bag for work?

snig
snig Posts: 428
edited January 2014 in Commuting general
will be starting to commute to work soon, just getting some bits together.

I will be carrying a change of clothes, shirt, trousers, and shoes, and the bike stuff.

I will be using a GT MTB with slicks.

what bag would be best for the 7 mile commute? and I would need a rack too, any good cheap option? a back pack or would I be best to fit something to the bike if possible? any recommendations would be good, looking to try and keep the cost as low as possible, I do tend to sweat a bit so maybe the backpack is not the best idea.

Comments

  • night_porter
    night_porter Posts: 888
    If you can fit a rack then this is the best option imho. Quite simply the bike can carry the weight much better than you can and it does not sweat.

    My current favourite is a rack pack with fold out side bags which Evans have on sale for £25 but I do have a couple of panniers as well if I need to take more.

    There are many racks to fit all types of bikes with every type of brake but the ones I trust most are made by Tortec, not the cheapest but well made for the price.
  • owenlars
    owenlars Posts: 719
    For seven miles I nearly always used a decent bike specific ruck sack. Vaude make some good ones. However I didn't generally carry loads of paper and a computer. With heavy files and such like I would break out the Dawes Galaxy and use a briefcase pannier, mind was an Ortlieb.
    I am now retired so only do odd bits of work for people I get on with 8)
  • Juddlinski
    Juddlinski Posts: 54
    night_porter wrote:
    If you can fit a rack then this is the best option imho. Quite simply the bike can carry the weight much better than you can and it does not sweat.

    My current favourite is a rack pack with fold out side bags which Evans have on sale for £25 but I do have a couple of panniers as well if I need to take more.

    There are many racks to fit all types of bikes with every type of brake but the ones I trust most are made by Tortec, not the cheapest but well made for the price.

    Sounds like good advice, I might just do that. I had a rucksack when I was commuting last year but might for a rack and pack this year.

    One question though - and please look away if you're easily offended - but I need to mention pants.

    Basically my work doesn't have showers so I shower in a gym nearby. this means I need to take:

    Trousers
    Shirt
    Towel
    Deodorant
    Shower Gel
    The aforementioned pants
    And socks

    So what size of bag / pannier / pack you reckon I'd need ? Would 10L capacity do the job?
  • zx6man
    zx6man Posts: 1,092
    I use one of these, with fold out panniers if you need them.

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/top ... p-ec024197
  • snig
    snig Posts: 428
    Juddlinski wrote:
    night_porter wrote:
    If you can fit a rack then this is the best option imho. Quite simply the bike can carry the weight much better than you can and it does not sweat.

    My current favourite is a rack pack with fold out side bags which Evans have on sale for £25 but I do have a couple of panniers as well if I need to take more.

    There are many racks to fit all types of bikes with every type of brake but the ones I trust most are made by Tortec, not the cheapest but well made for the price.

    Sounds like good advice, I might just do that. I had a rucksack when I was commuting last year but might for a rack and pack this year.

    One question though - and please look away if you're easily offended - but I need to mention pants.

    Basically my work doesn't have showers so I shower in a gym nearby. this means I need to take:

    Trousers
    Shirt
    Towel
    Deodorant
    Shower Gel
    The aforementioned pants
    And socks

    So what size of bag / pannier / pack you reckon I'd need ? Would 10L capacity do the job?

    you should really start your own thread m8, saves confusion and will probably get you more help too.
  • snig
    snig Posts: 428
    thinking about one of these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-super-to ... rear-rack/ it's for a GT MTB with disc brakes, would this be about the best option?

    Seen Tortec was recommended above, but I can not find a disc suitable rack in that brand.
  • night_porter
    night_porter Posts: 888
    This is my rack pack and it has a 17 litre capacity with the fold out panniers http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fwe ... k-ec052177 currently £25.99

    The Tortec Disc rack I use is http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/Tortec-tran ... tAodHQUANw currently £23.99

    I cannot recommend them enough and I have been using panniers for the last 5 years but these are better imho
  • tilesey
    tilesey Posts: 14
    Deuter rucksack works well for me
  • zx6man
    zx6man Posts: 1,092
    snig wrote:
    thinking about one of these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-super-to ... rear-rack/ it's for a GT MTB with disc brakes, would this be about the best option?

