Does Charlie look stupid like this?

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

The new Varia 820 is heavy. The mount I had on my Bananasax was too flimsy and I worried that expensive cycling gem would fly off and break into a million pieces.

The only other feasible placement is on the seat post. But that means no bag on the saddle loops - it must live on the bars instead. 

I will do the pics in the next post because Gmail lets me embed them…

[Leah Peterson]

Here is Charlie in his original state. Isn’t he luscious? Just how I liked him. Everything I needed, but not an ounce of fat.

Well, now he has a new Varia. And this is the mount. It straps to the seat post.

I need to carry a small bag of essentials (dynaplug, a tiny electronic air pump, etc), and now the only place for it is on the bars. The olive camouflages a bit, but I don’t love it.

Does he look muzzled? 

And it covers his gorgeous head badge. This is my favorite head badge ever.

We rode 26 mi with the girls on the club ride this morning and he was flawless. The bag wasn’t noticeable to me on the ride or anything…I’m just stuck on the aesthetics. 

Anyone have any mount suggestions?

Leah

On May 15, 2026, at 9:00 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

The new Varia 820 is heavy. The mount I had on my Bananasax was too flimsy and I worried that expensive cycling gem would fly off and break into a million pieces.

The only other feasible placement is on the seat post. But that means no bag on the saddle loops - it must live on the bars instead. 

I will do the pics in the next post because Gmail lets me embed them…

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[Jason Fuller]

That handlebar bag doesn't seem to be much larger than the stem / feed / bartender bag, what about adding a second one of those instead? You'll get symmetry points while not covering the head tube. If that's not quite enough room, which I suspect might be the case, you can also add a second bottle cage on the seat tube and get one of the Randi Jo's MUTs that are designed to fit in a bottle cage 

[Valerie Yates]

It doesn’t look stupid but it doesn’t look like your usual glam package. 

I love handlebar bags. This looks like a seat bag attached to your handlebar. The proportions don’t look right to me. Might want to look into other shapes that won’t hide your headbadge. I use Randi Jo’s hip pack as a handlebar bag.

This is exactly why I don’t have a varia. I love a small saddlebag for spare tubes and tools.  It is so perfectly out of the way. Maybe add a lightweight rack so you can use that same mount you have on your other bike?

Val in Boulder CO

[Mike Rossi]

Would a seat stay mount be an option?

Mike

On May 15, 2026, at 11:47 PM, Valerie Yates <vya...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Leah Peterson]

Yes, this is right. This gives words to how I feel when I see that bag on the bars. I have another idea for a bag - I’m going to look now!

On May 15, 2026, at 11:47 PM, Valerie Yates <vya...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Leah Peterson]

 I may have to do this for my purple Platy. I have the Pletscher rack and I love it and no mount will work on it for my Varia. Where did you see this? 

On May 16, 2026, at 5:59 AM, Mike Rossi <mwill...@gmail.com> wrote:

Would a seat stay mount be an option?

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[Leah Peterson]

Well, the Northern Lights Swift bag is on sale…what do you guys think?

On May 16, 2026, at 7:39 AM, Leah Peterson <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:



[Johnny Alien]

I don't think it looks stupid but I do think a singular bag looks best on the saddle and handlebar bags look best in a dual bag situation. But I stress this doesn't look stupid. If it were me and it was mainly used for club rides I would lose the triangle and see if a roll of some kind might clear the light. The bag you linked above is glorious no matter where it goes. Thats a killer color and style. Buy it even if its not used on Charlie

[Ron Mc]

Charlie is a handsome bike.  

I can always come up with a secure way to mount my favorite Cygo tail-lamp to a bag or rack.  

 

 

Here's my favorite, on Ostrich S-2 bag.  I took apart the Cygo seatpost mount, and attached the lamp clip-on frame directly to the bag loops.  

Opened the M4 pilot hole to M5, and made an M5 stack that tightens against a sleeve I made by drilling out brake-cable ferrules.  

It's secure, and pivots freely to get into the bag loops.  

 

[R Olson]

Lots of great ideas and I think Charlie looks great either way, but here are my thoughts if you want to keep the saddlebag:

1) Move the Varia down to the seat post? Above the top tube and below the seat lug.  Looks like it might fit.  The top tube will keep it from sliding down and you have fenders, so it won't get mucked up. 

2) Apart from that, can you put it in you saddlbag?  Isn't it just a reciever?  I don't know much about these devices, but if so, I would think it should work if inside the saddlebag.  You could put it in  an interior pocket or another bag to protect it.  Also, makes it easier if you want to move it from one bike to another.

Just some thoughts.  You bike looks great.

Ryan

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

VERY creative. Extra points to you for using oil slick bolts!

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Thank you, Ryan. I tried #1 at your suggestion, but alas, the frame interferes with the view of the radar. #2 I am pretty sure the radar can’t be in a bag and has to be mounted with unobstructed view. Plus you want the light it emits. It does clever things like change pattern to signal to the rider behind you that you are slowing, or flashes excitedly if a car is rushing up on you. 

Johnny - I can’t fit my stuff in the saddle rails, but good thought. I might just get that Swift bag and be done. 

[Valerie Yates]

I like the proposed colorful bag, the splashes of color will look great in Charlie and the size and shape are cute. It reminds me of the colorful bags made in CO by Oveja Negra. They are sold out on their website but I see they are in stock at Campfire Cycling. 

Looking for the seat stay mount pictured above, I came across a KOM saddlebag mount at Competitive Cyclist. Have you tried this one?

When I attempted this a year or so ago, I could not figure how to secure ir other than the seatpost, which was not an option for me. Ron's handiwork shows me that I was not thinking creatively enough. 

[Ron Mc]

Actually, I'm a titanium junkie, and most always have a small order in transit from Wanyifa.  

Unlike stainless, titanium is gall-proof, 40% lighter, and 2-1/2-times the yield strength.  

Also available in cool anodize.  

[Ron Mc]

ps - here's the rest of Rowena at the greenway summit overlook Thurs morning.  

Noteworthy ride on my 3x1.  Over the greenway summit, down to the pond and back.  

385' elevation.  

Ate my orange at the pond turnaround, and the deer came up looking for handouts.  

On Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 10:19:41 AM UTC-5 Ron Mc wrote:

Actually, I'm a titanium junkie, and most always have a small order in transit from Wanyifa.  

Unlike stainless, titanium is gall-proof, 40% lighter, and 2-1/2-times the yield strength.  

Also available in cool anodize.  

On Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 10:07:36 AM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

VERY creative. Extra points to you for using oil slick bolts!

On Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 10:23:13 AM UTC-4 Ron Mc wrote:

Charlie is a handsome bike.  

I can always come up with a secure way to mount my favorite Cygo tail-lamp to a bag or rack.  

 

 

Here's my favorite, on Ostrich S-2 bag.  I took apart the Cygo seatpost mount, and attached the lamp clip-on frame directly to the bag loops.  

Opened the M4 pilot hole to M5, and made an M5 stack that tightens against a sleeve I made by drilling out brake-cable ferrules.  

It's secure, and pivots freely to get into the bag loops.  

 
ae400-6e68-49d3-a58d-e68fb22a7a6en%40googlegroups.com.

[Ryan Fleming]

That looks like it could work given Charlie's aesthetic...agree with Valerie, the banana bag belongs on the back

[Will Boericke]

If it were me, I'd think about using that chunk of real estate between your fender and the seattube.  Get a nice custom bag made in a matching or contrasting color.  Here's Esker's long chainstay Hayduke for an idea.