I don't want panniers, so...

[MrGrumpy]

looking for info as well, anyone recommend something for carrying a laptop? Talking laptop size 14-15" ,( work PC ). None of my bikes have rack mounts so has to be a back pack.

Doh just seen the thread below this old age catching up on me

 

[dodgy]

Carradice SQR, superb. For cycle commuting, it's all you need.

 

[Mandragora]

Round the world cyclist Al Humphreys swears by them, preferring them over handlebar bags because of the ease of access they offer, comparatively.

http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/more/expedition-planning-advice/

That's a great link - thanks.

 

[PK99]

By pushing do you mean not on it and literally pushing, if so that doesn't apply to me

You ride right up to your office/hotel/house or whatever then and park the bike without ever pushing it! Chapeau!

I find, when touring, that the seat post mounted bag and mini paniers make the bike top heavy and unwieldy when i get off - very simple point, really.

 

[vickster]

looking for info as well, anyone recommend something for carrying a laptop? Talking laptop size 14-15" ,( work PC ). None of my bikes have rack mounts so has to be a back pack.

Doh just seen the thread below this old age catching up on me

You don't need rack mounts to mount a rack. There's no way I'd carry my 15" laptop on my back!

 

[mjr]

You ride right up to your office/hotel/house or whatever then and park the bike without ever pushing it! Chapeau!

At least to the point where I take the bags off, yes. We've even finally got some ride-through cycle parking by King's Lynn Museum (although arguably you could already ride through some on the two market places if you don't mind riding over ground-level metal bars)

 

[lee1980sim]

You ride right up to your office/hotel/house or whatever then and park the bike without ever pushing it! Chapeau!

I find, when touring, that the seat post mounted bag and mini paniers make the bike top heavy and unwieldy when i get off - very simple point, really.

Yup well I have to back spin it around and back up by about 2ft at work and I push it into the shed at home, I was meaning pushing while en route, and I'm not touring just commuting, as if I'd ever be allowed away from the missus long enough to go touring

 

[simongt]

How about a traditional British saddlebag - ? Carradice make a bombproof range of good sized ones in cotton duck which is very durable and waterproof. As most saddles don't come with saddlebag loops now, you'd probably have to invest in one of the gizmos available which gets round that problem. But it is an answer to your sweaty back. Personally I only occasionally use a rucsac for short distances, much preferring panniers & rackbag as required for my carrying requirements.

 

[Psychic biker]

Has anyone used a cargo net,just rack and net,used it all time on motorbike

 

[benb]

This might work: http://www.topeak.com/products/Racks/roadie_rack_bk

I know someone who uses the Union 34 one, and he says it's good: http://road.cc/83319

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Has anyone used a cargo net,just rack and net,used it all time on motorbike

I do on occasion - I always have one strapped to the rack, even under panniers etc. It's generally if I'm commuting light but taking squidgy stuff such as work clothes home for washing.
I have carried solid boxes but I'm a bit (irrationally so far) nervous about doing that.

 

[mjr]

Has anyone used a cargo net,just rack and net,used it all time on motorbike

Yes, but it annoyed the heck out of me! The hooks caught on all sorts of things that they shouldn't (spokes, me, the luggage) rather than the rack and then stuff still bounced around too much for my liking (I really dislike clunks while I ride). I got some of those flat bungees that hook over the rack mounts instead which work much better when I'm not using the panniers.

Since my previous post, I've also used some short buckle straps to hang a folded-in-half satchel from the saddle rails, which seems to work and might be an option even without a rack.

 

[Dayvo]

Any good?