A plug to buy something from Rivendell Bicycle Works: A Nitto F-15 rack

[Bill Lindsay]

Nitto makes a front rack called the F-15.  It clamps to the 26.0mm part of your drop bars and it's a u shaped support around the perimeter of a handlebar bag.  Rivendell stocks that rack and has 13 of them in stock as of 9/22/16.  Various bag makers offer a bag to fit that rack.  There is a Sackville model that Riv also has in stock, but they only have two of the bags.  

http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/r8.htm?CartID=6

My plug is for the rack itself.  It's astonishingly nice.  It looks like it should be super floppy but it's surprisingly solid for a typical handlebar bag application.  If you own, or ever think you might own a typical 'road bike', that doesn't have much in the way of attachment points for a normal front rack, the old F-15 is a fantastic option.  I'm running mine on a Black Mountain Cycles road bike.  Not only is it way lighter and way less expensive than a traditional rack + decaleur setup, but it puts the handlebar bag in exactly the same place relative to the handlebars no matter which bike I put it on.  

In my opinion, anybody in the habit of setting up various bikes with various bags should have an F-15 laying around, hence the plug.  Riv has 13 of the racks but only 2 of the bags to fit it.  Riv is selling the rack for $78.  The other two online US vendors that have the F-15 rack in stock are asking $95 and $120 for it.  Now's a good time to buy an F-15 rack, (it's like picking up free money at $78) and treat yourself to a bag to fit it when one comes up for sale, or have Ruthworks make you a custom to match your bike.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Jim Bronson]

This item with the Sackville BarSack looks pretty interesting, although, maybe a bit small to be a Rando bag, which is what I'd want to use it for.  Maybe could use a small rear bag in addition?

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[Bill Lindsay]

The Sackville Bar Sack may be kind of small, especially if you are packing raingear on a brevet.  I love the magnetic closure feature.  RuthWorks knows how to make a bag for the F-15 and could build it tall if you have room.  Or maybe David Banzer even.  

On Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 1:27:52 PM UTC-7, Jim Bronson wrote:

This item with the Sackville BarSack looks pretty interesting, although, maybe a bit small to be a Rando bag, which is what I'd want to use it for.  Maybe could use a small rear bag in addition?

On Thu, Sep 22, 2016 at 3:01 PM, Bill Lindsay <tape...@gmail.com> wrote:

Nitto makes a front rack called the F-15.  It clamps to the 26.0mm part of your drop bars and it's a u shaped support around the perimeter of a handlebar bag.  Rivendell stocks that rack and has 13 of them in stock as of 9/22/16.  Various bag makers offer a bag to fit that rack.  There is a Sackville model that Riv also has in stock, but they only have two of the bags.  

http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/r8.htm?CartID=6

My plug is for the rack itself.  It's astonishingly nice.  It looks like it should be super floppy but it's surprisingly solid for a typical handlebar bag application.  If you own, or ever think you might own a typical 'road bike', that doesn't have much in the way of attachment points for a normal front rack, the old F-15 is a fantastic option.  I'm running mine on a Black Mountain Cycles road bike.  Not only is it way lighter and way less expensive than a traditional rack + decaleur setup, but it puts the handlebar bag in exactly the same place relative to the handlebars no matter which bike I put it on.  

In my opinion, anybody in the habit of setting up various bikes with various bags should have an F-15 laying around, hence the plug.  Riv has 13 of the racks but only 2 of the bags to fit it.  Riv is selling the rack for $78.  The other two online US vendors that have the F-15 rack in stock are asking $95 and $120 for it.  Now's a good time to buy an F-15 rack, (it's like picking up free money at $78) and treat yourself to a bag to fit it when one comes up for sale, or have Ruthworks make you a custom to match your bike.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

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[Valerie Yates]

I had been on the fence about this item and had it in and out of my cart at various points. But, based on your nudge, I went ahead and ordered one.

Thanks (I think),

Val in Boulder CO

[Bill Lindsay]

You'll find something great to do with it.  

Bill

[Ray Varella]

I had one of those many years ago with a "Boxy Bag" Riv used to sell.

The bag had tubular channels for those rods to slide through.
My guess is any handy seamstress could modify most types of handlebar bags to fit those rods.
That would open up numerous options for other bags.

I don't know why I ever sold the set I had.

