Cargo Belongs in a Bag

​Bicycles are the most efficient form of transportation designed by humans – its calorie input to distance ratio wins every time. Most bikes do a wonderful job moving people, but what about your stuff? Every bike should have some type of bag to keep the essentials for travel. If cargo capacity is limiting your bicycle outings, follow these tips to enjoy biking with stuff: 

Light Loads

• Pockets – can carry the essentials for traveling: spare inner tube, tire levers, multi tool, keys, wallet, and a pair of rubber gloves. You can use pockets on clothing and any bag you own. 
• Seat Pack – will strap underneath your saddle and seat post to carry the essentials that you would rather not have in your pockets.
• Handlebar Bag – great for carrying and easily accessing a lighter load in front of your handlebars. Most have a clear pocket for your cellphone and many have a strap so you can wear the bag once you have arrived. 

Medium Loads

• Frame Bag – straps directly to your frame. Depending on style, a frame bag fills the space between the frame tubes or sits on the top tube. Big enough to store your lunch or a change of clothes. 
• Messenger Bag – one strap and a big pocket and worn across the body. These bags can be shifted to prevent sweating and easily access your stuff while riding. Since you will be carrying the weight on one shoulder, choose a wide/padded strap. 
• Backpack – two straps and several pockets. Comfortable to wear, but will give your back a bath on longer rides on warmer Alabama days. Can also be fitted with a carabineer and latched to the side of a rear cargo rack (after securing the straps) or just bungeed on top of the rack itself – which solves the problem of carrying all the weight on your own shoulders. 
• Basket – most attach above your front wheel (similar to the handlebar bag). Metal baskets come in a variety of finishes and mounting styles suitable for carrying medium loads and showing them off. Other types of baskets include wicker, rattan, wood, and plastic – most of these will not last as long or wear in the weather. 
• Cargo Rack – can be relatively inexpensive and bolts to the frame of your bike over the rear (or front) wheel. You can strap anything from a set of paniers, trunk bags, or even a milk crate to this rack. 

Large Loads – can be challenging on a bicycle. A cargo trailer is a wonderful option. It is capable of holding larger bags and even children. Oversized loads can be awkward on a bicycle – a friend once welded a short cylinder to his frame to help carry pipes for a plumbing project. 

Just about anything is better than holding a bag in your hands or hanging it off your of your handlebars. Maneuverability and braking are limited and your focus is distracted by the need to keep the sack contents clean and clear of the wheels and gears. No matter what system you use, just make sure your load is secure and as low to the ground as possible – the lower the load, the easier it is to balance your bike.