Conference noted::bicycle

    
    First, the conceivable advantages of carrying your luggage on your back:
    
      o  It's easy to carry the luggage in to your destination.
    
      o  It's secure when you leave your bike ('cause it leaves with you).
    
    That aside, I think this behavior is misguided or an example of 
    "wishful thinking," for the reasons you cited, Chris.  I have
    seen cyclists using loaded backpacks also in this country and
    in Japan - these are usually inexperienced cyclists touring for
    the first time, or students.  
    
    I myself tried this once (as an inexperienced cyclist) - a full backpack, 
    moderately loaded, on a weekend trip around Martha's Vinyard.  In this 
    case, I used the backpack only to get from the ferry to the house where
    we were staying, but it felt like doing a century, was unbalanced, and
    not ideal in traffic.  Whew!  (At the time, I owned no packs for my bike.)
    
    Clearly, a rucksack is not in this category - something small enough
    not to stress the back, throw you off balance, or interfere with your
    rear vision.  For years I went everywhere with one of these.  The
    teardrop-shaped bike rucksacks are supposed to be ideal for carrying
    small loads on the bike.
    
    The UK phenomenon I've seen most often is kind of a gym-bag ("kit" bag?)
    affair mounted transversely on the rear carrier, behind the saddle.
    It seems unusual to Americans, but seems to work fine.  I don't know
    if this is just people going to/from football matches, or the standard
    design for a bike bag.
    
    -john

    I can vouch for what John is saying about backpacks and bikes. It's not 
    comfortable and is very dangerous. Tried this once many years ago on an
    overnighter and never again. The hills are the best part. It feels like
    your draging every thing including the kitchen sink up...up...up.
    The down hills a blast too. Watch out for those soft shoulders.OUCH!!!
    

In a perfect world we all would have at least three 
or four bikes. One for racing or fast riding then a winter
beater for the rain/winter riding and a touring bike, all set for 
packing everything on it and of course a MT-bike.

Unfortunately, most of us only have one or two bikes. One we want to ride
all the time and the other one. I know from my attempts at carrying stuff
on the bike, I always choose to take my good bike. It's the one that I've
spent many dollars on making it as light as I can afford. For some reason
I can't seem to bring myself to strap anything on the bike to make it 
heavier...???

So I'll put it on my back. 

I even have a favorite jersey. It is the "Classic" digital jersey, from 
the first production run. It had the bigest back pockets that could 
stretch enough to fit everything needed for a century ride. No need
for a pack. If I couldn't fit it in the pockets, well it didn't go.

Tom

    It makes sense to carry stuff on your back once in a while but never
    a lot of stuff and never for a long way.  "Lot" and "long" vary from
    user to user.   However, IMAHO, a full backpack is definitely absurd
    as is any backpack on a transcontinental trip.  By then it's time to
    change equipment.
    
    ed

    
    However, it *might* make sense for Steve Horn to try a loaded pack
    on his new-years-resolved ride with Ed and myself.  (After all, with
    all that rowing, he must have the shoulders!)  This should even out
    the odds a bit.
    
    -john

    	A friend of mine rode the US west-to-east in 30 days with
    	nothing but a backpack. He averaged about 110 miles a day.
    
    	I told him I thought it would be very tiring to ride that
    	far every day with a pack on your back. It didn't seem to
    	bother him. He did stay in motels so I'm assuming he didn't
    	have to carry that much with him.
    
    	Scott

>    ... but these people 
>    seem to think different or perhaps are too vain to fit a carrier and 
>    (supposedly) spoil the lines.

    Using a backpack to carry a load is more of a work-around
    than a solution.

    The backpack works provided that the load isn't too big.

    It's a reasonable thing to do when the trip is very short, or
    you can't afford panniers and you already own a pack, or
    you only carry a load once in a while and don't want to
    bother with attaching the rack.

    My preference is for using the panniers for any trip longer than
    five minutes.  Otherwise my back gets very clammy, and the extra
    junk on my back is just plain uncomfortable.  It's like the
    difference between carrying something heavy on your shoulder
    or using a wheelbarrow.

    Normally my tools and spare tube reside in my left pannier so
    I sometimes ride arround with a mostly empty pannier.  It's simpler
    than moving things to another bag.

    -Jeff Bell

    
    For extended MTB rides I found a pack such as the Lowe Mesa (I believe
    is the name) to be helpful.  I usually like to carry a small
    first-aid kit and such.  The Mesa was designed for runners, so the fit
    is good.  These rides being away from civilization for the most part. 
    This also allows not having to risk damage to any nice jerseys
    too...should be continued in the "How to Crash" note.
    
    john
     

	When I started commuting to work on my bike last summer, the only
	bike I owned was my Fuji semi-touring bike.  It was outfitted with
	racks and I carried my clothes to work in panniers.

