Glad to help, but I forgot one more tip. Get one more S-clip carabiner. When you put the backback on the rack, flip up the shoulder straps so they go over the front of the backpack and clip the shoulder strap tails together - it'll keep them out of the spokes.

I was hoping my quick description was self-explanatory and didn't need photos.

-Warr

My Knog Frank Dog pannier/messenger bag has a padded laptop sleeve built in. It is sized for a 15" Macbook, but my Lenovo T61 fits pretty well. A 13" dell wouldn't be a problem. I use it as a messenger bag most of the time, but it has an attachment that makes it into a pannier. People always comment on it when I carry it as a bag because it actually looks really well made. And then I show them how it attaches and they are dumbfounded. As a pannier it actually isn't that great the way it came as it doesn't attach at the bottom in any way, it just hangs, but I use a bungee cord to secure it.

Knog

Since work is providing the laptop, I'd imagine they issued a case of some kind to go with it? Dry bag (that swallows the laptop bag)+Wald basket+bungee net/cord(s) FTW!

I've been carrying a laptop back and forth for the past year, but I just bought q desktop computer and plan to sync them using DropBox. just tired of dragging it everywhere plus the rack and bag add extra weight. i'm fat enough and don't need an extra 7-10#

I have a EEE that I've been beating the carp out of for 2.5 years. It doesn't get a protective case, it doesn't get a waterproof pannier, it just gets thrown in to a bag. The case is scratched up now, and it gets a little dusty, but it still works like a charm.

This looks really interesting to me especially for bike commuting with a laptop. This thing is made of some fancy material that stiffens on impact. Quite interesting:

https://g-form.com/product/extreme-sleeve-for-laptops/

J.

I've seen this bag in person and the "suspended" laptop pouch is a lie. All they mean is that is has a separate kind of large pocket inside the bag which doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the bag. It's ok, it's not like I can find anything better, but I was definitely disappointed that there was no actual "suspension".

I'm sure it's a fine bag otherwise, as the guy points out if you set the bag down hard on the bottom probably helps that the computer isn't touching the bottom of the bag. Just annoyed that they called that "suspended".

There are a number of commuter-specific panniers out there - In general, the common feature is that the padded laptop sleeve is inboard, attached to the stiffener panel, so even if you fall over, the laptop generally won't be bouncing off the pavement (which is a potential problem with a laptop sleeve in a regular cargo pannier.)

Some of these are water-proof, or so water-resistant they may as well be - the ones that are not generally have rain covers available, and I'd recommend getting one. If they're neither waterproof nor have a rain cover available, I'd skip it. Sudden downpours happen.

People who make commuter panniers:

Arkel
Ortleib
Vaude
Jandd
Carradice
Knogg
North Street Bags (Laptop sleeve is a $10 option.)

I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting...

I have a BIG laptop that I need to transport for work as well. My company got me a waterproof case (so I don't have to worry about riding in the rain):

https://www.amazon.com/SealLine-Compu.../dp/B000OV76UC

I have the large, and it (barely) fits inside my Novara Communter pannier, which I love:

https://www.rei.com/product/780448/no...single-pannier

Between that pannier and a smaller Arkel on the other side, I can get laptop, towel, clothes, lunch, etc. with no problem.

I should add that once I forgot to lock the clips on the pannier, and it came off and rolled down a busy street with my laptop in it. Awesome! Fortunately, between the padding on the Sealline case and whatever else was in the bag, the laptop was fine.

Dave

Did the carp come out? Did it make a nice meal?

But also, I have a 13" MacBook Pro that I have in a heavily padded Brenthaven bag, that I bungee strap to my rack.