Search
Search results for “Bike commuting”
Feature
Reviews
10 Best Bike Commuter Backpacks, Tested
…n any regular pack? While you can technically use any backpack to commute, bike commuting packs have a few features that will make your life easier on and off the bike. Commute-ready comfort Bike commuter backpacks need to handle active use. That means keeping you as cool and comfy as possible while you pedal out the daily grind. A lot of elements come together in creating a pack that’s comfortable enough for daily commuting use. Ventilation is a…
10 Awesome Bike Commuting Essentials
…ing an Uber XL. We all had that first day to some degree. The first day of bike commuting is exciting and new, yet scary in some regards. Therefore, I have compiled a list of 10 sweet products that will make your life on the bike easier. Keep in mind, this list can wildly vary depending on where you live, what you ride, and what you carry. 1. Apidura City Backpack You may know Apidura for producing ultralight, high-end bikepacking gear, but this…
How to Fly With a Bike: 8 Things to Know
…a bike store that will rent out or demo quality road, mountain, or tandem bikes. Most bike shops who rent will give discounts for long-term rentals and provide additional gear, such as tools, spare tubes, and even helmets. If you plan to rent, you should still bring your own shoes, kits, and lights. I also prefer to bring my own helmet. Before deciding to rent, weigh the cost effectiveness of it. For example, when my partner and I spent a week ro…
5 Best, Expert-Tested Bike Commuter Backpacks to Buy in 2023
…of my upbringing. All through high school and most of college, I embraced bike commuting no matter the weather. I would leave for work 12 miles away in a blizzard and chug on through. At times passing cars and seeing the drivers look at me in disbelief. So naturally, I was always looking for a great bag to use, one that could hold up to all the weather and crashes and carry all my gear. Going way back, I used the original Timbuk2 messenger, then…
The Best Panniers for Bike Commuting
…ith panniers was about. Here goes a roundup of the best panniers for urban bike commuting. Why a pannier? Really two reasons. First, a pannier takes the weight of your work bag and puts it on the frame of your bike. It makes for a much more comfortable ride. Second, and my motivation for delving into the world of panniers, is that you don’t have a sweaty back when you show up at work. There are other options besides a pannier such as a basket. How…
The Best Cycling Backpacks for Daily Commuting
…atherproof Rambler is backed by a lifetime warranty and comes in a variety of colorways to suit your personal style. Enjoyed the above article? Why not check these out too: The Best Panniers for Bike Commuting The 12 Best Bike Multi-Tools 15 Essential Gifts for the Bike Commuter Packing List :: Adventure Bikepacking How to Fly With a Bike: 8 Things to Know…
Best Mountain Bike Accessories 2022, Tested
…tain bike accessories can become unwieldy, requiring everything for on the bike, off the bike, and whatever may be in between. We want to highlight some of the very best mountain bike accessories we’ve tested for these adventures. Some are obvious, and some are not, but every item in this list is something we’ve found useful over many trips this Summer. Stay safe, stay hydrated, stay dry, and enjoy the ride. Mountain Bike Accessories | Gear Transp…
Osprey Radial Backpack Review
…e pounds or 25 pounds. But every decision centers on the idea that you are commuting on a bike, and that you have stuff to carry that is in addition to the things that you would normally have on you. They didn’t try to replace everything that a biker would normally have, for example, mounted water bottle cages so there is no dedicated hydration sleeve or port on this bag. They even named features with a nod to cyclists, for example the “integrated…
Best Commuter Gear for Cyclists in 2021
…rgy levels up en route or at your destination. Bontrager Flare R City Rear Bike Light (US$40) Bike lights are a key tool in your commuter gear arsenal to stay visible on the move. And the Bontrager Flare R City Rear Bike Light is a great option thanks to its wide beam spread and 35-lumen output for day and night visibility from over 900m away. A choice of day and night modes help you adapt to different environments, while micro USB charging makes…
The 9 Best Motorcycle Backpacks for Commuting in 2024
…d roll-top closures to help keep the elements at bay. Durability Life on a bike isn’t always easy, both for you and your backpack. So you want to make sure it’s tough enough to handle regular use. Does it need to be super burly? For most commuting environments, probably not. But if you want that downtime adventure adaptability, you’ll want to invest in something a little more rugged. It will likely cost more (and probably weigh more), but you won’…
