[QUOTE=knucklesandwich;7917701]I downsized from a big messenger bag to this Mountainsmith lumbar pack about a year ago. Small and simple- plenty of room for my daily essentials...

I switch back and forth between this and a small REI bag depending on whether I need to take my work clothes with me or not.

I have a smaller bag for commuting.

Unfortunately it was 70 bux vs free using my already free full size messenger bag.

This time of year the small bag thing only applies to warm places and places that are consistently cold - that is places that have near zero temp fluctuation. My ride in this morning was ~20deg, ride home was ~65deg. Even without my breakfast and lunch and reading materials for the train, I still gotta have some way to haul my warm clothes home. I just can't have one outfit for a 45deg temp fluctuation.

As of today Im using a CamelBak MULE for the commute. I take my clothes in on Monday so all I need are the basics. I mat end up with a trunk or panniers of some sort.

When I don't have much to carry (the usual bits and pieces - wallet, change purse, keys, cell, book) I use a small backpack and put it in the front basket.

That way if I end up picking stuff up through the day I can wear the backpack home and carry the loot in the basket.

I tried going the small trunk route on one of my bikes and it felt more unstable, even at a fraction of the weight of my fully loaded winter commuter's panniers. I like having large inexpensive panniers, since I can still make them light as I want, but pack a huge load when I need to at a lower center of gravity. I can also distribute the load weight from side to side for stability, not much of a viable option with a rear trunk. I do carry a smaller backpack on summer commuter, but I may rethink that next summer, it would keep me cooler body temperature wise, and even a mildly loaded pack is hard on the spine. It'll be better to let the bike take the abuse since it is easier to fix or replace than me.

I dig baskets. Very chic.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/...600ce46d5b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/...170f69e1fe.jpg

Baskets are useful, I totally agree, and some do look nice. It's just not my style

With bags, smaller is sometimes better, but less is never more.

I have an extensive collecton of trunk bags, panniers, messenger bags, Camelbaks and assorted non-cycling type bags (my wife has had the nerve to call them purses) in all shapes and sizes.

Which one I use depends on what I'm carrying, which bike I'm using, how far I'm going, whether or not it's raining, etc.

My small Camebak is more comfortable than my large one if I don't have a lot of stuff. If I have just my laptop, I use the small Camelbak because it's more comfortable.

I just use a backpack too. I tried the rack and bungie cord thing for a while. Whenever I stood up to pedal it felt like the bike was being pulled away from me as I swung it side to side. I carry my work shirt, company approved ball cap, tire levers and patches, hairbrush, deodorant, cell, wallet, keys, etc etc. I even carried an alternator for my car in it a few times.(Long story, mass produced rebuilt alternators are NOT built to handle 7000+ rpms, regardless of the intended application). I have been wanting to try a trunk bag and rack, as I really don't carry a whole lot of stuff most of the time. I like to keep iit light as possible.,,,,BD

How about big pockets? Seriously. I have a vest that has monster pockets in the front, sides, and one HUGE pocket in the back. I can carry a lot of stuff in those pockets including lunch and probably a small tool kit.

I'm in the group that uses panniers. They are slightly bigger than required, but I use my rear touring panniers to commute. My commute is 24 miles one way, so I wear cycling clothes on the ride. My panniers contain clothes for work, lunch, spare cycling clothes for the trip home, rain gear and shower necessities, including a towel. A small bag just wouldn't do, and wearing my work clothes isn't practical for a commute of this distance. So, I guess it all depends on what you feel you need to carry.

But they must be wicker and you must wear a scarf and no helmet, for max style points.

+1 to Topeak MTX w/ expandable drop-down small pseudo-panniers. Easy on/off the bike, handles the usual small load well, surges acceptably to the medium load days. That is my preferred option for most days.

+1 to having other options for those unusual days. A setup that works 90% of the time leaves you hanging 10% of the time. Messenger, pannier, move the trunk bag and lash the computer bag to the rack, etc.

I am highly suspicious of the false packing discipline that having a too small bag enforces. Unless you are an unbearable pack rat, you are probably going to cut bone. And if you are an unbearable pack rat, maybe you find bliss in having all that crap with you. Only go light if you are comfortable with a c'est la vie attitude to being a little too hot / cold for the temperature swing, getting a little wet, wearing brown shoes with a grey suit, etc. As we used to say in another context -- travel light & freeze at night. Works for some.

I commute with a pannier that is mostly empty most of the time, because I never know when I'm going to pick up a gallon of milk on the way home, or wind up taking something home from work. Also, it's more convenient than my trunk bag, it goes on and off faster. The bigger bag is nice because I like to take a week's worth of clothes in at a time rather than one day's at a time, because it gives me more flexibility to not try to bring clothes in during a rain storm where they might get wet/dirty, and have some spare clothes in case I spill something on myself during the day, etc.

Also, sometimes I find cool stuff on the way home, and having a big bag and some bungie cords in it helps me get stuff home sometimes.

I don't think having a big bag with me that's mostly empty hurts my commute in any way, so I don't feel much need to go out and buy a smaller bag which I would have no reason to have.

I use a pannier rack on my regular commuter and my back-up bike. I've got a grocery pannier that I use for my ten cent garage sale briefcase. I, sometimes, just use my small canvas knapsack that I bought from Goodwill for like three bucks. I've got a framepack that I bought from Goodwill for 99 cents that I keep on the bike all the time for little stuff that I want to make sure I've always got.

Seems the more space I have available, the more crap I seem to "need." So, I try to keep it to a minimum. Whatever I carry on the bike, I carry indoors at my destination. Therefore, I try to keep it to a briefcase or the small backpack.

I have a full set up panniers that I use to get to class everyday. I'm in language class 6 hours a day, so I need to bring my books back and forth, lunch (eating out every day is just too much), a change of clothes, and all the bike essentials. Carrying the whole bike + bags up to my apartment is a decent workout in itself.

I don't mind it, though. On the weekends I get to leave it at home and go supa-fass!!!!!