Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

I got an electric one - never could get the hang of my Mom's treadle machine.
Best investment ever - tough as anything, and only paid $40.

Cool, have mentioned one as an idea here and it's been well received :)

P.s. think I'm going to have to hand stitch a few corners to finish the bag, the machine can't handle (or I can't) that meeting of 3 edges...

The first one always turns out to have the steepest learning curve.
Unfortunately I rarely make things more than once.

I'll make at least two more but plan to cut the fabric so there's fewer seams, I also might not try to line it with a second fabric, the outer alone should take most weather...

Make sure you post the results.

Will do, will be a while though... The fix to the machine has failed, which makes me think the machine simply can't deal with the fabric when it comes to joining two panels together. I can't afford to have it fixed again, could've bought a v.nice custom made bag for 2 repair bills. :(

edit: looking at home repair and think I got it sorted. Labour charge and 5 week wait makes my eyes water if this is it.

I have fixed it, meaning I can now break it as much as I like until we get something with a bit more oomph. /csb

2 days and £18 later I'm owner of a 1951 99k hand operated. Test stitching with normal and tougher thread has been ok.... fingers crossed it has oomph required.

smashing deal, go sew crazy

Last one, feel like thread hijacker. Still need to trim velcro.

Test ride in light rain all fine, another 40 min ride in heavy rain just now everything inside dry.

15 mins later once stopped water that had pooled on top of bag under top tube had drained inside, but that's good to know to shake that off after heavy rain.

Seam check later and then time to consider v2.0

Satisfied with end result even tho looks very DIY. Handwind 1950's machine lots better for this type of work.

How wide can you go with a bag like that before you get interference?
Is it internally reinforced?

This one is 75mm it bulged a bit as not reinforced with owt more than bubblewrap (helps with waterproofing too I guess). If my legs were proper sized I wouldn't go much bigger.

v2.0 may be 85mm as that'll be ok for me. Another full frame bag could possibly benefit from corex as reinforcement to reduce bulge without massive weight penalty, I can probably get a few old signs from events to use for this I think.

I wonder if people have tried using only coroplast for frame bags...

Yes they have.
https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&rlz=1C5CHFA_enCA513CA514&es_sm=119&biw=1681&bih=956&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=coroplast+frame+bag+bicycle&oq=coroplast+frame+bag+bicycle&gs_l=img.3...16571.21558.0.22124.10.9.1.0.0.0.106.876.8j1.9.0....0...1c.1.45.img..10.0.0.FB5BSlEVc9U

Very neat! Makes me wanna try 'n do one of my own. Reckon 85mm might be a bit wide, at least in the rear. But it also depends on how you fit your stuff in the bag. With my Revelate Designs top tube frame bag I had to put the bigger stuff up front to keep my thighs and knees free from touching.

^^ links to this about bag packing for bike packing which some may find useful

http://www.palespruce.com/introduction-to-bikepacking-how-to-pack-your-gear-on-the-bike/

^ yeah I'm super skinny which is only reason I'd risk 85mm

I used my Revelate saddle bag today for the first time - admittedly just to put my waterproof and tools/tube in whilst participating on the cock ride - rather than any bikepacking, but what a great bit of kit it is. Will be buying additional Revelate stuff when I can.

Which model/size did you go for JB?

The viscacha of course :-) only £75 :-D they make an ECR specific frame bag too but I can't track one down anywhere, not even in the states! Though I want a sweet roll before buying a frame bag tbh. I want a mission/acre supply hydration rucksack thingy before both of them though.

Ha, nice! I'm tempted to get one as I've found it too complicated to make my own at the moment. Seems like I could get one from Anchorage for £85 or so, whereas the importer is charging £126+delivery which kind of sucks!

Speak to laner. He got his from anchorage. Seem to recall him saying he had to wait for 2 months or so...

^^ links to this about bag packing for bike packing which some may find useful

http://www.palespruce.com/introduction-to-bikepacking-how-to-pack-your-gear-on-the-bike/

OMG This looks awesome, not as a bag I think, but more as a holster for a dry bag. I'm gonna give it a go.

Here I come...

Next level 'packing'.