How do you carry your laptop?

[lewellen]

Jeeeeezz ! this is not that easy to carry a laptop on a bike... if you analyze all the issues that come next to it.

Actually, carrying a laptop on a bike is very easy.

It's finding a "solution" that will deal with every possible circumstance, and a large number of self-imposed constraints, that makes it a challenge.

It's amazing how often that happens in life, also.

For me, I've learned to try to start with an 80 - 90% solution ... get something approximately right fielded so I can start seeing how it's working and then make mods from there. If I wait until I have a "perfect" solution it will take me a lot longer before I do anything, and then chances are I'll find out I forgot something and have to re-do my "perfect" solution anyway.

Good roads,

- John Lewellen

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Jeeeeezz ! this is not that easy to carry a laptop on a bike... if you analyze all the issues that come next to it.

Actually, carrying a laptop on a bike is very easy.

It's finding a "solution" that will deal with every possible circumstance, and a large number of self-imposed constraints, that makes it a challenge.

It's amazing how often that happens in life, also.

For me, I've learned to try to start with an 80 - 90% solution ... get something approximately right fielded so I can start seeing how it's working and then make mods from there. If I wait until I have a "perfect" solution it will take me a lot longer before I do anything, and then chances are I'll find out I forgot something and have to re-do my "perfect" solution anyway.

Good roads,

- John Lewellen

Totally agree Lewellen but I have to confess that I am a fan of "Analytic Process" against "Action at all price" and not always ! but often it works very well in the end product to spend days or months to sort out every little functional & ergonomic details, one by one exhaust the issues and find answers, then physically assembles all those solutions out of a condensed concept... if done intensively enough it happen often to do not have anything to correct and it last for years.

Specially with a personal budget and by selecting, tweaking or customizing objects already available in the market...that will be then in contact or relation with many other objects that were also often roughly pre-designed for standard use more than the specific use you intend.

Not too mention that I also need to ride more than fixing and correcting around my bike ideas that could have been refined with a bit more time, daydreaming, informations and sofa cogitations.

Since wireless Internet is today way less dependent of WIFI.

Ultimately I would love to work with a custom bike designer like there is hundreds in LA to smartly integrate one of those small tabled PC in a customized gas tank

By the way ! yesterday I was in random location in Los Angeles without my laptop to quickly check for an event location to text message in my GPS....

Dammit !

I could not do anything... I was stuck....

[vielzebub]

Thanks for the pics Keith. I really like the setup and your red axio bag.
You've inspired me and I've bought an axio hard bag...it's not here yet, but when it arrives I'll snap a couple of pics.

[BigEasy]

You're welcome Eric. Unlike our buddy Fred I think sometimes one can over analyze a simple problem. As my hero George S Patton wrote "A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later". I think some situations do require critical thought, this deal is simple- throw it in a bag and strap it down tight and twist the wick! Good luck with your hardpack and have fun

[thepeacebullgrunt]

BigEasy your avatar harmoniously match your quotes preferences...

As I am living at a few streets from General Patton house in San Marino California.

I can tell you that Patton liked so much the type of actions you seems to favor and promote that the Russian gave him as "a gift" the original manuscript of "Mein Kampf" by Adolf Hitler which is today controversially kept at The Huntington Library, art collection and botanical gardens in San Marino CA.

In Berlin the Russian took most of the art & craft that the Nazi already stilled all over Europe but knowing that Patton was maybe not interested in it they ironically gave him "A book" he might enjoy, which he ACCEPTED in uniform representing US Army ... You right BigEasy ! Patton didn't need to think what he was doing Action, action, action is all we need at all price.

Look how beautifully reactionary he is there : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyUX6wV1lBQ

But Patton also designed this interresting boots design that you can buy here http://dehner.com/customboots_military.html to run naked in the woods after your loved one and worship even better "Vigorous Action" and radical "Blitzkrieg Style" conceptive design...

Patton also designed many military closing outfit specially because he did not have anything else to do for his entire carrier.

[Josh_S]

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/mes ... -jb-jb.jpg
messager
I Carry Timbuk2 messenger lap top bag, for long rides I bungy it on back of seat. This bag has held up for years, travels all over the world, and straps on really well when I carry it over shoulder. I liked it so much I got a plain messenger this year with reflective middle panel for days I want a smaller back but still have room for hard drives and such if I need take work home with me.

