More Information
 On: 2007-12-21
Ive tried to make a good waterproof luggage box for my daily 8.5 mile commute, even going so far as to cut up a kitchen trash container and jury-rigging it onto my rear bike rack. I saw a recent Nashbar ad for the City Box, and ordered one to try it. I saw some online reviews that claimed that it was "cheap thin plastic, like a plastic halloween pumpkin". That review also complained about the lack of locking capability, for securing the City Box to the bike rack. Still, I thought it was worth the money to try one.
When I got the City Box, I was immediately impressed by the solidity of the construction. No, it isnt nearly as robust as the luggage on the back of my BMW motorcycle, but I dont *want* it to be! I want a lightweight box, and this is certainly it. The instructions for attaching the box are in German, but the pictures are clear, and it took only minutes to attach the City Box to my aluminum rear rack on my old commuter bike. The City Box has a wonderful quick-detach feature. When properly set up, you can push a button and pop the City Box off and carry it with you, using the handle on top.
The Box rattled a bit when I first attached it, since the tubing on my aluminum rack is slightly smaller than the radius of the hooks on the quick-attach clamp. I put a bit of electrical tape over the aluminum, and with less than a minute of trial-and-error, I got the attachment to quit rattling, and it still detaches easily. The Box really doesnt rattle a bit--I commute in winter over rutted snow on the bike paths, and I dont hear a bit of rattling from the back of the bike.
As for security--the top of the box can be locked, and it is very easy to secure the box to the bike, simply by running my cable lock through the handle on the top of the box. No, this isnt perfectly secure, but it is plenty secure for most situations.
The one valid complaint Ive heard is about the size. I cant fit my satchel into the Box and close the lid, nor can I fit my laptop bag. It would seem to be a simple redesign to make a version of the City Box that was a bit taller, allowing for a typical laptop/bag to fit inside. For now, I carry larger stuff in a folding wire basket on the other side of the bike rack.
Also, if you have really big feet, you might find your feet occasionally bumping into the Box. I only find this happening when I ride in cold weather in Sorel snow boots, so it probably wont be a problem for most people.
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