My previous work laptop got some issues in late life where it would restart constantly, crash multiple times a day, etc. Coincidently it began after I started biking to work (probably 4 months after) with my laptop in the pannier twice a week (at most 3 times a week, so 6 rides) So I am thinking it may be related.
We got a tech refresh at work so I have a nice new HP Elitebook with SSD, and I want to keep it pristine, so I am taking more precautions. I have water pipe insulation tubes for each end. I have a neoprene cushioned sleeve coming in today for it, but in the meantime, I wrap it in my dry towel. Ride is 11 miles each way, flat, but the transitions from bike path-road-bike path are pretty shitty and likely the main cause of the vibrations.
by Dopeydcare1
20 Comments
Your laptop should be okay mate.
Do you crash your bike a lot? Cause I bring my laptop on my bike everyday for years and have zero issues. Just toss it in the pannier right beside my u lock.
Do you fully shutdown your laptop before putting it in your bag?
Put mine in a slim computer bag and to the pannier. Never had an issue. Commuting almost every day like that for many years.
I normally use a padded sleeve for my laptop(s), but for a while I didn’t and was fine for years. THEN, one time, I had a glass container for my lunch and my bike fell over on its side from a standstill. The glass container punched through the padding into the back of the laptop and caused the screen to crack and stop working at the point of impact on the other side. So if my bike had never fallen, or if I didn’t have a glass container (although I pretty much always do), my laptop would still be intact. But it was just that one time, and went for years without a problem (and no problems since, still using glass).
That is some coddling of a laptop!
I’d just shove it in my bag and I’ve never once had a problem, even in winter with ice falls.
Replying to all: It seems that I must have a case of “correlation does not equal causation” based off of all of your helpful anecdotes. Must have just been a dud laptop going on the end of its life. Or maybe the one time I did drop it messed it up. Thank you for your advice and confirmation that the laptop will be more than fine
I wrap mine in a dress shirt (that I can later wear in the office) and slide it into the pannier. I have been doing this for years with no issues.
I wrap mine in a dress shirt (that I can later wear in the office) and slide it into the pannier. I have been doing this for years with no issues.
I wrap mine in a dress shirt (that I can later wear in the office) and slide it into the pannier. I have been doing this for years with no issues.
I wrap mine in a dress shirt (that I can later wear in the office) and slide it into the pannier. I have been doing this for years with no issues.
I wrap mine in a dress shirt (that I can later wear in the office) and slide it into the pannier. I have been doing this for years with no issues.
I wrap mine in a dress shirt (that I can later wear in the office) and slide it into the pannier. I have been doing this for years with no issues.
I chuck my MacBook in a sling backpack and chuck that backpack into a pannier or sometimes into a food delivery backpack that I install into a cargo basket.
I just chuck mine in the pannier with my phone and a bike chain lock with zero incident. Anecdotally, it’ll be fine.
Looks good to me! Unfortunately, it’s still an HP.
Hmm, maybe a bit more protection, it might still break into a thousand pieces 😉
When I had a work laptop for my last job, I just put it into the inner sleeve in my pannier and it was fine. Also being in a padded sleeve/case while it’s in there should be more than enough.
I got a pelican laptop case after wiping out in the rain on the way to class and realizing that I could have totally destroyed my laptop. I think it was like 80 bucks so not exactly free but still pretty affordable for peace of mind.
Neoprene sleeve and in the bag she goes. Been doing that for years and never had an issue.
I’m guessing your last laptop used a hard drive instead of an ssd, vibrations can cause issues with hard drives and other similarly sensitive equipment like camera shutter mechanisms. Provided this new one has an ssd you’ll be fine with no protection at all, my Surface Laptop has been fine with nothing.