Bike commute 2024 edition

[lorenbike]

Originally Posted by benb

I was looking at the Soma Front Rack and a Wald basket today. I also have a Space Horse for this, so it's good to hear the front works better.

I have a 16" laptop. This last couple years if I bike commute I've just been wearing my backpack, but it makes it more likely my back gets sweaty and it's not that fun.

I have a rear rack and used to have panniers and I absolutely hated that setup. The handling wasn't great, and if you have a big laptop it's almost a guarantee you end up with the bike off balance because you've got this one heavy item. Carrying only one pannier seemed even worse.

Not having used a front rack what about getting out of the saddle? Out of the saddle was very sketchy when I used the rear rack + panniers.

The panniers were also just fiddly to load and unload and mount/unmount off the bike.

Backpack in a basket seems like it saves a lot of time. Most of the time I am not targeting changing my clothes so I don't actually need to carry a ton of stuff. The vast majority of my commutes over the years were 10+ miles so I was wearing bike clothes and showering/changing. That really ends up meaning you need to carry a ton more stuff.

I am absolutely convinced if the distance is short enough street clothes + regular shoes + a quick lockup + getaway is way more than worth it as it eliminates the maximum amount of "extra time" stuff that you don't need to do when driving a car.

My commute is not much longer on bike than car (assuming best case scenario for the car.. in average or worse the bike easily beats the car), but if the bike option involves a shower and changing clothes on each end the bike option suddenly takes an extra hour over the car option.

My rear rack is Blackburn and the quality is pretty meh... the Soma looks quite a bit more expensive does anyone have any experience with that one? What about Surly?

I have an older version of the Lucas rack and like it for the money. A few years ago the mounting strut snapped near the fork crown which was terrifying. They sent me a replacement which was much beefier. You can tell that the new Lucas rack also has extra supports now that can clamp mid leg.

I had an older soma frame once that, also, failed but at the dropout. You can also tell that the newer frames have since improved the dropout design. No replacement though for that frame.

I’m still sort of bitter towards that company but I’d probably buy the rack again for the price. Not sure though how secure it would be supporting a larger wall basket.

[Ken Robb]

I have a huge "HOSS" model seat bag I bought from Rivendell years ago that would easily hold my laptop and a lot of other stuff. I trimmed an old Realtor "For Sale" sign made of very light but rigid honey comb-like material (COROPLAST?) to lie flat in the bottom of the bag. I even used it on a bike with fenders but no rack as well as on a bike with a rear rack.

[lorenbike]

Bumping this again -- ended up with a new backpack that holds the laptop much better. Coming around to the idea of trying a rear rack + pannier next too, rather than a saddle bag.

Any recs for a lightish, simple rear rack? I don't plan on camping/touring/hauling groceries. Maybe 10-15ish pounds for commuting. Any recs for an easily removable pannier? Started going down the rabbit hole online and it seems like too many options...

Thanks PL!

[bmeryman]

Originally Posted by lorenbike

Bumping this again -- ended up with a new backpack that holds the laptop much better. Coming around to the idea of trying a rear rack + pannier next too, rather than a saddle bag.

Any recs for a lightish, simple rear rack? I don't plan on camping/touring/hauling groceries. Maybe 10-15ish pounds for commuting. Any recs for an easily removable pannier? Started going down the rabbit hole online and it seems like too many options...

Thanks PL!

I'm a big fan of the Tubus Airy Titanium or Tubus Fly for a super light and simple option. They're so minimal that you have to do a bit of testing to make sure your specific pannier will work well, but if it works they're great!

[harblhat]

Originally Posted by bmeryman

I'm a big fan of the Tubus Airy Titanium or Tubus Fly for a super light and simple option. They're so minimal that you have to do a bit of testing to make sure your specific pannier will work well, but if it works they're great!

Popping in again to say the Tubus Fly is the best minimalist rack you can find. Airy Ti is great but made of money!

[marciero]

I use the same Ortlieb briefcase bag as kiwisimon for the laptop- when I bring it- also on a rear rack. I've always wanted to try a basket, but my sense is that it is better for the computer, shock wise, standing on edge than laying flat. I have Ortlieb bike tourer bags also for carrying anything. I also have Ortlieb bar bags for the front. I sometimes take my rando bike, which has medium swift ozette bar bag on a rack. My surface pro fits great in there, diagonally. I'm trying to untether myself from my main machine which is a work-issued macbook and leave that at home. We should not have to be ferrying machines back and forth in 2024. Thats another story.

[lorenbike]

Originally Posted by bmeryman

I'm a big fan of the Tubus Airy Titanium or Tubus Fly for a super light and simple option. They're so minimal that you have to do a bit of testing to make sure your specific pannier will work well, but if it works they're great!

Good to know. And robust for one pannier on a single side? And what’s the difference with the classic or evo models? Running canti brakes and 32mm tires w/ fenders if that matters.