Carrying laptops

Me-109 · Post by **Me-109** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:29 pm

OK, I've pm-ed Archie about his panniers, but one of my interests is in being able to get my (the company's) laptop into one of them. Anyone else do this or know if it's possible? The laptop's a 15" screen roughly, std format not widescreen, so it's about an inch longer than a sheet of A4 and about 2 inches wider.

....

Ah, found a ruler....10.5 inches (27cm) deep by 13.25 inches (33.5cm) wide when closed.

Can anyone tell me if that will fit inside a BM pannier - ideally with a bit of padding around it?

Thanks in advance, 'cos I'm scooting off for a long w/end.

Seveneer · Post by **Seveneer** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:36 am

Mine fits in my panniers but not if it's in its bag. I normally wrap it up in a jacket and stick in in the panniers or I ditch the panniers and put it in a rucksack.

I have the touring pannier covers not the city ones which I believe are narrower. I'm pretty sure you'd get a laptop in the city ones too though.

/Phil.

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:44 pm

I've carried a laptop in the panners a couple of time, then thought the better of it - I think the shock and vibration is a bit much for Hard drives etc.

A tailpack on the pillion would be better, but I think a laptop-rucsac would be the best.

Al

mdouglas · Post by **mdouglas** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:33 pm

Not keen on laptops in rucksacks. If you have an off, the last thing you need your back to be landing on is a laptop. Or anything particularly hard for that matter! Tailpack on the pillion is how I do it. I have a double decker tail pack from Gericke (made by Held luggage).

Stevie · Post by **Stevie** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:24 am

I have a set of panniers with city-lids fitted, and can get my laptop in a small laptop bag in. It has to be put in at an angle, and there isn't much room to spare (although my sandwiches will fit in too). In principle, I agree that the vibration could be a problem for the disk, but in practice mine has survived it for some time now.

Me-109 · Post by **Me-109** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:30 am

Well, I got Archie's touring panniers and the laptop has reasonable room around it. Handily, I found a padded 'sleeve' that fits over the laptop and still allows it to fit inside, quite vertically. Unfortunately with all the other gear I had with me it still came home in the laptop rucsac! Mind you, I was able to offload all the associated rubbish - paperwork, printing, mouse, power supply....

I was a little cautious about the added width of the bike, but I might as well have painted the bike white and stuck a blue light on! I don't know if it was the sticky-out cylinders, even-more sticky-out panniers or an unusual day of observant drivers, but it was like Moses parting the waves coming home

Filtering opened up another lane, people couldn't get out of the way fast enough. Approaching anyone in the outside lane had them peeling off like Hollywood dance troupe. Grand stuff!

Think I'll have to keep an eye out for some city lids though - I don't always need that much space.

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 3:20 pm

Me-109 wrote:Well, I got Archie's touring panniers and the laptop has reasonable room around it. Handily, I found a padded 'sleeve' that fits over the laptop and still allows it to fit inside, quite vertically. Unfortunately with all the other gear I had with me it still came home in the laptop rucsac! Mind you, I was able to offload all the associated rubbish - paperwork, printing, mouse, power supply....

I was a little cautious about the added width of the bike, but I might as well have painted the bike white and stuck a blue light on! I don't know if it was the sticky-out cylinders, even-more sticky-out panniers or an unusual day of observant drivers, but it was like Moses parting the waves coming home Filtering opened up another lane, people couldn't get out of the way fast enough. Approaching anyone in the outside lane had them peeling off like Hollywood dance troupe. Grand stuff!

Think I'll have to keep an eye out for some city lids though - I don't always need that much space.

I find that a bit of wavering that looks like you aren't quite in control - helps!

I must admit that city lids give you a bit more confidence, though.
Al

julian · Post by **julian** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:01 am

Blackal wrote:
Me-109 wrote:I must admit that city lids give you a bit more confidence, though. Al

... but the 'full fat' lids allow you to rest the bike against taxis & cars at traffic lights without the inconvenience of putting your feet down.