Bike to Work Week May 14-18

[Kimmyt]

Suzie, I use a backpack to commute with. It's actually not that bad, you just have to make sure it rides up high on your back (i.e. crank those shoulder straps tight). As long as I'm not a packrat and only bring the minimal stuff (small camp towel, travel shower stuff, clothes for the day/LIGHT shoes... this requires serious outfit consideration but is easier in the summer) then it's not bad, and I ride a road bike and even find it comfortable to ride in the drops with the bag on for most of the time!

I would love to get some of my coworkers to ride in, but they've got the kids excuse. I'm working on them for the summer though...

K.

[mimitabby]

I use a backpack too. I actually like it better than loading down the back of the bike.
All I carry is a change of clothes and a lunch and my wallet and cellphone it's just not THAT heavy.

[Pax]

I use a backpack too. I actually like it better than loading down the back of the bike.
All I carry is a change of clothes and a lunch and my wallet and cellphone it's just not THAT heavy.

I'm the opposite, I'm looking to buy a rack because my shirt is soaked through by the time I get to work when I wear a backpack.

[mimitabby]

I haven't gotten that warm in the morning yet. (I have to be at work at 630am)
when I get home i am wet ALL OVER the backpack hardly matters at that point.

[Crankin]

I bring my clothes in the day before I ride, along with an extra lunch. I keep an extra bra at work, along with a towel and hygeine supplies. I tried riding with a regular backpack; it really messed up my back. I found that if I took the bladder out of my Camelbak, that gave me some extra room and since it fits well, without stress in the wrong places, I use that to carry make up, wallet, phone, Clif Bars, leg and arm warmers, and papers to grade. It's still cool in the morning, so sometimes I have to have a totally different riding outfit from AM to PM. I keep one short sleeved jersey at work, just in case what I have is wrong.

[7rider]

As with F8th637, I signed up with WABA's events on the 18th and will stop at the Silver Spring pit stop.
I'll be riding with my friend and usual riding partner, who's rehabbing a torn quadricep muscle that was repaired in January. He's still at PT 3 x's/week and is up to 3 miles of flats at a slow pace (well, I tease him, what else is new??). It will be a leisurely ride in. My friends at the LBS will have their tent set up at the pit stop, doing repairs and such. Last year, they had t-shirts and waterbottles for folks.
This year, I will definitely have my panniers on the bike - best to not repeat last year's over-the-handlebars flip when my schwag-bag got caught in the fork. I've been using the panniers regularly since my neck injury makes using my REI Sling bag too painful.

[F8th637]

Good point! I will have to remember to take a bag big enough for schwag. I'll be showering at the office so I can sweat all I want underneath a backpack.