Riders with heavy back packs in Indy...

[Mr. Bloom]

I've had a lot of business in Indianapolis this week and have driven up there nearly every day.

I'm surprised to see several riders, on busy roads, riding with big back packs on.

I'm one who doesn't even put a powerbar in my jersey pockets because it's uncomfortable (maybe due to the "love handles" under the jersey ), so I have a couple of questions:

• is it advisable to ride with a big pack?
• are they commuters with their clothes in the pack?
• are any of you comfortable with big packs on your back?

[lph]

Whether it's comfortable or not depends a lot on the weight, and on your sitting position. I wear a very light, narrow backpack on almost all commutes, also on my road bike. Some days I'll take a larger pack so I can switch some of my clothes at work, but it's still a narrow bike-friendly pack, and then I'm usually on my mtb. Most of the time I prefer a light pack to having the extra weight of a rear rack, makes my bike feel all funny ;-)

Going climbing I'll have a heavy pack - and swearing at it all the way... I also lug groceries home on my back, but that's just up a 300 m long hill. Sitting upright and going slow you can carry a pretty heavy pack without too much trouble.

[uk elephant]

I ride my bike everywhere and sometimes that means loading up with a big backpack. Especially as a student I was carrying quite a load some days. It would be the books I needed for class that day, clothes for the gym for after school, food for lunch and snacks and whatever else I might need. I've never seen the backpack as a problem when cycling, but it might be if you have a road bike where you lean far forward.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My two daughters use backpacks when they ride. Students are used to wearing backpacks as a way of life. My daughters are all grown up now, but they still use backpacks for everyday living. Plus, they can't afford to buy elaborate racks and panniers for their bikes. They don't work out solutions to things they don't perceive of as problems. Then again- they don't go on really long bike rides- no 40 milers for them- their bikes are for getting around town, errands, etc. When they do just go for a fun spin, they change to *little* backpacks!

[mimitabby]

I carry my clothing, lunch, cellphone, wallet, papers, etc in my backpack while i commute. It is a medium sized pack, but it weighs less than 10 pounds. I don't mind it at all. It's no heavier than the camelbak that i use on long recreational rides.

[HillSlugger]

I used a big backpack on my first bike commute. I didn't like how it raised my center of gravity; made me feel unsteady and unbalanced. I suppose it's something you can get used to.