Bags

San Francisco's Chrome has been making ultra-tough messenger bags for donkeys' years but only recently have they been making commuter-focused bags, and the Krakow is the smallest of their rucksack-like laptop carriers.

On first impressions, it's sleek, smart and very robust. The straps are comfy, and adjusted by industrial-style camlock grippers. All very flash: it makes you feel like you're off exploring, even if you're only riding along the Brompton Road to the office.

Way back in the mists of time, I tested the  Carradice Super C saddlebag. I fell in love with its simplicity, convenience and retro-styling and it has been strapped to my bike ever since. What I didn't fully appreciate is that the Super C is in effect the modern version of the Nelson, which is what I'm testing here.

£40 (or near as damn it) does at first glance seem a lot for a bicycle cover for that's what the Bike Parka is. After all, isn't a bike cover effectively just a sheet of polythene you pull over the bike when it's being left outside in the weather? Or, to put it another way, a protective barrier to shield your pride and joy from the ravages of the elements, the prying eyes of strangers and general all round grot? There, now £40 sounds a lot less scary doesn't it?

There's been a bit of a revival in interest in the good old musette of late. They've become a bit of a fashionable option for toting your bits and pieces about on the bike and off- a badge that says 'I'm a cyclist' in a moderately low-key way, even in your everyday life.

Very straightforward idea this from Commuter Technologies, and nice with it. Don't fancy cycling in your shirt, but need one for work? Can't afford a big stack of new ones at the office for a fresh shirt every day, like those greedy bankers undoubtedly do? Then try a Shirt Shuttle. It's a protective travel case for your shirt, so it'll stay nicely folded in your bag. It's easy to use and does the job perfectly.

Ah, it was almost such a good seatpack. The Exspider is a cavernous pack that'll easily swallow enough survival kit for an epic ride. The only problem is that if you do fill it up, it's not really built well enough for the job in hand.

Subtle changes have turned the latest version of the  Pro-Viz hi Visibility Rucksack into an extremely capable bag cum safety aid for commuting, utility riding and less extreme mountain biking. To be fair the original version was pretty good but better internal organisation now includes a dedicated laptop pouch, wallet and phone pockets leaving more room for a change of clothes and other, everyday essentials which adds to the useability.