Bicycle Commuter Backpack

I design a bag that can double bag (or maybe even triple) as a backpack and / or a shoulder bag once detached from the bike racks as part of my product design class. I need an idea of what items carry commuters during the transition to school / work / wherever it is you go on your bike. Also, is there anything else the bag must be able to do?

It is a good plan but the idea has been marketed before. I had a series of four (two small rear panniers and two small front, all in bright red nylon heavy waterprrof) ... made by Kanuk, I think ... in the late 80s. The two big baskets converted into a backpacker block of full size (padded with belt and suspenders) and the top of the baskets (including uncompressed), converted into a small second bag. They were easy to get on the bike, but makes a handy big pack off the bike ... ideal for a visit I made in Australia and New Zealand which, together, responsible for touring and a couple of weeks touring bike ride outside. I even used the backpack configuration that my background of choice on a couple of vacation not bike because it was unique search (find easily baggage carousel at the airport, softsided several access points to slide , etc..) Baskets small could also be used on either the front runners down, or stand back (I've used for years to come as baskets, commuter car, great for my bags were too big for daily needs).

The types of gear I was wearing the following suburbs:

- Tools (spare tube, pump, repair kit, multitool)
- Books, pictures, etc. to / from the desktop
- Rain gear (breathable jacket / pants)
- Plastic bags (for the seat or to cover their feet in case of rain)
- Folder parts (in case I got wet riding to work),
- Bungie Cord (to fix your orders to carrier at the rear).

What I never realized, but probably would be today, is a laptop ... Bags and everything should plan on a padded pocket for one of those days.

The only problem with bags is that they are generally a large compartment. I suggest you zippable / removable dividers (2 vertical .. one front to back, side to another to form a combination of four open compartments from the top) ... bearing in mind the need to balance the load while maintaining "waterproof". An outside pocket zippered would be very useful.

Good luck with the project.

I wear a chain, lock, chain pair to tie around my leg.

I wear clothes, electronic parts, and extra food for work sometimes. It must be water resistant, easy to fix and removed from the grid and, ideally, be locked to the rack.

On a daily basis:
a spare tube, a set of Allen keys, mini-pump, house key parts, a dollar in the quarters of the emergency telephone call. According to the weather, I can make rain gear (rain jacket and pants).

But I also commute every day, so theres plenty of room for a number of things at the grocery store, or a pair of shoes.

I find the resistance of the water, if water proof not be significant.
Pannier IThe I use actually comes with a shoulder strap, but the bag itself is just an akward size / shape to use as a backpack, or I would!

Do not forget to have an adequate and safe attatching back on a typical bike rack something very important.