Velotaflying is becoming increasingly popular. But when you’re just starting out, it’s not always easy to choose the right equipment. We’re no longer talking about a leisurely bike ride, but about daily use that requires good organisation and quality equipment. Without this, there’s a good chance that an improvised bike trip will turn into a disaster and you’ll be lost forever. So you’re going to have to carry all the things you need for your work. You’ll need to make choices and opt for the most appropriate equipment. A velotaf backpack? A basket? Both solutions have advantages and disadvantages.
You’re going to need to carry all the equipment you’ll need to ensure you have good working conditions. This usually means notebooks, notepads, folders, pens, etc. But you may also need to carry a laptop. A notebook and a computer are not transported in the same way. It’s best to protect your computer from knocks and the elements. You’ll certainly want to have your mobile phone to hand, or a pocket for your house keys or anti-theft device. So you need to have several separate storage areas so you can sort your things quickly.
Another constraint of the vélotaf that you don’t have when you travel by car, for example, is the need to have a change of clothes. It’s difficult to dress in the same way at work as when you’re cycling. For your safety, you’ll need to wear reinforced clothing if possible (to protect you in the event of a fall) and, above all, conspicuous clothing, so that you can be easily spotted by other road users. Day or night, rain or shine, you need to be seen. It’s also more comfortable to be able to change when you arrive. Whether you’ve had a heavy downpour that has soaked you or you’ve sweated during the journey because of the heat, a change of clothes is essential. You should therefore plan to be able to carry them along with the rest of your belongings.
The basket has a huge advantage: its capacity. One or more baskets can be fitted to the bike to carry a relatively large quantity of equipment. There are baskets that attach to the front, usually on the handlebars, and others that attach to the rear, on the luggage rack. While the procedure is quite simple, attaching a basket to the bike requires special equipment.
Using a basket is very simple: you just put whatever you want in it. For the velotaf, it’s a bit more complicated. You can’t put your stuff directly into the basket. So you’ll need one or more bags in which to store your belongings. These bags will then be transported in the basket, secured if possible so that they move as little as possible during the journey. All you have to do is pick them up when you arrive. On the other hand, it’s important to provide protection against the elements and dust. A cover that fits over the basket will protect its contents and ensure that it arrives in good condition.
The basket can also provide extra safety on a cycle trip if it is fitted with reflective strips. Some models are fitted with reflectors as standard. These can be added to models that do not have them.
The disadvantage of the basket, however, is that if its contents are unevenly distributed, move during the journey or are too heavy, it can throw the bike off balance. This is probably less obvious with a basket fixed to the rear of the bike. However, a front-mounted basket that is incorrectly loaded or overloaded can quickly become dangerous, making the bike less manoeuvrable.
The first advantage of a rucksack is that you can take it wherever you want, without having to worry about carrying it on your bike, for example. And you won’t have to install any additional hardware on the bike, as you would with a basket or panniers. So it couldn’t be simpler to use.
A compartmentalised backpack, like those offered by Karkoa, makes it easier to organise your work gear. A reinforced compartment for a computer and easy-access inside and outside pockets are just some of the advantages of the velotaf backpack. Waterproof compartments and a shoe pocket mean you can also carry a change of clothes.
A good distribution of the bag’s contents, padded shoulder straps and back reinforcement will ensure you’re as comfortable as possible on your bike tour. The addition of a rain cover will ensure that your belongings remain protected from bad weather, dust and mud, whatever the conditions of your journeys.
As with a basket or panniers, you can attach reflective strips to your rucksack, or even small flashing lights, which will significantly improve your visibility and therefore your safety during cycle trips.
Using a velotaf backpack, provided of course that it is adapted to your morphology and your needs, is undoubtedly the most suitable and easiest solution. A basket can be useful for carrying more items (which will have to be placed in a bag anyway), but this will be at the expense of the bike’s manoeuvrability.
We are a French sports bag brand. To improve your daily life, we design our bags with various types of compartments: shoes, computer, dirty belongings, and insulated. Karkoa bags are suitable for athletes, workers and travelers because they are practical, resistant and comfortable.
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