund, so I will probably go to some pawn shops or something and try to dig up a deal.

jramsey

My rack is a black CyclePro, and cost $25 at an LBS in Lawrence, KS, not too long ago.

They also have shopping bags - open on top with straps/handles - for $35. They aren't the Blackburn bags, but they are less expensive, and seem pretty sturdy.

Jonathan

MichaelW

Racks for 700c are a bit higher than for 26" MTB wheels.
When looking for a bike, make sure it has threaded eyelets at the wheel dropouts and 2 at the seatstay, above the level of the wheel.
You can fit a rack to a Kona style micro-sized frame, but the rack stays need to be bent down to reach the low eyelets. This forms a 4 sided shape. If your stays are horizontal, the rack forms a much more stable 3-sided triangle.

I have a Blacburn and a low-budget copy, but both perform well. The type with a plate of metal as a mud deflector are less usefull for strapping things to the top with bungie chords.

RainmanP

I just got an Arkel Utility Basket Pannier like Technogirl's to replace my left Performance Transit Epic which got damaged. The Arkel panniers mount and dismount from the rack very easily. And to address JonR about looking funny, the Arkels all have rings for attaching a shoulder strap. The UBP is VERY well made. Another good thing is that Arkel makes all its panniers so they don't extend above the rack when mounted so you can still strap something on top if you need to. My Performance panniers do extend above the rack. Also, JonR, I bought a suspension kit from Arkel to make my Performance panniers easier to mount and dismount.
Regards,
Raymond

JonR

Sounds like a good setup, Rainman.

I wished today I had mounted my panniers; I got across town and then decided I'd like to buy groceries. Out of luck.

aerobat

I've got a Blackburn rack on my commuter with a rack pack on it. The pack has a main pocket with smaller side pockets, one in the back, and one on the top flap, so it can carry quite a few odds and ends without being too big.

If I need to carry more I put on an Axiom pannier, I've only ever needed one. They clip onto the rack at the top and have a strap that clips onto the dropout with an S-hook to hold the bottom. Like Jon said, I've never had balance problems with only using a pannier on one side.

I also try to plan ahead to have extra clothes and food at work so I can travel as light as possible. For instance I rode my road bike in today with only what I could carry in my jersey, (wallet etc.), because everything else I needed was already at work.

JonR

Yes, actually one of my most useful pieces of "luggage" was my office desk! I was lucky to have a big desk with lots of drawers, and one was devoted to spare bike clothes and spare office clothes. This was invaluable on several rainy days!

We also had a laid-back enough atmosphere that I could drape wet garments over filing cabinets, shelves, etc. to drip.

Office workers note: try to get in a position where you know how to do essential tasks nobody else understands--you'll find it brings some cycling perks!

fubar5

It is very interesting to hear of all the various bike setups. I really think bikeracks are the way to go. My experience is that a backpack(especially with a heavy load)puts extra stress on the sholders/neck. It can be very uncomfortable.

Ranger Jake

Servus,

Being a slave to fashion and style (along with not having the appropriate braze-ons) I do not have a rack on my new bike. My old Trek, on the other hand, does. I have a Blackburn, like many other denizens of BFC and it has served me quite well. Old or new, doesn't matter - it works. I usually wear a backpack when I ride, the ones from Jack Wolfskin (Germany) are my favorite. Room for a hydration bladder, plenty of padding in the right spots and lots of room in the main compartment. Most bike-specific models come with a built in rain cover which is REAL handy. Rack boxes (like my aging Cannondale box) fit on top of the rack and provide a more stable storage solution, IMHO. Some are expandable and have days of room in them for whatever you plan to carry.

I recommend to try out a few options and decide which is the most efficient for you.

Some links:

www.jackwolfskin.com
www.vaude.com
www.deuter.com

All of these have English based pages, if not completely in English, and the packs they have are all top-notch.

MichaelW

One piece of luggage that no one has mentioned is the saddlebag. Im not talking about those tiny under-seat packs, but a proper 15-25l Carradice saddlebag.

Consider the total weight/price/volume of a Ti frames saddle, a Blackburn rack and a rack-top bag. Compare it to a Brooks B17, and a Carradice saddlebag.
The old-fashioned solution is still pretty competative, esp if you have a racing bike with no eyelets.
Saddlebags are highly aerodynamic, and can carry a lot of weight, close to the centre of gravity of the bike. Some people find they interfere with their thighs during pedalling, but in the UK, a large number of serious century riders use them.

Modern pannier fitting systems no longer use that hook on an elastic to secure the bottom. They use much more efficient "door handle" shaped bits of plastic for a quick action.

dirtsqueezer

I like the timuk2 messenger bag for commutes and shopping or hitting the greenbelt. My MTB is my commuter, so I prefer not to have a rack on it.

Steele-Bike

I am right there with Dirtsqueezer. I use my MTB for commuting and use a messenger bag for work/errands. I am currently rebuilding my old MTB and turning it into the city cruiser bike. I have a dual aluminum basket that will be mounted on the rear. I have had this basket on a 3-speed, and it worked out well. However, it does cause balance issues on occasion, especially when loaded with groceries.