good cycling backpacks? - Page 3 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

08-25-2004, 03:39 PM

Hi,

Got the Deuter racer x air II myself when I decided to finally give up on
the train altogether and cycle the full 60Km return journey to/from work (I
used to take the train in and cycle home!). Works for me, nice light bag and
my back is well ventilated so doesn't get too sweaty. Has loads of pockets
for phone etc and will accomodate their hydratiuon system (which I haven't
tried). A worthwhile investment I think!

Regards

Colin.

<snip>

> Any advice, particularly from people who've got one/both of these? I
> haven't tied myself down to a specific model from either brand,
> although I'm leaning toward the X-Cursion if I do go with Ortlieb.
> Many Deuter bags have the added bonus of a hydration system, which is
> also something interesting and new for me to consider. It's not
> absolutely necessary with the sort of commute I do now, but I would
> like to go explore trails around where I live (on my non-folding bike)
> at some point in the not-too-distant future, so that could come in
> very handy indeed.

08-25-2004, 04:00 PM

Colin Swift <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> Got the Deuter racer x air II myself

second that. i gave mine to my sister but it's an excellent backpack,
definitely best in class.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-25-2004, 04:00 PM

Colin Swift <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> Got the Deuter racer x air II myself

second that. i gave mine to my sister but it's an excellent backpack,
definitely best in class.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-25-2004, 04:00 PM

Colin Swift <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> Got the Deuter racer x air II myself

second that. i gave mine to my sister but it's an excellent backpack,
definitely best in class.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-25-2004, 04:00 PM

Colin Swift <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> Got the Deuter racer x air II myself

second that. i gave mine to my sister but it's an excellent backpack,
definitely best in class.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

08-25-2004, 06:19 PM

Instead of a backpack, you might want to consider a courier bag. I find
that they sit lower on my body than a backpack, they don't constrict my
breathing as much as a backpack, and they are distinctly more comfortable
than a backpack in my own riding position. Mine rides on the back of my
hipbone when I ride, reducing sweaty back to a manageable level, and putting
less strain on my back muscles.

Patagonia makes several really nice models, the Critical Mass has ample room
for books, a laptop, extra clothing, etc., along with a water bottle pocket
on the outside. It has an excellent suspension

If the Critical Mass isn't big enough for you, there are a couple of
Canadian companies selling bags for bicycle couriers on the web. "Push The
EnVELOpe" and PAC Designs are two that I know of, they both make extremely
rugged bags that are big enough to hold a small child.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

HTH,
--
mark

08-25-2004, 06:19 PM

Instead of a backpack, you might want to consider a courier bag. I find
that they sit lower on my body than a backpack, they don't constrict my
breathing as much as a backpack, and they are distinctly more comfortable
than a backpack in my own riding position. Mine rides on the back of my
hipbone when I ride, reducing sweaty back to a manageable level, and putting
less strain on my back muscles.

Patagonia makes several really nice models, the Critical Mass has ample room
for books, a laptop, extra clothing, etc., along with a water bottle pocket
on the outside. It has an excellent suspension

If the Critical Mass isn't big enough for you, there are a couple of
Canadian companies selling bags for bicycle couriers on the web. "Push The
EnVELOpe" and PAC Designs are two that I know of, they both make extremely
rugged bags that are big enough to hold a small child.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

HTH,
--
mark

08-25-2004, 06:19 PM

Instead of a backpack, you might want to consider a courier bag. I find
that they sit lower on my body than a backpack, they don't constrict my
breathing as much as a backpack, and they are distinctly more comfortable
than a backpack in my own riding position. Mine rides on the back of my
hipbone when I ride, reducing sweaty back to a manageable level, and putting
less strain on my back muscles.

Patagonia makes several really nice models, the Critical Mass has ample room
for books, a laptop, extra clothing, etc., along with a water bottle pocket
on the outside. It has an excellent suspension

If the Critical Mass isn't big enough for you, there are a couple of
Canadian companies selling bags for bicycle couriers on the web. "Push The
EnVELOpe" and PAC Designs are two that I know of, they both make extremely
rugged bags that are big enough to hold a small child.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

HTH,
--
mark

08-25-2004, 06:19 PM

Instead of a backpack, you might want to consider a courier bag. I find
that they sit lower on my body than a backpack, they don't constrict my
breathing as much as a backpack, and they are distinctly more comfortable
than a backpack in my own riding position. Mine rides on the back of my
hipbone when I ride, reducing sweaty back to a manageable level, and putting
less strain on my back muscles.

Patagonia makes several really nice models, the Critical Mass has ample room
for books, a laptop, extra clothing, etc., along with a water bottle pocket
on the outside. It has an excellent suspension

If the Critical Mass isn't big enough for you, there are a couple of
Canadian companies selling bags for bicycle couriers on the web. "Push The
EnVELOpe" and PAC Designs are two that I know of, they both make extremely
rugged bags that are big enough to hold a small child.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

HTH,
--
mark

08-25-2004, 06:27 PM

I am considering getting panniers for my EZ-1 from
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and is has 16 and 20 inch wheels.
These might be the right size for your bike. Should you find a dealer
who sells the bike and would order the panniers and let you try them
that would be excellent.

