Carradice Saddlebags

OK, so I purchased a Nelson Long-Flap for the Tweed Run and I'm now using it daily.

It's awesome, so nice to not have to carry anything on your back.

Upsides:

• Spacious
  
• Easily fits to the bike
  
• Looks good (definitely isn't ugly)
  
• Nothing on your back
  
• Totally waterproof
  
  

Downsides:

• Currently it is permanently fixed to the bike... leather straps all over the place, not a quick release so when I lock the bike the bag stays on it (I am using an inner liner to lift the contents out easily)
  
• Being fixed, that bit when you stop and lift the rear of the bike to re-align the pedals... that's really not so easy now, there's a weight over the back wheel
  
  

The quick release thing I'll want to sort out. Shouldn't be too hard to place the fitting straps with something that has plastic clips on them.

The second downside is just something to learn. When I used to trackstand I always had the pedals in the right place, and then I became lazy and jumped lights and when I did stop I just put my foot down and re-aligned the pedal... back to trackstanding, or at least stopping with the pedals lined up to go.

Something that isn't an issue at all is squeezing through tight spaces. Sure you're not going to get through gaps where you have to be out of the saddle and bending to get your fat arse through... but those happen how often? I've had no problem in a fortnight's commutes with any gap being too small to fit through.

Carradice bags rock.

It can be good to not have something on your back, especially in the summer - I think you will find that more when things warm up. Also in on longer rides I have enjoyed this aspect - less sweat.

But the down-sides of saddle bags are there. I agree about the extra weight on the back making the whole crank-winding at lights a bit of a pain, and the extra weight there doesn't make trackstanding very easy so that's not the solution (for me at least). I have used my Carradice on my geared bike with a lot less hassle because of this.

Also I would say the downside of the weight being quite high up on the bike, is that when getting on and off the bike or wheeling it, the centre of gravity being so far from the headset means your bike can tip over whilst your holding onto the bars quite easily. Again, my geared bike has more mass lower down around the axles, so this seems much less of problem than on my spindly-framed Claud Butler conversion.

Soon I will be building a tourer with panniers, and I'd like to try the saddle bag on there too for some seriously loaded touring sometime, with lowriders and barbags and all that jazz.

But today I rode in to work with my new Grobag on my back.

I like all kinds of luggage. Horses for courses innit.

Agreed. They seems to last a life time too.

my mashtons pocket slips over my bars and hangs perfect on the front, and i reckon i could fit it to my saddle, with a set of toestraps no problem too.

@Skully
I took my Claude butler conversion out last weekend with fully loaded paniers on for a spot of touring. always push holding the saddle man, it's effortless to balance it.

I opted for Power straps over clips but getting in and out left me catching my heal on the paniers bags.

The best saddle bag i got was a dirt monkey. about the size of a bag of sugar and holds adjustable spanner
puncture repair kit
spare tube (bontrager. its tiny)
tyre levers
mini pump

its velcro and clips so comes off in seconds

@Skully
I took my Claude butler conversion out last weekend with fully loaded paniers on for a spot of touring. always push holding the saddle man, it's effortless to balance it.

Cool!

I was talking about with a heavy saddlebag only, not with panniers, that makes the balance a bit wierd, on my conversion. Not so much on the Fraudax.

I use a big black cotton duck carradice saddlebag on my fixed commuting bike and it's superb. When I ride without it, I notice how much easier it is to accelerate, skid, spin the cranks etc but the convenience and comfort more than outweights that. I only have problems spinning the cranks at lights if I'm loaded up with files or groceries. I use a SQR quick release block on the seatpost so it takes about 1 or 2 seconds to take it off or put it on. And yes, I wheel the bike holding the saddle.

I always end up carrying more than I need to, but that means I can often find a vital spare part, an old malt loaf or some loose change kicking around in the bag in an emergency.

DIY QR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHpLLLbec-4

Those holes were blatantly pre-drilled.

Rattley bag FTL. Just buy the QR bracket from carradice.

Cool!

I was talking about with a heavy saddlebag only, not with panniers, that makes the balance a bit wierd, on my conversion. Not so much on the Fraudax.

Thats a fair size saddlebag if thats the case!

Ahh the art of packing evenly weighted saddle bags.. my route through the peaks consisted of largely right turns so i put the heavier toiletries in my right bag to gain speed through the corners...

(i am lying)

Ha! Been looking on eBay at some boat cleats for the last week or so. Just a case of getting them the right size (which he doesn't really tell you in that EpiCyc video)… Long enough at the widest point to fit safely between the saddle rails but short enough to remove, yet also with as wide an internal width so it doesn't rattle around too much. Planning on popping into the nautical store off Shaftesbury tomorrow… WIll let you know what size I end up with and how they fit.

If anyone cares.

Those holes were blatantly pre-drilled.

Rattley bag FTL. Just buy the QR bracket from carradice.

Agree about the rattley crap. Maybe if you find the right sized cleat, it could be fine.
And that QR bracket is thoroughly fugly.

Tru Dat. I got the normal one.

Am I right in thinking the Nelson doubles as a rear mudguard? Is it only attached to the rear loops on the Brooks, or is there another attachment at the base?

boat cleats are made of plastic so there's no reason why you couldn't cut them to size. unless they are actually plastic coated steel, in which case it might be more difficult.

Am I right in thinking the Nelson doubles as a rear mudguard? Is it only attached to the rear loops on the Brooks, or is there another attachment at the base?

It also has another strap to loop round the seatpost. I use a nelson longflap with a QR bagman rack. Works really well and big enough for a nights cycle camping or a long weekend tour.

Does the Nelson Long Flap swing alot without the Bagman rack? It is very difficult to get hold of a Bagman at the moment.

this could be an alternative http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Racks_92.html
nitto R10 mini rear rack.

also I think I read somewhere that carradice are bringing out another system soon so this may be why the bagmans are hard to find.

Does the Nelson Long Flap swing alot without the Bagman rack? It is very difficult to get hold of a Bagman at the moment.

doesn't swing too much without the bagman but will rub against your legs when pedalling.

Those nittos racks are a bit pricey, eh?

Claus: I would try out the carradice support that grips the seatstays I think, rather than the saddle rails, if I were to buy one again. I have the non-QR Bagman sport. The bouncing and swaying I think would actually be less if supported off the frame than on the longish bendy loop of the Bagman.

something like the silver hupe would be good too if you could find it in the uk http://www.rivbike.com/products/list/bags_and_racks?a=1&page=2#product=20-136

Yep that's pretty much what it is, only not as sexy and wrappyroundy.

That was what Iwas looking for to post.

I'm now starting to lok at panniers because I only really have money for one bag to tour and commute with, and a messenger bag won't do it.

Carradice seem excellent and al customer service feedback I here is second to none - often they just give you spare parts for free when something needs replacing.

One question - will I fit a mac in a saddle bag of this size?