My most consistant riding companion

Albert and I started our relationship about 13 years ago. Over that time I'm sure we've covered thousands of miles together on the bike. Add to that times we've taken plane rides together, road trips, and times we just hung around. ...

Yup, Albert and I have a history together. When I lived in Hawaii, Albert took a trip with me to Big Bear, California to see if I could find work at a (now extinct) mountain bike accessory company. Albert then came along when I moved my small family to Rochester. Albert has gone with us on trips back to Hawaii. Albert even went with us to Florida.

Meet Albert:

Yeah ... Albert is my old Timbuk2 bag. I Custom ordered Albert when I was working at Island Triathlon. Albert (a Bolo) replaced a Dee-Dog bag I purchased a little earlier, because I needed more space for junk.

To be completely honest, this post about Albert was inspired by recent Dirt Rag blog postings about bags.

Albert wasn't always named Albert. At first he was just "my bag." When we moved to Rochester, but, before I started working at the bike shop, I worked for a temp agency doing light industrial work. (Hah! Industrial true, but not what I'd call light. It was hard work, plus I would have to put in some 12-14 hr days starting at 5am!) While working there, the uniform I had to wear was from an ex-employee the place had, and the name tag that was on it was? ... Albert. When I quit there to work at the bike shop, I took the name badge off the uniform and sewed it on the bag. From that day on, it has been Albert.

Albert has always been my commuter friend. Carrying shoes, clothes, books, computers, papers and really anything I need. Albert only complains when I really load him up. I've carried 12 paks of drink, and then some. I've even put my kids in him.

No I havn't put 40lbs of gravel in him. But only because I've never had the need to.

But here's a typical day's load for Albert. It includes my heart rate monitor case, iPod, pants, arm & knee warmers, cool weather gloves, a skull cap, waterproof helmet cover, blinky light, cell phone, u-lock, safety pins, footbag, food, coffee and a Gideons New Testament-Psalms-Proverbs (Gideons Bible).