First Time Commuter - What do you put in your bag?

godtabh

First time commuting this morning. Brought everything bar the kitchen sink (and my breakfast and lunch!). Was a bit heavy.

What do most people bring with them?

dahat

My commute is 2.5km plus work canteen is excellent so tend to survive with minimum food etc.
On wet days I bring spare clothes and have a set of spare essentials in work just in case. Can you leave stuff somewhere in work rather than carrying excess load each day?

amcalester

I drive in 1 or 2 days a week and leave shirts, shoes, trousers socks and jocks, towels, shower gel, deodorant etc in work. I'm lucky enough to have a locker and shower facilities though.

So in the morning my bag is generally empty except for lunch, on the way home I take my laundry.

Previously when I didn't have a locker I left as much as possible in work, at my desk, and brought what I needed each day. Usually a clean shirt, socks and jocks and lunch.

You do have to plan it out, but once you figure out what works it's great.

seamus

Full set of clothes, towel and washbag. Plus a set of running gear if I'm going out at lunchtime.

Panniers for the win.

I do leave a pair of shoes in work though. Not carrying them in and out every day.

godtabh

I'll be leaving my shoes/jacket/shower stuff behind today. Then it should just be clothes and lock. Wondering should i leave the lock behind as well

magicbastarder

i have a locker (and showers) in work, so generally my daily load is clean underwear, a t-shirt, a pair of overshoes, spare batteries for the light, and various keys and whatnot for either end - then occasionally a clean set of trousers/towel.
i leave the lock in work.

godtabh

seamus wrote: »

Full set of clothes, towel and washbag. Plus a set of running gear if I'm going out at lunchtime.

Panniers for the win.

Been dropping hints to the wife that i may need a commuter bike. About to buy a house so that needs to be sorted first!

jon1981

8km commute each way.

Bag has the following:

Laptop,
notebook
Trousers/jeans
shirt
shoes
socks/jocks
usb cables
spare tube
pump


Work provides: Lockers and towels. I leave my wash stuff in work. MY lights are all rechargeable by USB . U-lock stays in work also, enough to be carry without that. It not using panniers, invest in a good bag that offers back support... I use the Osprey Radial

Plastik

23km each way and a lot of days I take nothing at all with me. I leave almost everything in work - shoes, wash gear, towel, lock, clothes. I have about 10 shirts hanging up used on rotation and 6-7 trousers. Socks and jocks come and go in bulk about once a week. All the other stuff brought home and laundered as required.

magicbastarder

i'm lucky enough to have two (well, three, actually) laptops, so i can leave one at home and one in work.

seamus

Yeah, I always ask for an old laptop to keep at-home.

I argue that if I was carrying it in and out on the bike they'd need to replace it 4 times a year from shaking or water damage.

godtabh

The commute is about 18km. Not a massive thing. We have only moved office so need to see about lockers but doesnt appear to be any.

Alek

I leave my work clothes at work, exchange them once a week (I take a shower next thing after arriving). The lock and cable also stays here.

So my usual cargo is: repair kit, waterproof jacket, overshoes, pump, sandwiches and lunch. Everything fits nicely in a large "bikepacking" style saddle bag (18euro from aliexpress) with room to spare

Chips Lovell

Suits, shirts, shoes etc. all stay in work. I bring a rucksack with the rest in on Monday morning and bring it home on Friday evening.

Grassey

17km each way

Bring:
Breakfast/lunch
Shirt / trousers etc
Spare Jersey
Puncture kit / spare tube / mini pump
Bottle
Baby wipes (no showers)
Small Towel

Leave in office (locker):
Work Shoes
Ties
Spare socks
Bike Lock & Cable (have another in UCD and another at home)
toileteries

I switched from backpack to panniers a few months back when I moved and the commute doubled, it's much better, otherwise I'd arrive in the office a sweaty mess!

