Does anyone do this? I have a few bikes and don't want to put racks on all of them. I primarily commute on two of them, but occasionally ride one of the others. With the weather warming up and no showers at my office, I need to get my gear off my back so I don't sweat so much. I was thinking it would be nice to get something I can just drop my bag into so that I don't have to move everything into my mess bag on days I ride a bike without a rack. Also, how annoying is it to have all your junk on one side of the bike? If I have a heavy laptop on one side, is it going to drive me crazy? Should I just find a good way to strap my bag to the top of the rack?

Not to be a weenie, but I don't want to use a basket. Panniers are bad enough.

I use a trunk rack, and two nashbar townie folding grocery panniers... I really like the set up. The trunk rack holds stuff like keys, change of clothes. The panniers unfold when I need to bring a bag of groceries to work for lunches, or the woman asks me to pick up a few things on the way home.

I often ride with just one side expanded, filled (1 bag of groceries). Have had no problem. Granted, it was not a lot of weight. If it were heavier, I would have divied it up between the two. Even with both expanded, it's pretty easy to weave through gridlock, and pass the slow cars.

Some people worry about how easy it would be to rip the panniers off, but I bring my bike inside at work (besides, they were a lot cheaper then regular panniers).

However, I would personally be nervous about plopping a laptop into one of my grocery panniers. I don't know if my fear is founded on reason or not.. I'm just giving my gut reaction.

Trying to see if I should drop real money on real panniers, I've stuck my bag in the a grocery bag pannier and it worked just fine. just make sure the straps aren't hanging out or they might get in the spokes. It does effect the handling slightly but not balance. Its really not that bad.

I hope this helps--today I rode in with my grocery pannier to work, as I needed to bring in some coffee supplies. I had a 5 pound bag of sugar and a large can of Folger's coffee, plus a change of clothes and my lunch. It rode fine and I got a little extra excersize!

Don't sweat it!

I regularly hang a bag full of camera and computer gear, that weighs close to 20 pounds, on one side of my bike. It does not effect my handling appreciably. When you really notice it is when you are trying to lock your bike and have to keep one hand on the bike to keep it from toppling and use the other to manipulate the lock.

Just curious, what kind of bag is that?

I just picked up the Arkel Utility basket. I like it a lot. It holds my clothes (packed in a eagle creek pack -it) my lunch, my coffee thermos and my rain gear. The top has an extra pocket for my keys, wallet etc. It is a breeze to attach/remove from the rear rack and having on the non-drive side of the bike enlarges my profile for the traffic approaching from behind. YMMV

An Osprey Torque. I rigged it up with some Ortlieb small parts to attach it to my rack, but 2 carribeaners, threaded through its lash on loops, work just as well as rack hooks.

Here is a LINK detailing what I did to it.

You could always use a Deuter bag if you don't want panniers. THe bag has dual access to the top loader. YOu have top access and bottom access. Also the back of the bag is fully vented in a suspended (right term?) wire mesh frame which if I reclal right is about 1" out from the back of your pack so you get the max airflow on your back to keep cool. It's like you don't have a pack on the back in a way while having a pack on the back if you get what I mean. Bags come in small to large sizes (~50L). I'm saving my coinage for a mid-sized 32L bag for carrying stuff without a pannier/rear. 32L is about middle of the road with good space yet not really giving a 50L look to it. I've tried that pac on before and it works well. Only problem is I wear a duty belt with beltline kit. The 32L mens is a little lower then the hip. The ladies version is a little higher up the hip allowing beltline kit access while mobile.

https://www.deuterusa.com/products/hiking.php

Zero_Enigma