Questions on Carradice Barley

[Peter M]

Thinking of getting a Carradice Barley saddlebag but wanted to ask if
anyone here is running one currently and how they like it. Also do you
need a bag support with this thing like the now discontinued Hupe, and
will it work with a sprung Brooks like the B72? Thanks to any help
anyone can offer.

[Michael Hechmer]

Carradice Barley and the Acorn Boxy Rando Bag are my two main bags.  You can fit an amazing amount of stuff into a Barley Bag.  I use mine with the Carradice SQR, which I also really like but I think if your bike is tall enough with enough seatpost to keep the bag off the fender or tire I  you could get along without a support.  Carradice makes a bag support that attaches to the saddle rails but I'm not sure if that would work with a sprung saddle, and some people have reported difficulty keeping it tight..  The SQR attaches to the seat post and is absolutely the quickest on & off the bike you can get.  I have an extra seat post attachment so I can move the bag between bikes.  Harris Cycles carries all the parts.  BTW, the Carradice site could lead you to believe that the SQR goes with an SQR designed bag; that's not true, almost any bag with saddle & seatpost straps will work.   It does allow some back and forth movement which I notice while climbing standing up, but there is no lateral movement at all.

Short answer... a great bag.

Michael

[SISDDWG]

The Barley Bag is very nice. I didn't need any support for it. The
Barley fists quite nicely tucked under the saddle and strapped to the
seat post. I have no information on the B72.

[jinxed]

Yep. I'll agree with all points. The barley is a fantastic sized bag. It holds a surprising amount of stuff and I often call it my tardis bag. One aspect I really like are the two side pockets that allow for a bit of organization. I keep the right pocket packed with spare tube, patch kit, C02, and multi tool, the right one perfectly holds my digital camera for quick access. That leaves the main pouch open for food, clothes, entertainment, supplies etc.

The Barley was the first bag I purchased and has done everything I've needed. I have loaded it to the gills and never used a bag support. It's close to the tire when stuffed, but never hit. PBH of 85.

Previously mine 52 Bomba with the Barley

[Mike]

My Carradice bags, Barley and Nelson LF, have seen quite a bit of use
over the years:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=41335973@N00&q=carradice

You definitely don't need supports with either of them. I picked up
supports through Wiggle a few years ago because they were so cheap and
they do make it easier to root around in the bag but they're not
essential. One thing about the Barley is that it moves around a lot,
especially when pedaling standing up. For day trips when you want to
bring extra items it's great.

I'm hoping to do an ultralight weekend trip later this year using just
my Berthoud HB bag and the Nelson. I should be able to manage.

--mike

[Bill M.]

I have a Barley, no support needed for me on a 56 Riv Road.  It's a nice size for a day ride in transitional weather, just big enough for the essentials and an extra layer or two of clothing.  

It's never been on a sprung Brooks, but have had my Nelson on a Champion Flyer.  With the bag suspended from the sadldle loops, the springs cut way into the bag's capacity.  I preferred it with the straps through the bottom coils of the springs even though it then sits more horizontal than I would like.  The loop springs of a B72 may not pose so much of an issue.  I don't think a Bagman would mount to a B72, so if you need a support the SQR would be the best bet.  I suspect that on most bikes a Barley isn't big enough to rest on a Hupe.  

Bill

Stockton, CA

[charlie]

Thought of Barley until I purchased a Nelson Longflap.......and glad I
did. The Barley would be too small except in ideal weather (for me) In
the summer I use a Banana bag for tools,tube, wallet and phone but in
the rainy Northwest I need capacity for rain gear and a change of
clothing etc. for the other nine months of the year. I imagine a
Barley would be a nice bag to leave on all year with perhaps another
(maybe a front bag) to supplement. I rack my Nelson now and am in the
process of building a spartan rack / bag support / light mount. This
rack will be made with the idea of adding and extension piece for a
full rack when I want to camp or whatever. Still working on the
design.......with bags more is better when you actually want to carry
stuff. When you go big you find stuff to carry that you might actually
need or want to make cycling more enjoyable and less of a "stranded in
the middle of nowhere without what you need athletic event." ; )

On Apr 17, 2:36 pm, Peter M <uscpeter11...@gmail.com> wrote:

[doc]

I found the Barley too small for day rides and went with the Pendle.
For both bags I inserted hard plastic backing to help them maintain
their shape (cut from cat litter tubs). For both sprung and unsprung
saddles, a Midlands bag support at $7.00 works great and keeps them
from swaying, plus prevents them rubbing up against the backs of my
thighs.

