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Laptop on a commuter bike?

post #1 of 19
4/13/06 at 8:02pm
Thread Starter 
Too much work. Can’t leave it all behind, go home, and come back the next day. Gotta figure a way to carry the laptop between home and the office on the bike. About 10 miles each way, back roads mostly. I have a rack on which I usually carry a trunk. Would panniers be the best option? What kind? I am also thinking of a computer sleeve to sit under the trunk, kept in place with a cargo net. Thoughts?
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post #2 of 19
4/13/06 at 10:45pm

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

I carry my laptop in my ortlieb panniers, been doing that for over a year now, not a single problem... See my thread in this section on my commuter bike.
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post #3 of 19
4/15/06 at 10:56pm

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

Quote:
Originally Posted by paulcassidy63
Gotta figure a way to carry the laptop between home and the office on the bike.
...
Would panniers be the best option?
That's what I used for a few years when I was carrying a laptop to work, and my panniers at that time were just some old cheapos. If you need something cheap and water-resistant, just bag the computer in plastic first.
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post #4 of 19
4/16/06 at 2:42pm

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

I commute with a laptop in a pannier. Since I ride over some crappy stretches of pavement, I was concerned about bumps and vibration getting to the laptop if I just secured it on the rack. With the laptop in a pannier, it gets cushioned a bit (especially if I have my raincoat stuffed underneath/around it). I also wanted a case for my laptop, so while I was at it, I got a Tom Bihn Monolith, which suspends the laptop vertically and has semi-hard panels for protection---perfect for putting in a pannier. (Most suspended laptop cases orient the laptop horizontally, i.e., like a briefcase.) The case comes in many sizes, and my 12" one fits quite nicely in my medium-sized pannier. Finally, if you care about this sort of thing, Tom Bihn bags are made in Washington state, not by exploited kids in some faraway land.
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post #5 of 19
4/17/06 at 12:53am

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

Quote:
Originally Posted by paulcassidy63
Too much work. Can’t leave it all behind, go home, and come back the next day. Gotta figure a way to carry the laptop between home and the office on the bike. About 10 miles each way, back roads mostly. I have a rack on which I usually carry a trunk. Would panniers be the best option? What kind? I am also thinking of a computer sleeve to sit under the trunk, kept in place with a cargo net. Thoughts?
I like to carry my laptop in a laptop backpack, my computer is sensetive and wouldn't survive the constant jarring.
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post #6 of 19
4/17/06 at 5:56pm

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Quentin147
I like to carry my laptop in a laptop backpack, my computer is sensetive and wouldn't survive the constant jarring.
For my computer I also put it in my backpack, tho' I don't tote it much 'cause it's a desktop replacement and pretty big and heavy.

I decided to get an Xtracycle tho' because I got sick of "I have to bring so much stuff, I have to drive."

Pretty much everything (trainer, cooler, blender, WHATEVER!) goes in 'em.
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post #7 of 19
4/17/06 at 11:12pm

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

I'd say backpack or one of those cool timbuk2 messenger bags with the laptop sleeve... I've ridden with mine in a messenger bag and never had a problem...just get a good waterproof one and try not to wreck...I am typing this on the new laptop Dell sent me cause I had their complete care warranty...
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post #8 of 19
5/21/06 at 7:29pm

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

I carry mine in a computer backpack I got from Target. It survived it's first crash this past Monday when a car got too close, and I tried to move over... getting my wheel caught in a crack between the asphalt and the gutter. Went over on my side, tore my pants, bruised myself pretty well, and skinned a knee. A few scrapes and such on my bike, but overall everything came out fine, including the laptop. I took it easy the rest of the way to work (another 8 miles or so) only 5 minutes late, and took a couple days off riding to heal.

I'll definitely be a lot more likely to NOT move over when I'm already that close to the side of the road... there was plenty of room for her on the other side... not sure why she was quite so close.

Several motorists DID stop, and make sure I was ok (nobody bothered to get out of their cars though... once I got up and started walking my bike, they all continued on their way).

Ah, the joys of riding!

See y'all out there tomorrow!
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post #9 of 19
5/22/06 at 2:19am

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

I carry mine in a back pack with a laptop compartment and have so for years. If you go for a backpack, make sure you buy a decent one as they will provide much better confort.
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post #10 of 19
5/28/06 at 2:50am

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Quentin147
I like to carry my laptop in a laptop backpack, my computer is sensetive and wouldn't survive the constant jarring.
Don't know whether my laptop's sensitive or not - haven't asked it It's just a standard IBM Thinkpad. Or do you mean yours is sensitive as in you work for the CIA and it's hard drive is classified information?

I carry mine to and fro work in Ortlieb waterproof panniers. Of course it is also in the padded carry case that it came with, that will give it some impact protection should I ever fall (something that rarely ever happens on the road, I stick to the road rules). I have nt had any problems with the laptop since I began carrying it in a pannier last October. If you were really concerned about a protective carry bag you could even get the laptop carry pannier that Ortlieb make:

http://www.ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lan...dukt=officebag

with:
http://www.ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lan...notebookinsert

Cheers
Peter
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post #11 of 19
6/26/06 at 2:29am

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

I too went with the backpack solution. I found a really good one made by Osprey called the Focus. I have a couple of their backpacking packs and this one seems equal in quality to their other products. Very comfortable as well.
view here
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post #12 of 19
6/26/06 at 5:29am

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

do you actually need to take the laptop with you or can you just take the data? i used to carry my laptop home and to work and to the various offices i cover, but i've found it a lot easier to carry a postable hard drive with everything i need and just use whatever PC i can. something like the Western Digital Passport range is ideal and a lot easier to carry thana a laptop

Tim.
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post #13 of 19
6/28/06 at 2:11am

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

Quote:
Originally Posted by graycat
do you actually need to take the laptop with you or can you just take the data? i used to carry my laptop home and to work and to the various offices i cover, but i've found it a lot easier to carry a postable hard drive with everything i need and just use whatever PC i can. something like the Western Digital Passport range is ideal and a lot easier to carry thana a laptop

Tim.
I would love to take that route, but right now I have to access the internet with my laptop's wireless capability and the desktop that I have at work is only equipped with a very slow dial up modem and no current anti-virus software.
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post #14 of 19
6/28/06 at 5:25am

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dauphin
I would love to take that route, but right now I have to access the internet with my laptop's wireless capability and the desktop that I have at work is only equipped with a very slow dial up modem and no current anti-virus software.
no AV on a work machine?!? are you working in the 1980's or something? lol

i see your problem though, mate. have you thought about a wireless card for the desk top then? a bog standard one will probably only set you back about £20 ($30 - $40) or if you want to get cunning, you could get a usb one and take it home at night. that way at least you'd have wireless access and wouldn't need the laptop. Just a thought anyway

Tim.
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post #15 of 19
10/4/06 at 10:22pm

Re: Laptop on a commuter bike?

I also commute about ten miles each way with an iBook Mac laptop. For me, the heaviest portion of the laptop is the battery. I leave the battery at work and have a plug-in power pack at home (and one at work). It actually took me a month of brainstorming to come up with this ingenious idea; it is a simple solution but my commute is much more comfortable carrying a laptop WITHOUT the battery pack in it.

EDIT: umm...I just glanced over at my wife's laptop and apparently not all laptops have removeable battery packs...sorry, I hope your's does.
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