Carrying laptops on bikes

[LiquidLAN]

Hi guys, on trips I've carried a small baby Viao without issue for a couple of years now, I've said without issue, but then when I bought it I made sure it had no moving parts to have a problem in the first place.

End of last year I started working on a short term contract up in Milton Keynes and bought an infessibly large laptop as it was going to be my main on-site system for the next few years. by large I mean 17+ inch screen... I've found a Targus laptop bag that will house it and will also sit in one of the GSA panniers, but I'm wondering how advisable it is or if the vibration is just going to kill this new system over time.

I'd thought about getting some foam insert stuff and turning one of the panniers in to a glorified laptop bag but it seems like overkill.

I'm guessing there have to be others here commuting and carrying sensitive kit - what are your experiences/suggestions?

I'm kind of loathed to leave kit onsite - its just something I've never entertained and I'd prefer not to carry a rucksack.

 

[DavidJames]

Hi guys, on trips I've carried a small baby Viao without issue for a couple of years now, I've said without issue, but then when I bought it I made sure it had no moving parts to have a problem in the first place.

End of last year I started working on a short term contract up in Milton Keynes and bought an infessibly large laptop as it was going to be my main on-site system for the next few years. by large I mean 17+ inch screen... I've found a Targus laptop bag that will house it and will also sit in one of the GSA panniers, but I'm wondering how advisable it is or if the vibration is just going to kill this new system over time.

I'd thought about getting some foam insert stuff and turning one of the panniers in to a glorified laptop bag but it seems like overkill.

I'm guessing there have to be others here commuting and carrying sensitive kit - what are your experiences/suggestions?

I'm kind of loathed to leave kit onsite - its just something I've never entertained and I'd prefer not to carry a rucksack.

I used to commute with a laptop in a tail pack for 2 years without issue. It was 25 miles each way and the laptop was in a regular laptop bag inside the tail pack. I liked this solution because without panniers filtering was easier.

 

[Renatus]

I've commuted for about 9 years now on an 80 mile round-trip, including some greenlane alternatives during the nicer weather, and I've always had my works laptops in an ordinary bag sitting on my waterproofs in my top box. I guess if it was my own laptop I might use a bit of bubblewrap or foam mind you. The cases always suffer from signs of rubbing despite being in a bag so you may want to use a soft material sleeve if you're worried about what the outside looks like. The only laptop to fail when in my care was the recent one but that was when it got thrown across my front room in a fit of anti-IT rage!

 

[wessie]

Laptops get carried in rucksacks by loads of people. Some on bikes, some on public transport. Few of them die.

If you want to protect the appearance from small scrapes then get a neoprene sleeve.

Otherwise just go for it. As with any computer, even tin boxes that never move, a mechanical hard disk is the weak point and usually the first bit to pack up. Assuming you have critical data then ensure you have a robust back up procedure, either to the corporate network, am online service or invest in some standalone hard drives.

 

[GunZenBomZ]

Panasonic toughbook mk3 myself, in my metal topbox without foam, just jammed in with a bike first-aid kit.

Although I probably should use some foam, the only problem I've had is the battery running flat. If it gets bumped into turning on whilst riding..

 

[LiquidLAN]

Cheers for the replies folks.

I've used laptops on and off for years now, never really had a problem, but normally make sure its nicely protected when on a bike, unfortunately this ones a bit too big for too much protection

You're perfectly correct about good backups , sadly they don't help when you need the laptop daily... guess I might look at a solid state drive if i end up using the bike regularly

Thanks again guys

 

[STUBBS]

if your worried about the vibration get a laptop rucksack

 

[rce]

Solid State Drive is probably the answer, also probably faster too if the blurb is to be believed.

Data loss in the biggest concern, so a large flash drive and SSD should do the trick.

 

[geotim]

Beyond Compare

Try a bit of backup software called 'Beyond Compare' - stops all the version control hassles of backing up to a HDD or similar. That way you can leave a very cheap HDD at home (or work) and not worry about the laptop crash, blue screen of death ...


I travel a lot - just hit the button before I leave and it checks the content of the laptop against the separate drive and only copies over newer files or updated versions ... saves a lot of time and hassle with duff folder copies in Windows.

