Bike commute 2024 edition

[lorenbike]

Looking to the collective for some fresh ideas on transporting gear on the bike commute...I know this topic has been beaten to death over the years but what are you doing in 2024?

For years, I got everything into a small enough bag to fit into a wald basket on a front rack. But my current laptop is too large for this and I'm using a front basket for the U-lock, bike tools and backpack for the laptop.

I absolutely hate a backpack while biking, so looking for some fresh ideas on how to get the laptop off my back and onto the bike. In the past, I also strongly dislike weight hanging off the back of the bike and much prefer the front rack. I do run drop bars, so any larger basket is going to creep up into real estate on the drops.

Is it time to try a rear rack again with panniers? Suck it up and go for the larger wald basket? Switch to flat bars? Panniers on the front rack? Thanks for your suggestions!

My commute isn't particularly far but all downhill in and uphill back makes my back/neck/shoulders just sore enough with the backpack that I'd like to rethink this.

[pdxharth]

I use an old school saddlebag, specifically a Rivendell medium. I just checked, and a 15” laptop fits nicely right in there. Highly recommended.

Here is a link to the updated version. They are not cheap, but they are a quality piece of equipment in both design and build.

https://www.rivbike.com/products/kzs...foiau9ooooe546

Cheers,
Harth

[AngryScientist]

I don’t commute anywhere but if I had to regularly carry a laptop; lowrider panniers seem like the ideal place to carry A flat wideish object like a laptop.

[kiwisimon]

I go with rack and a Ortlieb pannier bag.
My commute is an hour one way with very warm humid summers and freezing winters. Backpack doesn't work for me.

[72gmc]

I haven’t tried panniers. My current setup is a Pass and Stow platform front rack with an Outershell rack bag on a flat bar bike. The bag fits the ginormous MacBook provided by my employer (no option for the smaller size when I was up for replacement). I stash office shoes at the office. I also lock the MacBook in my desk for consecutive office days so I only have two rides a week with it. Most of my commuting is with a light load of clothes and lunch.

I enjoyed a short stretch of commuting with Ahearne MAP bars on my road bike. I’ve switched to an ATB for other reasons, but the flat bar experiment was the proof I needed to switch.

[Peter P.]

Duplicate your files on removable media and keep a second laptop at home.

[Alistair]

Originally Posted by Peter P.

Duplicate your files on removable media and keep a second laptop at home.

Very few employers are going to issue a second laptop. And even fewer will be ok with an employee moving files back & forth onto a personal device.

[tellyho]

I have two commuter steeds. One has a rear rack only - so Ortlieb back-rollers on that. The other has front (Tara) and rear; on that bike, I use the smaller Ortliebs. I would never carry anything on my back because that sucks. Laptop has always gone in a padded sleeve in the pannier and never had an issue (9 years, probably 15K miles of commuting). This includes nearly yearly ice-induced wipeouts (yes I have studded tires but am sometimes stupid about when I ride that bike).

[AngryScientist]

I've never tried a front basket, so I dont know, the handling is OK on that BMC above with the huge basket and bag? doesnt look like it would be, but as mentioned, I have no experience here.

[Derosid]

Another vote for rear panniers. I tried using just an Ortlieb rear rack and rack-top bag, but it didn’t easily carry everything I needed. I eventually bit the bullet and got one of the Ortlieb high-Vis Back-Roller pannier bags. It’s perfect for bringing clothes, lunch, and laptop on the commute, and the high-vis helps with waking up inattentive drivers, especially at night.

[mstateglfr]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

I've never tried a front basket, so I dont know, the handling is OK on that BMC above with the huge basket and bag? doesnt look like it would be, but as mentioned, I have no experience here.

The handling is great- predictable and stable.
The rack and bag stay on the bike so it's used for errands too- it's really convenient.
...the only time the handling is squirrely is when there is a heavy load in the bag and I am not yet riding. The fork will swing left or right quickly due to weight. But actually riding?...yeah that's stable. I am only averaging like 13-15mph ony commutes, so its not like I am carving up hairpin turns on mountain decents.

[harblhat]

I commute into a busy downtown area and wouldn't feel comfortable with my gear being on a front basket and slowing down my handling. Drivers are crazy and I constantly dodge things as I go.

My laptop and work things go in an Ortlieb pannier on a rear rack. They survive the crummy roads, potholes, and other obstacles just fine. A backpack makes my back sweaty which isn't great when I get to the office.

