Any question answered...

Anyone commute/tour/ride regularly with a laptop in a pannier? Any issues?

I need a solution to take it to work and back (~20 miles daily) but I'm concerned road vibrations will shake the thing to pieces.

Got SSD? Also, if it's a concern, cheap Chromebook?

Got SSD?

Oh for sure, I wouldn't consider it with a mechanical disk. The laptop in question has no moving parts per se, but there are still a lot of components in there which I don't want coming loose.

Also, if it's a concern, cheap Chromebook?

I considered it, but I don't fancy maintaining another device.

Was really just wondering if anyone had experienced bad things happening. I suspect it'd be fine but wanted to ask, as I know @photoben had issues after transporting camera gear in a front rack.

Pack a couple of inches of foam underneath it?

Anyone commute/tour/ride regularly with a laptop in a pannier? Any issues?

My Lenovo is holding up well after about 5 years of commuting (12 miles, 3-4 times per week) in a pannier/saddlebag, despite having a normal HD. It even survived my entire pannier leaping off the rack riding round Trafalgar Square (well it has a cracked hinge). I transport it in a neoprene case and there's usually other stuff in there to absorb vibration so some foam or folded clothes would probably help, but I wouldn't worry unduly.

Anyone commute/tour/ride regularly with a laptop in a pannier? Any issues?

Our company (a large blue multinational who also made laptops) allowed us to buy/expense a Carradice Bike Bureau bag for transporting laptops (even in the days of spinning rust HDDs).

My old laptop (Thinkpad W520) survived more than two years of semi-regular commuting in a bog standard Altura Night Vision pannier, even before I got a padded foam laptop sleeve for it (to help protect it from the hard back panel of the pannier).

My Lenovo is holding up well after about 5 years of commuting (12 miles, 3-4 times per week) in a pannier/saddlebag...

Ace, thanks for that reply. That's pretty much exactly what I wanted to hear.

Also, which saddle bag fits the laptop? I'd much prefer a saddlebag to panniers.

Also cheers @Sumo and @Greenbank, very helpful.

Whilst on this topic, I came across this crazily detailed paper:

Laptop Computer Shock and Vibration Characterization in Commuter Bike Packs

Here's a snippet from the Summary of findings on page 26 (!):

Bicycle riders can therefore be confident that their contents are
adequately protected in at least the four carrying devices tested in
this experiment over the duration of a typical bicycle commute.
Furthermore, this study has shown that the backpack and courier bag
provide statistically significant protection over either of the
panniers in nearly all paths which could be encountered during a
commute in both shock absorption and vibration filtering

In conclusion I think I'll be fine :) Cheers for the reassurance folks!

I've just started a 2 month fixed contract with a client. Part of the package is enrollment in their pension. I don't currently have a pension of my own so I know pretty much nothing about this. Their contribution is 3%, mine can be up to 20%. Is it worth me taking this out for 2 months and transferring it to my own at the end of the contract. Apparently there is a tax charge to consider but I don't know what this amounts to.

I reckon you'd be fine with a laptop in a pannier. Just buy some high-density foam on ebay and make a case for it just to be sure. My problem was heavy glass elements coming loose in my lenses.

A Carradice SQR Slim would fit most laptops https://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=type&product_id=57 I've occasionally done it in a neoprene sleeve packed around with clothes.

Can I use a standard Square taper BB tool to remove an octalink BB?

Can I use a standard Square taper BB tool to remove an octalink BB?

Most of them use the same splined cup tool as common square taper cartridges. Of course, with Shimano there's always and exception, and the XTR M950 has its own external tool. You need a different crank puller, as the centre of a square taper puller will disappear down the bolt hole of Octalink or ISIS axes. You can bodge it with a stack of dimes, but I think a British penny is just slightly too big and will damage the splines on the crank.

Luckily the cranks are self extracting, which is nice. Unluckily I've lent out my cup tool so SOL there. Ho hum

Yes.

Also, which saddle bag fits the laptop? I'd much prefer a saddlebag to panniers.

I got it second-hand so I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's a Carradice Nelson Longflap.

Do I have to use a Chris King crown race with a standard 1 1/8 nothreadset or can I use a standard one?

Where in London stocks Cetma racks?

Why the fuckety fuck cant I get outlook 2013 configured!!

Whats the best cost/weight option for road pedal systems.

I currently have very heavy Shimarno R540 but my cleats are dead anyway, and want something lighter (250 ish?)

Speedplay

Well not when you consider system weight (cleats). Pedals aren't a great place to save weight, get whatever Shimano or Look fit your budget

Speedplay is fucking lovely but I abandoned them due to high cost to replace cleats and its the C ring that I was breaking on the foot that I take out when I stop .. if they sold C ring on its own I'd have stayed.

I had Speedplay with Ti spindles and I went Ritchey which takes Look cleats the diff was 3g for overall weight including cleats.

http://www.lfgss.com/comments/12606217/

System weight doesn't matter when you're showing off how light your bike is.