Carrying weight and easing the burden

[Josh Hirschel]

Hi everyone,

Since selling my car, I've been riding a lot more frequently. I normally carry a Kryptonite chain
and a New York mini U-lock in a backpack wherever I go. In addition, I may be transporting books,
groceries, car batteries, small domesticated pets and other miscellaneous objects.

The weight can get to be substantial. With the upcoming heatwave in the northeast, what's the best
way to distribute the weight - in the backpack or on the bicycle itself? Panniers are not an option
at the moment, so I'd have to put the locks on the crossbar or the handlebar.

Any advice on how to avoid melting into a giant puddle of sweat this summer would be greatly
appreciated!

-Josh

 

[Pat]

x-no-archive:yes

> Hi everyone,
>
> Since selling my car, I've been riding a lot more frequently. I normally
carry
> a Kryptonite chain and a New York mini U-lock in a backpack wherever I go.
In
> addition, I may be transporting books, groceries, car batteries, small domesticated pets and other
> miscellaneous objects.
>
> The weight can get to be substantial. With the upcoming heatwave in the northeast, what's the best
> way to distribute the weight - in the backpack
or
> on the bicycle itself? Panniers are not an option at the moment, so I'd
have
> to put the locks on the crossbar or the handlebar.
>
> Any advice on how to avoid melting into a giant puddle of sweat this
summer
> would be greatly appreciated!
>
> -Josh

Gee, I didn't realize the summer was such a problem in New York. Come on down to Texas and cool off,
then! You might put a rear rack on your bike and put the lock and chain there.

Pat

 

[Andy Kriger]

[email protected] (Josh Hirschel) wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Hi everyone,
>
> Since selling my car, I've been riding a lot more frequently. I normally carry a Kryptonite chain
> and a New York mini U-lock in a backpack wherever I go. In addition, I may be transporting books,
> groceries, car batteries, small domesticated pets and other miscellaneous objects.
>
> The weight can get to be substantial. With the upcoming heatwave in the northeast, what's the best
> way to distribute the weight - in the backpack or on the bicycle itself? Panniers are not an
> option at the moment, so I'd have to put the locks on the crossbar or the handlebar.
>
> Any advice on how to avoid melting into a giant puddle of sweat this summer would be greatly
> appreciated!
>
> -Josh

wear the chain like a belt, you don't even notice the weight or wrap it around your seat post or top
tube (though that can scratch things up)

 

[Matt O'Toole]

"Josh Hirschel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Since selling my car, I've been riding a lot more frequently. I normally carry a Kryptonite chain
> and a New York mini U-lock in a backpack wherever I go. In addition, I may be transporting books,
> groceries, car batteries, small domesticated pets and other miscellaneous objects.
>
> The weight can get to be substantial. With the upcoming heatwave in the northeast, what's the best
> way to distribute the weight - in the backpack or on the bicycle itself? Panniers are not an
> option at the moment, so I'd have to put the locks on the crossbar or the handlebar.
>
> Any advice on how to avoid melting into a giant puddle of sweat this summer would be greatly
> appreciated!

It isn't really about distributing the weight -- either method works for that, at least up to 20 LB
or so. However, backpacks are sweaty no matter what. If you're going to be using your bike for an
all-purpose hauler, get some racks and bags, and a trailer for the really big loads. Bike-mounted
brackets to hold your locks would be a good idea too. I wind up taking my Camelback sometimes, only
because I have nowhere else to carry my lock.

Matt O.

 

[Josh Hirschel]

In article <[email protected]>, "Pat" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>Gee, I didn't realize the summer was such a problem in New York. Come on down to Texas and cool
>off, then!

From the Texans I know, I wouldn't be surprised if in order to cool off you guys chased the tornados
and thought of 'em as Nature's Great Fans.

>You might put a rear rack on your bike and put the lock and chain there.
>
>Pat

Something to consider - at the very least, it's an excuse to hit the LBS!

-Josh

 

[Josh Hirschel]

In article <[email protected]>, Andy Kriger
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>wear the chain like a belt, you don't even notice the weight or wrap it around your seat post or
>top tube (though that can scratch things up)

Not a bad fashion statement! I'll try it tomorrow - I guess the main thing to be aware of is to make
sure the chain is fastened tight. I'd hate for that sucker to come lose and get wrapped in the wheel
on a major road.

