If I get a messenger bag will I become a fakenger?

245

Comments

  • BUICK
    BUICK Posts: 362
    I think it's really funny that people will avoid having a bag or clothing that they genuinely like for fear of strangers taking them to be a 'fakenger'! Honestly! There are two types of fashion victim - 1) Those that blindly follow the 'rules' of what to wear, to be cool
    2) Those that blindly defy the 'rules' of what to wear, to be cool
    If you are honest with yourself about what you like and just get it you'll be happier, your happiness and confidence in expressing yourself will envelope you in a forcefield impervious to criticism by fashion victims and you will be irresistably attractive

    At least, that's what I find...

    :wink:
    '07 Langster (dropped one tooth from standard gearing)
    '07 Tricross Sport with rack and guards
    STUNNING custom 953 Bob Jackson *sigh*
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Well now me, I pack work gear, clothes, sometimes shoes, washbag (for the shower when I get to work), little handbag, lock, multitool, notebook. That's everyday.

    The second pannier is gym stuff, every second day.

    Sometimes I carry a laptop, files, notes, floorplans, other big things, sometimes I carry shopping.

    Either way, not excessive and I don't leave stuff in them!

    :shock:

    Workgear, clothes, shoes. They all stay at work (I bring in a folded shirt and undergarmentry only).

    Washbag. I don't bother, but couldn't that stay at work?

    Little handbag - errrr, not so much. :D . Lock - don't bother. Keep the bike indoors. Mutlitool - in the bag. Notebook - WTF? For making notes on the route? Leave it at home/work.

    Gym stuff - don't do this, but were I to do so: shoes kept at work; rotate rolled up to bobbins gym kit; use one of those uber-absorbent speedo towels.

    Laptop - hardly ever. I use the modern wonder that is e-m-a-i-l to send stuff home. And it works in reverse, too!

    Files, notes, floorplans. Hmm. Can carry those if I have to, but try not to.

    Other big things. Uh-huh. Well, if you've got space, use it. :D:wink:

    Shopping. Ta-daaaahhh! That's that "gurl" thing again, isn't it? I can tell, you know. I've seen gurls on tv. :wink:
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Well now me, I pack work gear, clothes, sometimes shoes, washbag (for the shower when I get to work), little handbag, lock, multitool, notebook. That's everyday.

    The second pannier is gym stuff, every second day.

    Sometimes I carry a laptop, files, notes, floorplans, other big things, sometimes I carry shopping.

    Either way, not excessive and I don't leave stuff in them!

    So nyerrrrrrrrrrr. :P
    The amount of stuff you carry is not related to gender, you just aren't organised! You can leave about 90% of the stuff you regularly ship at work.

    For example, get another lock and leave it at work. How many pairs of work shoes and trainers do you need? Leave them at work as well. That is what desk drawers are for. :wink:
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    snooks wrote:
    DDD, I know it goes against the grain....but couldn't you drive cough/splutter/choke it in on Mondays with a weeks worth of shirts and trousers etc?

    Then you can just bring the scrumpled shirts home with you each day and wash em ready for the next week.

    OR

    Just get one of dem der shirty things and 4 coat hangers, and carry all your shirts in once a week, hang em up, then by Friday you might have one without creases :D

    OR

    Get a different job where you don't need to wear a shirt :D

    OK the last one is a bit radical, but there's no disputing my logic!!!! :wink:

    *points* 4 wheels baaad, 2 wheels good

    Edit: I use the gym practically every day the shoes stay here and the towels are supplied (G66 I didn't have you down as a user of cr@ppy gyms) tshirt/shorts in the bag no problems

    with courier bags you can pack them for comfort so they sit comfortably around your back (I alternate the shoulder I use it on.... but I'm like that)
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Alright alright, keep your hair on...

    For most of the 'stays at work', some of us don't have big fancy lawyer-y offices you know. I leave my gym kit under my desk, but, you see, I enjoy wearing clean clothes to work and the gym. So I take them home and wash them after use. I do leave shoes at work.

    Oh and my gym provide towels.

    I would leave my bike indoors, if they'd let me. The israelis think it might be a pipe bomb. :roll:

    As for the laptop, it has all sorts of useful software that I need, which my own laptop doesn't have, such as AutoCAD and Circle. VPN is waaaaay too slow to get stuff off the network, email is blocked over 20mb. So I carry it in, copy files onto it, and carry it home. Smart@rse. :wink:

    The notebook is because it houses the 'work memory' section of my brain. I've only just stopped carrying the current one and the old one around.

