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Backpacks and bicycles can be an excellent combination / Looking Glass @ www.flickr.com
There's an excellent chance that you own a bicycle and a good chance that it gets ridden once in a while. But most of us only ride when we have a free hour or two on the weekends, the weather is just right and we have a bit of extra energy. The reason that we don't ride more is that it just isn't practical to use our bikes for much of our daily travel. The complaints can be reduced to two, essential issues: the usual trips are too far and it's hard to carry things on a bike.
While the distance issue can only be solved through time management and practice, the challenge of carrying things on a bicycle is surprisingly easy to overcome. In this four part series, you'll learn about ways to transport both yourself and your things on a bicycle.
Backpacks
From school children to mountain climbers, backpacks are everywhere and come in an overwhelming variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. The wide range of models across all price ranges and the fact that everyone has a backpack in the closet make them the most commonly used way to carry things when riding a bike. From a practical standpoint, it should have sturdy zippers, adjustable shoulder straps, and strong, lightweight material. There's an excellent possibility that you can find a backpack meeting all of those requirements at a local store for less than $30.
If you have more to spend, a backpack with advanced back support, waterproof or water resistant fabric, sternum and waist straps, and internal compartment dividers might be ideal for cycling. You can even order custom backpacks specifically designed for cycling from companies like WIG, Timbuk2, Chrome, Bailey Works, and Banjo Brothers.
Backpacks evenly distribute heavy loads across both shoulders and your back, can carry a large amount of cargo, and are often adjustable for smaller loads. Having compression straps to reduce the size when you're just carrying a water bottle, apple, u-lock can be the difference between a comfortable ride and a ride with extra fabric flapping in the wind. Some of the larger bags can hold a grocery bag's worth of food and supplies, or more, when expanded fully.
The downsides include a sweaty back, higher center of gravity (and therefore less stable riding), and difficulty accessing your stash of Powerbars while wearing the pack. Definitely avoid riding with a large, framed, hiking backpack that extends above your shoulders. If you have a forward body position when riding, your head could hit the top of the pack, restricting visibility and mobility.
I don't personally use backpacks, but my friends who do absolutely swear by them. Even if they aren't your first choice, their simplicity, wide availability, and inexpensive cost makes them a wonderful entry into the world of bicycle commuting.
In the next article, we will look at the trendy messenger bag. Are they really functional, or are they just the latest cool accessory?
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