    Seen Tortec was recommended above, but I can not find a disc suitable rack in that brand.

    that is the one I use and with the MTX bag. The track makes it a doddle to fit and remove.

    I have a pair of Altura arran panniers which fit onthe side rails of it too.
  • snig
    snig Posts: 428
    zx6man wrote:
    snig wrote:
    thinking about one of these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-super-to ... rear-rack/ it's for a GT MTB with disc brakes, would this be about the best option?

    Seen Tortec was recommended above, but I can not find a disc suitable rack in that brand.

    that is the one I use and with the MTX bag. The track makes it a doddle to fit and remove.

    I have a pair of Altura arran panniers which fit onthe side rails of it too.

    cool so sounds a good one then.
  • snig
    snig Posts: 428
    night_porter wrote:
    This is my rack pack and it has a 17 litre capacity with the fold out panniers http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fwe ... k-ec052177 currently £25.99

    The Tortec Disc rack I use is http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/Tortec-tran ... tAodHQUANw currently £23.99

    I cannot recommend them enough and I have been using panniers for the last 5 years but these are better imho


    thinking about going for this option, can I just ask tho how is the bag attached to the rack? is it easy/quick.

    I was thinking the Topeak option would have been better as the rack included a sort of mudguard and it's said to be very quite to attach the bag, but the combo is much more expensive and as I will have the bag on anyway, the bag will act as the mudguard?
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    Could you take what you need for the week on Monday and Bring it home Friday to save lugging it too and fro all through the week?
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • snig
    snig Posts: 428
    Initialised wrote:
    Could you take what you need for the week on Monday and Bring it home Friday to save lugging it too and fro all through the week?

    not really, I have to wear a uniform and not got enough for the week so needs washing.

    In the summer I guess I could wear it? but I don't think I could get away withnot buying the rack? would like too tho as it would save me £50.
  • night_porter
    night_porter Posts: 888
    snig wrote:
    night_porter wrote:
    This is my rack pack and it has a 17 litre capacity with the fold out panniers http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fwe ... k-ec052177 currently £25.99

    The Tortec Disc rack I use is http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/Tortec-tran ... tAodHQUANw currently £23.99

    I cannot recommend them enough and I have been using panniers for the last 5 years but these are better imho


    thinking about going for this option, can I just ask tho how is the bag attached to the rack? is it easy/quick.

    I was thinking the Topeak option would have been better as the rack included a sort of mudguard and it's said to be very quite to attach the bag, but the combo is much more expensive and as I will have the bag on anyway, the bag will act as the mudguard?

    two large velcro straps and a small one for each corner and with the rack I use you can also attach a pannier whilst the rack pack is in place if you want. It also has a shoulder strap for carrying away from the bike.

    I wear a uniform at work too so I take my trousers, underwear and a shirt at the start of the week and a clean shirt (and anything else I need) daily. I leave my shoes at work and have cleaning stuff in my locker.
  • snig
    snig Posts: 428
    cheers, yeah good idea never thought about the shoes, was planning on carrying them but they can be left at work.

    so I'm only looking at a pair of trousers, a shirt and underwear, doesn't seem enough for a rack but I don't want to use a backpack really.

    Guess I can use it for shopping too LOL
  • bikejane
    bikejane Posts: 3
    Hi everyone I'm currently in the process of designing a new bike bag. This forum is very useful for the project! If you fancy sharing your opinions on cycling bags or any bags you carry when cycling here is a questionnaire which should take less than 5 minutes!

    Thanks for your help

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19IAGfiuXQ-lvVsmEJzKOPLRxYrRes1ZCqkHuVgRsk5w/viewform

    Feel free to pass this on to any of your cycling friends!

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