Carradice Saddlebags

A happy ending...

Carradice will send me another one gratis.

^Ace

Factory Second Zipped Roll is from Debby on an off day.

29 x Sue
14 x Priscilla
12 x Debby
9 x Janet
8 x Andrea
7 x Christine
5 x Susan
5 x Emma
2 x Kelly
2 x Margareta
1 x Debi
1 x Gill
1 x Vicky

+1 For Margareta. Commuting with the Super C Saddlebag for ages now. Best thing I've ever bought.

29 x Sue
14 x Priscilla
12 x Debby
9 x Janet
8 x Andrea
7 x Christine
5 x Susan
5 x Emma
3 x Margareta
2 x Kelly
1 x Debi
1 x Gill
1 x Vicky

Where did yours snap? And how old was it?

Mine sheared yesterday - also not under a heavy load - at the point shown in the picture. Kind of looks like the reinforcement struts might have been limiting the natural flex in the rack, thus putting it under strain.

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@Diamond_Supercool @Brookly_Bay
My Bagman 2 also sheared in rather short time, I'd bought it at a time when it was all that was available, but then they brought back the non strut Bagman... Coincidence? I only reported my failure to Condor not Carradice, it was some time ago.
I've never had a stainless steel Bagman break, I just think the design and the materials of the Bagman 2 are not up to it. I wonder if it suffers more vibrations due to being held rigid. And the Bagman looks so much more elegant...

Zipped roll coped well with nights outside in v.heavy rain. Quite roomy too, easily carried 3 mtb inners, pump, tool roll, spare pads & gaffer tape.

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I emailed Carradice this morning to explain that my Bagman 2 had broken. They offered a replacement without question. Here's the reply.

Yes this has been a problem with the Bagman 2 which is made of alloy rather than steel as in the original model. We have since discontinued the Bagman 2 and reverted back to the steel ones. If you let me have your postal address, I will send you a replacement steel support. Please retain your quick release bracket which you will be able to use with the replacement.

The trouble is, my replacement will be an all-steel Bagman 1 (i.e. without the support struts). Although this means it probably won't snap, it also won't carry much more than a few kilos. If I have my Nelson Longflap fully loaded, even with clothes, it weighs more than the recommended 10kg limit for the Bagman 1.

Not keen on that fugly SQR system though. Someone needs to invent an elegant but heavy-duty support system.

I've used my Bagman2 without problem for a few years now, good to know a replacement is easily available should it give way!

Could you use some kind of p clip to attach the support struts to the bagman 1 frame?

that's good to know.
mine broke years ago and has long since been replaced by a steel one, so I'm not too bothered. I feel that it's a bit of a shame they sold the Bagman 2 for as long as they did...

perhaps I'll email them to mention the little allen key bolts on the side that tighten everything up, they seem to be an awkward size and easily round out (maybe only the non-QR versions).

Use ordinary allen key bolts, 5mm by 12 mm in length. Problem solved. They do stick out a bit, but they work heaps better than the grub screws.

It does frustrate me that they felt the need to use a 6mm bolt for the saddle clamp, 5mm to adjust the length of the arms, and 4mm to set the width. Only gripe I've had!

yes I've replaced them with whatever seemed to work out of my box of random bolts :)

Steel rack with black alloy struts would look even crappier than the normal Bagman 2.

Speaking of Bagmans (Bagmen?), have some photos of the ghetto version that I knocked up. All in the finest British tradition of hammering things together in sheds. Seems to work ok though, it has the advantage that only the saddle-mounted bracket stays on the bike and I've carried over 5kg on it with no trouble. The other day I even forgot to put the seatpost-stay in place and the quick release alone held it nicely horizontal.

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Wouldn't the original struts work with some rack spares slid over the new steel one before you insert into the quick release?

Well done, nice Carrabodge.

Wasn't too happy with Kelly's stats..here's the old SQR Tour

29 x Sue
14 x Priscilla
11 x Debby
9 x Janet
8 x Andrea
7 x Christine
5 x Susan
5 x Emma
3 x Kelly
2 x Margareta
1 x Debi
1 x Gill
1 x Vicky

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Carradice Super C Saddlebag + Bagman Expedition QR Support. Lovingly made by Andrea.

29 x Sue
14 x Priscilla
11 x Debby
9 x Janet
9 x Andrea
7 x Christine
5 x Susan
5 x Emma
3 x Kelly
2 x Margareta
1 x Debi
1 x Gill
1 x Vicky

Having real problems with my saddlepack, can't keep it still (swings round like a fooker), hangs really low on the rails rather than right at the back of the saddle. Anybody had similar problems?

Tbh that sounds pretty much like all of carradices packs. Maybe you need a rack or bagman support.

May just buy some webbing and buckles and get the sewing machine out, after I've sent pics and email to Carradice of course.

I've just got myself a seconhand Super C made by Janet she's catching up with Debby.
It came with a Bagman 2 non QR.

29 x Sue
14 x Priscilla
11 x Debby
10 x Janet
9 x Andrea
7 x Christine
5 x Susan
5 x Emma
3 x Kelly
2 x Margareta
1 x Debi
1 x Gill
1 x Vicky

Carradice Super C all the things! (Well, it's a beginning...)

Edit: nearly forgot the most important... Factory forum spreadsheet:
30 x Sue
14 x Priscilla
11 x Debby
10 x Janet
9 x Andrea
7 x Christine
5 x Susan
5 x Emma
3 x Kelly
2 x Margareta
1 x Debi
1 x Gill
1 x Vicky

The handle bar bag, an eBay find, has another older type of label. Much simpler, but sadly no name after the "by:..." prompt.

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Bag so high, you need some weight to keep it down.