trikobe
friend
Reged: 01/02/04
Posts: 31
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Can anyone recommend a nice laptop backpack that is designed for cycling or functions while cycling. The laptop specific backpacks that I've seen don't work very well while cycilng since they were'nt designed to contour your back when you ride. Great if your standing up but very uncomfortable when on the bars...feels like you might snap your laptop in half. thanks
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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Timbuk2 designs makes a cycling specific laptop bag: http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/catalog/categories.t2?categoryId=2
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trikobe
friend
Reged: 01/02/04
Posts: 31
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Yeah, there stuff looks pretty cool. They are well known for their courier bags but I'm not too sure they have a specific backpack style bag. don't want it swinging around my side when i'm riding.
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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It looked to me like they do have a specific backpack style bag. Their messenger bags have an anti-sway strap so they don't swing too much. I have an Ortlieb bag now that I like a lot, but I checked their site and I didn't see a backpack style bag. Also, Chrome is used by lots of couriers and makes a laptop bag: http://www.chromebags.com/sputnik.html
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Dana
new member
Reged: 09/28/04
Posts: 18
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I've had a Willow Design laptop backpack for several years.
http://www.willowdesign.com/
I have the Darwin and I've never had a problem.
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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I was seriously considering commuting to work on my bike. The trip is 18 miles each way, though. I had the same dilemna of how to carry my laptop and other things on a road bike. I looked at light backpacks and found one that is large enough to hold my laptop in it's case plus lunch and other stuff. I then made a test ride to work and back.
I was surprised to find the backpack was more comfortable than I thought it would be.
End result was I determined that for me, at this time in my life, I was not up to the task of riding back and forth every day for such a distance.
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skagwayroadie
contributor
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 141
Loc: Alaska
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Sometimes having the right gear is not enough. Some towns road infrastructure is not condusive to commuting by bike. And in all fairness, commuting can be tough and often times I have found that the commuters in vehicles are the ones that determine how often, if ever, you go and ride the bike to work. I hope you find the time, nerve or whatever to ride to work even once in a while. You'll learn to appreciate many things in life we all take for granted, you'll save a few dollars in gas and it can be very humbling....and good for your fitness and attitude. I commute almost exclusively, unless the weather is really horrible. Goodluck to you.
For bags: I prefer backpacks to sling style messenger bags personally. I have a REI Mussette bag and it is great, very similar to the Timbuktu bags, but I never warmed up to it...just did not feel right. It was not uncomfortable, but perhaps the balance of the weight is from side to side, not top to bottom that made it uncomfortable, but that is more a personal choice than anything. Another excellent choice is Patagonia...I think its the Halfmass bag, it is an awesome bag. For a backpack, you have lots more options. Try ebags.com
Another option is to buy a neoprene style sleave for the laptop and find the smallest and lightest pack it will fit into, well along with other items you may need. I have several technical day-type packs for this and they work very well, though they can be pricey. REI is a great avenue for trying out the packs for comfort.
Ciao...Mark
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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Hi Mark,
My bag is one of the mid-range REI ones as a matter of fact.
For my ride to work I'm very fortunate for 14 of the 18 miles is on a paved bicycle trail along the river. And the parts on streets have bike lanes.
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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My commute sounds like insight drivers. It is 17 miles and only 3 or 4 miles are on the road, the rest is on rails-to-trails. I can manage it 2-3 times a week without undue stress. Saves me $20 a week over taking the Metro. Improves my fitness and mood. I look forward to it, and I enjoy it. I get the biking out of my system somewhat, and that gives me more time to be with my wife and son on the weekends. I was a DC messenger for 5 years and lots of messengers ride Ortlieb or Chrome backpacks now instead of the over-the-one shoulder bags. They are easier on your back. I try not to carry a bag, actually, rather I keep four sets of clothes in a hangup bag at work, so I really only shuttle underclothes, and I try to do that via train. I keep shoes, belts, etc. at work, and there is a shower there. It is pretty much ideal, except for the distance, which is about 5 miles too far to do every day. On the other hand it makes the ride about an hour and fifteen minutes each way, which is long enough to make suiting up worth it.
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skagwayroadie
contributor
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 141
Loc: Alaska
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Such a luxury...a shower at work! I have to take a bird bath in the bathroom sink during the summer months! Do you lock your bike to a rack, or can you take it inside to secure it?
Does anyone have issues with traffic drivers getting irritated with you riding on the side of the road? If so, what do they do? When I lived in Phoenix, it was not too bad to commute, but going into Mesa or Sun City areas was hell...those older drivers never seemed to see me and nearly ran me down at every corner. In other areas, now and again a Red-neck or Gangsta thud would yell and chuck stuff at me. Otherwise, commuting was never much of a problem...well aside from the heat, but it was a dry heat 
...Mark
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skuke
captain
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 311
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If you must carry something as heavy and rigid as a laptop, how about using panniers? Then, you'll also have lots of room for clothes, lunch, shoes...
Of course, Calfees don't have a braze-on for the pannier to bolt to, but they make panniers that don't require them. I don't think they are as secure. Commuter bike?
When I commuted on my Tetra, I too was lucky enough to have a shower at work and was able to leave my bike inside the building just outside the shop where I worked. Actually we had a big galvanized steel bike rack that held about 10 bikes and was always close to being full!
What I found worked well for me was to drive in one day a week and bring a weeks worth of clothes and take home the previous weeks clothes. I'd ride (12 miles each way) the other days and always have fresh clothes and if I decided to drive another day, it was no big deal. I guess I should also mention that as a machinist, I didn't need to wear nice clothes, but I did need to be presentable for the occasional walk thru we had from money, customers, doctors...
At another job 40 miles from home, I'd carpool in with my bike then ride home coupla times a week. Since I started at 7:00a, it was too early to ride in, but riding home was great! 40 miles was enough for a decent training ride and when the days are longer, I could always add more miles if I wanted. Personally, I think the 12 mile commute was too short. Heck, sometimes it takes me 12 miles just to feel warmed up!
--------------------
Skuke
95 Carbonframes Tetra Pro
92 Bridgestone MB-1
90 Moser 51.151
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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There is a rack in the garage that is under video survelliance. I work with about 20 people, so I think that it is actually safer in the garage, locked, than unlocked inside the office. I use a Kryptonite New York Disc lock with a 6' quadra chain, and an Onguard brute mini lock. Any lock can be defeated, but by double locking it, I figure that it would take such a long time to break that somebody would notice and alert the building management.
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