I love the looks of the Carradice, but I wish they had different
fasteners than the traditional buckles. They can be cumbersome,
especially in winter when wearing a pair of gloves.

[newenglandbike]

Another vote for the barley being a tad small.    Good bag, but other than tools/spare tube and a sweater you're not fitting much in there.     For Carradice, my faves are the camper and camper longflap.    BUT you should take a long hard look at a Saddlesack Medium or Large.   Those bags combined with a nitto top rack are ridiculously useful and well designed.

-Matt

[Jay in Tel Aviv]

My usual commuting bag is a Carradice Super C, which is similar in
size to the Nelson and Camper but with plastic clips instead of straps
and buckles.
Much easier.

Jay

[Jim M.]

On Wednesday, April 18, 2012 3:48:29 AM UTC-7, newenglandbike wrote:

Another vote for the barley being a tad small.    Good bag, but other than tools/spare tube and a sweater you're not fitting much in there.     For Carradice, my faves are the camper and camper longflap.    BUT you should take a long hard look at a Saddlesack Medium or Large.   Those bags combined with a nitto top rack are ridiculously useful and well designed.

In my experience the Barley is the perfect size for all day explores. I had a medium Saddlesack; it's a great bag but I found it much bigger than I would need for less than several days out. I pack light and live in N. California, which has some weather but generally nothing too extreme. I use a Hupe, but it's to keep the bag back; I don't need it for tire clearance.

jim m
wc ca

[PATRICK MOORE]

+1 for the SQR. I've owned at least three, probably more, and have
sold them all after (cyclically) going back to rack+panniers, but I
agree that for a QR mount, for a saddle that does not have saddlebag
strap slots, and for bikes where you need to hold the bag high to gain
more clearance over the rear tire, the SQR is the best solution I've
found.

Note that it does have a 10 kg/22 lb weight limit (per Carradice).
Note also that you can, if you are careful and fastidious about
pulling the straps as tight as you can, easily mount a saddlebag on
the rails of a non-Brooks saddle -- the Hoss on my trike is so mounted
and carries 30 lb loads easily and well.

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/wCqR7ML38QYJ.
>
> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

--

-------------------------
Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM
For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW
http://resumespecialties.com/index.html
-------------------------

A billion stars go spinning through the night
Blazing high above your head;
But in you is the Presence that will be
When all the stars are dead.

Ranier Maria Rilke, Buddha in Glory

[Greg J]

Peter, 

Only you can decide whether it is too small for your intended purpose.  I have a Barley, a Lowsaddle Longflap, and a Nelson LF, and they all have different uses.  The Barley is good for a day trip to bring extra clothing, some food, books, etc.  Not really for carrying groceries or such.  But, you will likely not need a rack or other support for it.  It is small enough that if you ride a bike bigger than 52 or so, it probably won't rub the tire, and because of its size, you will probably not load it too heavily.

I ride ~54 bikes, and I use a SQR for my LSLF.

Greg

On Tuesday, April 17, 2012 2:36:31 PM UTC-7, Peter M wrote:

[Philip Williamson]

Hi Peter,

The Barley is the smallest Carradice bag. I use the Cadet, and think the Barley would be too small for me. 

I made some illustrations of the relative sizes of the smaller bags:

http://www.biketinker.com/2011/bike-resources/relative-sizes-of-smaller-carradice-bags/ 

The next size up from the Cadet (last shown), is the Nelson Lowsaddle, which adds side pockets.

 Philip

Philip Williamson

www.biketinker.com

On Tuesday, April 17, 2012 2:36:31 PM UTC-7, Peter M wrote:

[Peter Morgano]

Awesome diagrams Phillip, those are helpful.  Of course as is the often the case the deep info here from the group has made my choice all the more complicated, haha. But too many choices are always better than too few I say.  Thanks all.

 

Peter

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/-rCqBziYVFsJ.

