Hard to support them when they don't have much and are overpriced. Been looking at Topeak saddle bags with straps (hate the hardware connect stuff) for my roadie. I have to have a medium as the large sits right on my tail light riding at night. So I went to 4 different bike shops and they really sucked. Most had nothing but small bags which don't carry much. I have about 3 of those I use on short night local rides where I don't need much other than a spare and keys.
One dude pulled out some crazy folding strap this and that model as his suggestion, no thanks! He had no medium zipper bags at all. Hmm!
Before I forget, the Topeak is pretty nice. Thick and well constructed. Nice light clip strap. Seems very secure. I have the same model in large for the tandem. Really like it. I don't think my light would have slipped off this bag like it did a few weeks ago on a broad daylight ride losing my red blinkie.
But going to 4 stores, wasting gas and time, nothing! I did a search and came with what I needed from Pro Bike Kit dot com. On sale for $13, $10 shipping, totaled about $23 something shipped. Ordered last night Tuesday, tracking says will be delivered on Friday. Not bad!
Not bad considering the shops want $25 plus for these bags and smaller models just as expensive. And I would have paid the $25 at a shop if they HAD ONE! The other stuff they had looked like junk!
Another shop had high end stuff but $40? It's a bag!
So it gets harder and harder to support the local shops. Can't even get decent basic stuff anymore. Heck, seems like if I need anything other than tubes or tire levers, it doesn't work out going to local shops anymore.
Like the tires. Conti GP 5000, 3 delivered for $121 whereas if I go to a local bike shop, I'll get 1 for nearly $100 after tax. Might as well spend a few more and get 3.
Sad, but people like me, and there are plenty that do their own wrenching, don't need or see the value in local bike shops any longer.
One dude pulled out some crazy folding strap this and that model as his suggestion, no thanks! He had no medium zipper bags at all. Hmm!
Before I forget, the Topeak is pretty nice. Thick and well constructed. Nice light clip strap. Seems very secure. I have the same model in large for the tandem. Really like it. I don't think my light would have slipped off this bag like it did a few weeks ago on a broad daylight ride losing my red blinkie.
But going to 4 stores, wasting gas and time, nothing! I did a search and came with what I needed from Pro Bike Kit dot com. On sale for $13, $10 shipping, totaled about $23 something shipped. Ordered last night Tuesday, tracking says will be delivered on Friday. Not bad!
Not bad considering the shops want $25 plus for these bags and smaller models just as expensive. And I would have paid the $25 at a shop if they HAD ONE! The other stuff they had looked like junk!
Another shop had high end stuff but $40? It's a bag!
So it gets harder and harder to support the local shops. Can't even get decent basic stuff anymore. Heck, seems like if I need anything other than tubes or tire levers, it doesn't work out going to local shops anymore.
Like the tires. Conti GP 5000, 3 delivered for $121 whereas if I go to a local bike shop, I'll get 1 for nearly $100 after tax. Might as well spend a few more and get 3.
Sad, but people like me, and there are plenty that do their own wrenching, don't need or see the value in local bike shops any longer.