** on the 'new commuter bike' a tough sell, however what I did was get a €300 Zelos from Halfords a few years back... Parts have mysteriously been replaced with herself none the wiser (7 speed claris to 10 speed SRAM groupset, Askiums, etc)

07Lapierre

On the Bike;

Minipump and co2 combo (bolted to the frame via the bottle cage bolts)
In the bottle cage i have a cannister with a multitool, Two spare inner tubes, a puncture repair kit, a spare Co2 cannister and USB front and rear Lights.

I carry: Wallet, Mobile Phone and Keys.

I drive in on Monday...I bring in four days of clothes. I also bring home the previous weeks clothes.

tomasrojo

I have three bikes I switch between, so I have a different pannier for each one with a spare tube appropriate for each one (they all have different size wheels). Then I have three small bags (jiffy bags or large ziplok bags) I switch between the panniers. These bags contain:
1) Small repair kit and mini pump
2) Set of lights (with spare rechargeable batteries if coming to the end of the current charge cycle)
3) Two changes of t-shirt

The locks are attached to the bike.
That works for me. I don't need to wear smart clothes as part of my work right now.

EDIT: I also have a small messenger bag with rain gear and some other stuff I bring with me regardless of mode of travel.

ted1

Saddle bag: tubes, tyre levers and multi tool

Bike: pump

Backpack: shirt, jocks, socks , small USB lights, lunch box and light rain jacket

Locker: shoes, several pants , spare bib shorts and long sleeve jersey, towels

Fian

7.5 km commute.

In saddlebag: mini pump, tubes, tyre levers, allen key, a tiny spare light, 2 paracetemol, some emergency cash (€10 - not really there for the commute - i swap this bag to road bike at weekends.)

In my backpack: A shirt, underwear, socks, kindle, wallet, phone. In a seperate pouch in backpack - emergency waterproof jacket and waterproof backpack cover. These all come back home with me at the end of the day.

Left in my office: My suits, ties, shoes, spare shirt, socks and underwear just in case I forget. Baby wipes.

I wear: unpadded cycling tights or lycra underwear under cotton shorts, cycling top, socks, runners, helmet, glasses. Gloves, with fingerless this time of year, 2 phases of warmer ones depending on weather. Softshell jacket or waterproof if necessary. Never waterproof leggings, far prefer to just let my tights get wet with rain.

I come in, turn on fan, wait to cool down, wipe down sensitive areas with baby wipes, change everything i am wearing.

There is a shower, but I generally don't bother. I shower before I leave, I don't push/race on the commute and a quick wipe down combined with removing the clothing I cycled in is enough. I can lock my office door and it has no internal glass, so can change in there. Convenience of all that outweighs the benefit of a shower, especially as changing in small steamy shower room probably leaves me damper & maybe sweatier than I am after wiping down and changing in office.

Ciaran_B

6KM cycle

• Shirt, socks and underwear
• Lunch
• Plastic A4 wallet containing phone, kindle, wallet, work badge, keys
• If it's raining I'll bring spare cycling gear for the ride home

Every couple of weeks I'll bring in a tupperware of porridge for breakfasts and another of protein powder for mornings after the gym

I have shower facilities in work so shower gear gets left here. And there's a bike shed so no need for a lock.

That all fits into 1 pannier.

onmebike

I'd leave as much in work as possible. I nearly never have any bag or back pack as it's a much more comfortable cycle. Puncture repair essentials in a saddle bag and then keys/wallet in pockets.

NeedMoreGears

17km each way.

Bike stuff (tubes, pumps, tools etc) on the bike

Rucksack typically contains
Wallet & ID
Phone
Rain jacket (generally Summer only - winter jacket is waterproof)
Clothes - socks, jocks & shirt
Lunch

I'm lucky enough to have excellent shower/locker facilities so I can leave shoes, ties, cleaning stuff in work. I keep a couple of suit jackets on the chair. Luckily don't need to routinely carry a laptop.

Pro tip - fold the shirt around a stiff A4 notebook cover to prevent creases.

thejaguar

10km commute

In bag:

Rain jacket
Backpack cover
Lunch
Shirt
Jocks & Socks
Laptop (not always)
Spare tube
Tools
Spare lights

In work (locker):

Trousers
Shoes
Toiletries
Towel (Changed each week)

gmacww

35k commute each way so I try to keep it light.

