Transporting a laptop is one of the biggest challenges for commuting cyclists. Keeping your laptop dry, secure and protected from bumps and scrapes isn’t easy. Worse still, a laptop is probably the most expensive item that you’ll carry, so the...
Pannier. Pan-ey-er. Pan-e-yeh. However you pronounce it, the humble pannier bag has been helping cyclists carry their belongings for nigh on a century. Commonplace in cycle touring, now more commonly referred to as bikepacking, panniers are also popular amongst urban cyclists. Often,...
Messenger bags are the companion of choice for most cyclists on their daily commute. These bags make it easy to transition from the road to the office with minimal fuss. Below you’ll find a collection of the best commuter messenger...
Folding bikes are fantastic. They’re convenient, save on space and are brilliant if you commute to work and bicycle storage is an issue. A folding bike requires a bag to realise its full potential, though. Being able to carry your...
Craft Cadence’s 2022 IPXS waterproof roll top promises a backpack that’s both lightweight and packed with storage, stylish yet functional. Craft Cadence has long been a leader in the commuter backpack field, but how does this latest offering shape up?...
Finding the right cycling backpack is a tough job – especially when you have an eye on style! Cycling backpacks need to be many things; robust yet comfortable, spacious but lightweight, waterproof while easy to access in a hurry. Getting...
If like me, you love having extra storage (which of course comes in handy for extra morale snacks and spares) while out riding, you may have considered buying a top tube bag. In this piece I’ll be taking a look...
My glasses go with me wherever I go. As such, they are fitted by a trained optician, each element entirely customised and tuned to me and my requirements. It also took no fewer than 37 messages, photos and videos on...
Founded in California in 1974, Osprey has consistently been one of the biggest brands within the outdoor accessories market. In recent times they have even produced some tote style bags as well as rolling luggage cases with the same robust...
Backpacks are an essential item for carrying all of your possessions when commuting. Equally, being visible to other road users when commuting is paramount, hence the reflective backpack is a great and practical addition to your armory. Whether it’s a...
Rapha is one of those brands that, every now and then, creates a product so damn beautiful that you can’t help but admit that you actually fancy it and would consider settling down with it to raise a family. Or...
Typically, when I commute, I need to carry my laptop with me. That means I normally need a decent sized backpack (which at the moment is Chrome’s Mazer Vigil Pack). But sometimes, particularly on an exploratory weekend ride, I don’t...
There was a point in time when I wanted to be a professional cyclist. But not the lycra-clad, hairless-legged, genetically freakish variety… for some reason I had decided that in every way my dream job was being a bike messenger....
Every now and then, when I make a post about backpacks, I get a comment something along the lines of “urgh, backpack! Ride with a pannier bag!” However, the trouble I found with most pannier bags is that while they’re...
Never underestimate how crucial the right backpack is to enjoying your commute. Whether you’re sweating in the relentless heat or braving the wind and rain, you want your rucksack to give you a helping hand, rather than make life more...
Being a regular cyclist doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to commutes to and from work or the shops, or for leisurely rides up and down your nearest cycling trail. Next time you head on holiday, why not bring...
Are you tired and pained from lugging those heavy, aching loads around on your bike with no extra support? If so, there’s only one thing for it – you need a good pannier bag. Pannier bags can support a much...
What do the Bible, £50,000 and 20 servings of lamb curry have in common? Or perhaps a laptop, 2 tomahawks and a spare change of underwear? Well, these are all things that at some point have been in my rucksack...
For a while, I’ve been looking for a lightweight backpack that I can use to carry my laptop and some other daily essentials. Not a chunky bag that can carry all my gym gear and what not, just a slim...
If you’re looking for a convenient bag which offers quick and easy access while riding, handlebar bags for bikes are definitely the way you should be looking. They offer you the ideal place for you to store the belongings you...
If you find yourself carrying your valuables to work on your back every morning, having a rucksack that suits your needs is essential to a good commute. Whether it’s for sturdiness, fashion or visibility, at least one of these six...
If you’ve got a backpack you love, but it’s not waterproof, then a waterproof backpack cover might well be your saving grace when a downpour arrives. This is one of the latest cycling accessories from CYCL, the company behind Winglights...
Ever since I started Discerning Cyclist (over seven years ago now, crikey!), Chrome Industries has always struck me as a brand that just gets urban cycling. They understand that commuters and other city riders don’t really want to carry a...
I’ve been enjoying trying out a bit of Chrome Industries gear in the past year. First the impressive Ex Gas Can Waterproof Backpack, then the legendary 415 Workboot and, most recently, I’ve been getting to grips with the Vale Sling...
A good bag for cycling is important to enable you carry your stuff around in comfort. Some people look for the best cycling backpack, rucksack or messenger bag, while others prefer to let their bicycle do the work in the...
Sometimes the most important consideration when choosing a backpack is whether or not it’s waterproof. If you’re riding around town with your valuables – such as your laptop – and there’s a downpour on the horizon, you don’t want to...
If you want a tough waterproof backpack for cycling, the Craft Cadence IPX5 is more than a worthy contender. This isn’t one of “will it/won’t it?” waterproof backpacks that are “water resistant” and should keep your stuff dry in all...
When it comes to bags, there are many options available to urban cyclists: the messenger bag – as popularised by bike couriers, pannier bags and of course, the good old backpack. While many may disagree with me from a style/sweaty...
When I was a Spin back in May, one of the products that really caught my eye was the GO LED Bag from Port Designs. I had a little play with it at the exhibition and was really impressed, and...
When I’m writing a review for Discerning Cyclist, I try to ensure I cover all the bases: what the product is suitable for, how the product looks, good points, bad points and, of course, letting you know the features of...
1. 🪖Fend ONE Folding Helmet
A folding helmet that actually looks good.
2. 🧥Helly Hansen Hooded Rain Jacket
Stay dry in style.
3. 🧴Muc-Off Ultimate Bicycle Cleaning Kit
Keep your bike feeling brand new.
4. 👖DUER-All Weather Jeans
Waterproof cycling jeans. Seriously.
5. 🎒Rapha Reflective Backpack
A beautiful backpack that you can't miss.
