Bailey Works FTW. More pockets than Chrome (7, plus the big compartment), reflective strips, holds a 12 pack of beer.. I love mine. http://www.bhop73.com/stuff/bag.jpg

did a quick 10 mile ride around liberty state park and jersey city today with the tom bihn super ego on my back. in the bag was a u-lock, sweatshirt, some batteries, chargers, flashlight. i hit some real bumpy potholes and it was still comfy as hell with the Q-AM messenger strap buckled in.

i like it better than a backpack because it rides better and my upper back does not get sweaty.

i have one of the nashbar bags, and like it alot. got it on sale, and it has not missed a beat in any weather or ride. my uses are maybe a little lighter than some on here, use it to carry a change of clothes and when i transport my laptop from work to home.

I own a Seagull Black Bag, and a Seal Line "Urban" backpack. I use the black bag for smaller outings with the Seal Line being the grocery getter and other large bag type runs.

I received the Tom Bihn Super Ego yesterday. It is really nice. Bigger than the pix on the website make it look. It is probably 20% bigger than my Eddie Bauer shoulder bag. I actually carried my Topeak MTX bag home inside it yesterday!

Mine looks just like this:
http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/images/se09/se091.jpg

• The zippers are splashproof
• The carry handle is centered instead of being slapped in the back seam, so it balances well when carrying hand-held.
• There are two options for stabilizing when carrying cross shoulder: waist strap, or the more typical stabilizer strap that comes under the off arm to plug into the main strap. (I got the padded Quick Release Messenger strap)
• It has an unsecured back pocket that is perfect for documents
• The main compartment is accessed through a top zipper, the compartment under the main flap is an accessory one, though still very big. It has organizer pockets and a freely rotating key tether clip.
• The overall construction is superb. All the stitching is rugged and even.
• The side pockets cinch down when not in use, to keep them out of the wind.
• It is not as aerodynamic as a rack bag, due to all the straps, but very handy.
• It is quite big enough to take grocery shopping
• I will have no problem bringing a laptop, full change of clothes, and probably even shoes in this.
• I wish the strap had some kind of high friction surface. It is impossible to carry this over one shoulder on a nylon jacket. It just slips right off. With this strap at least, one has to carry it cross-shoulder or by the handle. This is the messenger strap though, after all, I may order a standard strap just to see how that works out.
• The extra strip was kind of a waste of money. I will probably never change it from the reflective one.
• The reflective material is protected by a clear plastic layer, so it won't get rubbed off from time or abrasion. It is super-bright; we tested it with a flashlight last night. (some of the other bags recommended in this thread don't have reflective material on them)

I think I'm going to use this as my every day bag, and only put the Eddie Bauer back into service for business trips when I won't be riding. The Eddie Bauer has the smoothest zippers I've ever experienced, and a fold-out laptop sleeve for speedy airport scans.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/...72a901fb_o.jpg

+1 - The AG bags are very nice - my review is here.

I'm also using a DaKine Porter messenger bag which I like a lot...it's not as eco-friendly, but it's cheaper.

I've looked at those Alchemy bags,but they're not that big. They don't have any that are as large as my med Bailey,and nothing close to the large or big T2's and Chromes.

I don't think I'd want to carry much more weight in an over the shoulder bag than I can fit into my AG bag. At that point I'd want two straps and backpack.

I love my Freitag Dragnet (www.freitag.ch) I picked it up on a trip to Switzerland for about 100 euro.they are the original recycled bags, made of recycled truck tarps, bike inner tubes and old seat belts. I like also that every one is 100% unique. Being made of truck tarps, they are naturally water resistant. They are however very basic, not many bells and whistles, but the style is second to none.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=152539

I had a medium-ish Timbuktu bag that wore well forever. I had considered eventually replacing it with a higher-end bag, but the bag was sufficient for my needs. Occasionally a bit small, and a black interior were the biggest peeves.

I wasn't set on the same brand, but I found a good deal on a one of their covert bags. One of the other slight downsides to my bag is that it was dark, so it covered much of any bright clothing I chose to wear. Sewing reflective stuff to it would have compromised waterproofing. The replacement I have is totally reflective, has a white interior, more interior pockets, and a shoulder pad. About the only downside is a few dangling straps.

I'm a bag junkie. I might try a Timbuk2 if I stumble across a good deal. (like some of these guys have, for $30)

As an update: I like the Tom Bihn Super Ego bag more every day. I never run out of room or pockets.

im going to throw up a review of my Chicago Wig this evening with pics.