Towel, wash gear and shoes are left in work. My stuff in a locker and the towel in the towel/drying room. I do change the towel regularly so I may or may not be carrying one. We have a full shower room and changing room in our place.

Other than that usb rechargeable lights on the bike with a saddle bag containing two tubes and tyre levers. Backpack main section contains socks, boxers, t-shirt and lunch. Front pocket contains pump and puncture repair kit. Monday I tend to bring in jeans or what not so I may not always carry trousers with me. I do wear them though, I never forget that part!

One thing I'd recommend either panniers or a cycling specific back pack. Nothing as bad on a long commute (mine's pretty long) as a normal back pack rattling around your back. The cycling specific ones have better water proofing and air flow over your back and distribute weight a lot better. Mine also has a built in water proof cover which is also hi vis. Handy. My laptop stays in work and I remote into it from home where I work 2 days a week.

ILIKEFOOD

Fairly short commute myself so nothing bar lunch and my lights and hi vis as it's getting darker now

magicbastarder

one luxury i can dispense with is a spare rainjacket - we have a drying room in work, so if i do arrive wet in the morning, by the time i'm leaving, my top is dry.

OleRodrigo

Alternating between 30 and 40 km round trip:

- Commute in work clothes, business casual.
- Light backpack with rain trousers and puncture repair kit.


Change of clothes each morning at home.

peasant

7.5 km commute

saddlebag: multitool, tyre repair kit

rack box: mini pump and my lunch

That's it, no spare clothes...that's why I bought an e-bike after all
(and if it pisses down while I'm due to leave for work, I chicken out, have another coffee and take the car)

Gerry

34/36k each way, but 2/3 times a week.
I requested to keep old laptop for home use, so I avoid worrying about trashing laptop or water damage. I bring a backpack with work clothes for each day and lunch, spare tube, energy drink powder, towel as needed. Pump is clipped to bike via adapter onto bottle cage mount. I leave shoes, lock in work. I'm lucky to have shower in work. I think I would need one even with half the distance.
Took a while to get into the routine and figure out all the details but was worth it, huge fitness benefits. I pace myself enough to push on the hills, and maintain good overall pace. Wouldn't be interested in doing it if it was gonna take near two hours.

triggermortis

18Km commute each way on a road bike wearing lycra gear.
Bag has lunch, lights, tools, rain jacket, tights, shoe covers, warmer gloves and lock - which I should leave at work but might need if I stop en-route (which I never have yet!) as well as wallet, watch and phone. I'm using Tannus tyres so no pumps or tubes needed.
I bring clean work gear and extra underwear on the first day to leave in my locker, and take it all home on the last day of my shift.
I don't have a shower in work, so use baby wipes and deoderant - stashed in my locker.

Rokta

Multitool, inflator, two CO2 canisters, tire levers and 2 spare tubes in the saddle bag, set of clothing for that day, towel and laptop in the bag.

It is a short commute of 8 to 10k so I usually do not need to shower but just in case I have a towel. A good backback is a must but I am thinking to add panniers to my winter bike as I am getting sick of the backpack. Lock stays at work same as a pair of shoes.

C3PO

15kms each way - showers in work. Drive in at the weekend and leave 5 x shirts + trousers and towel for the week. Daily backpack with fruit for breakfast porridge, packed lunch, socks and jocks. Also tools etc for possibility of puncture ... not needed since I swapped to Durano +'s! Bring home u'wear + used shirt daily!

P_1

12k each way. Not really pushing it in the mornings so far so usually just shower at home and meander out. Have one of those 10litre saddle bags in the post so will likely switch to that in the winter and put a change of clothes and shower kit in it.

Macy0161

10-20km, but not as often as I used to now (following a structured indoor training plan, rather than just getting mileage in).

I'd drive at least once a week, so I left work clothes and jocks and socks in there (in a suit bag hung on the coat rail as no lockers). I also tried to leave a few lunches if practical (i.e. if driving in on a monday, I'd leave in Tuesday and Wednesday lunches too, fruit for the week etc). If you need to carry smart work clothes, I have a "IAMRUNBOX" which is great - regularly comes up on sportspursuit, and there's other similar versions.

