# Ways to carry things on a bike - suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 28, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384 "2005-10-28T22:58:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/1 "2005-10-28T22:58:33Z")
The situation: I’ve decided to trade a bit of my walking/bus taking for biking. Nothing serious - about a mile and a half each way to and from work, twice a week, and occasional (once a week or so) jaunts into town. I figure it’s a way for me to get more exercise that’s not too rough on my knees. Plus, going anywhere from campus is pretty much straight downhill, which is fun. The request for suggestions: I gotta carry stuff and need a good way to do so. I bring my lunch to work, and usually a book or two (mostly, so I can shamelessly do homework while I’m supposed to be earning my paycheck). The problem with biking into town is, unless I’m just going ‘out’ and not, say, to a store to buy something, I’m going to need to carry stuff uphill. Those wire baskets to just hook on your handlebars? Dorky. I’m not sure what would fit on my bike - it’s actually a cheapo mountain hardtail (Raleigh M20, IIRC). I’ve been doing the messenger bag thing, but it doesn’t work very well, mostly because the strap is too long and I’m a very tiny person. Also, I can’t afford (literally) to spend a lot of money - cheaper is going to equal better in this situation. So: suggest away, dopers. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/2 "2005-10-28T23:16:22Z")
I got these panniers: [http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT\_ID=FEP-SPECIAL](http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FEP-SPECIAL) But I already had a rear rack. There are cheaper panniers, but even then with the rack it may be over your budget. Can you just use your backpack? For a mile and a half ride it shouldn’t be too hard. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/3 "2005-10-28T23:33:06Z")
I have one of those massive backpacks for travelling. I often do my grocery shopping on my bike with it. It works well, I can fit a week’s worth of groceries in the bag. They can be pricey new, but I bet you can find them reasonably priced on eBay. I love my bag anyway, I’ve had it for six years and I use it all the time. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/4 "2005-10-28T23:43:40Z")
Front baskets are useful for no more than children’s bikes for little girls to carry their dollies in. For any load heavier than some milk, eggs, and bread, they can affect control, and you can still crash less than a mile and a half from home. Never ridden with a backpack, but I think I’d hate it, and I’d not want the load that high. Get panniers, or even my el cheapo expedient of a sturdy cardboard box lashed to the rear rack. It’s good for basic grocery shopping. It keeps the load low, off your body, and away from your steering. ---
**Author:** ![3.885AM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/58956e/32.png) [@3.885AM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3.885AM)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/5 "2005-10-29T00:16:58Z")
We got one of these [Trailers](http://www.bobtrailers.com/) several years ago, great for loads up to about 40 lb. for lighter loads you don’t even notice its there. ---
**Author:** ![revolver\_4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@revolver\_4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/revolver_4)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/6 "2005-10-29T01:54:47Z")
Backpack. Get one with those locking straps that go around the waist. ---
**Author:** ![Schuyler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@Schuyler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schuyler)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/7 "2005-10-29T02:22:38Z")
In your situation, I’d just go with my backpack to get started - that’s zero cost outlay. Later, if you find that you are doing more bike commuting then you can spring for more gear, but honestly I’ve found that for all my campus-type loads a backpack is fine. FWIW, the vast majority of the students here use a backpack for their loads. You’ve probably heard this next part before, but I’d make sure to have a U-lock or cable - otherwise the commute experiment may be called unexpectedly short. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/8 "2005-10-29T02:43:18Z")
You lucked out. I just threw out the side baskets I used about 1970. You could fit 2 whole bags of groceries in them. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/9 "2005-10-29T13:01:19Z")
If I’m going a short distance I’ll use a messenger bag, but you definitely want to make the strap as short as possible. Maybe you can swap out the strap? Sew it shorter? I currently have a [rack](http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441772467&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302693083&bmUID=1130590458451) and [rear panniers](http://mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=669717&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=14087), which I absolutely love. From what you list, you probably don’t need all that space, but I love having the extra room available. I’ve also used a [trailer](http://www.trek.ubc.ca/programs/cancart/index.html) which was great. Easy to hook up, detach and wheel through stores loading with supplies. Not needed for every day travel though. Check your local bike/outdoors shop. Somebody may be selling things secondhand. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/10 "2005-10-29T15:05:46Z")
If you can put a rack on ($28) I’d go with panniers. I haul a lot of crap with little effort. I’ve got what’s called grocery bag panniers. Wide rectangular and open at the top. You can fit a lot of stuff in them. Sorta like this: [http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT\_ID=FGBP](http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FGBP) They’re expensive here, it’s simply the first one that came up on google. You can get them at the bike store on sale for less than $40. You’ll probably only need 1, that’s all I need. They unclip so I just use it as a bag other times. Then I also go to thy gym, so I just stap my gym bag on top of that and bungee it down. Real easy, but man, does my bike move slow with all that crap. If you have a real small frame though, they may not fit on the rack without your back heel kicking the front of them, so check that first. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/11 "2005-10-29T17:51:41Z")
Jesus H. Christ, say no to panniers unless you never, ever, ever, not in a million years, ever want to get laid again. I don’t care if you’re a woman, or how hot you are, you just won’t be able to get laid ever again, so avoid at all costs. Now that that unpleasantness if out of the way, look for a backpack, or, even cooler, a messenger bag from TimBuk2 or Chrome bags. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/12 "2005-10-29T18:35:13Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Jesus H. Christ, say no to panniers unless you never, ever, ever, not in a million years, ever want to get laid again. I don’t care if you’re a woman, or how hot you are, you just won’t be able to get laid ever again, so avoid at all costs. > > Now that that unpleasantness if out of the way, look for a backpack, or, even cooler, a messenger bag from TimBuk2 or Chrome bags. Lots things will keep you from being laid, but I never imagined panniers were on that list. Ummm… check out that cycle girl! She’s hot! What the hell are you thinking? Look at her bike! WTF! **Panniers**! What a troll she must be! ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/13 "2005-10-29T23:22:30Z")
I ride to and from work every day. I carry a backpack. It’s not a fancy, oversized hiking one. Just a backpack with two shoulder straps. It carries my folder with all of my paperwork, my headset, a book or two, my nintendo DS, my lunch (if I take it) and miscellaneous other crap. It’s good for me, and doesn’t affect my steering. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/14 "2005-10-30T02:31:17Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Lots things will keep you from being laid, but I never imagined panniers were on that list. > > Ummm… check out that cycle girl! She’s hot! > > What the hell are you thinking? Look at her bike! > > WTF! **Panniers**! What a troll she must be! Yep’. Just like that. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/15 "2005-10-30T08:43:22Z")
You crazy. If you carry all that extra weight on your back, you’ll crush the relevant nerves in your saddle area, and then you’ll be physically unable to get laid. Me, I’ve been flashed by cute drunk chicks in taxis while biking – with saddlebags. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-carry-things-on-a-bike-suggestions/328384/16 "2005-10-30T18:53:20Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Jesus H. Christ, say no to panniers unless you never, ever, ever, not in a million years, ever want to get laid again. I don’t care if you’re a woman, or how hot you are, you just won’t be able to get laid ever again, so avoid at all costs. > > Now that that unpleasantness if out of the way, look for a backpack, or, even cooler, a messenger bag from TimBuk2 or Chrome bags. _blink_ Man, I’ve already got more than enough trouble with my non-existant love life. I didn’t realize I had to worry about biking accessories, too. :rolleyes: