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I used to commute regularly on my bike and have had a few years off. Back innit for a few months now and planning to go through the whole of winter 2-3 times per week where my job allows it.
I've always used a backpack - but with my current job I now have to carry a laptop plus chunky notepads where previously I justbised to bring lunch / change of clothes for work.
Current bag has a system to try and hold the bag away from you back but with the weight of stuff in it, it just digs into your back. So a new solution is required.
The bike is a carbon racer with no eyelets or mounts anywhere. I've seen racks that just clamp to the seatpost but not seen a bag big enough yetbhatbsots on top of it - all seem to be side hanging panniers which (a) I don't like the look of (b) seem expensive (c) often aren't big enough for the laptop.
Has anyone found a suitable rack / bag that would fit the bill without costing ludicrous amounts of money? Bag also needs to be waterproof.
The other option is a new backpack that can carry the weight without digging in. Current bag is 25 litres inthink - reckon I'd ideally have between 30 and 40 litres but no bigger as they get unwieldy. Other requirements are a waist strap to hold the bag steady and a build in rain cover to keep things dry. Max budget for this option is £40. What are peoole using?
It's outside your budget (well double it actually!) but the [url= https://www.carradice.co.uk/bags/saddle-packs-sqr-bags/super-c-sqr-slim ]Carradice SQR slim[/url] might be suitable. I've the predecessor of the Tour. Dead easy to put on/take off. Looks a bit naff but it works - the Tour is big enough to use for credit card touring.
laptop at home, pc at work. work remotley if needed, or memory sticks, or email.
basically anything to avoid carrying a laptop by bike.
You can fit pannier racks and panniers to any bike. Tubus make some very clevewr fitting kits, you can get seat clamps incorporating bosses for the top mounts. IIRC old man mountain make racks that need no fittings on the bike
I’ve used one of these for a few years now:
http://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/high-visibility-drybag-cycling.html
100% waterproof and very comfy straps, seems pretty indestructible. It’s basically a big dry bag with rucksack straps though so no good if you’re after compartments, and can be a bit sweaty on the back.
[url= http://https://www.tailfin.cc/pages/carbon-pannier-rack ]Tailfin[/url]
And go without food for a month.
You said carbon road bike, yes?
It's not a fancy carbon roadbike - just a 2010 Boardman Team Carbon that I've had about 6 years and came through the bike to work scheme.
Unfortunately I have to carry the laptop - there aren't any pcs at work - they give us laptops then there are screens and keyboards etc to hook up there. We have to take the laptop home for contingency purposes plus I often work at home.
The Carraway sqr dry on the link above looks like it probably would do the job, and looks more waterproof than the linked option itself. Just £75 is quite a lot just for commuting.
Charliem- that dry bag looks an interesting option. I just need to measure my laptop to see if it would fit.
How padded is the back if you've got something like a hard laptop against it - would it dig in to your back?
How about a messenger bag they sit a bit lower on the back so not as sweaty
I've commuted for years with a Burton snowboards Day Hiker bag, comfy and great for lugging 'stuff'. However recently replaced with a smaller Osprey rucksack which is really good but pricy.
I always look at messenger bags and think they don't look that stable if I'm honest. I tend to really push hard on the way to / from work as it's almost all the cycling I get to do at the moment. Trying to keep my legs going so when I do get mtb time I'm not ludicrously unfit!
Take a look at Dakine bags, my work bag is the best rucksack I've owned, laptop compartment and very versatile, well made, stable, comfortable. Not too sweaty on the back either.
Charliem- that dry bag looks an interesting option. I just need to measure my laptop to see if it would fit.How padded is the back if you've got something like a hard laptop against it - would it dig in to your back?
The padding is pretty decent, I usually have my yellow kryptonite lock against my back and it doesn’t dig in.
I may order that waterproof bag then - very tempted. Only issue is it's all one pocket. Maybe I need to get a little wallet / pouch thing to go in it for loose stuff like keys / wallet / phones etc.
This pannier rack will fit:
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Axiom-Streamliner-Road-Deluxe-Rear-Rack_54703.htm
And then some normal panniers, Evans sell them off occasionaly...
https://www.evanscycles.com/offers/ex-demo-ex-display_c/ex-display-bags-panniers-and-car-racks-category
I’d buy another laptop for at home.
A little over budget but since I've started working from home on odd days I've been using an osprey escapist to carry the laptop. There's no getting away from the fact it's a fair amount of weight on your back (laptop is on the chunky side) but the waist strap supports it well. I use a neoprene sleeve to protect the laptop and add some cushioning. Play around with where to pack clothes and you can take the edge off the 'straight laptop- curved back' problem too.