We have showers as well, so I left a towel and toilteries in work. Although don't always need a shower, especially not with panniers and mainly downhill in - a quick baby wipe instead!

Lock was left locked to the rack. Just carried a few tools and a spare as have marathon plus tyres on it.

Someone mentioned the zelos - well that was my old road bike, so that's what I use as my commuter. I haven't upgraded the components, although I was tempted. The 7 speed cassettes, chains etc are pretty cheap.

py

~10Km each way. Thankfully have showers plus changing room on site, wouldn't take a job anywhere that didn't provide them now though.

Stays in the office:
Shoes
Jacket
Sweatshirt which very rarely gets used
Toiletries
Towel - changed weekly
Laptop charger - got a spare one at home
Track pump
Spare cycling gear in case I'm thoroughly soaked on the way in

Brought in a backpack each day:
Trousers/Shorts
Tshirt
Socks & jocks
Laptop
Wallet
Phone
Lunch in tupperware and subsequently wrapped in plastic bag
Another plastic bag for wet gear
First aid kid - basic enough but have used it a couple of times

In saddle bag:
CO2 canister + adapter
Spare tube
Tyre lever
Multi tool
Small cable ties
Lezyne self adhesive patches

On bike:
Mini pump

I bring my clothes, deodorant and my gore-tex jacket in my bag every day. Work has showers with shower gel etc so don't really need much in the way of toiletries. Office is semi-casual so don't need to worry about shirts getting creased etc. Also have my mini-pump in the bag just in case.

I work on a desktop so no need to carry a laptop around.

If I got a flat on the way I'd be pretty screwed.

07Lapierre

Alessandra Muscular Tomahawk wrote: »

I bring my clothes, deodorant and my gore-tex jacket in my bag every day. Work has showers with shower gel etc so don't really need much in the way of toiletries. Office is semi-casual so don't need to worry about shirts getting creased etc. Also have my mini-pump in the bag just in case.

I work on a desktop so no need to carry a laptop around.

If I got a flat on the way I'd be pretty screwed.

Just curious.... if you don't have a spare tube/puncture kit, why carry a pump?

07Lapierre

07Lapierre wrote: »

Just curious.... if you don't have a spare tube/puncture kit, why carry a pump?

Basically so I know where it is and it's always close to the bike, it weighs very little. I hardly have anywhere better to put it.

Annie get your Run

15-20k each way depending (sometimes I drive part of the way to leave out the most dangerous part of the commute...)

In work:
A box of clothes (trousers/dresses)
Shoes & boots
toiletries & towels - we have showers in work - plus I can leave my cycling gear to dry during the day.
hairdryer/brush
I buy my lunches for the week on a Monday and leave in the fridge in work.

In backpack:
Monday I carry in a couple of clean blouses & u/w & socks (season dependent!) as well as...
Tue-Thurs, wallet, keys, gloves, arm warmers and probably some fruit.
Friday: I bring home laundry.

Saddlebag has spare tube, tools, puncture kit and there's a mini pump on the bike. My bike is beside me in the office so no lock needed although this means I can't stop anywhere on the way home.

Have just purchased this however as even though the backpack is reasonably light I feel it's putting a bit of strain on my neck - it's often heavier on the cycle home as I'd put my jacket in which I've worn on the way in when it's cooler.

jimmycrackcorm

15k reach each way. Switched from using a hybrid with paniers to carbon road bike. Bring in shirt every day and underwear / socks once a week. Everything else is left at work which has fantastic cycling facilities.

As I have Tannus tyres I don't have to carry any pump etc. The overall lower weight had shortened my commute by five to ten minutes.

07Lapierre

Alessandra Muscular Tomahawk wrote: »

Basically so I know where it is and it's always close to the bike, it weighs very little. I hardly have anywhere better to put it.

Why not put it on your bike?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/topeak-centre-mount-pump-bracket/rp-prod157662