Carrying a rucksack on a rack

I may have a requirement to carry a rucksack the size of a small aeroplane carry-on on the back of my bike. This is so I can ride to the station then get the train to the airport and catch a plane. The bike has to stay at the station so stuff like a trailer would be inconvenient to lock up. Something like the Surly TV tray would be ideal if it would fold away.

Any ideas?

Why not on your back?

Eurocrate bolted to the rack, bag inside it with bungees to keep it in?

The bag is an Osprey Farpoint 40 by the way:

https://www.ospreyeurope.com/shop/gb_en/farpoint-40-14

Why not on your back?

This is the default option but when it’s full of work stuff it’s quite heavy and I’d get sweaty. My commuter already has a rack so I was wondering if I could take advantage of it.

The crate’s not a bad idea. How easy are they to fix to a rack? Can you come up with fasteners to allow easy removal if required?

The search for Eurocrate led me to hollandbikeshop.com, it’s a luggage goldmine!

Klik fix make just such a rack for a rucksack. It will go ok a seatpost. Topeak mtx racks do an adaptor for a basket on the back too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rixen-Kaul-Freepacksport-0276S-Backpack/dp/B000AQQVQQ/ref=asc_df_B000AQQVQQ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310552789112&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13499241270271150100&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046077&hvtargid=aud-543776533562:pla-511132181687&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Surely a front basket would be more appealing?

Surely a taxi would be simpler.

You need a net.
I think mine was from Oxford, made for bungeeing rucksacks to pillion seats.

Free occasionally with motorbike magazines.

Loads of them about, not much dosh. Must be loads of cycling specific ones out there.

Bungees are a pain.

If the straps are flapping about or you have to ride in constant rain just stick the rucksack in a supermarket bag for life and roll it up.

Same as you would with a tent/sleeping bags/sleeping mats when touring.

Zip tie the crate to the rack. Pretty easy to remove when needed.

I’ve used velcro luggage straps before, they work great. Like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alfatex®-Velcro®-Brand-strapping-2-5cmx25cm/dp/B076KKXJ23

I found anything that stretches (like bungees) to be useless as the bag will just bounce and move around over every bump.

I read this at first:

“a rucksack the size of a small aeroplane”

Bungee cords, £5 for 16 of them from Screwfix. Great for this sort of thing. You need to stretch them tight, but they work just fine.

Bungee cords gotta be easiest/lightest/best solution if it’s just an occasional thing. Done similar many times.

If it’s a regular thing, ortlieb sell all the spares you need to attach a proper mounting system to any bag. They bolt on so it would be easy to fit & you’d have a proper quick-release system. Was considering doing this with my archery kit when I used to cycle to the club!

I’d suggest one or two ordinary cam lock webbing straps. If you wind them around the rucksack and the rack and pull them tight it should be OK for a short journey. Bungies will work as well, but the strap shoukd be a bit more secure than stretchy elastic. I’ve used a rucksack as an emergency pannier before.

I reckon the luggage net is a good idea: worked very well in my distant motor biking past.

Shouldn’t break the bank & should be versatile in future.

Like this for £8

3rd a luggage net, I use on on my commute if I’ve got bigger items to carry and it works well. I think I picked mine up for about £5 from TK Maxx. It’s proved very useful indeed and much more secure than a bungy or 2.

I’d use bungees or an luggage net on a normal rack

My own rack is a Topeak, I have the Topeak folding milk crate which is great, i’d stick the bag in that

Bungees or a net won’t work. I already have both. The bag is too big and heavy, it’ll just roll off.

strap a mannequin onto the rack, and then put the rucksack on the mannequin

The simple solutions are always the best 🙂.

Bungees or a net won’t work. I already have both. The bag is too big and heavy, it’ll just roll off.

Can you not hang it on the side of the rack? compression straps round the rucksack straps, tied to the top of the rack, strap around the legs of the rack and the rucksack to stop it swaying. You may have to ride with your insteps on the pedal to avoid heel strike.

I read this at first:

“a rucksack the size of a small aeroplane”

Yup,me too

Mol,just take the lovely spare wheel holder that you made from the caravan,then zip ty it to the rack. 🙂

Platform rack and a bungee

IMG_20180615_081759291 by SlowOl[/url], on Flickr

Also works for bringing a chainsaw home from the supermarket …

Bungees or a net won’t work. I already have both. The bag is too big and heavy, it’ll just roll off.

Maybe a 40L pack is just too large to carry on a bike rack full stop. It all sounds like unnecessary hassle. Can you not just get a cab or cadge a lift to the station.

You re simply not trying hard enough:

http://www.visiontimes.com/2015/03/14/see-why-riding-a-motorbike-in-thailand-is-like-nowhere-else.html

Then use a strap that is firmer than a a bungee or a net. If one can strap a heavy bag to the back of a motorcycle, a bicycle is very doable

Try Rokstraps, or normal 1 inch webbing and side release clips. Alpkit do a strap for holding drybags onto handlebars, that should work for holding the bag on.

Like a ratchet strap without the faff. The straps with a cam should also work OK

I suppose if you’re going offroad then it might be a bit different

How easy are they to fix to a rack? Can you come up with fasteners to allow easy removal if required?

I have seen bolts with large washers under the rack and in the box to hold it on – that seems the most secure way, but

Zip tie the crate to the rack. Pretty easy to remove when needed.

is probably the easiest!

Can you not just get a cab or cadge a lift to the station.

Well that had honestly never occurred to me!*

The problem with a strap is there’s nothing to stop the bag sliding off centre unless you find an anchor point on the bag itself.

* that’s not true

Big rear rack like this one should work similarly to a porteur style front rack. Or just get a porteur front rack and then you can carry twice as much clobber.
https://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/m11b0s491p4591/Minoura_Gamoh_King_Rear_Rack

Carrying the rucksack on the platform front rack I place the sack across the rack straps upwards and put bungees both through and over the rucksack straps. You do have to cinch the waistbelt and other straps down to prevent strap / wheel disasters. The wide(r) platform stops it pivoting round the side of the rack. The idea of a bolted on crate or piece of plywood should give a similar result.

Good luck whatever you decide to do. It does all seem quite problematic.

Buy a caravan and put the bag inside it.

It does all seem quite problematic.

Pretty standard for the OP…

Pretty standard for the OP…

You misunderstand. Just because I ask a question on here doesn’t mean I’m struggling with some great problem. I see a possible way to improve things, and I’ve asked a specific question.

It’s obviously not a huge issue, I can just carry the damn thing on my back as I have done thousands of times before.