what I really want to do.

lizro

My job is health visiting. This means that I visit people at home with small children. I need to take a set of scales to weigh babies and a bit of paperwork. I have been working in a rural area and driving 34 miles round trip to work, and driving to each family - sometimes driving 20 - 30 miles to see 2 families. I have now moved to a job in the city - well Reading!!!! I want to cycle 4 miles to my office. Then cycle to my families. I can get some lightweight scales which will weigh about 3.5 kg. Should I carry them in a back pack or strap them on the luggage rack? Is there anyone else out there who works as a health visitor or district nurse who has gone back to cycling?

always_tyred

What, other than Nerys Hughes?

(another pregnant pause.....)

Finding a way to convey scales on your back will be easier on the scales, but harder on your back. A pannier is going to bounce said scales around a lot more.

How fragile / easily miscalibrated are they?

laughingboy

Sounds like a good plan for general fitness, and fun.

As for carrying scales and paperwork: in general I'd advise against cycling with a backpack, as it quickly becomes uncomfortable/sweaty. When carrying anything even slightly heavy, I would advise going for some panniers.

Panniers aren't cool, and won't win you friends on the Silly Commuting Racing thread, but practicality beats cool every time - just ask the cyclists of that great cycling nation, Holland.

don_don

I can't help thinking the type of scales that can fit a baby, are going to be a bit too bulky to carry on your back without using a pretty big pack. You might even find them a bit big for a lot of panniers.

Maybe something like this might work?

Then you could carry your papers/ other stuff in the same box or a small backpack if necessary.

gtvlusso

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want...to do..

dmcmylor

gtvlusso wrote:

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want...to do..

Be able to do a 25 mile TT in under the hour

Littigator

dmcmylor wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want...to do..

Be able to do a 25 mile TT in under the hour

beat Chris Hoy in a sprint

lost_in_thought

Welcome Lizro!

Definitely put the scales in panniers, you'll be sweaty and sore of back before long with a rucksack. As long as they're not going to be damaged by being bumped around a bit you should be fine. I'd get 2 pannier bags, then you can distribute most of the stuff you need to carry (depending on the dimensions of the scales) into the 2 bags and be rucksack-free!

I love my panniers. And they have a good effect on my FCN...

lizro

Always Tyred wrote:

What, other than Nerys Hughes?

(another pregnant pause.....)

Finding a way to convey scales on your back will be easier on the scales, but harder on your back. A pannier is going to bounce said scales around a lot more.

How fragile / easily miscalibrated are they?

Pregnant again - my goodness...still you might almost keep me in a job!!
Hopefully abit more lycra and less Nerys - within reason.

I'm really not sure how robust the scales will be because they are a lot lighter than the standard issue, and therefore probably more fragile, which is why I thought I might have them as a back pack. I think there are suppliers of bags which can be tailored to fit equipment - like the medic/emergency packs. Thanks for your replies - this forum is great fun.

lizro

lost_in_thought wrote:

Welcome Lizro!

Definitely put the scales in panniers, you'll be sweaty and sore of back before long with a rucksack. As long as they're not going to be damaged by being bumped around a bit you should be fine. I'd get 2 pannier bags, then you can distribute most of the stuff you need to carry (depending on the dimensions of the scales) into the 2 bags and be rucksack-free!

I love my panniers. And they have a good effect on my FCN...

Hi - thanks for your advice...I do have some panniers but I think the size of the equipment is potentially a problem - guess I will have to get the scales and give it a go. I might just lash them onto a luggage rack with some bungees. What do you think?

lizro

laughingboy wrote:

Sounds like a good plan for general fitness, and fun.

As for carrying scales and paperwork: in general I'd advise against cycling with a backpack, as it quickly becomes uncomfortable/sweaty. When carrying anything even slightly heavy, I would advise going for some panniers.

Panniers aren't cool, and won't win you friends on the Silly Commuting Racing thread, but practicality beats cool every time - just ask the cyclists of that great cycling nation, Holland.

