eastvanbike

Road bike (touring bike actually) with rack and panniers. I don't like anything on my back when riding . Let the bike carry the load.

grandjeanius

I've tried both ways. I prefer the backpack and dealing with the back sweat. I agree with the surfer guy above. I like the bike nice and light to be able to move under me. I'm not a weight junky, I just like the feel of the ride better. Maybe that's cause I grew up mtn biking and know that the extra weight on the mtn bike really made it unstable to control. I gotta admit the panniers were nice when it was hot out... but because I use a road bike (as opposed to tourer or comfort) the chainstay is too short and I ended up kicking the panniers on every stroke.. it was a bummer.

Standalone 

I'm a teacher, so I don't commute in the summer. I use a messenger bag with my folder and with my road bike. The bike feels more maneuverable and lighter without the weight of a rack trunk and rack. I also like being able to pack everything up on the fly in any room of my house and then hop on the bike. Packing a bike bag and attaching it is an extra step and requires 16.67% more planning and forethought, a scarce commodity for this commuter.

cyclezealot

I hate the feeling of backpacks . That is why my touring bikes get ridden about 2/3 's of the time.. My race bike does not have a rack. I take my race bike with a backpack as a last result.. I supposedly have a Schwinn Backpack designed for cyclists with some kind of wicking material adjacent one's skin. But , I don't think it helps all that much...

X-LinkedRider

Got any pictures Scooby? This would be a grea thread in the DIY section and Touring/Commuting sections as well.

caloso

If all I did was straight commute I'd go with a rack and panniers. But I usually combine my commute with a training rides before or after work. So I go with a back pack.

bugly64

I don't know how to classify my Big Dummy. I ride it on the road mostly, and it certainly has a rack and bag.

RaleighComp

The bike is more agile when the rider wears a backpack. The rider is more agile when the bike wears a pannier. Pick your poison.

tjspiel

I sweat in almost any weather. If I don't sweat then most likely the weather is such that the added insulation of the messenger bag on my back will be welcome.

My mess bag comes with me whether I'm biking, taking the train or driving. I often take it on planes. It's just nice to have something I can easily take with me especially if I have to hoof it for a mile or two for whatever reason. That said backpacks and mess bags aren't without their downsides and if I had a really long commute where I had to take a significant amount of stuff I'd use panniers.

It's interesting and valuable to know what other people do. There are panniers that can be carried like a bag when off the bike. I wouldn't have known that without topics like this. Panniers like that might be a workable solution for me down the road. What I think we should keep in mind though is that just because somebody chooses a different option from what we would choose, it doesn't make them wrong.

For example, a rack is often presented a commuting necessity in this forum and that's just not the case. I'm not anti-rack. I have one on my winter commuter and there's a trunk bag mounted to it that comes in handy now and then. But I could easily do without it. A few years ago a neighbor of mine was moving and I bought a nice rack from him for $15 with the intention of putting it on my summer bike. It's still sitting in a corner of my garage.

hshearer

Intersting that "mountain bike with back pack" is the least popular combination here on BF, but probably by far the most common choice out in the real world. I guess probably because it's the cheapest and most widely-available combo.

Another downside to backpacks: they can block some of the view through your helmet mirror. I also try to avoid biking while wearing a hood, or if my hair isn't tied back, for the same reason.

tjspiel

I would have voted for the mountain bike with bag option if I could have voted twice. That's what my winter bike is. And you're right about it being more common. Long before I became a regular commuter I'd ride my bike to work now and then on nice days instead of taking the bus or driving. I didn't get a special commuting bike or bag. I just used what I had which was a mountain bike and a backpack. Worked just fine.

Oscuro

Reason I primarily use panniers, is because I find it awkward to shove my clothes, bread, and the occasional 4L of milk into my backpack. And I hate excessive weight on my back. Used to use a trunk bag in addition to the panniers, but it just seemed like a bit of excess.

old's'cool

Like many people, I started commuting with my laptop backpack. However, once I got serious about commuting, the top-heavy feel and heat/dampness on my back got old fast, so I upgraded to a rack & messneger bag pannier.

sci_femme

I ride commuterized Specialized Tricross with both front and back racks. I strap my backpack to the rack with 13" bungee cargo net. Another cargo net is in said backpack, so I always have an option of using both racks and wearing a backpack. I checked option 2.

SF

hubcap

thousands of miles using each is telling you to use a rack with a pannier

WAZZUBIKER

I use a backpack. It gives my back an extra workout on my commute and keeps it in shape. I used to have bad lower back problems before I rode. Not anymore. I use a Marmot Garmsal daypack and it works great.

tjspiel

Thousands of BF posts have told me that there are many commutes and many commuters. To assume that what works best for me would work best for somebody else is a mistake

katcorot

mtb/hybrid with rack and pannier, too many hill's to climb for a backpack that it gets uncomfortable quick. sometimes if im doing a quick local errand run I'll use a backpack for the convience.

Timber_8

I guess it really depends on your commute. I do 17 miles each way & wouldn't find a backpack that comfortable. I also have stuff that stays on the bike all the time & I have the ability to keep my bike in a spare office at work so I don't ever have to take anything off the bike. There are a lot of factors that make people decide what works for them

benbammens

Rack and panniers. I rode with a (kinda heavy) backpack for a couple of years (20 miles round trip) and never wondered about a rack.

Than one day I changed to the rack and I will never go back again! So much more comfortable and a lot less sweaty

meier06

I'm with all the converts to the rack and pannier movement. I rode with a backpack for years, even got a Chrome Messenger bag for Christmas. I still have the bag sitting on a shelf because after I installed the rack and panniers, I've never used it. It's just so nice to have a dry back, even on a short commute.

Nate

BassNotBass

I actually moved from using a rack to a backpack... actually a very large dufflebag to which I attached dual crisscross straps. I usually carry about 30lbs worth of stuff... clothing, tools, spares, lunch (and sometimes dinner during the busy season), laptop and books... that kind of weight really affects the handling of a bike. If I were a leisurely type of commuter, then the weight wouldn't be much of an issue. But I like sprinting, maintaining a healthy pace, cutting through alleys, bunny-hopping railroad tracks and curbs... basically being a middle-aged fixie hooligan having fun and venting steam like he used to 25+ years ago. This wasn't possible with a loaded bike whereas it's a great deal easier with a pack. And BTW... before anyone gets riled about my hooliganism (I've been lectured before on forums) I don't break any traffic laws or endanger anyone else' safety. I do, however, take advantage of alleys and MUPs that are pathetically underused and treat them as my personal playground.

ghettocruiser

Used to use panniers. Still might for a multi-day trip.

But around town, backpack, mix of CX and mountain bikes depending on mood and weather.

rhm

I voted "folding bike with messenger bag."

Ooops! Not an option. My bad.

buffalo_cody

I guess I use both a back pack and pannier, depending on the situation.
I use a back pack (Banjo Bro. Commuter Back Pack) to commute to school, because I can't leave anything attached to my bike. So I need something that I can comfortably lug around my notebooks, misc. library books, helmet, winter layers, lights, tools/flat kit (I did just buy a seat bag, we'll see if it disappears or not), and lunch in. I initially looked into pannier-book bag combos but none of them seemed to have great reviews. All the panniers with straps (in my budget) don't look like they'd be particularly comfortable to lug around all day.

For grocery shopping I use a homemade pannier made out of a file box. I also just bought a cheapo pannier for grocery shopping, weekend recreational rides, and perhaps summer commuting.