My new project, The DirtDance Spinnaker Bag.
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Clayton
Nov 4, 2015, 11:53:24 AM11/4/15
to RBW Owners Bunch
I'm actually exhausted, and feel a little sick to my stomach. Too much coffee (my beloved addiction) and a new serious obsession. I developed a new kind of bikepacking bag that addresses problems I have had.
There were several surprises of perfect serendipity that occurred. I love it when it happens, and it is happening more and more with my projects. Serendipity is THE golden moment of creativity! (A guiding hand, a ghost? Or does my subconscious see solutions and combinations before my conscious mind sees them?)
Ok, back to the bag. It weighs the same as a small Wald basket without the baskets mounting hardware, but with three times the capacity. It is intended to sit on top of my front rack and hold my tent and sleeping pad, as well as some odds and ends. It holds various sized loads very tightly, with no shimmy, shaking, squeaking, rattling, shifting or ANY load movement. It is very aerodynamic, considering. The bag only has one buckle. There are no compression straps in or around the bag. The bottom of the bag is padded. The base plate has a very simple and integrated low profile quick release, that snaps on the rack instantly, with no moving parts and leaves no hardware left on the rack when removed (It is very strong and stands no chance of jettisoning the load accidentally). There is a built in spring tensioner that is part of the base plate, designed out of ABS that helps keep the load under tension. There are no moving parts. At camp, it expands to HUGE (three times the size of a small Wald basket) and stays wide open, sitting tall, while mounted on top of the rack, making a great pantry. It then zips shut to keep out the critters, while you take a walk to the toilet or take a safety break. If there is a strong tailwind, it can become a spinnaker. When cold, it can block the wind that hits my thighs and lower torso. When empty and stowed on the bike, it is tiny, about the size of a TV dinner box.
I need to make a new one, that is not my reused, homemade basket bag, but a bag designed from the start. Due to serendipity, I found some new things to fix and add. I can take some of the weight out of the base plate too.
I am pretty stoked, all in all.
I REALLY need a new walking foot sewing machine to clean up my sewing. My one hundred dollar, ten year old Singer is not designed for such brutal projects. It is very frustrating to use. I am going to buy one, as soon as my desire wins over the responsibility to my wallet.
There were several surprises of perfect serendipity that occurred. I love it when it happens, and it is happening more and more with my projects. Serendipity is THE golden moment of creativity! (A guiding hand, a ghost? Or does my subconscious see solutions and combinations before my conscious mind sees them?)
Ok, back to the bag. It weighs the same as a small Wald basket without the baskets mounting hardware, but with three times the capacity. It is intended to sit on top of my front rack and hold my tent and sleeping pad, as well as some odds and ends. It holds various sized loads very tightly, with no shimmy, shaking, squeaking, rattling, shifting or ANY load movement. It is very aerodynamic, considering. The bag only has one buckle. There are no compression straps in or around the bag. The bottom of the bag is padded. The base plate has a very simple and integrated low profile quick release, that snaps on the rack instantly, with no moving parts and leaves no hardware left on the rack when removed (It is very strong and stands no chance of jettisoning the load accidentally). There is a built in spring tensioner that is part of the base plate, designed out of ABS that helps keep the load under tension. There are no moving parts. At camp, it expands to HUGE (three times the size of a small Wald basket) and stays wide open, sitting tall, while mounted on top of the rack, making a great pantry. It then zips shut to keep out the critters, while you take a walk to the toilet or take a safety break. If there is a strong tailwind, it can become a spinnaker. When cold, it can block the wind that hits my thighs and lower torso. When empty and stowed on the bike, it is tiny, about the size of a TV dinner box.
I need to make a new one, that is not my reused, homemade basket bag, but a bag designed from the start. Due to serendipity, I found some new things to fix and add. I can take some of the weight out of the base plate too.
I am pretty stoked, all in all.
I REALLY need a new walking foot sewing machine to clean up my sewing. My one hundred dollar, ten year old Singer is not designed for such brutal projects. It is very frustrating to use. I am going to buy one, as soon as my desire wins over the responsibility to my wallet.
The Bend Clayton
Mike Williams
Nov 4, 2015, 12:03:39 PM11/4/15
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Sounds awesome! Pictures man!!
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Sent from my iPhone
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drew
Nov 4, 2015, 3:10:52 PM11/4/15
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agreed. need photos. sounds excellent
Clayton
Nov 4, 2015, 10:15:37 PM11/4/15
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Pictures as requested! This will come in several posts, as there are so many, I exceeded the limit. I have two videos on my Facebook homepage too. This bag is a hack and too big, but It works well. It was totally experimental, and just sort of grew as I went. I had no plan, other than to experiment with some ideas. I made no effort to do a nice clean job, just focused on function. The next one will be nicer, as I now have a plan...lol. I hope this motivates people to make their own stuff, that better meets their OWN needs, not the marketplace.
Clayton Bailey
Bend Oregon
Mike Williams
Nov 4, 2015, 11:48:07 PM11/4/15
to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Looks super cool and functional, well done man! No wobble when its loaded up? Also what tires/ bars on your Atlantis??
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
More bag photos.....
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Clayton
Nov 5, 2015, 11:01:47 AM11/5/15
to RBW Owners Bunch
No wobble at all, when all wrapped up tight. I was actually shocked how tight the load (tent and pad) is secured. The secret is in the flex wings and the two side straps (they attach to the mid rails of the rack) that tighten the load, by pulling down on the wings after you roll down the top. I haven't tried riding with a full bag of groceries in spinnaker mode yet. I have a hunch, it will be very unstable....lol. The spinnaker mode is kind of a joke due to the bag being so big, but it actually has some merit in holding the bag open while loading, and it should block some of the cold from hitting my thighs, when it's in the twenties...
The Tires are from VEE rubber. VEE made Intense's super fast fat Micro Knobby, which I loved. Intense dropped them, so I went looking at VEE's tires for something similar. The tires are the MK3 model, 2.20". Love them. Fast, light, soft, and enough traction for off road. The handlebars are the Sycip singles bar, which are no longer on their site. They are super wide, 26", and have a nice bend. So much nicer than drops, especially loaded and when on single track.
The Tires are from VEE rubber. VEE made Intense's super fast fat Micro Knobby, which I loved. Intense dropped them, so I went looking at VEE's tires for something similar. The tires are the MK3 model, 2.20". Love them. Fast, light, soft, and enough traction for off road. The handlebars are the Sycip singles bar, which are no longer on their site. They are super wide, 26", and have a nice bend. So much nicer than drops, especially loaded and when on single track.
Clayton
Bend
Christopher Jones
Nov 5, 2015, 3:48:10 PM11/5/15
to RBW Owners Bunch
This is really interesting. How did you form the plastic snapdeck on the bottom?
clayton bailey
Nov 5, 2015, 9:29:36 PM11/5/15
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Christopher, I used a heat gun with gloves. Some closed cell foam helps too, for some molding. I molded the hooks on the rack, took the plate off and heated the hooks again, and then just barely tightened the hooks by hand, and hold 'till cool. No rattle.
Clayton
(Bend)
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