 

[LiquidLAN]

Try a bit of backup software called 'Beyond Compare' - stops all the version control hassles of backing up to a HDD or similar. That way you can leave a very cheap HDD at home (or work) and not worry about the laptop crash, blue screen of death ...


I travel a lot - just hit the button before I leave and it checks the content of the laptop against the separate drive and only copies over newer files or updated versions ... saves a lot of time and hassle with duff folder copies in Windows.

Cheers for the tip, sounds like a useful bit of software generally - bikes aside I end up working in server rooms and other area with limited space, its not unknown to see my laptop take a high dive or have someone stand on it only once in both cases, but once is enough.

if your worried about the vibration get a laptop rucksack

I might end up going this route, I just have this thing about road riding with a pack on... never seems right - oddly enough it doesnt bother me trail riding...

Panasonic toughbook mk3 myself, in my metal topbox without foam, just jammed in with a bike first-aid kit.

Although I probably should use some foam, the only problem I've had is the battery running flat. If it gets bumped into turning on whilst riding..

I've never seen one of these tough books in the flesh, but I heard a great story about them years ago - a saleman giving a demo on how durable they are close one up, dropped it on the floor and proceeded to jump up and down on it... it wasnt until he opened the lid again that he realised he's closed his fountain pen inside the lid - apparently its the only time one of them has really failed and pretty spectacularly by all accounts - ink, keys and screen all a mashed mess

 

[Mav]

I pack my macbook in a laptop sleeve type case, which then goes in a pannier dry bag, with a jumper and normally my work shoes. This then goes on the tail rack, where the rear seat would normally go, under a elastic cargo net. Have been doing it this way for a few thousand miles and had no problems. When I'm carrying a little more, I put the same bag in my pannier.

The only difference is, I try not to hit speed bumps so hard or wheelie of them when I'm carrying the laptop

 

[Paul90]

Current work laptop goes in a neoprene sleeve and then gets shoved under a cargo net where the rear seat is.

Been doing that to it every day for 2 years and it still works.



Paul

 

[RAM-man]

My 2p as we put many into vans and off-road, is a ruggedised hard or solid state hard drive, also back up flash or hard drive to copy work after each session.

As for Panasonic ToughBooks there are other ruggedised units on the market such as Getac (V100, V200), Ndura rigged (from Blazepoint), Armour and checkout suppliers such as Steatite Rugged which is in your manor.

For one awful moment I thought you meant fit it on the bike as I have been ask that before

 

[Micky]

I've fitted a Peli case on the rear, rigged with a 12v supply from the centech unit so that I can charge my laptop, 'phone or iPod in there

The laptop, actually a Samsung NC10 netbook sits in the lid of the Peli case supported by straps, so basically sits on top of whatever is in the case.

Travels well and come to no harm over thousands of miles, including overland through Iran and the Karakorum Highway in northern Pakistan.

 

[Gonzo]

Have done well over 75k miles with various models of Thinkpads in the top box. Never an issues apart from when i tried to squeeze too much in and cracked the screen - my fault entirely. Never a mechanical or hard drive issue.

Come to think of it, the GS does have nice comfy suspension and the box is on rubber mounts so why should it be any worse than the boot of the car?

 

[everywherevirtually]

I had one screen fail when I was cycling to work and the laptop was in an Ortieb pannier. It was winter... perhaps -2c ambient temperature. Walked into the office which was +24c and within a few minutes noticed a tiny hairline crack inside the LCD which was the end of it. 2 years ago I had to fish my macbook out of some more panniers after rain got in Thankfully the laptop lived and I'm tapping away on it now

So in short vibration is not the only hazard

 

[Rasher]

I don't regulalrly use a bike to carry a laptop but have done a few times, on the GS I can get my laptop into a jiffy bag, I also line the bottom of top-box with a bit of bubble wrap. On other bikes I have used a standard rucksack.

Not killed one yet.

Just make sure it is off, the HD will not be happy if it is being bounced around whilst spinning - which is why IBM fitted motion sensors to stop the disk activity when shocks were detected.

 

[Steptoe]

I took my netbook to morocco two years ago in my pannier in no more than the bag it came in and it still works..........