Also, you might try talking to "Robert J. Matter" <rjmatter @
PRODIGY.NET> at Daley Plaza on the last friday of the month between
530pm and 600pm. He owns two folding bikes, and is president(?) of the
Chicago Folding Bike Society which meets twice a month at the Handlebar
(owned by bicyclists who met at group rides) at 2311(?) W North.
Bearded and likes yellow shirts for visibility. (Yellow shirt not
guaranteed). He is also leading efforts to allow bicycles on Metra and
to depave LSD Lake Shore Drive.

Then at 600pm, a group ride will start. With the thunderstorns in the
area, I would expect a small number of cyclists, under 1,000. When I
went April 30, it was raining and that was about how many we had.

Janaki wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> For quite some time now, I've been riding a pretty standard Trek
> Navigator 200 to and from the train station nearest my house every day
> in order to commute to work. The main reason I wasn't taking my Trek
> along with me on the train was that this particular train system
> (Metra, in Illinois) only allows folding bikes, so I'd just lock up
> the bike via the very nice and secure BikeBank my train station has,
> and commute the rest of the way via a combination of Metra, CTA, and
> of course my own two feet on pavement.
>
> In recent time, I did a bunch of research and figured out exactly what
> sort of time AND money I could save myself (in addition to getting
> some nice exercise) by getting myself a folding bike and using a
> combination of that and Metra in order to do my commute. In the end,
> I decided upon a Dahon Piccolo D3, which has 16" wheels. (Some people
> have issues with the ride comfort of 16" wheels, but as I'm not really
> a very big person, they actually suit me just fine. It's also easier
> for me to maneuver the bike when folded and inside its bag with the
> smaller wheels, and I really like the handling and how tight and
> precise it is.)
>
> I was looking forward to exploring the wide world of quality
> waterproof panniers for this bike, but unfortunately, the rack that
> came with it sits right above the rear mudguard, and is thusly quite
> low to the ground. Any panniers that would carry what I need to carry
> (generally a lunch, my Polar Bottle filled with water, my CD player,
> cell phone and a few other small accoutrements, a book, and any
> textbooks or other papers I have from either school or work) are all
> too big to work on my bike, and saddlebags and rack boxes are too
> small to hold what I need. Since obtaining this bike, I've been
> dropping ballast out of my "daily necessities" bag left and right, but
> I can't get around the fact that as a full-time worker and part-time
> student, I'm going to need to carry textbooks in addition to my daily
> necessities, which automatically means I need something rather sturdy
> and larger than anything other than some nice panniers or a backpack.
>
> This, of course, means I'm looking into a backpack. I've been reading
> all I can about various backpacks/daypacks, and the problem I've
> always had with using a regular sort of studenty backpack (such as a
> standard leather-bottomed Jansport) is that my back gets horribly
> sweaty, and the bag gets horribly sweaty, and if you throw the bag in
> the washer, the waterproofing is ruined. When I purchased a laptop a
> few years ago, I ended up also purchasing a Willow Designs pack, and
> discovered the wonder of their harness with sternum and waist straps
> that made their bag the most comfortable I've ever carried. I
> promptly wrote them a gushing love letter, exclaiming over how I was
> often finding myself loading my regular items *without* my laptop into
> the bag and using it as a regular backpack, just because it did so
> much good for my back. Still, it has that sweaty back problem.
>
> As it stands, I seem to be deciding between Ortlieb and Deuter. I've
> been reading promising things about Vaude searching through previous
> threads in this forum; are they still sold in the US? REI doesn't
> seem to stock them anymore, which is where most people who've spoken
> of them in this forum seem to have obtained them.
>
> I haven't had an opportunity to try Ortlieb or Deuter daypacks in
> person, and think it far more likely that I'll be able to try a Deuter
> bag out before buying than an Ortlieb.
>
> The thing I like most about the Ortlieb packs is how completely
> waterproof they are. The suspension/ventilation system on the back
> looks okay, but the thing that's pushing me into looking more closely
> at the Deuter packs is in fact their suspension/ventilation systems.
>
> Any advice, particularly from people who've got one/both of these? I
> haven't tied myself down to a specific model from either brand,
> although I'm leaning toward the X-Cursion if I do go with Ortlieb.
> Many Deuter bags have the added bonus of a hydration system, which is
> also something interesting and new for me to consider. It's not
> absolutely necessary with the sort of commute I do now, but I would
> like to go explore trails around where I live (on my non-folding bike)
> at some point in the not-too-distant future, so that could come in
> very handy indeed.