Courier "Man Bag" Bag or Rucksac Sweaty Back

Greg T

Now then I've always been a rucksac guy - doesn't slip around - carries my stuff - is not in anyway associated with dreadlocks or rolled up jeans....

With summer approaching I'm considering going all metro and trying a Man Bag.....

It may make me less sweaty and ming a bit less than usual.

What does the hive mind think?

gtvlusso

Greg T wrote:

Now then I've always been a rucksac guy - doesn't slip around - carries my stuff - is not in anyway associated with dreadlocks or rolled up jeans....

With summer approaching I'm considering going all metro and trying a Man Bag.....

It may make me less sweaty and ming a bit less than usual.

What does the hive mind think?

No they don't!!!!!

I still get a sweaty back with a courier bag (although I do have a big one - fnarr, fnarr ;-) )

Chrome Metropolis

greg66_tri_v2.0

Courier bag. Back less sweaty, pits less sweaty - it's win-win.

Plus: your rucksack specifically? It looks ghey. Or maybe you make it look ghey. I haven't decided.

Ditch and go courier. And get a bulky chain lock and wear it round your waist...

prawny

I go for massive seat bag every time 8)



No sweaty back and no change to my bikes handling (apart from carrying)

always_tyred

Greg T, you know as well as anyone that you want an ACUTAL man bag to carry your toiletries and a little mirror around with you.

jedster

Look I know you dont want to hear it but I'm going to give you the truth anyway:

rucsacs are absolutely ideal...for mountaineers
courier bags are absolutely ideal ... for couriers and of course people drinking cappuccinos on Old Crompton Street

for commuting you want a single ortleib panier of some description (or a Cardice saddle bag)

anything else is a fashion statement, which is fine but why are you asking us about it?

bluesacs

ortlieb panniers everytime

lost_in_thought

I love my panniers, no sweaty back, but I can understand why others don't share my enthusiasm for them.

On that basis, I voted rucksack. However, I have never tried a courier bag, so am probably not best placed to comment on the relative merits of the two options.

A courier bag is much more achingly hip, dahling dahling dahling.

gtvlusso

jedster wrote:

Look I know you dont want to hear it but I'm going to give you the truth anyway:

rucsacs are absolutely ideal...for mountaineers
courier bags are absolutely ideal ... for couriers and of course people drinking cappuccinos on Old Crompton Street

for commuting you want a single ortleib panier of some description (or a Cardice saddle bag)

anything else is a fashion statement, which is fine but why are you asking us about it?

The truth you say - you can't handle the truth......;-)

So, you have something against bags carried on a person do you?.......Well, with my courier bag (as with my backpack), I can go into town and have a bag that is comfy to carry about as opposed to a stupid looking and uncomfortable pannier hauled over my shoulder.

Also, my preference is that I get the weight off the bike and on me. I also use my backpack and courier bag on my motorbike, in my car, going walking with the dog or just heading into town on the bus.

Cannot fit bicycle panniers or seatbags on the motorbike and they are not great for carrying any distance when walking or travelling without bike.

So, I get more use out of my backpack and courier bag in other areas of life - panniers would just be another expense - I would also have to buy 2 racks as I use 2 bikes for commuting....more expense. And there are no mount points on my racing bike or fixie......

I also carry different loads depending on where I am going and what I am doing. Backpack and Courier bag gives me the flexibility to pick how much I am gonna take with me......Sometimes I am carrying my laptop (work), sometimes I am carrying clothes and so on.

King Donut

prawny wrote:

I go for massive seat bag every time 8)

They make me nervous!

Ruksack all the way. Partly because it's what I use for weekend riding so why buy an extra piece of kit purely for commuting? But also it's practicle, comfortable etc

Courier bags are just a fad like CX. In 5 years time everyone will wonder why they even existed.

camerone

Rucksac.
comfier - who cares if makes back sweaty, I assume that you shower and change as opposed to sitting at desk in clothes cycled in and smelling riper as the day progresses.....

lost_in_thought

gtvlusso wrote:

So, you have something against bags carried on a person do you?.......Well, with my courier bag (as with my backpack), I can go into town and have a bag that is comfy to carry about as opposed to a stupid looking and uncomfortable pannier hauled over my shoulder.

Also, my preference is that I get the weight off the bike and on me. <snip>

I agree with the rest of your post on the problems with panniers, GTV, but not this bit - according to my physio, my osteopath and my back, it's far, far better to have the weight on the bike and not on the person.