    And soon I'll figure out how to carry my suitcase on my bike. Soon.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    you see, I enjoy wearing clean clothes to work and the gym
    Ah, yes, that's a good point...... :oops:
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Always Tyred wrote:
    For example, get another lock and leave it at work.

    No! Because then when I go out drinking/for dinner/for lunch you know what I won't have? A lock. I like to have one with me, for when I go shopping. For shoes.
    Always Tyred wrote:
    How many pairs of work shoes and trainers do you need? Leave them at work as well. That is what desk drawers are for. :wink:

    More than you would think, I promise you... I do store some at work, currently 3 pairs. But every so often I need to bring shoes home or bring shoes in.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Always Tyred wrote:
    For example, get another lock and leave it at work.

    No! Because then when I go out drinking/for dinner/for lunch you know what I won't have? A lock. I like to have one with me, for when I go shopping. For shoes.
    Always Tyred wrote:
    How many pairs of work shoes and trainers do you need? Leave them at work as well. That is what desk drawers are for. :wink:

    More than you would think, I promise you... I do store some at work, currently 3 pairs. But every so often I need to bring shoes home or bring shoes in.
    I am saying nothing about women and shoes. :roll:
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Always Tyred wrote:
    I am saying nothing about women and shoes. :roll:

    Stereotypes don't happen by accident you know.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Always Tyred wrote:
    I am saying nothing about women and shoes. :roll:

    Stereotypes don't happen by accident you know.

    Mmm. I old uuu I uddn alll uh-ough omen n ooes.

    (Keeping mouth firmly shut)
  • Totalnewbie
    Totalnewbie Posts: 932
    I've got both panniers and a messenger bag although not usually at the same time unless I've done a monster food shop and need both.

    For the commute the messenger bag is normally enough - all I carry is jeans/trousers/a top for work/lunch (got three pairs of shoes under desk so they don't travel) plus normal wallet/phone type stuff. I often do stuff between work and home and the messenger bag is handier than carting a pannier out to dinner or whatever. Also the myriad compartments in the messenger bag mean my wallet can't do that 'falling to the bottom and hiding' thing that it does in my panniers.

    For shopping/touring the panniers go on though - heavy loads in a messenger bag is just wrong and hurts.

    Both my bikes have gears (derailleur and hub) anyway.
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/ ... 400572.jpg
  • ChrisLS
    ChrisLS Posts: 2,749
    ...DonDaddyD, no one could ever accuse you of being uncool 8) -if you want a courier bag get one...

    ...sady I am a user of a pannier bag, which is a good thing as I don't get a sweaty back...but is apprantly v uncool :( ...but who cares I've done a lot of touring in my time and panniers hold no fear for me...

    ...when I ride my mountain bike I use a rucksac and then I'm cool with a sweaty back...
    ...all the way...'til the wheels fall off and burn...
  • artaxerxes
    artaxerxes Posts: 612
    I need my panniers for transporting big bags of rice. I've tried carrying them in a backpack and it wasn't comfortable.
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    Thanks for all the suggestions, however:

    I understand the logic behind panniers. They probably are beneficial. I simply couldn't willingly (unless for health reasons) ride a bike with panniers. Lets put it down to my chromosone logic... A more scientific rationale would put this down to social conditioning... This is more fun so, anyway:

    My BMW chromosone - the chromosone responsible for my desire to own a car with spinners for rims and TV screens in the back seat head rests so the people in the car behind me can watch TV too! - will not allow me to willingly enjoy panniers.

    My Dad has the BMW chromosone as well! His resulted in him buying a 5series (50something plate) - fully loaded - and then a week later buying another 5 series as it came with the word 'Sport'. He did this even though the rest of the car was exactly the same, with the same engine and a back crunching ride.

    My Uncle's chromosone sees him, every summer, removing the metal roof of his 3series into my Grandparents shed and revealing the soft top convertable underneath.

    Panniers would make my bike the equivilent of a people carrier or worse an estate car and its not that they aren't cool, they aren't my kind of cool or my kind of Man-like practicality. Even though its just a commute and not a race :wink: I still want to believe that I'm on top of a stripped down heavenly light racer capable of winning the Tour de France and not some impossibly strong warhorse with a fat back end.

