What's the best way to carry stuff on your bike?

sem69
sem69 Posts: 106
edited March 2009 in Commuting chat
I've just taken my rack off my road bike and reverted back to using a courier bag.
A rack and rack bag is great for getting your stuff off your back, but I found it made the bike feel a bit top heavy and the handling a bit wierd.
Good and bad point to all luggage carrying... but if you've tried a few, what do you think is the best overall?
I was thinking of having sub catagories including luggage capacity, comfort, bike handling, coolness etc, but then I realised I should just get out more. :)

Comments

  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Depends entirely on how much you need to take.

    the ultimate though is a trailerbike so you can take the kitchen sink etc.

    I use either a rucksack must mostly i use my courier bag, and then ride around on my singlespeed wearing sunglasses and rolled up jeans. 8)
  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    I went for pannier but the answer is really "it depends"! I use a courier bag every day and it's great, but it would suck for serious loads or distance. Similarly panniers aren't the best if you're parked up and strolling around town.
  • Christophe3967
    Christophe3967 Posts: 1,200
    Started with panniers, and found I was carrying stuff I didn't need. Much prefer the rucksack, makes traffic so much easier and the bike handles much better as well. Thought about getting a bag but don't believe they would be as comfortable as they seem to move around on your back a lot.
  • sem69
    sem69 Posts: 106
    I mean carrying an average amount of stuff you carry to work... change of clothes, towel, lunch, tools etc. No kitchen sinks.
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    sem69 wrote:
    I've just taken my rack off my road bike and reverted back to using a courier bag.
    A rack and rack bag is great for getting your stuff off your back, but I found it made the bike feel a bit top heavy and the handling a bit wierd.
    Good and bad point to all luggage carrying... but if you've tried a few, what do you think is the best overall?
    I was thinking of having sub catagories including luggage capacity, comfort, bike handling, coolness etc, but then I realised I should just get out more. :)

    Your bike felt top heavy so you changed to a system where the weight is a couple of feet higher? :shock:
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Single pannier, ideally on a rack that has a lower mounting rail, such as Tubus or Tortec.
  • sem69
    sem69 Posts: 106
    biondino wrote:
    sem69 wrote:
    I've just taken my rack off my road bike and reverted back to using a courier bag.
    A rack and rack bag is great for getting your stuff off your back, but I found it made the bike feel a bit top heavy and the handling a bit wierd.
    Good and bad point to all luggage carrying... but if you've tried a few, what do you think is the best overall?
    I was thinking of having sub catagories including luggage capacity, comfort, bike handling, coolness etc, but then I realised I should just get out more. :)

    Your bike felt top heavy so you changed to a system where the weight is a couple of feet higher? :shock:

    Yes. And having the weight attached to my body rather than the bike makes the bike handle better.
  • Mikelyons
    Mikelyons Posts: 154
    I voted for Pannier - but only use a single pannier most days when commuting.

    I've just upgraded to Ortlieb & can take the pannier off the bag & carry it with the shoulder strap included.

    For my MTB - I use a small Rucksack with a water bladder.
    (Camelbak ripoff from Aldi - £10) .

    When i carry a laptop - I find the weight too heavy for a rucksack.

    Mike
  • jjojjas
    jjojjas Posts: 346
    I use panniers that are on the tourer I use most days. I find (particuarly in winter) that carrying waterproof trousers, work clothes, laptop, books, files etc requires them. If the weathers dry and I'm not taking much I'll either take the road bike with no luggage or the road bike with a rucksack.
    I have a courier bag, but it just seems to fall down on my side and get in the way :x
    Jas
    it looks a bit steep to me.....
  • I use a Ortlieb messenger bag for daily work duties (essentially a rucksak) and have a Bob Yak Trailer for touring/camping trips.
    I LOVE THE SMELL OF GT85 IN THE MORNING!
  • PinkPedal
    PinkPedal Posts: 180
    I have a single Ortlieb pannier for work/uni that has a great capacity but if I didn't have much to transport I'd go for a small rucksack over the pannier.

