Recommendations for Saddle Bag--mostly for books

[Tom Goodmann]

With a school year just about underway, I'm late to ask; looking for recommendations for a saddle bag--likely more flat than square--for ferrying books & a notebook pc on a Sam or a Heron Touring.  Each has a rear rack too, so panniers are another way to go, of course, but my first thought is for a saddle bag-style sort of brief case (behind a B-17, yup). Suggestions appreciated.  --Tom in Miami

[Tim Gavin]

I got a Carradice Nelson recently and like it a lot.  It's pretty big (about Medium Sackville Saddlesack size), so you may want a smaller Carradice like a Barley.  They're cheapish, handsome, and durable.

On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 8:40 PM, Tom Goodmann <tgoo...@gmail.com> wrote:

With a school year just about underway, I'm late to ask; looking for recommendations for a saddle bag--likely more flat than square--for ferrying books & a notebook pc on a Sam or a Heron Touring.  Each has a rear rack too, so panniers are another way to go, of course, but my first thought is for a saddle bag-style sort of brief case (behind a B-17, yup). Suggestions appreciated.  --Tom in Miami

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

[Deacon Patrick]

I love my large SaddleSack from Riv. Very stable and rides on top the rear rack.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Anne Paulson]

The Large Saddlesack, or the Medium Saddlesack if you want something
smaller. The advantage is the big opening, so it's easy to put books
and a laptop in, and you can also fit a sweater or jacket, your lunch,
and (with the Large) some groceries on the way home.

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

--
-- Anne Paulson

It isn't a contest. Enjoy the ride.

[Andy Williams]

Swift Industries also has saddle bags (and other good stuff) that are worth checking out...

http://builtbyswift.com

Andy

[rob markwardt]

I've got a Carradice "College" on my bike (how appropriate is that!).   It's simple (no pockets), big, and relatively cheap.  

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/carradice-college-saddlebag-black-with-white-straps-15ltr-prod612/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77502424@N00/7225302000/in/set-72157633280115554

[velomann]

I'll second the recommendation for the Carradice Nelson. It will do what you're wanting, for years. But if you want to use it as a book bag off the bike, there are panniers better suited to that.

Mike

[Matt Beebe]

I'd recommend the Saddlesack Large for books.    I own both the Carradice Nelson and Camper and they are great bags, but for books, the Saddlesack bags with a rack are the way to go hands down.    They so easy to use and so spacious, they make carrying stuff on your bike a no-brainer.

Matt

[John Stowe]

If you decide go the pannier route: I got a Carradice Bike Bureau for grad school, which I'm very happy with. It swaps easily between my Sam Hillborne and my cyclocross bike. My only complaint is with the slightly fiddly locking mechanism on the Carradice hooks - I replaced them with Ortlieb QL1 and now it's dead simple to just snatch up the bag and head inside, and drop it back on the rack after class.

Of course, piling on a front rack works, too:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edith_john_stowe/8433986241/

-John

[WETH]

Tom,
Short Answer: another vote for a large Saddlesack.
Long Answer: be sure to think through your commuting process. From personal experience, I transitioned from panniers to a large Saxdlesack because of my personal routine and preferences. I commute several days a week by bike and the other days by car or bus. When I started bike commuting, I liked panniers for the ease of attaching and removal from bike. Over time, though, I found transferring things from panniers to a briefcase or a backpack tedious on the days I drove or took the bus. (i am sure there are panniers that convert to backpacks or briefcases to allow easier transport off the bike.) The large Saddlesack is spacious enough to hold my briefcase and/or backpack. This keeps life more simple and minimizes the likelihood I forget something in a bag at home. The downside to the large Saddlesack is that it is not as easy to switch it between bikes as with a set of panniers. Finally, a more permanently attach Saddlesack might bring unwanted attention to your bike depending on where you have to secure it at school.
All the best,
Erl

[Tom Goodmann]

Thanks to all for the fine suggestions; good choices, and for the long haul too. John Stowe: you put that front rack to many good uses, carrying two loads we cannot yet get in South Florida: Fat Tire, and things from Trader Joe's. We keep hearing happy rumors . . . .

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/DWJHrzq02O0/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.

[Matt Beebe]

One other point about the large saddlesack:   if you use it with a QR saddlebag mount, it is super easy to take on and off the bike.   In fact, I'd put it up against anything in terms of ease of attachment/removal.

[Curtis McKenzie]

Another vote for the Saddlesack. I have a medium so I do not need a rack in the back. Currently it is loaded with a tent, summer sleeping bag and a few other items. It is not even close to being stuffed. Make runs to the grocery store with it and can take home any number of items.  Medium or large both are great to look at and are very functional. Your mileage may vary.