    I hope I don't offend anyone with this, but Panniers are just not for me.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    Other points

    I've got broad shoulders. Very rarely have I found my shoulders sore after wearing a rucksack. I in fact find that the rucksack and cycling has further toned my globing shoulders.

    A messenger bag I would however prefer if the weight was shifted to the small of my back.

    As for stuff I carry in my rucksack:

    Side pockets
    Muli tool, tyre levers, inner tube.

    Smal pouch
    D-lock

    Second front pocket
    Hair brush, moisturiser, anti-persperant, facial cleansing pads, shower gel.

    Main pocket
    Towel, trousers, shirts, jumper, Cable lock x2, Lunch
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    As for stuff I carry in my rucksack:

    Side pockets
    Muli tool, tyre levers, inner tube.

    Smal pouch
    D-lock

    Second front pocket
    Hair brush, moisturiser, anti-persperant, facial cleansing pads, shower gel.

    Main pocket
    Towel, trousers, shirts, jumper, Cable lock x2, Lunch

    FFS :shock: !

    Are you & LiT going away for a fortnight together?

    T-R-A-V-E-L L-I-G-H-T !!!
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Other points

    I've got broad shoulders. Very rarely have I found my shoulders sore after wearing a rucksack. I in fact find that the rucksack and cycling has further toned my globing shoulders.

    A messenger bag I would however prefer if the weight was shifted to the small of my back.

    As for stuff I carry in my rucksack:

    Side pockets
    Muli tool, tyre levers, inner tube.

    Smal pouch
    D-lock

    Second front pocket
    Hair brush, moisturiser, anti-persperant, facial cleansing pads, shower gel.

    Main pocket
    Towel, trousers, shirts, jumper, Cable lock x2, Lunch

    Are Uncle Tom Cobley and his dog tucked away in there too?
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689

    FFS :shock: !

    Are you & LiT going away for a fortnight together?

    T-R-A-V-E-L L-I-G-H-T !!!

    And
    le Tom Cobley and his dog tucked away in there too?

    There are two very good reasons for my heavy load.

    1. There is a chromosone for it.

    2. I figured if I can ride at fast speeds for very long with heavy load imagine how much faster I'd be without said heavy load. Also it has helped build my muscles (I'm really strong now) and helped me weat off some fat.

    Question:

    What do you suggest I don't carry with me?
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    Good grief that is a lot of stuff.

    I carry the bike stuff in my saddle pack (and chocolate - always spare chocolate), and leave the work toiletries at work. In my backpack (if I bother) is my lunch and, ahem, undies. If no lunch required then just put what I need in my coat pocket. And if I take a lock, I put it on the bike

    Job done.

    Ps I use a trek towel which dries in no time on the back of my work chair, and if you're drying off a showered body, doesn't need washing after every single use.

    hmm - tmi? Oops :oops:
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Question:

    What do you suggest I don't carry with me?

    Whatever you can leave in a drawer at work.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    linsen wrote:

    hmm - tmi? Oops :oops:

    For me? Are you kidding? :wink:

    To be honest I've been wanting to broach the undies question as I have yet again forgotten to pack a pair... But I'm gonna save that for another thread.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    cjcp wrote:
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Question:

    What do you suggest I don't carry with me?

    Whatever you can leave in a drawer at work.

    2 pairs of shoes.... :wink:
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    I carry an awful lot round in my courier bag. Wash things live at work, but each day sees clothes (not shoes) minipump, multitool, spare tubes, co2 canisters, pedal spanner, adjustable wrench (note to self - you do not need both) D lock and cable, tire levers, thin rubber gloves and overshoes. It weighs a bit but I agree with DDD - the weight makes for good training and makes the roadbike feel even lighter and faster when I'm out at weekends.
  • snooks
    snooks Posts: 1,521
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Other points
    As for stuff I carry in my rucksack:

    Side pockets
    Muli tool, tyre levers, inner tube.
    Get a saddle pack £10 specialized min wedge
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Smal pouch
    D-lock
    Get another lock for work, leave it behind
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Second front pocket
    Hair brush, moisturiser, anti-persperant, facial cleansing pads, shower gel.
    Leave this stuff at work, buy another lot for home, or take the little bottles of stuff you get from hotels and refill then if you must carry shampoo/showergel
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Main pocket
    Towel, trousers, shirts, jumper, Cable lock x2, Lunch