[doc]

Jay,

I had a Super C for a while and agree that the plastic clips are much
better; but I just couldn't live with the black v. the olive that I
prefer. I guess I put a little too much stock on looks.

doc

> > > > anyone can offer.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Ginz]

Barley is great. But, how high is your saddle relative to your rear
tire? The Barley was my choice because I ride very small frames and,
still, the Barley drooped over my fender. An uplift might help but I
have not tried it.

I once owned the SQR uplift. However, with a low saddle also comes
little seatpost exposure and no room for the SQR.

I'm just full of complaints today!!

Ginz

[Lynne Fitz]

My bags are the Acorn Rando bag (front) and the Barley (rear). I use
the Bagman support, because my seatpost has a kickback, and it was
bugging me that it was hitting my legs. Plus tiny person, tiny bike -
the bag is better up on the support.

I have so far not needed any more luggage space, and have ridden rainy
400k brevets (change of clothes!) and not-rainy 600k brevets (too much
food!) I carry a spare tire, a couple of tubes, various other
stuff... Too much other stuff.

With the springy Brooks, you'll want a support.

Lynne F

On Apr 17, 2:36 pm, Peter M <uscpeter11...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Steve Palincsar]

On Wed, 2012-04-18 at 15:46 -0700, Lynne Fitz wrote:
> My bags are the Acorn Rando bag (front) and the Barley (rear). I use
> the Bagman support, because my seatpost has a kickback, and it was
> bugging me that it was hitting my legs. Plus tiny person, tiny bike -
> the bag is better up on the support.
>
> I have so far not needed any more luggage space, and have ridden rainy
> 400k brevets (change of clothes!) and not-rainy 600k brevets (too much
> food!) I carry a spare tire, a couple of tubes, various other
> stuff... Too much other stuff.
>
> With the springy Brooks, you'll want a support.

But then, if that's you in the Spring 2012 BQ with your Sweetpea with
the Acorn, the Barley and the Hutchinson 650Bx32 tires, it's obvious
your clothes are pretty small and won't take up much room!

Incidentally, what size is that Sweetpea?

[Mojo]

My take on the Barley, it is a great warm season day bag. It will not carry more than a few items home from the store. Nor will it carry lots of cold season wool. But it will carry 2 tubes/repair kit, mini-tool, vest, arm/leg warmers, saddle cover, big lunch, camera, a third water bottle with room to spare and that doesn't even include strapping stuff to the outside. I use mine in the warm season then go to a Little Joe or SuperC for winter riding.

I like the Barley enough to own two:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79695460@N00/6922766182/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79695460@N00/6897752730/in/photostream/

 

Yehuda may recommend the Nelson:

http://yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2008-03-17

 

[Jim M.]

And another copper Legolas with Barley:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/20986098@N04/6773347072/in/photostream

jim m
wc ca

[Lynne Fitz]

Um, yeah, that's me :-)

What size is that Sweetpea? Perfect size :-) Custom :-)

I've long since moved away from the springy Brooks back to the Terry
Butterfly.

And I can stuff that bag pretty full.

Cheers,
Lynne F

[Steve Palincsar]

On Thu, 2012-04-19 at 16:29 -0700, Lynne Fitz wrote:
> Um, yeah, that's me :-)
>
> What size is that Sweetpea? Perfect size :-) Custom :-)

60 cm, in other words? (for it is well known that 60 cm is the perfect
size for a 650B randonneur)

No, seriously, what's the seat tube length? I was trying to place your
Sweetpea among the diagrams in the "Designing Small 650B Bicycles"
article.

> I've long since moved away from the springy Brooks back to the Terry
> Butterfly.
>
> And I can stuff that bag pretty full.

Yes, but it takes fewer XXL items to fill one up than XS.

[Lynne Fitz]

The original drawing with measurements is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnefitz/4372032124/
(tiny)

I wish I was XS :-)

[Steve Palincsar]

On Fri, 2012-04-20 at 09:37 -0700, Lynne Fitz wrote:
> The original drawing with measurements is here:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnefitz/4372032124/
> (tiny)

Thanks. Tiny indeed!

> I wish I was XS :-)

Oh, compared to me, certainly you are!