-Josh

 

[Josh Hirschel]

In article <[email protected]>, "Matt O'Toole"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>It isn't really about distributing the weight -- either method works for that, at least up to 20 LB
>or so. However, backpacks are sweaty no matter what. If you're going to be using your bike for an
>all-purpose hauler, get some racks and bags, and a trailer for the really big loads. Bike-mounted
>brackets to hold your locks would be a good idea too. I wind up taking my Camelback sometimes, only
>because I have nowhere else to carry my lock.
>
>Matt O.
>

I got a Camelback too. Can't imagine going on a ride without one nowadays, but sometimes space is at
a premium. Those locks can sometimes take up room.

Pat suggested a rear-rack to store the locks. These brackets sound interesting, but I haven't seen
them before. Or if I have, didn't recognize 'em for what they were. In any case, it's always good to
have more options.

Thanks for the input!

-Josh

 

[Buck]

"Matt O'Toole" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:mQPJa.4957

> at least up to 20 LB or so. However, backpacks are sweaty no matter what.
If
> you're going to be using your bike for an all-purpose hauler, get some
racks and
> bags, and a trailer for the really big loads. Bike-mounted brackets to
hold
> your locks would be a good idea too. I wind up taking my Camelback
sometimes,
> only because I have nowhere else to carry my lock.

I take issue with his statement that "backpacks are sweaty no matter what." Check out the cycling
packs from Vaude (www.vaude.com). I used one of their packs for commuting year-round in Texas and
had the coolest back in town. Their ventilation system really works. It also provides a handy place
to store a u-lock.

As for hauling groceries, etc., you need more space than a backpack, so a rack with grocery bag
panniers will be your best bet. I have been using a Jandd rack trunk for years (it is also a good
spot to carry small loads like a lock or chain), so I'd bet their grocery bag panniers would be fine
(http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FGBP).

A trailer can be useful, but poses its own set of problems like an additional set of locks so the
trailer doesn't disappear....

Finally, don't wrap your chain around your bike like some suggest. Over time, it will really beat up
the finish on your bike. I restored/repainted an old Schwinn that was treated this way. Alright, so
it did make for a good beater bike that nobody wanted (baby blue paint with rust all over), but I'm
sure it wasn't deserving of such harsh treatment.

Good luck in your search, Buck

 

[Paul Hamilton]

It depends. The backpack is very convenient for the total door-to-door trip -- just hop off the bike
and enter the store/house/whatever. On the other hand, a rack or trailer is much more comfortable
when you are actually riding. Going from 40 pounds on a backpack to 40 pounds in a trailer is an
amazing transformation -- you will not believe how much better it is.

As long as I am not overdressed, the heat is not much of a problem for short trips -- say 5 miles or
so. The cooling effect of the air is linear with speed, but the power required goes as the cube of
your speed. Riding at less than "full out" will do a lot to keep you from melting. I find that I
perspire much more when walking. as opposed to riding a given distance.

Paul

 

[Tanya Quinn]

Hi Josh, When its hot and humid its really nice not to carry a backpack at all although backpacks
are very handy if you are making a lot of short stops and you want to make sure nobody steals your
stuff from your bike You could also try a messenger/courier bag which carries the weight lower
than a backpack would.

For my locks - I attach the U lock to the frame along the vertical bar, it sits just slightly above
the water bottle holder along the lower part of the frame triangle. I wind my cable lock around my
seat post.

Definitely pick up a rear rack if you don't already have one - they are fairly inexpensive and very
useful. You say that panniers aren't an option, I'm assuming this is because of cost and not bike
design? If cost you can find creative ways of emulating panniers, buckets attached to the back etc.