[famousperson]

Here are the photos of my squid like set up, not nearly as elegant as some of the others but it's quick and fast

Tres elegant, in fact. Very slick implementation! I'm going to copy it. Thanks.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Is is it ok to sit 1 hrs everyday on my "R" when the bike is on center stand ?

Or is my body weight might damage the center stand attachments after a while ? (it use to be that way in some Japanese bike)

The way I carry my laptop now allow me to easily park under a tree, set up my laptop with a comfortable screen brightness and browse the web in less than 2 minutes while still being very safe for me and the laptop to fall.

[vielzebub]

The way I carry my laptop now allow me to easily park under a tree, set up my laptop with a comfortable screen brightness and browse the web in less than 2 minutes while still being very safe for me and the laptop to fall.

Pictures please!

[LumpyCam]

I carry some extra cloth (t-shirt) in my backpack to make the bag stable on the tank without sliding off while i work on it.

[papasong]

For those who are ok with backpacks, has anyone tried the Boblebee Megalopolis Aero:

http://www.boblbee.com/us/artiklar/kate ... 221&id=573

It has an integrated CE rated back protector:
http://www.boblbee.com/us/technology.asp?fr=back

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm likely to go in that direction. I'm nervous about bike vibration rattling my laptop in a topcase.

[LumpyCam]

For those who are ok with backpacks, has anyone tried the Boblebee Megalopolis Aero

But not water resistant without the extra rain guard? That won't work here in the Pacific Northwest!

That all-weather protection is one of the things i like best about stowing the laptop in the BMW hard cases. Especially for dust/dirt.

[eddiepat62]

I like the idea of dragging my laptop along with me, but was hoping someone would come up with a hardshell case or top case that would work something like the sidebags.

[papasong]

But not water resistant without the extra rain guard? That won't work here in the Pacific Northwest!
That all-weather protection is one of the things i like best about stowing the laptop in the BMW hard cases. Especially for dust/dirt.

I'm sure folks here have seen this, but has anyone tried it? Waterproof, and rackable on the back:

http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Ort ... 19144.html

[Josh_S]

I use a messenger bag from TIMBUK2 I have used there laptop messenger bag for years. Now I have a standard bag with a wide reflective patch for better visibility. I find it very comfortable, and strapped in it doesn't move around.


http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/mes ... -messenger

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/lap ... ct=2-78703

[deilenberger]

I think I'm gonna retire the ThinkPad today - give it to a friend who is a vendor here (MOA in TN) to take home and go buy a NetBook.. Thing is just too darn big and heavy. 3lbs and about 2/3rds the size has a lot to say for it..

[famousperson]

I just got a netbook yesterday. It's magic. 8 hours use with the optional battery. The specs are such that it can be used for darn near everything except gaming. And with an aircard I don't even need a hotspot to be wireless. I recommend a 10". The 8" I got is a wee bit smaller than ideal.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Famousperson...is this a netbook ? what model is it ?
Those this little thing top notch... I have a samsung NC10 and got it for $480.

Even certain games work with it...not all.

[famousperson]

Fred,

It's an Aspire One AOA150-1570 netbook, a discontinued model. The aircard is from Sprint, free when ordered over the internet with a two year contract. $60/mo. with 4 GB data transfer/mo. It works wherever you have (phone signal) bars, Worth every penny if you don't have access to hotspots, or just don't want to be bothered always having to look for one.

Some laptops are now being offered with built in aircards. I don't know if any netbooks are. The one I have is a little USB device, no trouble at all to carry around.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Et Voila !

Sorry for the Delay but I am very busy these days...

The computer is a netbook samsung NC10 available at $480 approx
The case is made by casecrown available at $30 approx http://www.casecrown.com/black-slim
The shade is made by compushade available at $25 approx http://www.compushade.com/viewarticle.php?page=58

I always carry this small netbook fully turned off in my GIVI luggage the sleeve is padded with memory foam and the netbook due to its portability has been design to resist more vibrations than usual laptops. The whole system stay very stable on the gaz tank due a kind of sticky vinyl material used for the sleeve.

The compushade is fixed with velcro on the back of the screen and stay always available to use or not inside the casecrown sleeve case... I just need 40 seconds to unfold it from behind the sreen to the front.

I use a Verizon EVDO wireless modem and obtain great comfort and excellent readability parked under a tree while dimming my screen at just %20 ...which provide me 5 to 6hrs browsing.. .. not bad when dealing with Californian light.








Tribute & Congratulation to "Rocket"
for his VERY nice picture on R1200R.org front page
(on the left)

Long Life ! to the British landscape...