It also has a cover, side pockets for keys/pass and a mesh pouch that is handy for rear light
I may order that waterproof bag then - very tempted. Only issue is it's all one pocket. Maybe I need to get a little wallet / pouch thing to go in it for loose stuff like keys / wallet / phones etc.
Yeah I stick wallet/keys/ID etc in a tupperware to stop them from rattling around. I’m sure there’s fancier ways of lugging your stuff but I just wanted something that keeps my kit dry for 10 miles and is hard wearing. Plus the fact you can see it a mile off is reassuring now that it’s dark at both ends of the day.
I've got this as my roadbike had no fitting points, it's been perfect
I use an old berghaus ruck sack, 40l or so and has the stand off the back bit.
Always carry my laptop and 26miles a day. Not doing it regular at the moment but was 4 times a week at 1 point with no issues.
Has a pullout waterproof cover but always stick a carrier bag on the laptop too.
Laptop in a neoprene sleeve, inside an alpkit gourdon bag (virtually the same as the lomo ones) worked for me when I used to commute with a laptop. Keys etc went in a pencil case I think, maybe a little dry bag if it was lying about
Decent, not fashion messenger bags are definitely very stable. They are not less sweaty.
I always carry laptops on my person for extra protection, but I will then carry my lunch and clothing on the bike in a saddle bag so as not to over weight my back.
Bit torn on this one still - I like the look of the dry bags mentioned earlier with a little bag / walletbthjng inside for loose things. Just as I was cycling in today my shoulders were slightly aching (nothing major though) and I thought it would be nice not to have a bag on.
Keep looking at the carradry option as it doesn't require a full rack solution and may mean I could ditch my slightly dodgy sks raceblade rear mudguard. Need to measure my laptop and work out if I could fit my work clothes / lunch in as well and maybe spare trainers too.
Means I'm looking at the carradice super c sqr slim vs the carradry sqr bag. The latter looks bigger for clothes / trainers but isn't quite as wide so maybe tight for a laptop. Also need to check I have enough seatpost showing out the frame to mount something like it.
You need a bit of room for the SQR bags due to how they attach to the mounting clip on the seat post.
Leave as much kit as you can at work: I leave shoes, socks, trousers, underpants and t-shirt there. I take in underpants and t-shirt. If they get wet during the commute then I've got those at work as backup. I don't have to take laptop or similar so all my stuff (including waterproof and pump) goes in a 4 litre saddlebag.
Used a Super C Slim for a few 5 years now, best money I've spent on commuting gear, used carry a 15in laptop, clothes, travel towel and large lunch (plus a mutil-tool, tube and a mini pump) in mine with no issues at all but these days no longer need to carry the laptop. The only thing i never carried regularly was shoes but could cram a pair in if needed. Never had anything get wet but always carrier bag stuff inside as a precaution and makes it easier to keep clothes/towel compressed.
Unfortunately I have to carry the laptop - there aren't any pcs at work - they give us laptops then there are screens and keyboards etc to hook up there. We have to take the laptop home for contingency purposes plus I often work at home.
Send an expenses claim for backdated milage as you're having to use your car to carry work equipment, see how long it takes to get a PC at your desk. (Tongue in cheek :-))
I never understood the logic of it though. My OH has to do it and her backpack ends up weighing an obscene amount (15kg easily) by the time she's put her paperwork folder in there too. Just form data security point of view surely it's a nightmare compared to just letting you log in on a virtual machine.
Compared to my job where I wasn't allowed to take anything out of the project area.
I'd get QR mounted panniers (i.e. the legs go through the wheel QR) and you can get seatpost collars with pannier eyelets. And add some proper panniers.
THis is not a spoon - like that idea - although I have a company car and I'm not allowed to claim mileage to my usual place of work!
I work for a bank so buying a laptop to use myself at home won't work - they've cut down on IT support and will only support one device (I'll stick with using the one they provide!). Plus I don't think they'll support a Citrix virtual session like the last bank I worked for as a laptop is provided here. Luckily it's a fairly compact laptop in fairness so not too heavy. I never found the Citrix virtual solution my last employer used very reliable / stable - it worked slow on a windows pc or crashed regularly on an Apple Mac.
A lot of the qr panniers don't play nicely with carbon dropouts - I have no idea if that's what I have - need to check when I go downstairs to get my bike out to cycle home later. I have to admit I like the idea of the easily removeable bag option as it's my only road bike. Nice to know I could go it for a normal ride without loads of scaffolding ruining the look of the bike. In reality if I get spare time I usually take my Aeris out off-road instead though as I find that much more fun.