Luggage for Hauling Groceries or Camping Equipment
The feature of a bicycle which enables it to be more than recreational is its capacity to carry loads. If you're touring, you can pack your gear and extra clothing; if you're commuting, you can carry your work materials and work clothes; if you're biking for utility, you can carry anything (depending on the bike model) from groceries to small refrigerators.
Light LuggageSoftware Meets Hardware
The key to your bike's capacity is the luggage you choose and the corresponding structures (racks) to attach either luggage or payload to the bike. Seat bags, handlebar bags and Trunk Bag frame bags are good for light loads and can be attached directly to the bike without extra hardware.
Heavy Duty Hardware
For more serious loads, trunk bags and panniers are the preferred alternatives. Front and Rear Pannier RacksTrunk bags are usually strapped to a rear rack, while rear panniers can hang from standard racks on either or both sides of the wheel and smaller front panniers are mounted on special front pannier racks. There are an amazing number of rack styles available, and it seems every one is necessary, since the mounting hardware on the frames of bikes varies greatly. Choose your system carefully before youPanniers Installed start buying. For one thing, different kinds of riding (like touring and utility biking) will require different kinds of luggage. For another, you'll need to make sure your racks will fit on the mounting hardware on your bike, and that the bags you select will fit on the racks you have installed.
Convertable Backpack (front)Convertable Backpack (back)Serious Software
If there are many styles of racks, there are more styles of bags. For touring, there are high capacity, waterproof bags in many configurations in hard or soft materials. One choice you'll face is the structure of your panniers - do you want a bag with lots of compartments, like an Arkel, or a bag with a single big compartment, like an Ortlieb? If you want flexibility or like to baggie your supplies individually, the latter should be a better choice. Bikers, once again, are split on this issue.
       For utility biking, there are grocery panniers, panniers which convert into backpacks you can take with you and folding wire frame baskets. Grocery PannierMessenger BagFor commuters, there are messenger bags to sling over your shoulder for computers, work papers or microwavable pizzas. Make sure you compare capacity (cubic inches of interior space) before you buy.
     Of course, there is always the standard backpack. ActuallyHard Shell Trunk Bag wearing it on your back while you ride tends to strain neck and shoulder muscles and make big sweaty patches on your back, but you can strap it to your rear rack with bungee cords quite easily.
Luggage for No-Nonsense Urban Hauling
if you have a longtail bike for urban utility riding, the bags and accessories you want should be ordered with the bicycle, or at least from the bike manufacturer. Chances are the hardware will be unique to that bike model, and bags from other vendors won't fit. Some companies, like Xtracycle, retrofit hardware and software to other bike brands, but not many.
Trailers
An alternative to soft luggage like panniers is a trailer. One- and two-wheeled trailers are available to carry more gear than panniers and you don't have to pack them so carefully. They even seem to perform better on rough terrain. They're heavier and a little awkward going up hills, though.
As Always, an Array of Good Choices
Here are a few of the many manufacturers and on-line retailers of good quality bike luggage. Some manufacturers sell direct on-line, other brands are available through on-line retailers or your local bike shops. On-line retailers often have their own brands of luggage as well, which can be a good value.




Cyclosource (Adventure Cycling Ass.)
I Cycle USA
Jenson
Pedal Powered
Performance Bike
Peter White
Planet Bike
REI
Sunrise Cyclery
The Touring Store
Universal Cycles

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