What is the best kind of backpack?

What is the best kind of backpack for a long bicycle commute?

• I ride my bike to and from work, and it's about a 8 mile trip each way. I usually carry things in my school bookbag, but my back gets insanely sweaty. I've tried other bookbags, but they made my back hurt. Is there a cycling-friendly backpack that won't make me sweaty and won't hurt on long rides?

• Answer:

  One solution would be a rack or basket for your bike [behind the saddle - more stable]. It would probably cost about the same as a new bag but could put almost anything you like in it, ride faster and not have the sweaty back. It is always better to carry stuff on the bike rather than your body, the bike then carries the weight - all you have to do is make it roll, plus you run cooler too! All your energy can be put in to moving forward not weight lifting. A lot of leisure Mountain Bikers use rucksacks for food, drinks and tools on the trail but if you watch a big MTB race almost no one uses them because they slow you down. Seasoned cycle tourists rarely have anything on their backs and Tour de France cyclists NEVER have rucksacks because it has the same effect as being overweight [for your body; 3 kg of rucksack is the same as 3 kg of fat!] Think of it like this... If you were pushing an empty wheelbarrow would you carry the big heavy rucksack on your back? No, thought not, just think of your bike as a hi-tech wheelbarrow, it can be used just the same way. Have a cool ride!