	When I got my Bianchi, the Fuji was banished to the shed (well, I 
	let it live in the living room for a while).  The Bianchi has no 
	eyelets for racks, and even if it did, I wouldn't put any on!  So, I 
	was forced to wear a backpack.  It definitely isn't as comfortable 
	(my back gets really sweaty), and I can't see over my shoulder so I 
	had to use a mirror. But since I don't want to do my fast lunchtime 
	rides on the Fuji, I don't have much of a choice. 

	If I did another multi-day tour I'd use the Fuji.  Actually, the 
	possibility of doing another tour is the only reason I kept it. 

	Sue

I have a Cannondale SR800 and have used it for touring, Pedal the Peaks, and 
commuting to work.  I've tried the backpack and did not like it.  So I decided
to put a rack on my bike.  It does not have eyelets either but I went to a 
automotive supply store and bought rubber coated hose clamps.  I can put them on
and take them off without anybody telling that I ever disgraced my Cannondale.

As far as the front of the rack I slipped the seat post bolt thru them.  I can 
assemble/disassemble this in about five minutes.  I still get to ride my 
favorite bike to commute and tour, but can also strip it easily for more
serious riding.


rob.

    RE: .9
    
    Sue, I don't no how race-rabid your Bianchi is, but it's understandable
    you don't want to mount big baggage on it.  I have come in for some
    flak :-) for putting a handlebar bag on my De Rosa, but you can
    get a surprising amount in the bag, and dismount it (including the
    frame) quite easily.
    
    -john

    Hey fellow pedallers,
    RE: Sue
    I feel the same way.
    RE: Rob that is a doggone excellant idea.
    Now for my 2 cents.
    I have an Alpinestar mtb and a Trek 2100 road/racing bike.  I just can 
    not bring myself to put bags/panniers on either one.   Neither one has
    eyelets, but Rob has a real good idea.
    My experience is with riding 10 miles one way to college and and 10
    miles home.  Needless to say, I carry my books in a backpack(boy does
    my back get sweaty).  The weight does not bother me and with the type of
    backpack I have my vision is not obscured when I look over my shoulder 
    to check the traffic.  Like was mentioned earlier I WISH I COULD AFFORD
    A TOURING BIKE SO I COULD PUT PANNIERS ON IT and keep the sweat off my
    back.  But I just bought both of these bikes this year(the visa is at a
    all time high), so oh well.  Take care everybody.  Enuff ramblin' from
    me.
                                          Keep Pedallin'
                      Bob_with_the_sweatiest_back_of_all

Well, I agree with most of the replies here. Having carried a backpack in my
younger days, I would be extremely reluctant to go back to one. For me,
panniers are a clear winner. Your back is fresher, the load is easier to carry,
the weight on the bike is easier to handle. 

All in all, there is only one reason I would use a backpack again - carrying a
load off road. If you are trekking along small trails, panniers are not a good
idea, as they keep catching on branches and dragging through mud. 

So, if at all possible, go for the panniers. It's better for your back, your
vision, your weight distribution. However, keep in mind that I regularly carry
a stainless steel thermos of coffee on my commute to work. Therefore, it's
possible that I carry somewhat more weight than normal!

Cheers,
Tim

    
    I regularly commute 20 miles each way, and put my stuff in a handlebar
    bag mounted behind the seat.
    
    I started with a backpack, got tired of that real fast.  Too hot, can't
    see, bad weight distribution, uncomfortable, ...
    
    I used the handlebar bag for about 6 months.   I didn't like the bar on
    the handlebars because it messed up the handling of the bike.  If it
    matters, it is not a touring-style bike (specialized allez epic).  I
    thought the weight on the handlebars made steering "squirrelly".
    
    Then I made a copy of the handlebar mount that attaches under the seat. 
    This was surprisingly easy, and improved handling a lot!!  The original
    mount fit  under the stem/over the bars, and had bars sticking forward
    on both sides that the bag slipped over.  I got a 3/8" steel rod and
    bent it into a tight "U" shape to match the rails on the seat, then it
    opens up to hold the bag.  Attached the new mount to the seat with
    small hose clamps and BINGO - DONE.
    
    The new part looks like:
    
    
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    This was a lot to say about a little bag, but I really liked the
    handling improvement, and it also got the bag out of the wind.  It
    really did improve aerodynamics to move the bag behind the seat.
    
    And I got to play with my propane torch!!!!
    
    Terry