new to this forum due to holiday bike -- messenger bag recs?

[villager]

Hi, all--

well, after too long being "bikeless," a Schwinn Ranger came into my life over the holiday season. I'm in L.A., so I'll be using it to wean myself from overreliance on oil, doing local rounds/commutes with it.

I'll need a messenger back though to keep my laptop -- this one, right here, that I'm writing on -- from flopping around too much.

Any recommendations?

thanks all! Happy '06ing to everyone...

[bvar22]

1. Welcome to the group!

:party:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=324x875

[villager]

2. thanks... and thanks!

wow -- an inspirational project. I'm just getting my "bike legs" back, and haven't even put a rear bracket on the new set o' wheels yet...

I think I'm gonna dig this forum...!

[happyslug]

3. Panniers and Rear Bike Rack.

Messenger backs just flop around to much. OK for papers and other light items, but for a lap top will flop to much. A back pack would be better for a Back pack attached to you body at the waist and BOTH shoulders unlike just one Shoulder for a Messenger bag. Every time I have used something like a Messenger Bag over my Shoulder, the bag shifted all over my body as I biked. Sometime up or down depending on which way I was turning, sometime when I hit a pothole, sometime for no apparent reason (and sometime when whatever in the bag shifts, and this is worse if the item in the bag is heavier than a few papers). The big problem with a back pack is that a backpack prevent sweat in the middle of your back from perspiring into the atmosphere, thus the better item is to get a padded bag for laptop and then put the bag (with the Lap top) in one of a pair of Rear panniers (Or Saddlebags). Panniers just do NOT flop around for they are held in place by the Rear Rack. I use Cannondale Panniers and a Tubus Rack. I purchased the Tubus rack from White Wheels in New England, but most bags and racks will work provided the pannier are big enough for the laptop.

If you do NOT want to spend $100 for a rack, your local bike store should have Rear racks. Most bike stores have racks. Avoid solid Aluminum racks, they are weak and tend to break after a few months. The best racks use hollow steel rods, Second best are Hollow Aluminum Rods, the Third are Solid Steel racks. The Tubus use Solid Steel Rods and in the two four years I have been using them I have NEVER had any problem.

Now my Cannondale Panniers (or Saddlebags) are older then my rack. I have abused them using them constantly for the last five years. They are big enough for a laptop in a protective bag.

Also Avoid bag on TOP of the rack, they tend NOT to attached to the rack as well as Side panniers, thus I would NOT trust a Laptop in one. I would NOT put the Laptop in a FRONT panniers. I have used Front Panniers and they work well for LIGHT ITEMS (Such as Clothes) but a heavy item like a Laptop tend to change the handling of the Bike (Unlike Rear panniers where the change do to the weight is Minimal).

For Tubus Racks (Peter White also sells high end Pannier bag):
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/tubus_racks.asp

Cannondale panniers (Saddlebag):
http://fr.cannondale.com/clothing/04/ww/model-BPN340.html#
http://fr.cannondale.com/clothing/04/ww/index_gear.html

One last comment, in addition to Panniers I use a rigid handlebar bag for things like hats and gloves and other small items I think I would need on the Trip (NOT A LAP TOP). I would recommend such a bag for such little things such as the things you carry in your pockets but may fall out when you are biking. I also would recommend a Seat bag for hauling some tools to fix your bike if something would go wrong, along with a inner-tire patch kit. Together all three sets of bags work together. Your tools are easy to get to, if you need gloves or a hat they are in front of you (or if you are to hot you have a convenient place to put your hat and gloves), and anything heavy can be in the Panniers.

