I did it!

[Reesha]

Congratulations! Welcome to the world of bike commuting!!!

I highly recommend Chrome messenger bags if you need extra carrying capacity. I have one that's obnoxiously orange and I love it love it love it!!! I'm pretty sure it would survive a nuclear holocaust, a hurricane and it doesn't inch around on my back. It stays put!

[Heifzilla]

Congratulations! Welcome to the world of bike commuting!!!

I highly recommend Chrome messenger bags if you need extra carrying capacity. I have one that's obnoxiously orange and I love it love it love it!!! I'm pretty sure it would survive a nuclear holocaust, a hurricane and it doesn't inch around on my back. It stays put!

Thanks for the rec. I have a messenger bag but it's not really one that should be used for biking, it's more of a shoulder bag I did use it, but I had to constantly readjust it, which was really annoying after awhile, and it was always pulling on my neck and shoulder. It's really squishy, though, so I figure I can just lash it to the rack next time. But I will check out the Chrome bags. I know some people also swear by the Timbuk2 bags as well.

[Reesha]

I've never actually worn a Timbuk2 so I can't speak for them but the Chrome Citizen 2 is what I have. It's got this second strap that goes under your left arm to stabilize the bag on your back, reflective clip straps. Also, lots of fun colors and patterns! I have a day-glow orange one for visibility 8') The price may seem steep, but it's worth every penny. I could leave my laptop inside it during a downpour with confidence that my laptop would still be dry when I got home.

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/messe...s-citizen.html

Also, yesterday I saw a Salsa Casseroll with full fenders and a sweet rack set up and I salivated.

Eventually, I should get some of the weight off my back. I find that if I ride 30+ miles that day, my shoulders really feel strained from carrying stuff on my back and the aggressive set up of my road bike.

[kfergos]

It's really squishy, though, so I figure I can just lash it to the rack next time. But I will check out the Chrome bags. I know some people also swear by the Timbuk2 bags as well.

1. Really squishy - I don't know if you bring bananas with you, but when I was bungeeing my bag to a rack, my bananas came out with bungee-shaped squish marks. Of course, there's always the banana guard, but instead of shocking my coworkers, I switched to...
2. A Timbuk2 messenger bag, which doesn't slip around at all because it has a cross-strap that holds it in place. My bananas still get squished sometimes, but not always as badly. I think they should make commuter bags with padded banana-shaped pockets. Bananas aside, here's how the Timbuk2 bag works: click this link. I like the waterproofness of it and that I can fit an enormous amount of stuff in the medium-sized bag, but that it feels pretty comfy with just a little stuff, too. It has a bunch of smaller pockets all through the inside. And of course you can custom-build your own with the fabric colors you want, which is pretty hard to beat.

PS - Props on the commuting! Watch out though; it's a seriously addictive activity.

[Cataboo]

My bf says I ride my bike tilted sideways when I ride with my timbuk2 bag on my back.

I prefer a backpack.

[tulip]

I prefer to carry the weight on my bike as opposed to my back and shoulders. There's nothing wrong with bungie cords. I use them all the time.