Commuting by bike requires bag planning, so why make compromises?

Summer is upon us! That means it’s time to break out the bikes, ditch the subway, and crank some miles to work! As an athletic Brooklynite commuting to Manhattan, a good backpack is a requirement for me. I am a gear-head by nature and like to pack as much as I can while conserving weight, therefore I chose the Silvercup Backpack for its 26 liter capacity. Too heavy of a backpack and riding becomes tedious, too light and not packing everything I need! I ride with a framebag on the regular, carrying my daily racing gear such as a GoPro and spare batteries, spare tube and pump, lights, and more.

Commuting in the summer can be sweaty business and a good workout. The back padding is ventilated and I had little sweat after getting to the office. The outside Velcro flap opens to reveal a big rectangle of a pocket for storage such as a lock and power bricks. Opening the main compartment of the backpack reveals a ton of storage real estate. As I wear cycling cleats while riding, my daily driver Nike Air Force Ones fit comfortably. My outfit for the day folds neatly into the laptop sleeve and comes out wrinkle free, there is easily enough room for a laptop and outfit at the same time. I also have spare jerseys and cream sitting in the main compartment and extra cables in the side-zipper pocket.

Getting into the office, the cycling clothing is exchanged for the outfit for the day and stored in a ventilated bag. My water bottle goes into the left-hand side holster. My helmet goes into a mesh bag and the roll-top cover folds and clips together with an adjustable buckle, something I appreciate compared to most zippered backpacks. If it is raining, the cover extends and shields the internals from water very effectively.

In case of needing to take the train with the bike, shouldering the bike for walking stairs is even easier with the Silvercup, as the plush straps cushion the frame against the collarbone. I can comfortably carry the bike for long periods of time, making me forget the pain of heavy aluminum on the collarbone.

As I have a GPS on my handlebars, I don’t use my phone for navigation. For secure storage, I use the Harbor Smartphone Case on the back buckle loop, but the case can be strapped to the backpack straps if needed. I receive notifications through the GPS but I can feel notification vibrations through the straps easily and stop if needed to pick up a call. The case stores multiple credit cards and cash, allowing for easy removal if separation from the bag is necessary. My commuter card is stored in the front pocket, and easily reachable when on the go. I don’t regret the addition, and it adds stylish character to the bag.

The Silvercup Backpack was a perfect companion for commuting, with more than enough room for belongings, whether it’s for grocery runs, commuting, or overnight trips. I like to use the bike as much as possible for travelling, and it’s even a pleasure to ride with when fully loaded and heavy.

About The Author

Heyo! I’m Daniel Bondar from Brooklyn, NY. I love commuting by bike and race in the local metropolitan area. I love big chainrings, loud freehubs, and big power numbers. My life effectively revolves around bikes, from daily transportation to running a full-service university bike shop. I always love to test new bags and test the limits of storage capacity in daily life.