[Longhorn]

4. If you decide to go with a rack and panniers

I've heard that the Arkel Bug is a great backpack pannier. It fits on the rack but converts to a backpack. Check around for the best price.



http://shop.cycletherapy.ca/ProductInfo~productid~BA0008.html

Welcome to the forum! :hi:

[happyslug]

5. I want the Ortlieb Large office bag

Peter white sells them for $130 plus $30 for a padded insert for a Laptop:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/ortlieb.asp


If you want a true piece of luggage you can haul your laptop with, you may want to look at the Ortlieb Shuttle:

http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/prodInfo.asp?pid=105&cid=2

More on Ortlieb
http://www.ortliebusa.com/

I can not decide between the Shuttle or the Travel Bag to put on the top of my rear rack. Unlike other bags for the top of the Rear Rack these look like they have a Solid way to connect with the Rack, unlike most top rear bags.

The Ortlieb Travel Bag:

http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/prodInfo.asp?pid=37&cid=2

[Longhorn]

6. That shuttle looks cool!

I have two racks -- one mounted on the frame to hold one of my batteries and the other mounted above it on my seat. I mount two panniers on the top rack, one for bike gear and one for either laptop and clothes. When I begin commuting both ways, I'll have to carry all that stuff, including two 20-pound batteries) from the bike rack up to the 6th floor (on the elevator, thank goodness!) so I got a small dolly that I'm going to lock to the rack.

I can't wait till school starts again and I can get back to my bike commute! :)

[happyslug]

7. I had a similar Problem, but I solved it with a Bike Trailer

The Bike Trailer I use had an option of a push handle on the back. I purchased it with the Handle (it is detachable, but I leave in on the bike). The Trailer itself attached to the Bike via a long neck to the seat post. The long neck attaches to the Trailer via two hand turnbuckles. I turn out the turnbuckles and lift up the goose-neck (leaving the Goose Neck on the bike). I than have a little two wheel push cart.

Here is a picture from Cycle tote' Web Site, it has the front Wheel attached (It attaches via the same slide and turnbuckles a the Goose Neck, but from underneath instead of from the top). I rarely attaches the front wheel, instead I use it as a two wheel cart that fits nicely in the elevators I use:


Here is my bike with the handle attached and it attached to my bike:


http://www.cycletote.com/

Since I took that Picture I stop using the top bag on my rear rack, and thus moved the attachment point for the trailer downward (to make it look better balanced when I am biking), but even with the rear bad I had no problem balancing the trailer behind me.

[happyslug]

11. More pictures of my bike Trailer (Yes I like my Trailer):

The one that disappeared (I moved it to a bicycle only folder on photoBucket):


A picture of how the trailer connects with the front Goose Neck:


The front Goose neck:


Yes it is a nice trailer, it is the "doggie" trailer for hauling small to medium size dogs, I use it to haul camping supplies when I go bike camping for it has a flat bed to load things on.

[villager]

12. "bike camping" sounds great...

n/t

[villager]

8. thanks, everybody! I have a backpack with waist straps....

...that I may try first, for the four-mile trip to the "office." I'm gonna take things step by step, and I figure as I "outgrow" each addition, add carefully (and as affordably as I can!) to the bike apparatus...

Thanks for the wealth of info & tips on this thread...

[happyslug]

9. You probably only need one with two straps, the waist strap helps

But the waist strap is probably not needed, but the two shoulder straps are NEEDED for you need them to stabilize the bag as a whole. I know I said a three point bag system is better, but if the laptop is small and light enough a bag with TWO straps may be sufficient. The point I was trying to make is that a Messenger Bag with its one shoulder strap will NOT stabilize the bag to prevent it from rolling around on your back. You need more than a shoulder strap, a back-pack with TWO shoulder straps should be sufficient.

[villager]

10. thanks, again! Due to rains and having to tend a very infirm old dog...

... I haven't tried out my hoped for "long commute" yet. But the bag awaits!

[seemunkee]

13. Reload makes some really nice bags

http://www.reloadbags.com/
They do custom designs too. My son has one of their backpacks and it is bomb proof

[villager]

14. thanks! Just got back from a long ride around Santa Barbara..

I'm up here on business, as it were, and thought to put the new pair o' wheels in the back of the car...

...a fella could definitely get used to this...