Depending what you are on a trip to pick up, you could attach a milk crate to the rear rack with a
bungee cord, although its nothing something you probably want to ride with all the time. I've used a
milk crate to transport plants for the garden where I want them not to be stacked in a bag or pack.
In fact the rear rack ($10-15) and bungee cord (1.50) will do well for a lot of transportation, you
can bungee a case of pop or beer directly to the rack, car battery etc. I wouldn't recommend it for
the small pets though. A crate or trailer would probably work best there

You could try homemade for making a trailer too http://www.clayandpapertheatre.org/cart.html

hth Tanya

[email protected] (Josh Hirschel) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Hi everyone,
>
> Since selling my car, I've been riding a lot more frequently. I normally carry a Kryptonite chain
> and a New York mini U-lock in a backpack wherever I go. In addition, I may be transporting books,
> groceries, car batteries, small domesticated pets and other miscellaneous objects.
>
> The weight can get to be substantial. With the upcoming heatwave in the northeast, what's the best
> way to distribute the weight - in the backpack or on the bicycle itself? Panniers are not an
> option at the moment, so I'd have to put the locks on the crossbar or the handlebar.
>
> Any advice on how to avoid melting into a giant puddle of sweat this summer would be greatly
> appreciated!
>
> -Josh

 

[Tanya Quinn]

[email protected] (Josh Hirschel) wrote in message news:<cYRJa.18815> Pat suggested a
rear-rack to store the locks. These brackets sound
> interesting, but I haven't seen them before. Or if I have, didn't recognize 'em for what they
> were. In any case, it's always good to have more options.

Hi Josh, Brackets to mount a u-lock to your bike are often sold together with the u-lock. Here's an
example of what one looks like http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=-
580555&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=477859&bmUID=1056483908191

Tanya

 

[Peter Cole]

"Josh Hirschel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi everyone,
>
> Since selling my car, I've been riding a lot more frequently. I normally
carry
> a Kryptonite chain and a New York mini U-lock in a backpack wherever I go.
In
> addition, I may be transporting books, groceries, car batteries, small domesticated pets and other
> miscellaneous objects.
>
> The weight can get to be substantial. With the upcoming heatwave in the northeast, what's the best
> way to distribute the weight - in the backpack or on the bicycle itself? Panniers are not an
> option at the moment, so I'd have to put the locks on the crossbar or the handlebar.

I'm afraid I'll have to agree with the group's eccentric, Ron Hardin, and vote for the rear rack
with a mounted milk crate. It's hard to beat from a pure utility point of view. I have one on my
"errand" bike, I typically toss a backpack in it so I don't have to ride with it on my back. For
shopping, most things I just toss in the crate (including any locks), I leave a piece of foam on the
bottom to cushion the contents (e.g. 12-pack of beer bottles). You can bungee large objects, or tie
additional plastic bags to hang from the crate.

 

[Josh Hirschel]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Paul
Hamilton) wrote:
>It depends. The backpack is very convenient for the total door-to-door trip -- just hop off the
>bike and enter the store/house/whatever. On the other hand, a rack or trailer is much more
>comfortable when you are actually riding. Going from 40 pounds on a backpack to 40 pounds in a
>trailer is an amazing transformation -- you will not believe how much better it is.

Probably won't believe it for some time. Though intriguing, can't see myself investing in a trailer
in the near-future. Definitely something to consider for the longer term though. Thanks!

 

[Josh Hirschel]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Tanya
Quinn) wrote:

>
>Definitely pick up a rear rack if you don't already have one - they are fairly inexpensive and very
>useful. You say that panniers aren't an option, I'm assuming this is because of cost and not bike
>design? If cost you can find creative ways of emulating panniers, buckets attached to the back etc.

It's more because I'm moving overseas for a year and won't be taking my bike with me (I'll pick up a
cheap one over there), and so I'll procrastinate any improvements for when I return stateside.

>
>Depending what you are on a trip to pick up, you could attach a milk crate to the rear rack
>with a bungee cord, although its nothing something you probably want to ride with all the time.
>I've used a milk crate to transport plants for the garden where I want them not to be stacked
>in a bag or pack. In fact the rear rack ($10-15) and bungee cord (1.50) will do well for a lot
>of transportation, you can bungee a case of pop or beer directly to the rack, car battery etc.
>I wouldn't recommend it for the small pets though. A crate or trailer would probably work
>best there

That might be a very effective solution for me over the summer!

>
>You could try homemade for making a trailer too http://www.clayandpapertheatre.org/cart.html

Interesting. Maybe I'll try and construct a sidecar for the pets. I understand the controversy on
helmets for riders, but is there a consensus for domesticated animal companions?

