Seat or Handlebar Bag Recommendation Needed

[Art Harris]

I've been using an expandable Jandd Wedge seat bag which has a maximum
capacity of 175 cu in.. See:
http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FMWEX

It has worked well, but sometimes I'd like a little more room to carry
snacks, leg warmers, or a small camera (in addition to tools, two spare
tubes, and cell phone). I don't want to go to a huge bag or a rack.

Any recommendations for a slightly larger seat bag? Are there any small
handlebar bags that won't interfere with STI shift cables?

Thanks,
Art Harris

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Art Harris:
>I've been using an expandable Jandd Wedge seat bag which has a maximum
>capacity of 175 cu in.. See:
>http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FMWEX
>
>It has worked well, but sometimes I'd like a little more room to carry
>snacks, leg warmers, or a small camera (in addition to tools, two spare

I use the JanDD wedges for my tool roll, spare tube, patch kit, and so-forth.

Mostly I carry other stuff in a hip pack - but when I don't want to wear the hip
pack or am carrying too much (as in street clothes when riding to work...) I use
one of these: http://www.wallbike.com/carradice/sqrbags.html

Pricey and I can pick nits on the side pouches and main closure... but for me it
works. The functionality I like is:

- Quick-on and quick-off

- Shoulder strap

- Acts like a rear fender in the wet

- Works equally well on hardtail and FS

- Stiff shape - not floppy - more convenient for temporary storage


If I had a bike with a rear carrier, I'd probably look for the same concept,
only in something that quick-released from the carrier and rode as low as
possible.
--
PeteCresswell

 

[Paul Kopit]

On 1 Mar 2006 06:21:47 -0800, "Art Harris" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Any recommendations for a slightly larger seat bag?

IMHO, by far the best is an Ortlieb.
<http://www.ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lang=en&produkt=saddlebag>. It's
waterproof and can be contracted/expanded to size. I have the large
and also like the fact that it doesn't weigh more than what you put
inside. The downside is it co$ts. I got mine from Jon Peter White
<http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/ortlieb.asp>

 

[Ozark Bicycle]

Art Harris wrote:

<snipped>

> Are there any small
> handlebar bags that won't interfere with STI shift cables?
>

Take a look at the Cannondale Toot Handlebar bag at Nashbar:

http://tinyurl.com/ot3j5

A friend has one on her bike; well thought out, well made, inexpensive
and will fit STI equipped 'bars.

 

[SMS]

Paul Kopit wrote:
> On 1 Mar 2006 06:21:47 -0800, "Art Harris" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Any recommendations for a slightly larger seat bag?
>
> IMHO, by far the best is an Ortlieb.
> <http://www.ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lang=en&produkt=saddlebag>. It's
> waterproof and can be contracted/expanded to size. I have the large
> and also like the fact that it doesn't weigh more than what you put
> inside. The downside is it co$ts. I got mine from Jon Peter White
> <http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/ortlieb.asp>

Nice bags, but even the large size is smaller than what the original
poster is already using.

The Cannondale Fastbag 240 is 240 cubic inches, which may be enough over
175 cubic inches to suit his needs.

"http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=20925&subcategory_ID=2310"

There are not a lot of very large wedge packs.

 

[[email protected]]

Art Harris wrote:
> I've been using an expandable Jandd Wedge seat bag which has a maximum
> capacity of 175 cu in.. See:
> http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FMWEX
>
> It has worked well, but sometimes I'd like a little more room to carry
> snacks, leg warmers, or a small camera (in addition to tools, two spare
> tubes, and cell phone). I don't want to go to a huge bag or a rack.
>
> Any recommendations for a slightly larger seat bag? Are there any small
> handlebar bags that won't interfere with STI shift cables?
>
> Thanks,
> Art Harris

I have the Jandd seatpack you mention and find it works exceptionally
well for 99% of the time. But for medium length brevets I will use a
250 or so cubic inch Kirkland expandable seatpack. No longer made of
course. You might consider the Jandd Mountain Wedge III pack. It is
quite big at about 380 cubic inches, before expanding. You can use it
without the cords down to the rear dropouts. It does flop around when
untethered. Bob Breedlove would put weights in his and ride with it
flopping about, untethered. I never asked him why he did not use the
tehter cords and keep the bag and weights from flopping. But if you
only put light stuff in it, its OK. And since you only use it
occasionally, it might work for you.