The Hunt Continues :: Viska Fora Backpack
…lights have you may or may not be able to secure a light to this pack” If commuting on a bike is your thang then you know how important visibility is and you probably have a few lights you slash to your pack. Depending on what kind of attachment your lights have you may or may not be able to secure a light to this pack. There aren’t really any clear options for attaching lights. I ended up clipping it onto one of the straps on the face of the pac…
A Guide to Carrying on a Bike
…Backpack The classic, the one we’ve all seen before. If you’re considering commuting by bike, the backpack is likely to be what you use first. You can carry moderate loads, and it’s easy to pack and unpack your gear. If you remain a casual cyclist a waterproof backpack will be all you need if you get a good one. However, much like the Rock bench-pressing a feather, the backpack is merely scratching the surface of a bicycle’s carrying potential. Re…
The Best Backpacks for Everyday City Commuting
…5) The Fraction is a sleek, compact and tough pack that works just as well commuting on foot or by bike. The 14L pack features a weatherproof construction, multiple pockets for organization, and fits up to a 13″ laptop. Rounding things off is a lifetime guarantee so you can work hard and play hard with this pack in tow. OPPOSETHIS (PX Urbanwear) Invisible Backpack One (US$ 197) Sometimes minimalism can sacrifice functionality, but not so with the…
Best Commuter Backpacks for Cyclists
…ive Detailing It’s important to be visible to other road users when you’re commuting by bike. Since a backpack can cover a large amount of any reflective clothing you may be wearing, it’s handy to have reflective detailing on the bag itself to boost visibility. Bags will vary in how much reflectivity they offer. Some provide a few reflective hits while others offer extensive reflectivity. Versatile Aesthetic While a commuting pack should work well…
The Best ‘Made in the USA’ Backpack Brands of 2022
…and is dedicated to crafting bags for a variety of cycling-related needs. Bike touring? Cycle commuting? Chilled weekend rides? Large loads? Just the essentials? Whatever you need, they’ve got a bag for you. The bags are handmade in Los Angeles using USA-made materials and hardware. Best backpacks by Road Runner: Large Anything Pack, $270: roadrunnerbags.us Evil Mini, $130: roadrunnerbags.us Large Roll Top Backpack, $255: roadrunnerbags.us Americ…
Route Werks Handlebar Bag Review
…terproof zipper on interior pouch. Cost (USD): The Handlebar Bag – $179.00 Bike Mount – $30.00 Bike Mount Adapter (shim) – $15.00 Handlebar Stub – $10.00 Quad Lock Integrated Mount – $29.95 Design Philosophy Quality materials are the ‘core of carry’ and Route Werks did not skimp in this category. Designed to be fully field-serviceable, the Handlebar Bag boasts a design oriented around durability and reparability. Sustainability comes in many forms…
Best Foldable, Packable and Portable Adventure Gear (+Accessories) for Summer
…Cleanest, Quickest Folding Bike – Austin Cycles ATTO Foldable Carbon Fibre Bike Folding bikes aren’t new, and they’ve become ubiquitous within the urban landscape over the past couple of decades. However, the traditional folding bike has two crippling flaws – they are heavy and dirty. Portable is great, but not if you turn up to your work meeting or social event covered in oil and grease, and sweating from carrying your bike. Well, those concerns…
Pro Guide: How to Pack for Bikepacking Adventures
…ing gear, bikepacking is the younger, faster, and more efficient cousin of bike touring. Where bike touring can be restrictive, requiring a suitable bike with mounts for a rack and panniers, bikepacking embraces freedom. Freedom to use any bike, freedom to travel far or stay close to home, to rough it in the wilderness or to keep it tidy and enjoy the comfort of a hot shower in a hotel. It’s as much of a mindset as it is an activity and there are…
Drive By :: Apidura Saddle Pack and Handlebar Pack
…r wheel. As for non-bikepackers: It’s perfect for a day trip on a mountain bike or road bike and it’s infinitely more comfortable than carrying a backpack on a bike. “[The saddle pack] is perfect for a day trip on a mountain bike or road bike and it’s infinitely more comfortable than carrying a backpack on a bike.” Then the handlebar pack: you’re going to notice the weight on your handlebar as it influences steering. The weight on front panniers i…
Road Tests :: Osprey Momentum 26
…ngs sound so simple but I think it really adds to the Momentum’s case as a commuting bag. I attended a bike to work event yesterday and instead of hanging my helmet on my handles or lugging it around with me while I balanced a plate of yogurt and granola in the other hand, I just strapped it to the back of the bag. I also like that Osprey put reflective strips all over outside of the bag, but in a very minimalist way. The entire panel does not lig…
