things we carry

Xtracycle: carries anything and everything ... and more

I’ve seen several other cyclists post pictures and discuss the stuff they carry by bike – especially among my commuter friends.  It’s interesting to see.  The stuff of daily work, laptops, cell phones, keys, locks, cycling caps, spare parts, cameras, snacks, books, Moleskines …  It’s as varied as the bikes they ride.

And I’ve recently been following a couple of very visually interesting sites:  What Do You Carry and Things Organized Neatly.  They’ve made me think about the things I carry every day, and the ways I typically carry all of this stuff I cart around – especially when I’m on my bike.  I always have some bike “emergency” items (multitool, spare tube, levers, etc.) stashed in a small saddle bag – but for my daily-use stuff of every day life, I typically use a Rickshaw bag, a Chrome messenger bag, an Ortleib Back-Roller pannier … or, of course, any bag/purse/tote on my Xtracycle.  They all serve me extremely well, form and function.

my Rickshaw custom poppy bag

my Chrome messenger

the things I carry ... every day

While the contents are not always so neatly organized, I thought I’d lay things out just to see what I carry nearly every day.  It was an interesting exercise.  Here’s the (rather ridiculous) list of the inventory:

• a snack (today it’s an apple)
• sunglasses (usually on my head)
• camera (varies – but today, my 7D with 24-70mm f2.8L and 50mm f1.8)
• iPad
• “Wreck This Journal” by Keri Smith (an ongoing project … long story)
• wallet
• keys
• stylus
• eyeglass cleaning cloth
• lip balm
• iPhone
• reusable shopping bag
• three Lamy fountain pens (different nibs and ink colors)
• Moleskine journal/sketchbook
• journal pen/brush assortment
• headphones
• Flapper Girl coffee cozie
• watercolor field set
• green tea mints

Sorry, no bacon.  Or beer.  If you have any interesting photos of the things you carry by bike, I’d love to take a look and share them on my blog.  Neatly organized or not.  🙂