Back pack for cyclists

"scouselad" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a decent, *well-ventilated* back-pack, suitable
for a student commuting into uni (about 20 mins) every day? It would
have to be hard-wearing and big enough to carry a couple of A4 folders.

I've found plenty of bags designed for cyclists on websites such as
www.wiggle.co.uk and www.evanscycles.com but few of them have decent
ventilation at the back.

Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Allan Lewis.

Don't go for a backpack to wear whilst riding - all you end up with is a
sweaty back. Much better to use a rear rack & if you don't want to use a
pannier mounted on the rack, do what my son does who commutes a 13-mile each
way cycle ride to college & back - bungee the bag to the rear rack. Saves
getting a sweaty back and is much more comfortable cycling generally.

Also - try a posting on uk.rec.cycling for information & suggestions

Cheers, helen s

"scouselad" wrote...

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a decent, *well-ventilated* back-pack, suitable
for a student commuting into uni (about 20 mins) every day? It would
have to be hard-wearing and big enough to carry a couple of A4 folders.

I've found plenty of bags designed for cyclists on websites such as
www.wiggle.co.uk and www.evanscycles.com but few of them have decent
ventilation at the back.

Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Allan Lewis.

I use a messenger bag, and keep it fairly low on my back for ventilation and
a lower center of gravity. Easier to get things in and out of the bag, and
the single shoulder carry is easier for walking around. I commute on a bike
with dropped bars, and I don't find a backpack comfortable for that riding
position.

My current bag is a Patagonia Critical Mass, not cheap but comfortable and I
expect it to last for a while. The new version has a sleeve for a laptop and
should hold a few A4 folders and then some.
--
mark

scouselad said:

Can anyone recommend a decent, *well-ventilated* back-pack, suitable
for a student commuting into uni (about 20 mins) every day? It would
have to be hard-wearing and big enough to carry a couple of A4 folders.

Google for Deuter. They have a line of ventilated packs. I have two,
like them a lot.

wafflycat waffles*A*T*v21net*D*O*T*co*D*O*T*uk said:

Don't go for a backpack to wear whilst riding - all you end up with is a
sweaty back. Much better to use a rear rack & if you don't want to use a
pannier mounted on the rack, do what my son does who commutes a 13-mile each
way cycle ride to college & back - bungee the bag to the rear rack. Saves
getting a sweaty back and is much more comfortable cycling generally.

Another similar option would be to get a pannier/backpack. Though just
bungeeing a backpack to the rear rack is certainly cheaper.

http://arkel-od.com/panniers/backpack/overview.asp?fl=0&site=

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
The connection between the language in which we think/program and the problems
and solutions we can imagine is very close. For this reason restricting
language features with the intent of eliminating programmer errors is at best
dangerous.
-- Bjarne Stroustrup

Dane Jackson said:

wafflycat waffles*A*T*v21net*D*O*T*co*D*O*T*uk said:

Don't go for a backpack to wear whilst riding - all you end up with is a
sweaty back. Much better to use a rear rack & if you don't want to use a
pannier mounted on the rack, do what my son does who commutes a 13-mile each
way cycle ride to college & back - bungee the bag to the rear rack. Saves
getting a sweaty back and is much more comfortable cycling generally.

Another similar option would be to get a pannier/backpack. Though just
bungeeing a backpack to the rear rack is certainly cheaper.

http://arkel-od.com/panniers/backpack/overview.asp?fl=0&site=

I have a milk crate on my rear rack. I throw the backpack into the
crate, put it on when I get there. Cheap, flexible and practical.

Sorry, I never could tolerate backpacks while riding. They always left
me with a bunch of zits on my back.

Probably why I won't pay out for a Camelback either (I do use the hip
sack, though).

- -

"May you have the winds at your back,
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

Peter Cole said:

I have a milk crate on my rear rack. I throw the backpack into the
crate, put it on when I get there. Cheap, flexible and practical.

Don't judge yourself so harshly.

:-P

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a decent, *well-ventilated* back-pack, suitable
for a student commuting into uni (about 20 mines) every day? It would
have to be hard-wearing and big enough to carry a couple of A4 folders.

I've found plenty of bags designed for cyclists on websites such as
www.wiggle.co.uk and www.evanscycles.com but few of them have decent
ventilation at the back.

