Wearing a pack whilst riding

**skelstar** · 11th August 2005, 13:21

Im a bit confused. What is the consensus regarding wearing a pack on ones back while riding a bike?

Im assuming that having sharp/hard objects in the pack during a fall is a bad idea, and maybe having something that can snag during a hi-speed slide could be a bad thing too? Im not really thinking about a large pack either, nor anything heavy in my pack.

Anyone care to comment?

**TonyB** · 11th August 2005, 13:29

I sometimes wear a camelbak, but I do worry about it causing some bodily harm in a crash.

I can't ride with a pack on as it cuts the circulation to my arms and they end up going to sleep. I kid you not- on my first ever long trip I sat up to have a stretch on my old RZ while wearing a pack. Both of my arms fell off the bars and hung semi lifeless at my side. I could move my hands, but I couldn't lift either arm.

Could have ended in disaster, but I managed to get my right arm back up on the bars just before things started getting serious by straining like feck- it was like I had a huge weight on my arm

Plus now that I'm older and wiser, there's no way I would wear a pack with gear in it. It could do terrible things in a crash.

**Blackbird** · 11th August 2005, 13:44

I wore one on the Southern Cross ride covering about 800 km per day simply because I hadn't got a tank bag and my Ventura system was full. It caused all sorts of aches and pains and like Tony, I was really worried about crashing.

Would never do it again and will buy a magnetic tank bag. (Hint to my wife..... birthday coming up soon

)

**TonyB** · 11th August 2005, 13:45

Originally Posted by Blackbird

I wore one on the Southern Cross ride covering about 800 km per day simply because I hadn't got a tank bag and my Ventura system was full. It caused all sorts of aches and pains and like Tony, I was really worried about crashing.

At least your arms still worked!

**skelstar** · 11th August 2005, 13:47

Yeah, might do the tank bag thing. They are just so damned expensive though, and its hard to find a relatively small one that doesnt cost $100+.

**Lou Girardin** · 11th August 2005, 14:48

Originally Posted by skelstar

Yeah, might do the tank bag thing. They are just so damned expensive though, and its hard to find a relatively small one that doesnt cost $100+.

Oxford do a standard bag for $92.00 inc. or an expanding bag for $118.00 inc.

**Paul in NZ** · 11th August 2005, 22:02

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Oxford do a standard bag for $92.00 inc. or an expanding bag for $118.00 inc.

And they are an amazing bargain for the price! Bloody good shit for the $$ challenged biker

**Gremlin** · 11th August 2005, 23:05

When going for a ride, I try to avoid carrying much at all, but when commuting, I have no choice.

Considering the backpack would weigh about 8-10 kg, its a fair bit, but having the laptop in it gives me extra incentive to behave

Even after 30 min, my back is hurting...

**raster** · 11th August 2005, 23:14

I wear a small pack and try to have some padding inside it, blows around when empty so I have a jacket in it, probly carry something twice a week, heaviest was 4L of oil, filter and 1 rear vision mirror, not a problem although I wouldn't want to do it every day.

**Fryin Finn** · 12th August 2005, 08:58

I use a backpack all the time. I had a high speed bin a few years - rolled over heaps with no damage to me or my back - must be testament to the size of my lunch in it. I also use a back pack to carry my video camera gear with no ill effect after a couple of spills off road. Having said that I'll probably knacker myself at the Trail Blazer this Sunday.

**Krayy** · 12th August 2005, 12:44

One of the main issues for mine is in having a potential moving weight strapped to your back in a tight corner.

If you do insist on wearing a pack, make sure there are no heavy objects in it, and if thats unavoidable, ensure they are well wrapped and wedged right at the bottom so they can't move, and make sure the pack has an adjustable waist strap to cinch it in as tight as it will go. Chest straps too. Before mounting your bike (how rude), jump up and down a few times and twist from side to side to ensure that the pack and nothing in it will move. Then check it every stop.

**sunhuntin** · 12th August 2005, 13:30

im still used to wearing a back pack from high school, and from courses. i push biked to and from most days unless the rain was really bucketing or i had a flat. [one thing for high school books = strong back!

]

ive only worn a pack once on the 'zuki, and that was cos the box was full and i didnt have bungy cords. i was more worried about it restricting monoeverability [SP????????] than anything. ive since bought bungy cords, so tie it to the box brackets if i have to. prefer to have my back and pillion seat clear, though the pack was nice to lean back on for a change, lol.

**vifferman** · 12th August 2005, 13:41

Originally Posted by Blackbird

(Hint to my wife..... birthday coming up soon

)

Does she frequent Kiwi Biker? If not, you'll have to find some more effective forms of hinting. Perhaps you could wait till she's near the gargre one day, and stack a whole bunch of things on the tank of the Blackybirdie, then go, "Damn! This would work a whole lot better iffen I only had a tankbag!" Or when she asks if you'd like some canoodling, you could say, "Yes, that would be very nice dear, but I'd rather have a new tankbag!"

**madboy** · 12th August 2005, 13:49

I bought a tank bag from TSS a year or so back for I think around $50/60?? Fits my lunch, or a change of clothes for sports. 99% of it's use is just the sammies...