Carrying stuff on the commute

I’ve been cycling to work (23km e/w) at least once a week for the last seven years. I quickly realised that a rucksack is not optimal, particularly in summer and only carried spare tube, pump and essential tools, and made sure I kept a plentiful supply of fresh clothes at work. Since the virus problems, I’ve been comuuting 2-3 times a week. Now I need to transport a laptop and saftey shoes as well – last week in a hiking rucksack – which weighed 8 kilos. I couldn’t face the journey on Thursday and took the train. I think panniers are the solution but am dreading the additional wind resistance and clutter on the bike. What are you guys using for transporting stuff on the way to work?

Paniers is the gold standard in commute baggage, a rack mounted trunk bag second, followed by backs on the back.

Panniers are the solution. After a couple of rides you’ll not notice any theoretical downside

Wind resistance? How fast are you cycling?
Panniers are the answer.

I use a tailfin rack and trunk bag, but then I don’t need to carry a laptop so panniers seems the logical solution. I went with tailfin as my commute bike is also my weekend ride so wanted to be able to whip off the rack.

can you get low profile panniers for a lapptop?

Okay, so panniers it is. Any recommendations?

I use a carradice bag on a sqr mount, not sure that’d be big enough.

Mrs kilo uses panniers (topeak trunk bag) and seems to carry loads of stuff, looks like a nodder off for a weekend at a youth hostel but it works.

I’ll be the first to say Ortlieb. Many people will also say Ortlieb. A few people will suggest alternatives. Then more people will say Ortlieb.

Okay, so panniers it is. Any recommendations?

Depending on distance I’d say wear the safety boots to cycle, put the lapbook in a single slimline pannier on a lightweight rack, ie one of Tubus or Tortec’s ultralight offerings, whichever offers he most secure-fit for your pannier/s.

If you really have to carry the boots then try for the exact-sized panniers for your required volume or bungee-strap them in a lightweight drybag on top of the rack. Anything to help maintain the optimal-minimum pannier-size required for the trip.

wrong thing. Thought aerodynamic pannier, but im sure those plastic versions are about

I’d suggest Tubus Fly and Ortleibs. I can carry loads of tools and stuff like this. Not so much to cart? Single pannier.
Rack whips on and off in two mins.

Ortlieb if you are going to take them off at work. Carradice if left on the bike. Maybe use the small front panniers on the back depending on laptop and boot size

Those carradice underseat bags might be big enough for a laptop if it isn’t too chunky and a change of clothes. I was toying with them for a while but stayed on backpacks – but my commute can be anything from 4.5 miles to about 10 or 12 each way, depending how enthusiastic I’m feeling. If it was longer I’d look harder into either carradice or panniers. My caad12 isn’t ideal for panniers though as it has no rack or mudguard mounts at all!

I like a rear pannier on the right hand side at the back. Ortlieb do them in red or yellow with reflective trim. They stand out a mile and I think cars seem to give you more room as you look wider.

As for aero, your body and your legs going up and down have ruined all your aero so a pannier at the back doesnt make all that difference. It doesn’t for me and my strava times anyway.

When I’m not using a pannier I use a vaude bar bag, frame bag and seat bag but with a laptop you need a pannier.

You will soon get used to it.

As above, just buy Ortlieb.

The Tubus fly is an excellent rack. I use the stainless version, minimalist but easily capable of handling two unrolled panniers filled to the top after a supermarket shop.

Topeak used to make a laptop bag in their mtx fitting, it is ace. Right size for a laptop and change of clothes (big boots might have to be strapped on top), clips onto one of their beam racks in 2 seconds, looks suitably professional for an office. No idea why they stopped.