Timbuk2 Deploy Convertible Backpack Pannier: Drive By
…rtible bag affords comes at the expense of space. The Good As a year-round bike commuter on my bike 365 days a year, I was really thrilled about a number of features on this bag. Let’s start with the obvious one, the convertibility. “I was curious to see if Timbuk2 has cracked the code and given us a bonafide pannier that wears just as comfortably as a backpack.” Beginning at the back of this bag, the first thing you notice is a quartet of inch-th…
Crumpler Bike Bags Review
…with water-resistant zippers. The Fruiterer The first bag I ever put on my bike was a handlebar bag designed and sewn by a Bay Area bike friend named Kyle who now owns Outer Shell Bags so my bar has been set (pun definitely intended) pretty high from the start. The Fruiterer is a 2.5L, skinny bar bag that doubles as a fanny pack with stowable straps. The bag has one main compartment with a divider and is big enough to fit everything I need for a f…
Best Mountain Bike Backpacks of 2021
…ptions to organize your gear, including an electronics pocket and LidLock™ bike helmet attachment. While these mountain bike backpacks don’t come with a bladder, they include a bladder sleeve and are compatible with Osprey’s Hydraulics™ and Hydraulics™ LT bladders. In terms of weather protection, an integrated rain cover provides a welcome barrier against rain or snow. OGIO Dakar 3L Hydration Pack (US$139.99) The OGIO Dakar 3L Hydration Pack offer…
Packing List :: Adventure Bikepacking
…y this for now. You have basically two options when it comes to choosing a bikepacking bike format. Mountain Bike, or Road Bike. Which is to say, flat bar or drop bar. One is more rugged, the other is more efficient. Plenty of brands/companies make frames that can go both ways but eventually, no matter what you do, ultimately you have to choose between one of those two handlebar formats. Assuming you choose the drop bar format, the Specialized Seq…
15 Essential Gifts for the Bike Commuter
…Heavy Duty Bicycle U-Lock (US$ 78.83) You can’t always keep an eye on your bike. But this rugged u-lock provides peace of mind when your precious bike is out of sight. Designed to resist bolt cutters and leverage attacks, the u-lock includes a lifetime warranty and 3 stainless steel keys, one of which features an LED bulb and replaceable battery. Chrome Industries Folsom Short 2.0 (US$ 90) The Folsom Short 2.0 offers a sleek and comfortable design…
Mission Workshop Transit Arkiv Laptop Brief Review
…r commuting by public transport or your vehicle, I would not use this as a bike commuting bag unless you were to strap it to a rack. If you tend to need more for your workday or pack larger bulky lunches, you might have issues fitting everything in the bag as it is only 14L. The Good The layout of the pocketing and the bag’s design are exceptionally well thought out. Several zipped and drop pockets throughout the bag can house various items. You h…
The Hunt Continues :: Brooks Islington Rucksack
…s I expected this pack to have simple features allowing one to easily pack bike-related items: bike lock, water bottle, tools, etc. Organization options for this pack were sweet and simple. A generously large main compartment, a small inside zip pocket, an outer pocket with basic storage spots, and a back access laptop area. Nothing too fancy. But (as I hinted to above) a pack that doesn’t offer a proper place to stash a U lock isn’t a pack I’m go…
Drive By :: Osprey Radial 26
…ly seem to have drawn up a list of the most important things you need when commuting on your bike, then nailed each and every one of them: . Bright colorway and safety features such as reflective patches and blinker attachment – check Separate outside pocket to keep your heavy bike lock away from your bag contents – check Breathable, supportive pack-to-back interface – check And they’ve even thrown in a handy lid lock attachment so you can pick up…
The 12 Best Bike Multi-Tools
…ke minor adjustments to get the most out of your ride. As such, choosing a bike tool is not something that should be rushed – after all, it could be the only thing standing between you and your bike swapping places, with a long and tiring trek home hauling your busted two-wheeler. The following factors should definitely be on your radar when considering which tool to pick: Portability and Weight Ideally a bike multi-tool should be easily portable…
Bags of the Bike Polo Championships
…e carry a bit of gear whether it is mallets, balls, protective gear, spare bike parts or beer (drinking and bike polo are pretty tight) so they generally have some sizable packs. Some of the competitors are working bike messengers also, so they know how to make the most of their carrying capacity. Here is a selection of packs from the tournament.” Cheers Johnson — Obviously being bike minded, a lot of messengers were going to turn up, what surpris…