You enjoy rides with your friends and bicycling is an important part of your social and recreational life. You are competent in your bicycle handling and traffic skills. You've even given some thought to bike commuting to work but you just never seem to get around to it, or maybe it just isn't practical. Does this description match you? It is the description of a bicycle rider. There's nothing wrong with being a bicycle rider, I used to be one myself.
But now it is time that you bring one more facet of cycling into your life, and that is called utility cycling. Utility cycling is every bit as fun and rewarding as bike-commuting without any of the hassles. What's more, it moves you up one level in the cycling hierarchy. You won't be a bicycle rider anymore, you will be a cyclist.
What does it take to get to the status of Cyclist?
It takes a backpack. That's it. Get a backpack and use it for utility cycling. No panniers, no fenders, no rack, no lighting systems. The backpack attaches to you. You can use your high-performance road bike to zip to the drug store today and cruise old-faithful to the mall tomorrow. No worry about leaving your possessions chained to a utility pole, they stay with you. You can even toss your pump and toolkit inside and attach your helmet to the strap.
Here's the best part: a wide choice of utility-cycling backpacks is available at just about any discount store. Target has an especially nice selection. For around $20 you can get all the backpack you'll ever need. But don't walk in and ask for cycling backpacks. The store mistakenly thinks they are bookbags. If you can't afford the $20 you can stop by any bus stop and mug a third grader.
Find a nylon bag if you can- they seem to flatten better than fabric when they're empty. At least one additional small pocket is a big plus, and high-visibility color a bonus. Look for comfortable straps that are fairly wide and padded. Some may have an additional strap that fastens around the waist, it's completely unnecessary. Oddly, the least expensive, smallest one they have is likely to be best.
Try the bag on in the store. Raise your arms above your head and make sure that you can adjust the straps so the bag stays low enough that it will not rub against your neck. The bag might be a little stiff at first but should soften-up with use. They're all somewhat waterproof but you'll want to carry a heavy-duty plastic bag for those trips home from the photomat. You might have a little stiffness near the base of your neck the first ride or two, but after that you will forget you are even wearing it. A backpack will absolutely not make you top-heavy or uncomfortable, certainly not for normal distances or reasonable loads. Anyone who says otherwise must never have used one.
You now have a $600 packpack.
That's right! You'll save about 10 cents a mile in real cash outlay every time you drive your backpack instead of your car. That $20 bag is going to save you more than $600 before it dies. Find something else with that kind of return. It's really a $2000 bag if you include things like car insurance and depreciation in the mileage rate.
Use it two or three times a week and you'll save a hundred dollars a year. Make a weekend run to the office, stuff your sweats and roll to the gym, pack a picnic and surprise your sweetheart. Every time you use it, it's like getting things for free. Go pick up a free newspaper, from now on your ice cream is free at the Baskin Robbins, get some groceries at a discount, there's no charge for stamps at the post office, rent one movie and get a second one free. You'll be bikin' all the way to the bank.
But who cares about money! You'll be non-polluting and energy-saving and ozone-friendly and all that pro-environment stuff. You'll lose weight and sleep better. Your cycling skills will improve and you will magically be in better shape for your recreational riding. Thats not all. To every motorist, to every merchant, to every neighbor, you will be a powerful and visible advocate for cycling transportation. You might even be an inspiration.
That's it! It's just that simple. Do it! Your $600 backpack will put you on the road, literally, to utility cycling. Once you start you will love it. It's the difference between "bicycle rider" and "Cyclist", and the difference feels good.