 

[Josh Hirschel]

In article <TajKa.17154$3d.10818@sccrnsc02>, "Peter Cole" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>I'm afraid I'll have to agree with the group's eccentric, Ron Hardin, and vote for the rear rack
>with a mounted milk crate. It's hard to beat from a pure utility point of view. I have one on my
>"errand" bike, I typically toss a backpack in it so I don't have to ride with it on my back. For
>shopping, most things I just toss in the crate (including any locks), I leave a piece of foam on
>the bottom to cushion the contents (e.g. 12-pack of beer bottles). You can bungee large objects, or
>tie additional plastic bags to hang from the crate.
>
>

Resident eccentric, eh? They usually seem to have the most ingenious solutions to things I never
thought were problems! I knew an engineer who once rigged a clapper to a keg of beer. Apparently he
thought pulling a tap was too much work. Of course, the clapper presented its own problem - how to
clap while one hand is holding your glass?

In any case, Ron's suggestion seems to be pretty useful and precisely the solution I'm looking for.

Thanks to you both!

 

[Josh Hirschel]

In article <[email protected]>, "Buck" <j u n k m a i l @ g a l a x y c o
r p . c o m> wrote:
>"Matt O'Toole" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:mQPJa.4957

>
>I take issue with his statement that "backpacks are sweaty no matter what." Check out the cycling
>packs from Vaude (www.vaude.com). I used one of their packs for commuting year-round in Texas and
>had the coolest back in town. Their ventilation system really works. It also provides a handy place
>to store a u-lock.

I've a Camelback that I stock heavily with icecubes. It's nice on the first leg of the commute,
tolerable on the return trip.

>
>Finally, don't wrap your chain around your bike like some suggest. Over time, it will really beat
>up the finish on your bike. I restored/repainted an old Schwinn that was treated this way. Alright,
>so it did make for a good beater bike that nobody wanted (baby blue paint with rust all over), but
>I'm sure it wasn't deserving of such harsh treatment.

Point taken. Although some cosmetic uglieness to the bike might make it a bit less desirable to
thieves. Then again, isn't that what the kryptonite chain are for?

>
>Good luck in your search, Buck
>

Thank you.

-Josh

 

[Josh Hirschel]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Tanya
Quinn) wrote:
>[email protected] (Josh Hirschel) wrote in message news:<cYRJa.18815> Pat suggested a
>rear-rack to store the locks. These brackets sound
>> interesting, but I haven't seen them before. Or if I have, didn't recognize 'em for what they
>> were. In any case, it's always good to have more options.
>
>Hi Josh, Brackets to mount a u-lock to your bike are often sold together with the u-lock. Here's an
>example of what one looks like
>http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=580555&PROD
>UCT%3C%3Eprd_id=477859&bmUID=1056483908191
>

Thanks for the link, Tanya!

 

[R15757]

joshua,

If you are really concerned about weight, lose the NY chain set-up. I believe it is the heaviest
lock you can get. Unless you are leaving your bike alone outside for long periods the U-lock alone
should do the trick. Consider getting a larger U-lock, or try this fancy fix: cut the NY chain with
a torch and weld it back together to make two shorter chains. Sell the other one to some punk and
offset the ridiculous cost of the chain. At that point people know you are cool and dont mess.

Not recommendo: messenger bag. Messenger bags are made so packages can be taken out and put in
without taking the bag off. That's it. Even the messengers are switching over to big-ass
backpack-type bags.

Get one the biggest mtn. bike specific backpacks available, with the mesh against the back. This
mitigates but does not solve the sweat problem. Carries 50$ of groceries plus a rainjacket, sweater,
lock, tools, and the rest. The rack/milk crate is good but when you crash all your sh** will fly
out. Good thing about the milk crate is you almost definitely dont need a NY chain anymore.

Robert

 

[R15757]

<< cut the NY chain with a torch and weld it back together to make two shorter chains. >>

Or a fellar could just cut the chain uh that would be better <cough>>

Robert

 

[Tom Keats]

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (R15757) writes:

> The rack/milk crate is good but when you crash all your sh** will fly out.

<laugh, chortle, snort, chuckle, laugh>

You can say that again!

cheers, Tom

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