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 | 05:53 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: SFV, CA
Bikes: 2011 Look 566 Rival, 2009 Fuji Roubaix pro
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
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,978
Likes: 4
From: Atlanta
Bikes: Cannondale T700s and a few others
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
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 304
Likes: 3
From: Victoria, B.C. Canada
Bikes: LHT, International, 310
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
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: Monson, MA
Bikes: Catrike Trail Recumbent trike
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
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Westlake Village, CA
Paul
03-16-10 | 08:35 PM
#12
Out
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Lalaland
Bikes: two-wheelers
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
stringbreaker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 2
From: wa. State
Bikes: specialized crossroads hybrid 2006 Raleigh Cadent 2 1971 Schwinn Varsity, 1972 Schwinn Continental, 1977 Schwinn Volare (frame)
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
__________________
(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
Plays in traffic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,971
Likes: 15
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
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
#15
Truck Driver
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
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 | 09:31 PM
#19
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
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
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 8
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bikes: KHS Town and Country 100 & Jamis Durango Femme 1.0
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
Laid back bent rider
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 0
From: Burien, WA
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro 20
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!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 8
From: Boise, ID
Bikes: 1984 Pinarello, 1986 Bianchi Portofino, 1988 Bianchi Trofeo, 1989 Specialized Allez, 1989 Specialized Hard Rock, 2001 Litespeed Tuscany
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
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,890
Likes: 59
From: Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Bikes: Giant easy e, Priority Onyx, Scott Sub 40, Marin Belvedere Commuter
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
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
From: Erie, PA
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro 20, Trek 7000, old Huffy MTB, and a few others
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.