Getting the right backpack makes a massive difference

WHEN I STARTED riding (shortly after Noah) the only luggage I had was a 1980s camping rucksack. It was great — huge and sometimes showerproof… and heavy and tiring to wear for long distances, as it had the drag coefficient of a block of flats. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I came to prefer tailpacks...

But that’s the thing with riding a bike… rucksacks are always useful. Maybe not on every trip (especially if you ride mostly for pleasure) but whether you’re popping stuff round to a mate or commuting every day, you can’t beat a backpack. As long as it’s a good one. They hide the weight, keep your gear dry and aren’t a tiring drag to wear.

We gathered 20 biking rucksacks for a back-toback test. I said back-to... oh, forget it. Anyway, you can find the perfect bag for you on p78.

Enjoy this issue — and enjoy your riding.