Ray
Vallejo CA

[RonaTD]

Another very happy user here. I have two boxy bags and two racks. I also have a Berthoud medium bag on a decaleur on another bike. The Berthoud is only marginally bigger. The boxy bag is plenty big for a brevet unless I need a lot of spare clothing, in which case the Berthoud is too small, too. The magnetic closure on the boxy bag is much handier than the elastic cord closure on the Berthoud. On the other hand, the built in map case on the Berthoud is way better than the add-on case from RBW. As noted, it is a real boon to be able to mount a handlebar bag on any of my bikes. Well, I haven't put it on my Riv Road with a Campy brifter setup. I suspect the cables might interfere with mounting the rack there.

Ted Durant

[dstein]

It seems to me it'd better to plug the bag, not the rack, since so few bags are made to go with it. Seems very specialized, whereas most other front racks will fit most other front bags. That being said, it looks like a cool system (barsack + f15). I've seen the barsack in person and it's much nicer than it seems from the website (which I've never even noticed it on). There's some very well thought out features on the bags, including the magnets which are genius.

Does extra weight on the handlebars affect steering more than if it sits lower on like a mark's rack?

[Tim]

I've got the F15 with the Barsack. I used it at first on my Hilsen, now it's on the Roadeo. It's great for brevets. It doesn't bother the steering. Another neat thing about the rack is that the clamps that attach to the handlebars are pretty inconspicuous, so you can remove the rack and leave the clamps on. It goes on and off quickly. I think they look a little better than an empty decaleur.

[Ron Mc]

I believe Ostrich makes two rando-style bags, 8-liter and 12-liter, that will hang from this rack.  

[Jock Dewey]

Hey, Bill, et. al.:

Count me in, too. 

I've had Boxy & F15 on my bikes for 16 years (and an NOS set stashed carefully away waiting for another sometime or other). Best combo ever. I'm always partial to having the bag level with the top of the bars...that thing down over the front wheel doesn't work for me...aesthetically, ha! Fashion has its consequences, so they say.

Workhorse stuff that's so so well made. Long Live Riv.

Jock Dewey

Athens, GA

[RichS]

Another plug for the F15 and bar sack. I appreciate the four loops on the top of the bag. It's a well designed front bag setup.

Regards,
Richard

[Frank Brose]

I have one with the Sackville bag on my Atlantis. Been on a 500 mile tour, down rough ,rutty dirt roads and all points in between. I love it. Actually is larger than the pictures would lead you to believe. I have an elastic cord run through the top loops to lash more things that I probably don't need on top. I throw my phone in a side pocket or the zipper pocket inside. It'll hold a rain jacket long sleeve t shirt, wallet, spare tube, multi tool, and has room for a fair amount more.  Wasn't sure I'd like it at first but boy was I wrong. If I decide to go to a bigger bag on the Atlantis this setup gets moved to a different bike.

Cheers,

Frank

[RonaTD]

On Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 10:34:36 PM UTC-5, dstein wrote:

Does extra weight on the handlebars affect steering more than if it sits lower on like a mark's rack?

I'm sure there are real engineers or physicists on the list who will say I'm out of my depth ... but my answer is that for a given position relative to the steering axis and the tire contact patch, it doesn't matter where the bag is attached.  Lower and closer to the steering axis should have less of an influence. The more securely stabilized the better, too. 

I haven't done a same-bike comparison of the Boxy Bag/F15 vs Berthoud/Decaleur. I set the Berthoud in pretty much the same location, though. Functionally, I think it's important to have the top of the bag at the handlebars to make it easy to see and reach in to find things. I give the F15 a bit of an edge in stability because of it holding 3 sides of the top of the bag. Decaleurs just hold one side, allowing a bit more sway. The bag sitting on the rack mostly offsets that, though, so there's not a lot of difference in stability.

Ted Durant

[Ron Mc]

Ely is at work for me - I'll post a photo in a few weeks.  

[Frank Brose]

Please do! If you don't mind me asking what is he cooking up? I'm looking forward to the pictures. If for nothing else to see more of Ely's work. Beautiful bags.

[Ron Mc]

a small rando-type bag than hangs from the F-15, possibly smaller than usual

[Ron Mc]

Finally had time and an overcast day to take photos of the Ruthworks F-15 small rando bag that Ely made for me.  