    Also have a Freitag courier style bag too which is ok but slips round even with the straps done up tight, fine for going to the gym but not for longer rides.
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    I voted for wicker basket because it is what I aspire to have on my bike......

    Can't fit panniers you see......

    :wink:
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • wgwarburton
    wgwarburton Posts: 1,863
    sem69 wrote:
    I mean carrying an average amount of stuff you carry to work... change of clothes, towel, lunch, tools etc. No kitchen sinks.

    Yes, but there's a big variation about that average. Change of clothes could mean an ironed shirt and clean underwear or a suit+shoes & full waterproofs. Similarly, I typically carry one tool (spanner/tyre-lever combo) and a tube+patchkit, whereas others will prefer to have a wider range of tools. Is "lunch" a sandwich box, drink bottle, fruit etc or a five-pound-note...
    My work-laptop adds Kilos to an otherwise light load... :-(

    Cheers,
    W.
  • snooks
    snooks Posts: 1,521
    I use rucksack (camelpak HAWG), fits snugly on my back, doesn't move around

    I carry:
    laptop, the days clothes (trousers, T-shirt, underwear), wallet, key, PDA, Mobile, itty bitty spare lights

    I leave at work:
    Lock + cable, towel, toiletries, comb, shoes (and a spare set of clothes in case I forget summut) deodorant

    And I use a water bottle on my bike (when I remember it)
    FCN:5, 8 & 9
    If I'm not riding I'm shooting http://grahamsnook.com
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  • kevinharley
    kevinharley Posts: 554
    My partner seems to think she needs to transport enough gear to fill one rucksack and one (sometimes two!) panniers ...!

    I, on the other hand, carry spare underwear, tools, lunch (when I can be bothered making it) and occasionally a couple of folders of paperwork, in a small-medium rucksack. I keep a suit, spare shirts, shoes, towel and toiletries at work, and because I have to use the car a couple of days per week anyway, I take that opportunity to stock up on clean shirts / new bags of cereal / toiletries etc
  • coffeecup
    coffeecup Posts: 128
    i carry fresh shirts and cacks every 4 or 5 days in a backpack and then nothing on the other days. I leave a couple of suits and shoes in work

    The shirts stay smart in an eagle creek folder. The 18 is better than the 15 but it needs a slightly bigger bag to put it in

    ecfolderopen1.jpg
    Time you've enjoyed wasting, hasn't been wasted

    Bianchi L'Una, Bianchi 928 C2C 105, Dahon MU SL
  • jedster
    jedster Posts: 1,717
    I use an Ortleib Office Bag which is basically a panier that looks a bit more like a large laptop bag.

    I do carry a bunch of stuff (papers, tools, spare tubes, pump) and like to be able to stuff my helmet/ gloves/glases in there for the train leg of my journey (when I frequently have a cup of coffee in one hand). I just don't find a rucsac comfortable for 10 miles if it has got any kind of load in it, especially on the drops. I also get quite sweaty enough without the extra insulation and don't want to look anymore hot and bothered on the train.

    BTW, snooks, given your kit list, what do you do when you get a puncture?

    J
  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    I use the Altura urban 17" laptop pannier: http://www.bikeshop.uk.com/492/Altura-U ... er=Froogle

    I only carry a clean shirt, socks, undies and a towel (plus wallet, money, keys, phones (2) and spare batteries)

    My spare tube and tools are in a small saddle bag (this way they are with the bike not me)

    The laptop bag is ideal as it keeps the shirt relatively crease free and has great carrying capacity if I need it.

    I've recently moved all the permanent office stuff out and leave them at work:
    Suits,
    toiletries
    lock

    which has saved me a huge amount of extra weight (oh and I stopped using a bottle and just drink a pint of water before setting off)
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
    2011 Trek Madone 4.5
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    Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    linsen wrote:
    I voted for wicker basket because it is what I aspire to have on my bike......

