Leah’s Waxwing Bags

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Hi Friends,

I learned a lot from my first season of touring/bike camping. And one of those things was that I needed larger panniers. I love the Sackville Backabikes, but they are missing a few features that would make them ideal. 

1. They are just a little too small. I really did pare down and only packed essentials. I didn’t even bring makeup. My son ridiculed me for bringing the Theragun Mini, but was humbled when he needed it, so I stand by THAT being necessary.  

2. They are hard to disconnect. I brought them into my tent every night. I wanted all my things in reach, plus we had rain several times, so I felt I should bring them in. The leather buckles take too long, are finicky, and held me up when I was desperate to get them off the bike quickly (rain, mosquitoes…)

3. NO HANDLE. You can’t know how useful a handle is until you have to get your arms around two panniers and lug them to where you are going.

I hated everything on the market. I really like Riv’s aesthetics and just needed to tweak a few things. I found Dave at Waxing Bag Co and though he does not offer custom orders, this was a simple project for a talented man. He took my order and made me the Barbie Dreamhouse panniers of my DREAMS. We used a standard paper grocery store bag as our sizing guide - the perfect dimensions, as it turns out. No heel strike, even on my 50 Platypus. I tested this out with actual paper bags. I got to choose the bag color and everything; I chose a fun flamingo pink and paired it with a buttery neutral for these 2-toned panniers. Dave uses a German quick release system and now I can hook/unhook in 3 seconds. I got a leather handle, too. 

Dave said he’d keep the pattern and let other people order these. When I first decided to go to Dave, I took Pam with me, as I knew she also wanted larger bags. Her set is being made now, and I hope she’ll post her project soon. 

Here is the Instagram link, so you can see my bags up close and in-depth. I’ll be switching my account back to private soon, so hurry and look now.

Enjoy! Let me know if you order a set!

Leah

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXcE72ekSfG/?igsh=YndieGo0dGVodTho

[Leah Peterson]

And for those of you without IG, here are some snapshots:

On Apr 22, 2026, at 11:43 AM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Friends,

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[matt miller]

Fantastic. They look amazing. On insta, you mention the German connectors. What did you use?

Thanks,

Matt in STL

[Leah Peterson]

Aren’t they great??! I don’t know what they’re called, just that they are something German and Dave uses them standard on his bags. Pam is going to do something different.

On Apr 22, 2026, at 12:13 PM, matt miller <mmille...@gmail.com> wrote:

Fantastic. They look amazing. On insta, you mention the German connectors. What did you use?

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/97ec8566-ecc6-4b8d-9308-e1d67c7488c9n%40googlegroups.com.

[matt miller]

Are they Klickflix? 

My wife has one of their products for her front handlebar bag. 

Matt in STL

[Leah Peterson]

Yes, that looks pretty familiar! Probably is that.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 22, 2026, at 1:13 PM, matt miller <mmille...@gmail.com> wrote:

Are they Klickflix? 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/16f262d3-c782-4cc8-bed7-720cc77af8c1n%40googlegroups.com.

[Ryan Fleming]

Reminds me of toggles on duffle coats. Nice bagd, Leah...they really good on the raspberry Platypus

[Steve]

Nicely done! Is there a matching Barbie Dream House front bag in your future? Inquiring minds want to know.

Steve in AVL

[Leah Peterson]

Thank you, everyone! Steve…oh my word I do need that front bag! For my tours last summer I took the XS Saddlesack and turned it backwards on the bars. Perfect place for the power bank to charge my phone while it sat in the mount on my bars. Dave is going to have to submit to one more Barbie Dreamhouse bag, I fear…

On Apr 22, 2026, at 9:58 PM, Steve <steve...@gmail.com> wrote:

Nicely done! Is there a matching Barbie Dream House front bag in your future? Inquiring minds want to know.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/e2e15422-3899-4311-8a96-4a16262ff60bn%40googlegroups.com.

[Edwin W]

Leah,

Those look amazing and seem to fix every little shortcoming of the backabike bags you mentioned!

What does a set of two cost, so I can start saving?

Edwin

[Gordon Stam]

That's a good looking set of bags, Leah. One thing I appreciate with bags and totes such as those (besides the ever so handy handle) is when they are made or lined with lighter material so you can see what's inside them more easily. Your's are like that.

[Leah Peterson]

Comparable to the Riv price for their Backabikes but maybe less for you than me. He had to design them and that costs more. Hurry and get in line! I started this project with him in October!

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 23, 2026, at 2:47 PM, Gordon Stam <gds...@gmail.com> wrote:

That's a good looking set of bags, Leah. One thing I appreciate with bags and totes such as those (besides the ever so handy handle) is when they are made or lined with lighter material so you can see what's inside them more easily. Your's are like that.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/bbddcbad-adf2-46a6-90ee-f37366bef96bn%40googlegroups.com.

[Leah Peterson]

Matt - I misspoke - they are something else. Turns out there was a paper in the box that identifies the hardware. I’ll tell you what it is tomorrow.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 22, 2026, at 12:13 PM, matt miller <mmille...@gmail.com> wrote:

Fantastic. They look amazing. On insta, you mention the German connectors. What did you use?

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/97ec8566-ecc6-4b8d-9308-e1d67c7488c9n%40googlegroups.com.

[Leah Peterson]

Matt, they are “RixenKaul.” Here’s the description: 

On Apr 22, 2026, at 1:13 PM, matt miller <mmille...@gmail.com> wrote:

Are they Klickflix? 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/16f262d3-c782-4cc8-bed7-720cc77af8c1n%40googlegroups.com.

[Joe Bernard]

Leah, 

I saw these on IG and laughed, "Of course she got the owner to make her custom panniers." You walk in the door, snap your fingers and the deed is done! 🤣 

They're absolutely beautiful, Waxwing does amazing work. 

Joe "likes the handle and quick release on his Ortliebs but they ain't pretty" Bernard 

Clearlake CA 

[Leah Peterson]

Oh I’m sure he had his qualms! 🤣But he nailed it, and he did so on the first try. He really is amazing. These bags are going to be PERFECT. I haven’t stuffed them with all my gear yet, but I will soon. I am really hoping to get the sleeping quilt INSIDE the bags and not have it be strapped to the rack. It’s delicate material, for one, and two, I want it safe from rain. I might be able to go without the Saddlesack now. We’ll see!

On Apr 25, 2026, at 12:48 PM, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:

Leah, 

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[Roberta]

I can hear the gals on Leah’s weekly road rides now: “why should ANY of us need to get ANY type of saddle  bag, even for flat fix gear, lunch,  pets, or extra water bottles. Leah can carry it ALL. “

Well, not really since I know that Leah tends to take Charlie on her road rides. perhaps they secretly think she should go back to riding  raspberry Platy with new panniers. See paragraph one…

Roberta

[Leah Peterson]

I’m exhausted just imagining. When those new Cliffhangers go on the bike, can you imagine that raspberry bike on a club ride??? I expect to grow more leg muscles this summer.

On Apr 25, 2026, at 5:33 PM, Roberta <rcha...@gmail.com> wrote:

I can hear the gals on Leah’s weekly road rides now: “why should ANY of us need to get ANY type of saddle  bag, even for flat fix gear, lunch,  pets, or extra water bottles. Leah can carry it ALL. “

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/3616e318-154c-423d-a7ce-234c7ef6fc28n%40googlegroups.com.