I used to really suffer carrying a laptop and books for a course in a backpack, shoulders, back, neck etc. Panniers have removed all that. Although, as I said, I've never tried a couier bag, I can't see how having the weight over one shoulder as opposed to two is a good thing.

But I think Greg just wants to look cool...

Sewinman

All this talk of sweaty man bags is making me feel a bit ill.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Look, there is a single reason to get a courier bag which trumps all others.

You scalp someone, and as you tuck in in front of them, you put one hand behind your back to casually adjust your courier bag's position on your bag. It matters not that there's no need to do this: the point is to say, ostentatiously, "I've just had you sonny, and I'm riding one handed." :twisted:

always_tyred

lost_in_thought wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

So, you have something against bags carried on a person do you?.......Well, with my courier bag (as with my backpack), I can go into town and have a bag that is comfy to carry about as opposed to a stupid looking and uncomfortable pannier hauled over my shoulder.

Also, my preference is that I get the weight off the bike and on me. <snip>

I agree with the rest of your post on the problems with panniers, GTV, but not this bit - according to my physio, my osteopath and my back, it's far, far better to have the weight on the bike and not on the person.

I used to really suffer carrying a laptop and books for a course in a backpack, shoulders, back, neck etc. Panniers have removed all that. Although, as I said, I've never tried a couier bag, I can't see how having the weight over one shoulder as opposed to two is a good thing.

But I think Greg just wants to look cool...

Pah, what do osteopaths know anyway.....

In seriousness, the weight of a courier bag sits mainly on your hips or the small of your back. If you try to carry so much in there that it slips down and is mainly through the strap, it isn't the right bag for your needs. Similarly, I imagine they work better for bigger seat to bar drops, i.e. better for roadies than mtb riding positions.

Clever Pun

if you have man sized shoulders a rucksac can be uncomfortable

I've been using a courier bag for a few years now and it's great, smaller contact with your back and more adjustable

woodyonthebeach

I have both. Courier bag and Ruck Sake. Both have their pro's and cons.

It all depends on what I am taking to work. If its two laptops and change of clothes ruck sake.

If not then the courier bag with just a change of clothes in. Makes life easier when I want to go a get a cappuccino in coffee shop.

cjcp

Greg T wrote:

Now then I've always been a rucksac guy - doesn't slip around - carries my stuff - is not in anyway associated with dreadlocks or rolled up jeans....

You've answered your own question.

It may make me less sweaty and ming a bit less than usual.

Misconceived. Just buy a rucsac with the vent/arch thing so the rucsac doesn't absorb the sweat.

You're having a weak moment; you think it'll make you look cool. But, deep down, you know a rucsac makes sense. Otherwise, you might find yourself pootling around Twickers on a Saturday afternoon in those rolled up jeans.

Would Thora wear a courier bag? No. There you are then.

il_principe

Greg66 wrote:

Look, there is a single reason to get a courier bag which trumps all others.

You scalp someone, and as you tuck in in front of them, you put one hand behind your back to casually adjust your courier bag's position on your bag. It matters not that there's no need to do this: the point is to say, ostentatiously, "I've just had you sonny, and I'm riding one handed." :twisted:

+1.

I converted from a backpack to a courier bag, would never go back.

DonDaddyD

Firstly let us just draw a line under this:

Panniers are for women or men who are ghey, overly anal or who think practically too a point that it actually encroaches on their masculinity. :shock: Yeah I said it Putting panniers on a bike is like asking for a Aston Martin DB(whatever – they’re all beautiful) Estate. – They don’t exist for a reason.

Same with race-blades and mudguards, fine if the bike comes with it or if you're actually riding off road. But on road for commuting in a built up city... I’m a man “grrrr” I just MTFU get on with it and am un-phased by road spray.

---

Courier bags and Rucksacks. I've used both. I got my Knog courier bag this Christmas and I can hand on heart say that they are the future!

My Knog bag is so comfortable it actually makes the idea of wearing a rucksack while cycling a stupid one.

There are no gains wearing a rucksack over my Knog bag. (They also make superb bike lights).

lost_in_thought

jashburnham wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Look, there is a single reason to get a courier bag which trumps all others.

You scalp someone, and as you tuck in in front of them, you put one hand behind your back to casually adjust your courier bag's position on your bag. It matters not that there's no need to do this: the point is to say, ostentatiously, "I've just had you sonny, and I'm riding one handed." :twisted:

+1.

I converted from a backpack to a courier bag, would never go back.

@ the fact that this was the reason you chose to +1...