 

[SMS]

[email protected] wrote:

> I have the Jandd seatpack you mention and find it works exceptionally
> well for 99% of the time. But for medium length brevets I will use a
> 250 or so cubic inch Kirkland expandable seatpack. No longer made of
> course. You might consider the Jandd Mountain Wedge III pack. It is
> quite big at about 380 cubic inches, before expanding.

Wow, that thing is huge. Too bizarre of a mounting system with those
bungee cords.

I think that the Cannondale Fastbag 240 is about as big as I'd go with
what's currently available.

Is Kirkland out of business? Maybe Costco bought the name from them!

 

[Booker C. Bense]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

In article <[email protected]>,
Art Harris <[email protected]> wrote:
>I've been using an expandable Jandd Wedge seat bag which has a maximum
>capacity of 175 cu in.. See:
>http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FMWEX
>
>It has worked well, but sometimes I'd like a little more room to carry
>snacks, leg warmers, or a small camera (in addition to tools, two spare
>tubes, and cell phone). I don't want to go to a huge bag or a rack.
>
>Any recommendations for a slightly larger seat bag? Are there any small
>handlebar bags that won't interfere with STI shift cables?
>

_ Detours makes some really nice stuff in the intermediate range
that you're looking at, kind of in between a seat bag and a
seatpost rack w/bag.

http://tinyurl.com/lwo3w

_ The nice thing is that once you get the doodad on your seatpost
you can switch between the everyday Bobtail and the long
ride/camera size High Tail Trunk. They also make a smaller
handlebar bag as well.

_ Booker C. Bense



-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.2

iQCVAwUBRAXzlWTWTAjn5N/lAQELRAP/WUCwYF5VmQZR+t5qNlQt5ibrA3ZL4zsj
B2cQ3hIRoqzKoJfP5vx6aoMwbfWDl0U3eScJOOkzz86R6odxW28ipsUvtqY7qbGa
fHO4ARGRVrzq5LTpbyaizM931STooZcZkhKvSUN1fQQjQot0NGXfLnmuilOoYMuX
QCXpM/lVg8o=
=fFad
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

 

[mark]

"Art Harris" wrote...
> I've been using an expandable Jandd Wedge seat bag which has a maximum
> capacity of 175 cu in.. See:
> http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FMWEX
>
> It has worked well, but sometimes I'd like a little more room to carry
> snacks, leg warmers, or a small camera (in addition to tools, two spare
> tubes, and cell phone). I don't want to go to a huge bag or a rack.
>
> Any recommendations for a slightly larger seat bag? Are there any small
> handlebar bags that won't interfere with STI shift cables?
>
> Thanks,
> Art Harris
>

Jandd makes a larger expandable wedge that might be a little larger than you
want, the expandable Mountain Wedge III. My own is nice, but I can usually
get by with something smaller.

Rivendell offers the Banana Bag
(http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/baggage_racks/20082.html) which I
find perfect for the use you describe. The other Rivendell seat bags are
beautiful but probably bigger than you want.
--
mark

 

[[email protected]]

does the fork have room for a 6mm hole? drill and bolt a u shaped
aluminum strap from homedepot or scrap at 1"x1/8" appprox
bolt the loose end together loosely - leave the bolt middle naked
get a bag to fit in between whatever you have on the bar - like the
outside bar bend
put a 1x board to fit in bag botttom
place bag on U
hook shockcord to naked bolt middle, wrap up along bag front to stem
loop around stem and half hitch
loop around bag handles if necessary for yaw and pitch control
load with 20 pounds if yagotta good bag - i accumulated a pile of $50+
designer woman's bags at $1 per thrift
walmart has a local sale for long gym bags at $8
but homedepot has construction bags at the back tools

 

[Nigel Cliffe]

Art Harris wrote:
> I've been using an expandable Jandd Wedge seat bag which has a maximum
> capacity of 175 cu in.. See:
> http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FMWEX
>
> It has worked well, but sometimes I'd like a little more room to carry
> snacks, leg warmers, or a small camera (in addition to tools, two
> spare tubes, and cell phone). I don't want to go to a huge bag or a
> rack.
>
> Any recommendations for a slightly larger seat bag? Are there any
> small handlebar bags that won't interfere with STI shift cables?