I used a Cygo helmet mount to attach my headlight to the bottom of the bag, and it's very firm.  

 

    

Ely installed some velcro straps that help, but mostly, I made it solid by attaching M4s through the bag U-box.  

[Bill in Roswell GA]

Alex Cycle in Japan has a number of Ostrich bags that fit the F15. The US has a very favorable exchange rate with the Yen these days. 

I'm still debating whether the F15 or the Klickfix mount such as Swift uses. Either way, I'm reluctant to need a rack for a front bag as I would like to move the bag from bike to bike quickly, sans tools. With a Klickfix one could have base mounts on several bikes, but I don't care for the visual of a mount in bars when I'm not using the bag. 

In my mind, some strong, rectangular magnetic strips on the bar, either side of the stem, would be less noticeable sans bag. The bag would have rectangular receivers, as well as traditional bar straps. There are a number of engineering design approaches. It's having the tools to make them that is rub - or pay a machinist shop to make them! 

Cheers,

Bill in Roswell, GA

[Steve Palincsar]

On 11/27/2016 11:27 PM, Bill in Roswell GA wrote:
> n my mind, some strong, rectangular magnetic strips on the bar, either
> side of the stem, would be less noticeable sans bag. The bag would
> have rectangular receivers, as well as traditional bar straps. There
> are a number of engineering design approaches. It's having the tools
> to make them that is rub - or pay a machinist shop to make them!

Wouldn't those strong magnetic strips mess with the contents of the bag?

[Kevin Lindsey]

For what it's worth, I just removed a Klickfix system from my Hunqapillar.  I found that it caused the bag to sit so high relative to the center of mass that it made the Hunq unstable; I couldn't even ride it hands-off which, considering how stable the Hunq normally is, says a lot.  I got in touch with the good folks at Carradice to see if there was a solution to this issue, but the only help they could offer was a refund for the bag.
Kevin

[Kieran J]

Looks fairly similar to the Klickfix system that Swift uses for their Paloma bag:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluelug/sets/72157643588376734/

Maybe there's some compatibility there, not sure.

KJ

On Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 4:01:58 PM UTC-4, Bill Lindsay wrote:

[Steve Palincsar]

On 11/28/2016 09:07 AM, Kevin Lindsey wrote:
> For what it's worth, I just removed a Klickfix system from my
> Hunqapillar. I found that it caused the bag to sit so high relative
> to the center of mass that it made the Hunq unstable; I couldn't even
> ride it hands-off which, considering how stable the Hunq normally is,
> says a lot. I got in touch with the good folks at Carradice to see if
> there was a solution to this issue, but the only help they could offer
> was a refund for the bag.

A rack that sits down low to support the bag from the bottom and a
decaleur to support it at the top would be a solution to this problem.
I used such an arrangement with my Saluki using the largest size
Berthoud bag and it worked fine. Klickfix does have advantages when it
comes to quick on & off, but as you say, it makes the bag sit very high
indeed.

[Ron Mc]

Hi Bill, I've outfitted several bikes from Alex cycles, and have a great Ostrich saddle bag on my Viner.  Any time the JY is more than 100 to the $ shopping in Japan is good.  (I think most of the stuff I bought it pushing JY120 to the $).  I actually ordered an Ostrich F516, then over the same weekend asked Alex to cancel my order - they're really good folks there.  Ely made just what I wanted, and I like the way the top of his bag sits 3-4" lower than the Ostrich.  The stiffness of Ely's internal U-box also solved the headlight problem I was shooting for.  

As far as the weight question, the higher the trail, the more the bike handling is affected by front weight.  My Moser is Not a front-load bike, but I carry my roadside in the saddle wedge, and all I'm using a front bag for is winter layers.  Our winter temps can swing 40 degrees - 40 to 80 on a clear day.  

On Sunday, November 27, 2016 at 10:27:32 PM UTC-6, Bill in Roswell GA wrote:

Alex Cycle in Japan has a number of Ostrich bags that fit the F15. The US has a very favorable exchange rate with the Yen these days. 

...

Cheers,

Bill in Roswell, GA

On Friday, September 23, 2016 at 7:20:01 AM UTC-4, Ron Mc wrote:

I believe Ostrich makes two rando-style bags, 8-liter and 12-liter, that will hang from this rack.  

On Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 10:34:36 PM UTC-5, dstein wrote:

...