    Can't fit panniers you see......

    :wink:

    wicker basket is great for dumping odds and sods in when just picking up stuff in town, and don't forget the look of fear if you scalp some one!
  • sarajoy
    sarajoy Posts: 1,675
    linsen wrote:
    I voted for wicker basket because it is what I aspire to have on my bike......

    Can't fit panniers you see......

    :wink:

    wicker basket is great for dumping odds and sods in when just picking up stuff in town, and don't forget the look of fear if you scalp some one!
    Not great for food shopping though, once put a single full carrier-bag in and the weight of it kept pulling the front to one side or the other of true forwards... That was a twitchy ride home!
    4537512329_a78cc710e6_o.gif4537512331_ec1ef42fea_o.gif
  • wicker basket is great for dumping odds and sods in when just picking up stuff in town, and don't forget the look of fear if you scalp some one!

    +1 to that, as someone who has been scalped by a rider on a bike with a wicker basket. :oops:

    In my defence (can there be a defence against such a humiliation?), I was just pulling away from lights that had turned green, the other rider had obviously timed it better and already had some speed, it was a slick little hybrid (Cannondale Bad Boy or similar) and the rider was wearing lycra - the basket looked a little incongruous. And the rider turned off about 30 yards further down the road before I had chance to reclaim my scalp.

    But still, a wicker basket. And with a chihuahua in it! :oops: :oops:
    Never be tempted to race against a Barclays Cycle Hire bike. If you do, there are only two outcomes. Of these, by far the better is that you now have the scalp of a Boris Bike.
  • Roastie
    Roastie Posts: 1,968
    Depends on the occasion:

    - backpack (rucksack) for commuting to work where I have a fair amount to carry.
    - "courier bag" for nipping to the shops and short trips where I have little need to carry much
    - panniers for touring, though I must admit that I'd like to try a Carradice saddle bag for long day or overnight trips as panniers seem overkill for that
    - baskets are very handy and when the missus and I head off into the country, the basket on her bike is a great place to put the picnic supplies. I'd love a nice utility bike with a big basket on the front. Wicker isn't very manly tho'.

    Oh yes, and the trailer is great for lugging big items (like suitcases, TVs, groceries, ...)
  • +1 for wicker basket.

    Not that I have one or would ever let one close to my bike. I use a backpack but I like the aesthetic of the wicker basket.

    The chihuahua story makes me laugh - I can just imagine it, like Mickey Rourke with this stupid rat dog and a wicker basket. It's all so wrong but so right too...
  • vorsprung
    vorsprung Posts: 1,953
    In the past I have used (at various times ) a plastic bag attached to a rack with bungee straps, a courier bag and a rucksack

    But a couple of years ago I got a Carradice Super C saddle bag like this

    super-c-saddlebag.jpg

    I also got a SQR kit for it so it is quick release. This saddle bag is wide enough to take a laptop and big enough to take whatever clothes/shopping/lunch you want. it is also waterproof enough to spend the night outside a Welsh YHA and still have dry contents in the morning

    Someone said above that having the weight attached to your body made the handling of the bike easier. This is definitely not my experience! Put the weight on the bike
  • Roastie
    Roastie Posts: 1,968
    biondino wrote:
    Your bike felt top heavy so you changed to a system where the weight is a couple of feet higher? :shock:

    Bunny hopping is difficult with loaded panniers.

    Edit: Or a loaded saddle bag, for that matter...
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    yes shouldn't put too much in the basket, though you do get used to it, and heavier bikes tend to be less twichy, saw a rather fit looking lady, (in both sences of the word) with a nice bike and said wicker basket, going a fair old lick, did look odd it had to be said...
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    I was gonna vote for "angels back" being the best way to carry anything......but it is not an option. I shall now go back to hand cream and The Village People.....