View Poll Results: Which do you use most often or prefer if you have to carry items to work daily?
Road Bike with Backpack / Messenger Bag
61
28.50%
Road Bike with Rack / Bag Combo
102
47.66%
Mtn Bike / Hybrid with Backpack / Messenger Bag
14
6.54%
Mtn Bike / Hybrid with Rack / Bag Combo
56
26.17%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 214. You may not vote on this poll
Rack It or Backpack it?
03-16-10, 05:47 PM
#1
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Rack It or Backpack it?
For those of you who commute to work which do you use/prefer: Backpack or rack with a bag/panniers?
03-16-10, 05:53 PM
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I started out on a mountain bike with a rack but have been riding a road bike for about 9 months now with a backpack. Kinda miss the trunk bag but don't really like the idea of adding a rack.
03-16-10, 06:45 PM
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WTF?!?!?!?!
This new math?
This new math?
- Road Bike with Backpack / Messenger Bag 3 50.00%
- Road Bike with Rack / Bag Combo 3 50.00%
- Mtn Bike / Hybrid with Backpack / Messenger Bag 0 0%
- Mtn Bike / Hybrid with Rack / Bag Combo 1 16.67%
03-16-10, 07:43 PM
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Voted Road bike with back pack, and road with rack.
My primary commuter, is rack with bags. It's also my grocery getter, and general do-all-runabout.
I wear the backpack when I ride my 912: Keep it light, keep it fast.
My primary commuter, is rack with bags. It's also my grocery getter, and general do-all-runabout.
I wear the backpack when I ride my 912: Keep it light, keep it fast.
03-16-10, 08:13 PM
#9
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I don't have any painners right now, so i put the backpack on the rack on my road bicycle, bungie cord it down and it works out great. The only time it doesn't work out so well is when i'm heading to the store and there's nothing in the backpack. It makes strapping it down empty a little tricky so it doesn't move around, but that's if i don't feel like wearing it on my back at the time.
Last edited by Chalupa102; 03-16-10 at 08:17 PM.
03-16-10, 08:28 PM
#10
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Paul
03-16-10, 08:35 PM
#12
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Coming from a background of surfing, I learned that the surfboard should be light. I often wondered, "if a surfboard is eight pounds, and it takes a lot of effort to make one two pounds lighter wouldn't it be easier to just lose two pounds from my body?" But it doesn't work that way. The board needs to be light to turn easier and be more responsive.
The same applies to bikes. Don't mess with the bike. That's me, of course. To each his own, but my ride has a lot of strange twists and turns, and even five pounds on the back over the wheel messes me up. Bikes aren't meant to have that rack on the back. It completely throws me off.
I wear a backpack. But to each his own.
The same applies to bikes. Don't mess with the bike. That's me, of course. To each his own, but my ride has a lot of strange twists and turns, and even five pounds on the back over the wheel messes me up. Bikes aren't meant to have that rack on the back. It completely throws me off.
I wear a backpack. But to each his own.
03-16-10, 08:37 PM
#13
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Rack and Panniers and or trunk/seatbag on all my bikes. My roadbike has a rack. I can't help it I just gotta carry stuff. I mean I carry 2 innertubes and a patch kit and allen wrenchs and open and box end wrenchs, first aid kit. Geesh I think I could take a weekend tour with the stuff I take on my commute. Peace of mind or OCD take yer pick although I have given away a patch kit a couple of times to someone that looked as if they couldn't afford to get new tube if ya know what I mean
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(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
03-16-10, 08:41 PM
#14
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Cycling cured me of backpacks. I use a rack with a trunk bag and/or panniers.
Which is really a shame since I'd just upgraded to a $160 Tom Bihn backpack.
Which is really a shame since I'd just upgraded to a $160 Tom Bihn backpack.
03-16-10, 08:41 PM
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I got laid-off after 4 years with this place, as of 3 days ago. Up till then, I mostly liked to use the road bike with panniers. If I needed to carry more I'd take to mtb/xtracycle. I have taken a backpack 2-3 times on the fixie, but at 13 miles each way, the sweat would get uncomfortable.
03-16-10, 09:17 PM
#17
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Road bike with Rack and Panniers here.
+1 to that.
+1 to that.
03-16-10, 09:30 PM
#18
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I like my road bike with messenger bag when the weather is nice, but when it's cold and rainy I put the rack and panniers on.
03-16-10, 09:31 PM
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I guess I will throw a wrench in the mix. I ride with a backpack that I have modified to be used as a pannier. Light loads or a quick ride up the block....I wear the backpack for the intended purpose. Commuting to work or when there is any significant weight....I use it as a pannier.
03-16-10, 09:43 PM
#20
Not safe for work
I ride a hybrid and carry my gear in a pannier on the rear rack. I also have a front basket to carry a small bag and my coil locks if I can't be bothered to use a pannier.
03-16-10, 09:45 PM
#21
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When it's 95 degrees outside, you'll appreciate the ability to remove the pack from your back and put it in the rack. Perhaps it could carry a nice snack. Naw, that's just whack. Hey, cut me some slack.
03-16-10, 10:31 PM
#22
Steel is real, baby!
It's too hot here most of the year to do a backpack. Rack & trunk bag all the way, bay-bee!
03-17-10, 09:04 AM
#23
Senior Member
I have done both. Either is fine. I think around ten miles +/-, a backpack is fine. However on really long rides, they can get very uncomfortable.
Last edited by capejohn; 03-17-10 at 09:08 AM.
03-17-10, 09:11 AM
#24
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I have a short commute and find it easier to just keep my backpack on until I'm changed. In the summer, I leave clothes at work and it just carries my lunch. On a longer commute I'd use panniers because my back tends to sweat with a backpack.
03-17-10, 09:15 AM
#25
Senior Member
There are more bikes in the world than just road and mountain, and not all people have bags on their racks.
Anyhow, I use a rack with my rain gear and U-lock attached.
Paul
Anyhow, I use a rack with my rain gear and U-lock attached.
Paul