[mstateglfr]

Originally Posted by harblhat

I commute into a busy downtown area and wouldn't feel comfortable with my gear being on a front basket and slowing down my handling. Drivers are crazy and I constantly dodge things as I go.

My laptop and work things go in an Ortlieb pannier on a rear rack. They survive the crummy roads, potholes, and other obstacles just fine. A backpack makes my back sweaty which isn't great when I get to the office.

I realize I am quickly looking like a staunch advocate for basket commuting and this next comment won't help.
- slowing down the steering feeling doesn't mean steering is slow. The bike has like 65mm or trail and is pretty neutral for steering in the world of gravel/commuter bikes. I am just as nimble on the bike with a basket as I am when I rode it as my gravel bike and used it on riverbottom twisty flat singletrack.

Totally understand it isn't for everyone. Totally recognize that my setup works only because the frame is large enough and dropbars are wide enough to barely accommodate the basket. That's why I suggested the Goldilocks sized French basket.
But at the same time, it is super easy, safe, and convenient to use a basket setup once it's properly set up.
To be clear, I commute between an inner suburb and a mid-sized city. Most of the riding is city residential roads. I have ridden the bike in downtown Chicago a few times, thru the Loop, Wrigleyvilleand surrounding neighborhoods and it's no different from every other bike I've ridden in the same/similar roads.


As you say and I posted earlier- a single rear pannier is also a great option. It's dead simple to set up initially too.
And I fully agree with your backpack comment- wanting to use a backpack is something I will never understand. Heck, my back starts threatening to protest and sweat when I toss my backpack on and walk from my car in the parking lot into my work. I can't imagine the flood of sweat if I rode 7.5mi with a couple of hills with a backpack. Those that can ride with a backpack and not look like they just finished a marathon are a breed that I don't understand and am jealous of!

[lorenbike]

Originally Posted by mstateglfr

I realize I am quickly looking like a staunch advocate for basket commuting and this next comment won't help.
- slowing down the steering feeling doesn't mean steering is slow. The bike has like 65mm or trail and is pretty neutral for steering in the world of gravel/commuter bikes. I am just as nimble on the bike with a basket as I am when I rode it as my gravel bike and used it on riverbottom twisty flat singletrack.

Totally understand it isn't for everyone. Totally recognize that my setup works only because the frame is large enough and dropbars are wide enough to barely accommodate the basket. That's why I suggested the Goldilocks sized French basket.
But at the same time, it is super easy, safe, and convenient to use a basket setup once it's properly set up.
To be clear, I commute between an inner suburb and a mid-sized city. Most of the riding is city residential roads. I have ridden the bike in downtown Chicago a few times, thru the Loop, Wrigleyvilleand surrounding neighborhoods and it's no different from every other bike I've ridden in the same/similar roads.


As you say and I posted earlier- a single rear pannier is also a great option. It's dead simple to set up initially too.
And I fully agree with your backpack comment- wanting to use a backpack is something I will never understand. Heck, my back starts threatening to protest and sweat when I toss my backpack on and walk from my car in the parking lot into my work. I can't imagine the flood of sweat if I rode 7.5mi with a couple of hills with a backpack. Those that can ride with a backpack and not look like they just finished a marathon are a breed that I don't understand and am jealous of!

Thanks all for the suggestions -- and I'm a fan of carrying gear on the front too.

Here's the bike in question:

It rides well with some weight on the front. I had the same setup on an AC Spacehorse for years (which I sold for the bridgestone) that also rode excellent. I don't find that it slows steering too much and makes the bike feel more planted and stable. I really dislike the feel of all the weight on the back wheel with a rack.

I'm leaning towards trying out a saddle bag as suggested. Drybag usually goes in the front with tools, lunchbox, and the u lock, then maybe stuff a laptop in a saddle bag? I know this is probably the wrong forum but the swift and Riv bags cost as much as a I paid for said bike above so open to any other suggestions.

It also sounds like the larger wald from your pics would work too. Just not sure about bars as I'm not a fan of the wide drop bar trend currently. Maybe I'll reconsider flat bars.

[slowpoke]

Originally Posted by lorenbike

Drybag usually goes in the front with tools, lunchbox, and the u lock, then maybe stuff a laptop in a saddle bag?

Laptop in a saddle bag sounds like it'd make for a terrible riding experience versus a pannier hanging off a rack either on the front or rear.