Hi thanks for your comments. I am rapidly going off the backpack idea. I should have been a midwife - they use spring scales! I see you are almost local to me!

lost_in_thought

lizro wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Welcome Lizro!

Definitely put the scales in panniers, you'll be sweaty and sore of back before long with a rucksack. As long as they're not going to be damaged by being bumped around a bit you should be fine. I'd get 2 pannier bags, then you can distribute most of the stuff you need to carry (depending on the dimensions of the scales) into the 2 bags and be rucksack-free!

I love my panniers. And they have a good effect on my FCN...

Hi - thanks for your advice...I do have some panniers but I think the size of the equipment is potentially a problem - guess I will have to get the scales and give it a go. I might just lash them onto a luggage rack with some bungees. What do you think?

Could you perhaps find out the dimensions of the scales before buying? You might be surprised - you can get pretty large pannier bags!

As for lashing them onto the rack, you could, but they'd be more likely to go flying off the side, and the vibration/bouncing around would be worse than in a pannier bag...

laughingboy

lizro wrote:

laughingboy wrote:

I see you are almost local to me!

I'm in silly-sounding Princes Risborough, so not too far away I guess.

Anyway, I just thought I'd echo what Lost-in-thought said: there are panniers, bags and rack mounted carriers fit for almost any purpose, if you look hard enough.

For instance:

http://www.ortlieb.com/_browse.php?lang=en&tfile=radtasche

http://www.agu.com/en/?pag=20&cat=3

http://www.topeak.com/products/Bags

On the other hand you could, as you say, just stick the scales in a sturdy carrier bag, and use bungees to secure them to the rack. I have bad memories of stuff falling off whenever I tried to do this in the past, though

biondino

When I used to commute to and from Warwick University (hang on, not commute, I mean whenever I drove there and back from London) I used to pass signs on the M40 to P. Risborough. Early on I somehow became convinced that the P stood for Packet Risborough and I can't think of it by its proper name even now, 16 years later.

BUICK

If you had a bit of foam on top of the rack to provide some cushioning and shock absorbing that would probably help to secure the bungees as well. Or consider using a cargo net like this one:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/del ... t-ec006108

which might be more secure? And then, if the dimensions are right and you still haven't spent enough money, you could get a Hump reflective cover or similar to keep the rain off and make sure people see you

laughingboy

biondino wrote:

When I used to commute to and from Warwick University (hang on, not commute, I mean whenever I drove there and back from London) I used to pass signs on the M40 to P. Risborough. Early on I somehow became convinced that the P stood for Packet Risborough and I can't think of it by its proper name even now, 16 years later.

OK, I've got my public information hat on:

The Prince in question was Edward, The Black Prince, who had a fancy house and grounds next to the Church. Somewhat prosaically, this area is now a public car park. So, the Princes bit is pretty redundant anyway.

The best bit about the town is its situation hard against the beechwood-covered Chiltern Hills, and The Ridgeway. Plenty of good cycling, both on and off road.

The local(ish) breweries (Rebellion, Chiltern, and Vale), and the rail service are top-notch, too.

The Chingford Skinhead

Ah Reading. I was born there (my four bros all live there still). I always enjoy visiting Anyway, enough of my reminissing...

For a big town I don't recall a lot of decent bike shops there but if you went into somewhere like The Berkshire Bicycle Co 18-20, Wokingham Rd, Reading, Berkshire RG6 1JQ Tel: 0118 966 1799 they should be able to advise you of your best options, including how to pack the pannier to protect the scales. I think panniers are probably your best bet - don't worry about them not being "cool" anyone who thinks "cool" is more important than practicality isn't cool but a fool

Good luck

The Chingford Skinhead

oops - not so fast. Just looked at their website - tad expensive and v small range in bags. Try Action Bikes
http://www.actionbikes-online.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s74p0&tbv=_ACCESSORIES_Bags_-_Pannier_Bags Appear to be cheaper and a much bigger range. They are on West Street which is just of Broad street (by Broad Street Mall) and Friar Street (opposite Primark I think)