For the rear:
As well as the Carradice SQR tour mentioned before (16litre = 260 cu in *)
there are other Carradice products which you can get in the US through
specialists listed on their website.

They do saddle bags of various sizes; 7 litre through to 24litre (yes, huge,
I make it 390 cu in !). There are a range of supports for them which stop
them swinging around alarmingly behind seats (called the Bagman).

www.carradice.co.uk






* assumes my metric conversion is correct !


- Nigel


--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

 

[Nigel Cliffe]

Nigel Cliffe wrote:
> Art Harris wrote:
>> I've been using an expandable Jandd Wedge seat bag which has a
>> maximum capacity of 175 cu in.. See:
>> http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FMWEX
>>
>> It has worked well, but sometimes I'd like a little more room to
>> carry snacks, leg warmers, or a small camera (in addition to tools,
>> two spare tubes, and cell phone). I don't want to go to a huge bag
>> or a rack.
>>
>> Any recommendations for a slightly larger seat bag? Are there any
>> small handlebar bags that won't interfere with STI shift cables?
>
> For the rear:
> As well as the Carradice SQR tour mentioned before (16litre = 260 cu
> in *)

> * assumes my metric conversion is correct !

Which it wasn't. I think its nearer 970 cu inch !



--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

 

[Art Harris]

Thanks for all the suggestions on the various bags. I hadn't seen some
of those before, and now I'm trying to choose the one that's right for
my needs.

I'm leaning towards keeping my Jandd seat wedge, and adding a small
handlebar bag that I can attach when needed. The Detours Metro and
Topeak Compact both look interesting, but I'm a little leery of
attaching quick release doo-dads to my bar/stem (especially since I
have two bikes). Anyone have experience with either of those two?

http://tinyurl.com/q5ssp
http://www.topeak.com/products/bag_017.html

The Cannondale Toot looks like a simpler alternative.
http://tinyurl.com/kcsxk

Last night I looked at all the stuff in my Jandd wedge and decided I
could do without things like a 6-inch adjustable wrench and a full size
screwdriver! The chain tool stays; I'm not going to tempt fate!

Art Harris

 

[Art Harris]

Well, here's what I ended up buying at the Eastern Mountain Sports
store in the local mall. It's light, cheap (maybe a little flimsy), but
just the size bag I was looking for.

http://tinyurl.com/kx9ya

Art Harris

 

[Matt O'Toole]

On Thu, 02 Mar 2006 05:48:40 -0800, Art Harris wrote:

> Thanks for all the suggestions on the various bags. I hadn't seen some
> of those before, and now I'm trying to choose the one that's right for
> my needs.
>
> I'm leaning towards keeping my Jandd seat wedge, and adding a small
> handlebar bag that I can attach when needed. The Detours Metro and
> Topeak Compact both look interesting, but I'm a little leery of
> attaching quick release doo-dads to my bar/stem (especially since I
> have two bikes). Anyone have experience with either of those two?
>
> http://tinyurl.com/q5ssp
> http://www.topeak.com/products/bag_017.html
>
> The Cannondale Toot looks like a simpler alternative.
> http://tinyurl.com/kcsxk
>
> Last night I looked at all the stuff in my Jandd wedge and decided I
> could do without things like a 6-inch adjustable wrench and a full size
> screwdriver! The chain tool stays; I'm not going to tempt fate!

I use the same bag, which has been terrific. It carries my tools, tubes,
patch kit, and extra clothing, including my rain jacket (just). I carry
my wallet, phone, and food in my jersey pockets.

Maybe you could trim the load a little -- do you really need all those
tools, etc?

If I was to go bigger I'd probably get one of those Carradice bags
with a QR seatpost mount.

But for camera, phone, and food, you can't beat a handlebar bag if you
don't want to carry them in your pockets.

Matt O.