[Rick]

I commute on the Atlantis, and 95 out of 100 days use the medium Sackville Saddlesack.  I have to tote books and files and some clothes and usually a thermos or two, occassionally my laptop, always an ipad and a spare keyboard.  Outside pockets are dedicated to my kit -- a mini pump, some tools, spare tubes (unused for years due to Schwalbe Marathon burliness, but just in case), everything else goes in the main pocket. It gets pretty full, and although it could (possibly) go without, I do have the nitto big rear rack for support.

 

I use the quick release adapter, which I love, because the bike is locked up in the parking garage.  One twist and my kit and stuff and bag are off the bike and safe from the ethically challenged.  Makes a perfectly fine handle to tote to and from the office; it's not a briefcase, but is as easy or easier to carry around as the Ortleib's I use on the weekends for grocery runs. 

 

I went to this system after several years with the Arkel laptop commuter bag, which was never quite large enough, but had the advantage of a shoulder strap.  It also was not (1) nearly as tough as the Saddlesack and (2) required me to pull out its separate waterproof cover when things got a little misty. 

 

The only thing I would change about the medium Saddlesack:  a pleat around the outside of the side pockets so that they would expand outward rather than intruding into the main compartment.  Maybe one day I'll get the large, but the medium is . . . quite big. 

 

Rick.

 

On Thursday, August 22, 2013 9:40:35 PM UTC-4, Tom Goodmann wrote:

[Jim]

Another vote for saddlesacks.  I have a large, in which I can stuff books, papers and a laptop for commuting between home, work and a course I'm teaching at the university. 

 

One question:  Does anyone use the quick release with a large saddlesack?  If so, do you have a good method for quick release of the sack from the rack?  I'm thinking to just run a strap through it and the rack, but a bit of a fiddle to get on and off.  Currently I have it zip tied to the rack.

TIA

 

Jim in Boulder

On Thursday, August 22, 2013 7:40:35 PM UTC-6, Tom Goodmann wrote:

[Rick]

I only have the medium, but I just don't attach it to the rack.  Stays pretty solid, but I did shake the hardware loose from the saddle on one occasion, and had to reassamble roadside. 

[Tom Harrop]

Jim,

I use a bungee ball on the bottom of my large SaddleSack. The cord loops through the leather on the bottom of the bag and around the top of the rack. It holds nice and secure. It's not exactly quick release, but it's quickER release... personally I find it more time-consuming (we're talking seconds here) but less irritating than the Ortlieb pannier system. I use my SaddleSack for commuting and take the bag off whenever I leave the bike, including for quick stops at the grocery store on the way home. It may be too much of a fiddle for some people though.

Before I thought of the bungee ball I was using a John's Irish strap. That was also OK, but it's more difficult to feed the strap through the buckle than it is to engage a bungee ball, so the bungee ball was a step in the right direction. It was further improved when I started using a half-cut-off zip tie to feed the bungee cord through the rack. I'm not explaining this very well—be happy to post a photo if it helps.

Tom

Germany

[Tom Goodmann]

Loads of good ideas, as usual on this list.  Tom, a photo would be great; I like the home remedy!  Several recommendations, then, for the medium or large Saddlesack (also a handsome bag). Swift Industries Mini Rolltop panniers are the other choice I have in mind: MUSA; waxed canvas option; two panniers for the price (+ options) of one Saddlesack. Really a question of preference, as both are attractive options.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/DWJHrzq02O0/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.

[Matt Beebe]

I use a QR with the large saddlesack, but do not secure the bag to the rack.    It just floats on top, never had any problems even riding off road this way.

[Tom Harrop]

OK, here 'tis. You can see I've used a piece of string to stop the cord slipping out, and a few centimetres of zip tie, which one can grab in order to pull the cord around the rack.

By the way, the torn leather is from a separate incident when my bike fell over with the bag tightly strapped on with an Irish strap. Beausage?

[Christopher Chen]

Thanks Tom! I love the thinking that went into this "hack". From the safety loop to the "grab" ziptie. Excellent!

cc

On Sat, Aug 24, 2013 at 2:52 AM, Tom Harrop <twha...@gmail.com> wrote:

OK, here 'tis. You can see I've used a piece of string to stop the cord slipping out, and a few centimetres of zip tie, which one can grab in order to pull the cord around the rack.

By the way, the torn leather is from a separate incident when my bike fell over with the bag tightly strapped on with an Irish strap. Beausage?

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

--
"I want the kind of six pack you can't drink." -- Micah