Commuting with a laptop
 

I'm getting my 2005 Trek 7200 next week from the LBS and am looking to use it to commute to work. One thing that I need is to get something that will hold my laptop. Any suggestions on what to look for would be great.

Although I haven't done it with my new laptop, I have commuted with a laptop using panniers. Packed the Laptop in its small case, and wrapped that in a garbage bag, and stuffed it into a rear pannier. Extra clothes and lunch went in the other side. I have seen laptop cases that double as backpacks. Can't speak for comfort, or how good/bad those are, but something to consider . .

Tom Bihn Brain Case + Carradice Bike Bureau bag. Works great. Still room in the Carradice for clothes, too.

I use a rear rack with a set of panniers (Arkel T-42s - www.panniers.com). I carry clothing and food in one pannier, and the laptop and other bits and pieces in the other. I bought a laptop sleeve when I saw one on sale a little while back - it's a zip-up padded sleeve with a document pocket on the back. The sleeve easily holds the laptop, power supply and mouse (though I rarely carry the power supply since I have a second at home).

The sleeve also means there's an extra layer to help with protecting the laptop from water when I ride in the rain. My panniers are water resistant and don't seem to get damp at all inside, but if you're riding in the wet a lot I'd suggest water proof panniers (e.g. Ortlieb) or a water proof pannier cover.

I tried commuting with a backpack for a while, but aside from being too heavy I didn't feel it offered much protection for the laptop. Panniers are the way to go. You can also just strap the laptop case to the top of the rack if you really need to stuff the panniers full.

I use Arkel's Briefcase. This is the best laptop bag you are going to find. It suspends the laplop in a sleeve on the inside and the outer bag has reinforced plastic inserts for protection. It has plenty of room to stick other stuff in, and an elegantic system that covers the mounting hardware for off bike use. With two layers of protection you are pretty safe from the rain, but with the additional waterproof cover it is bulletproof. I used this combo all winter long in the rainy PNW.

I've used Arkel for a couple of years now for hauling books to class. They're great quality. Here is a link to the breif case which would hold a laptop safely.

http://www.panniers.com/index.asp

It's a flash site so you'll have to look for it. just scroll down and you'll see it on the lefthand side.

I would advise panniers, since my backpack-carried laptop has served as crash padding for my shoulders before. :/ Instead of a fancy bag you can get a cushy laptop sleeve, and then any pannier or bag will do.

bkr

I've been exploring this as well. I carry a thinkpad x31 (mine rather than corporate) at about 3.5 lbs + t-shirt + shorts.

So far:

* Aerostich Dispatch bag left over from the motorcycle experiment - Heavy, wandered on the back, never as tight or as stable as it was on the motorcycle.
* Timbuk2 Pee Wee - Wandered on the back, really didn't try the chest stabilizer strap since it didn't seem to go around me.
* Some backpack from REI with a water bladder.

I tried the last today and it certainly was a lot more stable though i had pulled the water bladder. A little more room too.

What is the advantage of panniers over backpacks/messenger bags -- just more flexible and keeping your back cooler?

Balance, flexibility, cooling, vision, etc...and if you crash, less damage to the items inside. (been there, done that) Many panniers will double as a backpack/shoulderbag anyway. Only problem is $$$ price.

bkr

re: crash. I think my laptop is on borrowed time anyway :). It was on my back in the Aerostich when i flopped the motorcycle.

I'll have to try the pannier thing as part of the endless optimizing of the commute experience.

Thanks for the info. I will have to maybe just start out with a backpack for a couple of weeks to make my wife believe that I'm going to do this consistently to spend the money on one of the panniers :)

I took an old dense foam backpacking sleeping pad and some duct tape and made a sleeve to fit around the entire laptop. Then I carry it in a regular backpack. No problems at all. I was concerned about mechanical shock if I were to put it into a bike-mounted bag, so I let me be the shock absorber.

kf5nd, you're my kinda person.

I made a would-be laptop messenger bag out of the same stuff, plus foamboard I had leftover from a display project and heroic amounts of duct tape. I braided three tire tubes together and settled the resultant box inside them, duck-taped it to the rubber, and the resulting strap is the most comfortable I've ever used. Total monetary expense: $0. All from used materials I had on hand that would have been thrown out anyway.

My other stunt is I did indeed get one of those laptop carrier backpacks, except mine was the rolly kind. It's ok on the back, not excessively comfortable though. Talk about a posture enhancer! That aluminum frame kept my back like a ramrod.

Now I attach the rolly handle to my cargo rack with a pair of heavy-duty carabiners and trailer it behind the bike when I need to use it. It creates an unholy racket, but I've a plan to remove the small rolling wheels, bore out the brackets that hold their axles, and put in a larger axle attached to larger squooshier wheels. This plan is awaiting the arrival of said larger squooshier wheels, but aside from the racket I"ve never had a problem with the setup.

I do prefer to make the bike carry the load, though. I find it much less wearying on me, and there is a certain mechanical advantage given to everything lifted and pushed through the chain and cogs. I'd prefer to have that mechanical advantage aplpied to the cargo too, as it doesn't to my back. There is indeed an overheating problem in summertime, when one's back isn't avilable to vent excess body heat. It is indeed more comfortable to ride unfettered.

Oh, BTW...by bolting upsidedown U-shaped brackets to the back of any stiff-backed laptop case, and an adjustable hook on the bottom for security, a normal pack can be made into a panier. Measure the case and rack to be sure where to attach everything, and you shouldn't have a problem.