Also, I like the Pearson's new look.

gtvlusso

DonDaddyD wrote:

Firstly let us just draw a line under this:

Panniers are for women or men who are ghey, overly anal or who think practically too a point that it actually encroaches on their masculinity. :shock: Yeah I said it Putting panniers on a bike is like asking for a Aston Martin DB(whatever – they’re all beautiful) Estate. – They don’t exist for a reason.

Same with race-blades and mudguards, fine if the bike comes with it or if you're actually riding off road. But on road for commuting in London... I’m a man “grrrr” I just MTFU get on with it and am un-phased by road spray.

---

Courier bags and Rucksacks. I've used both. I got my Knog courier bag this Christmas and I can hand on heart say that they are the future!

My Knog bag is so comfortable it actually makes the idea of wearing a rucksack while cycling a stupid one.

There are no gains wearing a rucksack over my Knog bag. (They also make superb bike lights).

Once again DDD has pushed the envelope and stated what I was not man enough to state......;-)

LDN-Flyer

Courier bags make it alot easier to look over your shoulder and transfer alot better to life as a ped once you're locked up.

lost_in_thought

DonDaddyD wrote:

Panniers are for women or men who are ghey, overly anal or who think practically too a point that it actually encroaches on their masculinity. :shock:

No argument to the 'for women' but I'd say 'for men who are secure enough in their masculinity to not care what people think'...

Controversial?

il_principe

lost_in_thought wrote:

@ the fact that this was the reason you chose to +1...

Also, I like the Pearson's new look.

That had nothing to with it!

Next step for the Pearson is new blue tires. P*nctured at the weekend for the first time in ages, I think the tires are finally on their way out. Also, now summer is on the way i think new bar tape is called for...

gtvlusso

lost_in_thought wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

So, you have something against bags carried on a person do you?.......Well, with my courier bag (as with my backpack), I can go into town and have a bag that is comfy to carry about as opposed to a stupid looking and uncomfortable pannier hauled over my shoulder.

Also, my preference is that I get the weight off the bike and on me. <snip>

I agree with the rest of your post on the problems with panniers, GTV, but not this bit - according to my physio, my osteopath and my back, it's far, far better to have the weight on the bike and not on the person.

I used to really suffer carrying a laptop and books for a course in a backpack, shoulders, back, neck etc. Panniers have removed all that. Although, as I said, I've never tried a couier bag, I can't see how having the weight over one shoulder as opposed to two is a good thing.

But I think Greg just wants to look cool...

Good point. With my courier bag I have a balancer strap under my other armpit - kinda helps. Must admit that I suffered from back issues (hence quitting rowing) - but still find more use out of a body mounted bag in my day to day life as opposed to a pannier - actually, I don't think panniers look silly, but I don't necessarily want to wander around town or walking the dog with a pannier on a long strap over my shoulder.....

I got one of these for my Birthday: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=3251

Also seems to be more expense and something that I would have difficulty in fitting on my bike.

If I had to do serious miles to work and back everyday (like 30 miles) - I would definitely do the pannier dance.

lost_in_thought

jashburnham wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

@ the fact that this was the reason you chose to +1...

Also, I like the Pearson's new look.

That had nothing to with it!

Next step for the Pearson is new blue tires. P*nctured at the weekend for the first time in ages, I think the tires are finally on their way out. Also, now summer is on the way i think new bar tape is called for...

Blue bar tape! More longevity than the white... blue hudz... And blue tyres = good plan!

vorsprung

I don't see how DDD can say pannier users are effete and then go on to recommend an over sized man bag instead

Me? Carradice bag on an SQR. I've used courier bags and rucksacks and they aren't as good as a saddlebag.

DonDaddyD

lost_in_thought wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Panniers are for women or men who are ghey, overly anal or who think practically too a point that it actually encroaches on their masculinity. :shock:

No argument to the 'for women' but I'd say 'for men who are secure enough in their masculinity to not care what people think'...

Controversial?

Touché...

:evil:

rolf_f

DonDaddyD wrote:

vorsprung wrote:

I don't see how DDD can say pannier users are effete and then go on to recommend an over sized man bag instead

Indeed - this is a bag that should really only be available in pink

jedster

I don't see how DDD can say pannier users are effete and then go on to recommend an over sized man bag instead

particularly one that looks like a deformed scrotum!

paniers are rugged, no nonsense, functional, do-what-they-say-on-the-tin. They may be boring and ugly but they exhibit all sorts of traditional masculine virtues.

that knog....thing...(shudders), DDD dont tell me you're seen out in daylight wielding that thing

:shock: