I commute using a NF torret pack. Its a nice pack with a waist and chest strap and lots of pockets for everything. When filled with clothes and all it weighs around 20 to 25 lbs. On a average week ill commute 4 to 5 days a week with mileage varying between 12 and 20 miles (i add miles on in the afternoon as a kinda training) Am i doing harm to my back? is it making me stronger Thanks...

I commute using a NF torret pack. Its a nice pack with a waist and chest strap and lots of pockets for everything. When filled with clothes and all it weighs around 20 to 25 lbs. On a average week ill commute 4 to 5 days a week with mileage varying between 12 and 20 miles (i add miles on in the afternoon as a kinda training) Am i doing harm to my back? is it making me stronger Thanks...

What kind of clothes do you wear? How do you manage to fill the pack up with 20-25 pounds? I would do what you can to reduce the pack weight.

1) Do you carry a towel each day? If so, keep it at work and just change it once a week (or so) depending on funk.

2) Do you carry shoes each day? If so, keep a pair (or two) at work.

3) Do you carry toiletries each day? If so, keep them in your desk at work and replace as necessary.

Do you see my trend? Only commute with the items you absolutely must carry each day. Shoot, if your workplace will tolerate it, you could just leave one set of clothes at work for the whole week.

I do the three things I suggested above. I bring normal work clothes (casual) and my lunch (usually include 2 apples and a yogurt -- relatively heavy items) in my pack. I also bring a multi-tool, tire chaning stuff, spare tube, and a mini pump. No way my pack tips the scales at 20 pounds. I think I can even cram in my laptop and not break 20.

Anyway, I've been commuting this way for a few years now (at least 90% of my trips to and from work) and I haven't felt any adverse effects on my back. Also, I'm riding at least as many miles as you do.

The only time you could do damage is when you are off the bike. Assuming you have the weight well-distributed and the bag resting low near your torso (thereby putting much of the weight over your saddle) you shouldn't be doing much harm to your back. But if you get off the bike and lean over, bend over at the waist, twist or turn, or have to ride with the bag swaying to one side, you might tweak something.

I ride with a Timbuktu and it can get heavy when I haul extra stuff around now and then. I haven't suffered any problems. Like Gripped said, you might look at ways to reduce that weight, though.

I started commuting 05/12. I've put on 700 commuter miles since. My commute is 34 miles RT, with some pretty good hills both ways. My commuter rig, my lunch( seems like 5 pounds sometimes), my clothes, etc. weigh at least 15 pounds more than my TT/Tri bike. I've noticed my avg speed and climbing ability have improved on the commute, and when I get on my light bike I am much stronger.

However, what the heck are you carrying to weigh so much? After stopping for some groceries one day I weighed my pack when I got home, and it was only 16 pounds.

I ride 10 to 20 miles nearly regularly with my 22lb son and Topeak babyset on my bike. I know its not the same as having it on your back - but its nice to keep good pace with the extra weight.

Have you checked out Topeaks products? They have a bar and bag that will attach to your seat post and you can quick release the bag. I'll be getting one after my son is too big for the baby seat.

Good Luck.

I do 24 + miles a day depending on the route, and carry a Timbuk2 messenger bag. There are days that my bag will be that heavy, but not all the time. I am still in grad school, so usually my pack is heavy because of books/journals in addition to other stuff (lock etc.), but not the majority of the time. The days that it is real heavy I notice that my shoulder may be a little sore, but I don't tend to notice any back problems. I also try to do upper body workouts at the gym a couple of days a week.

I commute using a NF torret pack. Its a nice pack with a waist and chest strap and lots of pockets for everything. When filled with clothes and all it weighs around 20 to 25 lbs. On a average week ill commute 4 to 5 days a week with mileage varying between 12 and 20 miles (i add miles on in the afternoon as a kinda training) Am i doing harm to my back? is it making me stronger Thanks...


Well, is your back hurting as a result of riding with a pack?

I've been riding with a pack for years and have no back issues. The pack rests on the your back while you are hunched over. It's essentially on a semi-flat surface not in a vertical plane pushing weight on your sholders and spine. Carrying a pack has more impact on your knees when hiking and trail running etc., not riding a bike.

It's also better to have a two-shoulder-strap pack than a messenger bag so the weigh is evenly distributed on both sides of the spine. Some people have stronger backs than others so expect some bias when you hear about the 'niceness' of messeger bags.

The weight of the pack will impact the bike though. basically, you're heavier so check the tire pressure.