Trek used to make a killer cycling backpack, called the "Suspension
Backpack." Basically, the backpack itself never contacted your back, as it
was held away from you by a plastic framework, which was supported by a mesh
material that rested against your back. No sticky back, great product, no
longer made. Why???

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"scouselad" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a decent, *well-ventilated* back-pack, suitable
for a student commuting into uni (about 20 mins) every day? It would
have to be hard-wearing and big enough to carry a couple of A4 folders.

I lucked into a Schwinn backpack a couple of years ago. It's great. It has a
helmet pocket, room for a hydration pack, and a CoolMax back. No problem
with sweaty back, but I don't think it's made anymore.

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Trek used to make a killer cycling backpack, called the "Suspension
Backpack." Basically, the backpack itself never contacted your back, as it
was held away from you by a plastic framework, which was supported by a mesh
material that rested against your back. No sticky back, great product, no
longer made. Why???

Because Ortlieb and Vaude make waterproof panniers? ;-)

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"Let’s have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck
in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle."
- Earl Blumenauer

You asked the right person. I use a StanSport Yukon backpack.
It's very light, but tough and just right for a medium-sized load. It's
made of nylon and has near-indestructable zippers. It cost $20. I can
roll it up into a small bundle and carry it into a store uncontested. I
bought an almost identical model from StanSport 16 years previously and
wore it constantly. I overloaded it all that time with up to 25 lbs. of
groceries and only after that long period, did the zipper start getting
worn. The fabric was still intact.

Steve McDonald

Bill Sornson said:

Peter Cole said:

I have a milk crate on my rear rack. I throw the backpack into the
crate, put it on when I get there. Cheap, flexible and practical.

Don't judge yourself so harshly.

:-P

If I were only flexible...

Just zis Guy said:

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Trek used to make a killer cycling backpack, called the "Suspension
Backpack." Basically, the backpack itself never contacted your back, as it
was held away from you by a plastic framework, which was supported by a mesh
material that rested against your back. No sticky back, great product, no
longer made. Why???

Because Ortlieb and Vaude make waterproof panniers? ;-)

But Vaude also makes awesome ventilated cycling backpacks! If you can
find an importer for the U.S., I highly recommend them.

I've posted about Vaude backpacks repeatedly here. A quick Google
search will bring them up.

-Buck

Buck said:

But Vaude also makes awesome ventilated cycling backpacks!

Just the job on a recumbent trike, eh? ;-)

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"Let’s have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck
in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle."
- Earl Blumenauer

Quoted message said:

I use a messenger bag, and keep it fairly low on my back for ventilation and
a lower center of gravity

That's what I was gonna suggest.... messenger bag

I second the reccomendation of a vaude pack. I've had one for several
years and I'm very happy with it for bike use. It has a tensioned mesh
backpanel that contacts your back and holds the pack away from your
back. (basically there is a spring steel "bow" that extends from the
top to the bottom of the pack and holds the pack about 1" away from
your back)

the one I have has a hydration bladder pocket and some external bottle
pockets. It has help up amazingly well. IT's by far the best cycling
pack I have ever used. I wouldn't reccomend it for long tours, but for
a 15 mile commute it is comfortable in all but the warmest weather.
(when basically nothing is comfortable)

Peter Cole said:

Dane Jackson said:

wafflycat waffles*A*T*v21net*D*O*T*co*D*O*T*uk said:

Don't go for a backpack to wear whilst riding - all you end up with is a
sweaty back. Much better to use a rear rack & if you don't want to use a
pannier mounted on the rack, do what my son does who commutes a 13-mile each
way cycle ride to college & back - bungee the bag to the rear rack. Saves
getting a sweaty back and is much more comfortable cycling generally.

Another similar option would be to get a pannier/backpack. Though just
bungeeing a backpack to the rear rack is certainly cheaper.

http://arkel-od.com/panniers/backpack/overview.asp?fl=0&site=

I have a milk crate on my rear rack. I throw the backpack into the
crate, put it on when I get there. Cheap, flexible and practical.

I've contemplated adding one to my grocery bike, but I've got two
Wald folding baskets on there already. So, really no way to use
all three 'bins' at once. :-\

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
"The trouble with getting a life is making the payments."

Thanks to everyone who replied. Vaude's stuff looks great, so I've
emailed them asking where I can get it in the UK. (Does anybody know
who stocks Vaude stuff in the UK?)

Thanks again,
Allan Lewis.