Carradice Saddlebags

Just received my Nelson Longflap, ready for a week's touring in July. Emma shoots up from the relegation spots to mid-table. Thanks, Emma: your handiwork looks superb; it's a seriously lovely bit of kit.

25 x Sue
12 x Priscilla
10 x Debby
7 x Christine
7 x Janet
5 x Andrea
2 x Emma
1 x Debi
1 x Susan
1 x Gill
1 x Vicky

However, when I ordered the bag, I spoke to Carradice and asked whether the old-style Bagman (without the support struts) would be big enough to accommodate a Nelson. I was told that it would be a bit of a squeeze but should be ok.

It's not ok. The rack is just not deep enough.

I think I have three options:

1) Bend the Bagman to create more room
2) Have somebody cut and then reweld the Bagman with extra metal to make it deeper
3) Swap my Bagman for a Bagman 2 (the one with the struts) - then do away with the struts

Any suggestions? And does anyone know if I can remove the additional struts from the Bagman 2 without permanently damaging it?

That looks like a 'sport' size bagman. You need an 'expedition' size.

^ This.

And don't be surprised if the quick release broke, they're extremely fragile and I broke two in the last couple of audax.

Why get rid of the supports from teh bagman 2? If it is because you don't have rack mounts, then you can get a nifty adaptor:

http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&product_id=121

You can removed it without permanently damaging it - just unscrew the bolt.

1) no
2) no
3) no

keep the bagman for junior/ zipped roll sized bags.
get an SQR for bigger.

someone snapped my bagman when locking up their shitty mountain bikes next to mine. replaced with the SQR to see the alternative. feel more confident in it than i was with the bagman.
people chat about sway being more of a problem with the SQR. i used bungee cords with the bagman and do so with the SQR - it's not a problem.

Does not appear particularly secure in this configuration.

Hadn't seen this thread before. Had my carradice nelson plus SQR for commuting for about 6 months now. Was a bit pricey for me when I bought it but I can see it lasting me a decade so not a problem. Did break the SQR strap mounts (steel bands around the seatpost) over a vicious pothole whilst medium loaded, but Carradice very kindly sent me out a new pair FOC!

Oh and +1 for Sue. She needs a payrise!

26 x Sue
12 x Priscilla
10 x Debby
7 x Christine
7 x Janet
5 x Andrea
2 x Emma
1 x Debi
1 x Susan
1 x Gill
1 x Vicky

exactly. IMO the bagman is useful for the zipped roll and junior, nothing bigger. i wouldn't put anywhere the weight they recommend for the bagman and i would think the struts make little difference.
SQR + bungee ftw

Does not appear particularly secure in this configuration.

The problem is that it's a lots shorter if you use the quick release mount that sit lower than the Brooks' saddlebag loop.

doppelkorn's example is a perfect one, Diamond Supercool's bagman is actually fine if you use the Brooks saddlebag loop.

That looks like a 'sport' size bagman. You need an 'expedition' size.

Unfortunately the Bagman[1] doesn't come in two different sizes; it's only the Bagman2 that has the 'Expedition' and 'Sport' models. Wasn't keen on the Bagman2 or SQR mainly because they're considerably uglier than that Bagman[1] ... and the bloke at Carradice told me the Bagman 1 would be ok.

Removing the struts from the Bagman2 is apparently a really shit idea. Because it's made of alloy (the Bagman[1] is stainless steel) it's more brittle and therefore not suited to bouncing up and down.

I think I've found a decent(ish) solution though, using a clutch of small, strong elastic bands. Bear in mind that I'm planning on carrying clothes, not bricks.

Here's the bands displayed unstretched:

Been staring at my bike and bag, replete with rubber bands, for about an hour and a half now wondering what to do. I think I'm fooling myself if I say I'm totally happy with this bodgery....

Posts above are making me think more positive thoughts about the SQR. Still worried it's fugly though. Anybody got any pictures of an 'Originals' saddlebag mounted on an SQR? Google is surprisingly unhelpful.

Rubber bands? I think not.
Rotate the bag forward and use the straps through the bagman. I have used a Camper on a bagman no problem. The bag doesn't need to sit upright. Once you have the straps through the holes in the bag and through the slots in the bagman it will be safe, and you probably won't need the steady strap.

#33
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/112968715360051635910/albums/5883023663783265873

Looks particularly bad there because the bag is half full and re-shaped by the bungees. But overall it's OK. The angles of the SQR dig into the bags slightly. The photo is of a Junior. Fits a College better.

Been staring at my bike and bag, replete with rubber bands, for about an hour and a half now wondering what to do. I think I'm fooling myself if I say I'm totally happy with this bodgery....

Posts above are making me think more positive thoughts about the SQR. Still worried it's fugly though. Anybody got any pictures of an 'Originals' saddlebag mounted on an SQR? Google is surprisingly unhelpful.

Unfortunately the Bagman[1] doesn't come in two different sizes; it's only the Bagman2 that has the 'Expedition' and 'Sport' models.

I have a bagman1 in Expedition size that fits a Nelson Longflap perfectly. So they definitely do exist. I think they even made a titanium version.

They do exist, I got two of the Bagman, one Expedition and one normal.

I had a classics mounted on an SQR for a while but ditched the SQR because it swung like a bastard.

So clearly the Bagman 1 *did *exist in two sizes...

http://www.flyingfurniture.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_full/Bagman%20QR%20and%20non%20QR%20supports.jpg

...but no longer. Or at least, not for sale on the Carradice site. And I can't find it for sale anywhere else.

Please can we have more photos of the cat with elastic bands? Possibly a cat in a carradice too?

@diamond

Just put a bloody rack on the bike! bagmans are shit.

Hate to says it but Skully does have a point.

Unless you don't have mount for a rack of course.

Here's another fun 'Which bag should I get' post.

I just need something for day-to-day commuting, trouser/shirt/shoe/lunch combo and some Audax rides. My heart says Barley but perhaps Nelson for the size increase? My mind says Super C Audax (same capacity as Barley?) for ease of access? I'd rather have more room than I need than not enough though.

Apologies for being a fuck nut.

I would recommend the Barley, going bigger would encourage you to pack more, smaller size = less swing, and less noticeable when getting out of the saddle and giving it the willies.

Get the longflap version thought, I cannot stress how utterly important this is.

Love you Ed.

Call me blind but cannot find a Barley longflap. Nelson, yes.

Next question is of course, Bagman Sport or Expedition or SQR?