Luggage on a Brompton for Touring


If you are looking for a well-tested solution for securely attaching a regular backpack to a Brompton bike, I thought I would share some pictures clearly showing how it works. It has been tested in multiple tours I have taken on a Brompton and used by many Brompton cyclists; this simple hack works really well. You can use any backpack you might already have, but I find that a 45L capacity is about the perfect size. The shoulder straps are harnessed over a horizontal bar (I use an empty tubular metal, but anything sturdy would work. Broomstick, anyone?) attached to the saddle by means of leather straps. A couple of large-sized zip ties also do the job really well if you don't want to buy similar straps. The waist strap is tied to the seat post as a way to further secure the backpack as well as giving it more stability. The Brompton rack bungee cords are then tied to the bottom of the sack to make sure it doesn't shift forward and hinder pedaling. Another benefit of this system is the fact that it is very quick to dismount the rack and put it back where it belongs, on your shoulders! This setup is very stable and makes a rucksack the perfect cycle touring solution on a Brompton.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

It seems like the backpack would shift around as you move. Is that not the case?

Gianni Filippini said...

Hi there, not at all. It is tied in 3 different places. Shoulder harness over the bar, the waist belt is tied around the seat post and to keep it moving back and forth, bunjees are holding it towards the back. It is actually very stable as far at you tie things securely and tight.

Anonymous said...

Great page. Inspiring. What did you use for the crossbar? I noticed you have one here that is different from the one in the packing the bike video. - David

Gianni Filippini said...

Thanks David. The crossbar is the same one. If I remember right I used one of the metal legs of a microphone stand... :) Good thing about it is that it is hollow inside and I use the space to put some spare spokes which could be handy. Caps are again from the stand and they do work well to keep the backpack straps in place but I don't think this is a must. Anything sturdy works, I have seen people using a thick wooden broom stick handle cut to size etc... Chances are you can find something around that does the trick!

toddgrx said...

I've been wondering what folks do. Saw this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLnxGIGva-I

asked this question: what's the device used to hold the internal frame packs to the brompton rack? I noticed the belt strap goes around the seat post (0:56)and appears the shoulder strap goes around some sort of bar (0:49). looks fairly secure (0:59-1:07)

theirs looks like a commercially made item, but I could be mistaken

Gianni Filippini said...

Not sure about their system. The one I detailed in my posts and videos is a well tested way to carry a backpack on a Brompton and has been used by people such as Heinz Stucke to travel all around the world. You don't need commercially bought items. The bar I use for example is a microphone stand leg... but any metal bar or even a broomstick cut would probably do! Belt strap goes around the seat post to further secure the balance of the back pack and avoid any back and forth movement. Hope this helps.

toddgrx said...

Thanks... I've been deciding on buying a Brompton. More for local about town riding: 15-20 min commute, shopping trips, metro rides. But your blog inspires me to travel farther

Unknown said...

Hi Gianni - what length is your ‘horizontal bar’? I could cut / test a few different sizes but as yours is obviously the perfect size I plan on just ‘copying & pasting’ your spec & I’m good to go!

Thanks in advance.

Mark

Anonymous said...

Does this backpack at the back not create a lot more wind resistance, especially into a headwind?

Brompton Traveler said...

It does create resistance but so do panniers or any large bags you carry on a bike when touring. Bike packing around the frame is possible on larger bikes but even that is limiting as it forces you to carry very little which is ok for short tours but not for longer ones where you want to carry what you need to be comfortable. Cheers