Is your bag heavier than your bike?

Mine quite often is. I carry a bunch of tools, lights, and spares (tubes etc) in a toolbag, and then clothes/misc things in a shoulderbag, both inside one of these:

(it's orange, if you care).

I can't confess to be saying this with any degree of verifiability, but needless to say my bag is almost always fucking heavy.

I've been fiddling around with both of my bikes for ages in the attempt to make them as comfy as possible, yet I cannot eliminate back or wrist pain completely. Which annoyed me, especially as I want to ride my bike as much as possible and am being held back by this discomfort (sometimes). Well that and laziness.

It has taken me a while to realise it, but this is probably because of the fact that I am carrying, essentially, a second bike on my back at all times. Which is stupid. So, I've bought meself a carradice saddlebag off of ebay to hold most of the things I normally lug around on my back, in an attempt to improve my riding comfort.

I'm just curious as to the views of you lot regarding this matter. Clearly, carrying the weight I am is going to do my back in good and proper if i'm not careful.

But the thing is, I feel that most of the stuff in my bag at any one time is essential - jumper in case it gets cold or rains, mudguard for the same reason (if rain looks likely), tools (allen keys, mini pump, spanner, lube, innertube, tyre levers, chainbreaker, etc), and wouldn't want to be caught out without them. Add into the mix various art materials, books, article cutouts, AV/musical/misc electronic equipment, a laptop, and you have a fucking back-ache.

I think the issue is the size of my bag - it is big and so I inevitably end up carrying more.

So how do you cope? What do you think is essential? Should I UTFS?

Get a rack.

Some days yes and some days no.

take out the mud guard and the jumper get a mac in a pack then you have something for cold and wet
and also do you have the full size tools or a lil multi tool cause you can get them with all those tools on

This is exactly why i'm making the mid-frame bag, top tube (gastank) bag, and large saddlebag for my brooklyn. I plan on doing a lot more long rides and my back is already screwed, so i want to take all the weight off my back and not carry any bags on my body. I'm even having bottle cage mounts fitted to the sides of my fork blades so i can still carry my fluids.

My Bag sets off shop alarms. even when it's pretty much empty. I think Scott put something in there for a Joke.

good timing.

If you're carrying all that gear and it's giving you problems I'd be tempted to go with Horatio's option.

Or invest in some Ortlieb panniers.

Distribute the weight.

Did i make you a bag Jeanmi?

I cheated - and got one in 14. I Just got paid, and needed a bag.

i do rather like it though.

Ah....didn't think i'd made you one.

saddlebag before the full panniers and racks, methinks. I bought a big one, so it should fit my toolbag and other miscillaneous things that never leave my ortlieb. Then all I'll be carrying in the bag on my back on an average day are clothes and maybe a handycam. I've now got a blackberry, eliminating at least one need for my macbook (checking emails etc).

i strapp my lock to my frame... thats 2kg
then i have a Montane fetherlight waterproof jacket
A waterproof overtrouser
doubelended allen key
spanner
tube
levers
puncture kit, just in case i double puncture.
pump in seatpost
london map

thats all i have

so why are you carrying lube around ? and a mudguard ? get overtrousers so much lighter and leave the lube at home innit :)
and chainbreaker leave that at home too lol

Btw that seat is comfy, but im not sure if its bent or not. I'll let you know.

well, what is essential to you may not be essential to most people...

me, personally, I can get away with a small Topeak saddle bag which holds 2 inner tubes, tyre levers, puncture repair kit, minitool, phone, house keys and cashpoint card and cash. Plus I've got a Lezyne pressure drive mini pump attached to the frame. That's probably enough to get me out of 95% of situations - and if not, then sod it, I'll just pay for a taxi to the nearest bike shop or home (or call my Dad for a lift:-)

do you really need to carry lube, chainbreaker, spanners etc (assuming you're riding around in inner city, never more than a couple of miles from a bike shop)? I've been riding almost every day for 5+ years and never had the need for any of these items whilst out riding

jumper and mudguards - well I wouldn't carry either on my back. If you want mudguards, just fit them to the bike. And jumper, well if it's cold, wear it, otherwise don't and leave it at home and consider buying a lightweight fleece leayer which you could easily stuff in your pocket or saddle bag and then pull out if the temp drops

as for your laptop, art materials etc - well, you either need 'em or you don't, can't see an easy fix for that. If you need 'em, then consider fiting panniers.

I just carry mininal sized items. Very small but effective crank bros pump. Light multi sized spanner and tool.patch kit etc whole lot can fit in a small pocket. Warmth get a light merino cardigan or sweater can be warn under or wrapped. Mud guard find a plastic bottle put it in rear stay it will sit there well ice switched to a regular back pack for riding to work now and like it

I agree with what sqvrt already said. I used to carry tools, pump and tube with me aswell as water bottle in bag. Then I realised that the only time I have ever gotten a puncture on a 700c bike is when the tyre was worn to the threads. Have been going the best part of a year carrying no gear at all. I have never had a puncture nor worry about it. I only have a bag most times to put a lock in and jacket for if it gets cold. If I had a smaller lock I would ditch the bag altogether and make a fabric horse type thing. I also mounted water bottle to frame which is incredibly convenient, I cant see how people live without bottle & cage in the warmer months (unless you have camelbak thing)

Btw that seat is comfy, but im not sure if its bent or not. I'll let you know.

Bent?? That doesn't sound good!

i dunno you know, i eyed it up (don't get ideas now :P ) and it looks off, but if it rides ok, i dont mind, like i said i'll let you know man.

yeah I am aware that I carry a shitload of un-necessary things with me. I think the main reason is that otherwise I'd probably lose them somewhere at home!

Oh and i forgot about locks - 2 of them, mini d in the bag and an abus cable round the waist.

i dunno you know, i eyed it up (don't get ideas now :P ) and it looks off, but if it rides ok, i dont mind, like i said i'll let you know man.

I haven't ridden that saddle for a while, and it's just been sat in my room in the intervening time. The only time it has ever been subjected to trauma was when the tear happened, and that was a fairly tame incident (knocked my bike over by accident and it clipped a wall as it fell over - i was well pissed that it ripped!). I did that within hours of fitting it and rode it on 3 or 4 different bikes afterwards (for a short time, i find it uncomfortable). never noticed it being bent... weird!

I have a set of wheels and they weigh less than their wheelbags.

Paul, you're a diamond!

so light you could play frisbee with them. Wouldn't recommend it though :D

I have a set of wheels and they weigh less than their wheelbags.

I have held them and I can testify that this is true. I wasn't sure what terrfied me more, their lack of weight or the devilish expression on paul's face! haha!