    Towel - leave at work, over the back of your seat so it drys overnight
    Trousers - Smart - Iron leave at work or Jeans put in bag
    Shirts - iron and roll then up and put them in a short but wide diameter postal tube and take with you,
    Jumper - MTFU! or just leave one at work
    Cable - Buy 1 long one and leave it at work attached to your other lock
    Lunch - this will prolly fit in your bag...but buy it...I've never been successful getting to work with my Ham Egg and Chips intact!!! :wink:
    FCN:5, 8 & 9
    If I'm not riding I'm shooting http://grahamsnook.com
    THE Game
    Watch out for HGVs
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    snooks wrote:
    Get a saddle pack £10 specialized min wedge

    I have a Top Peak one and (your not going to believe this) it made its way from my saddle to the rucksack. I didn't like the weight distributed there when I had the saddle pack on. It was a medium sized (fairly small) one as well.
    Get another lock for work, leave it behind

    Thought about this, it would involve unlocking the bike and then taking the lock with bike upstairs to put the D-lock in my office = hassle. The D-lock is the single heaviest thing in my bag.
    Leave this stuff at work, buy another lot for home, or take the little bottles of stuff you get from hotels and refill then if you must carry shampoo/showergel

    True, true and true. I'm a tart. That's true too! (Funny thing is my girlfirend and I had a to-do when we first moved in and she saw the number of toiletries I have. She'd combust if she knew I had another batch in my cycle bag....)
    Towel - leave at work, over the back of your seat so it drys overnight
    Trousers - Smart - Iron leave at work or Jeans put in bag
    Shirts - iron and roll then up and put them in a short but wide diameter postal tube and take with you,
    Jumper - MTFU! or just leave one at work
    Cable - Buy 1 long one and leave it at work attached to your other lock
    Lunch - this will prolly fit in your bag...but buy it...I've never been successful getting to work with my Ham Egg and Chips intact!!! :wink:

    If I got to work before 9 (like I'm supposed to, I'm a 9.30 man) then I could leave toiletries and towel at work as well as a jumper. That alone would reduce noticable weight from my bag. Thanks I'm gonna give this a try, but in the new year...
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    jashburnham wrote:
    thin rubber gloves

    Ok jash, that's it.

    Either you're very prissy about touching nasty mucky bike parts (and that's best case for you) or you have a predilection for some deeply unspeakable practises.

    I'm not sure I want to know the answer.
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Greg66 wrote:
    jashburnham wrote:
    thin rubber gloves

    Ok jash, that's it.

    Either you're very prissy about touching nasty mucky bike parts (and that's best case for you) or you have a predilection for some deeply unspeakable practises.

    I'm not sure I want to know the answer.

    Let me put it too you like this, it's winter, it's dark and it's wet. You have white bar tape and a puncture...

    Besides I've watched CSI...
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    snooks wrote:
    Get a saddle pack £10 specialized min wedge

    I have a Top Peak one and (your not going to believe this) it made its way from my saddle to the rucksack. I didn't like the weight distributed there when I had the saddle pack on. It was a medium sized (fairly small) one as well.

    OK, Lewis, I'm gonna put that one down with the "I wrote that in a hurry and couldn't thing of anything better to say" stuff :?

    I'm pretty sure that unless you're packing enriched uranium in your saddle bag, it really doesn't affect the handling of the bike. Now I could be wrong about that, and it's costing you time in the slow corners and through the chicanes, but I'll go out on a limb here and call you on that reason.

    BTW, you want the micro-size. Plenty big enough for two inners, tyre levers, two CO2 cartridges, CO2 adaptor, multitool, couple of allen keys, £20 and a CC.
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,398
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    some impossibly strong warhorse with a fat back end.


    L_i_T - I wouldn't stand for that if I were you. :wink::lol:
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    jashburnham wrote:

    Let me put it too you like this, it's winter, it's dark and it's wet. You have white bar tape and a puncture...

    Besides I've watched CSI...

    OK. This is turning into Confessions of the Double Tart Jash.

    White bar tape.

    Thin rubber gloves.

    How do you stop the hem of your dress getting all filthy in the puddles...? :twisted:
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A

Categories