Lashing saddlebags to saddles without loops

[PATRICK MOORE]

I got a used Camper today (it's a later one with the drawstring skirt;
the quality is not as good as the older ones I remember: thinner
canvas, plastic scuff lining instead of leather; but it's still very
nice) for the trike on which I run a Turbo and, hating even the VO
bolt-on loops, let alone the diabolic Cyclo ones, I decided to try to
strap it directly to the rails. It took a bit of twisting and a pair
of pliers to pull the second strap tight enough to get the buckle into
the second loop, but now the bag's dowel sits tight up against the
saddle and, with the strap around the seatpost, there is no sway.
Who'd'a' thought? Straps, of course, started with buckles inside and
underneath dowel so that other end comes back in on top and cinches
with pointy end downward.

Would this work on a bicycle? The trike has a very, very short
rear-center (the 27X1 1/8" tires overlap the bb shell) so that the
stays are more vertical. But I don't see why not.

Wisht I had a Hoss but the Camper will do for now.

--
Patrick Moore
Albuquerque, NM
For professional resumes, contact
Patrick Moore, ACRW
http://resumespecialties.com/index.html

[newenglandbike]

I would recommend having a bagman support or other rack to support the bag under that lashing scheme.     It depends on how big the bag is and how heavy the cargo, but with bumpy, all-weather riding the leather straps will stretch/deform and eventually tear.    You really want to have an attachment that accomodates the natural bend of the straps.   I have used Cyclo bag loops on loopless saddles before, which work OK, and a Nitto quick-release saddlebag attachment, which is awesome.  

-Matt


P.S. I have a few carradice bags, mostly old (70's/80's) some newer (<10 years) and recently bought a small barley bag for my girlfriend's bike.    It is every bit as good as the old ones, if not better.

[PATRICK MOORE]

The straps are twisted but not "crimped" and I doubt the scheme puts
additional strain on them. I plan to carry heavy loads and, of course,
will keep an eye on them, but I've never had problems with unsupported
bags before. Even the Expedition model of the Bagman is rather too
short for my taste. And I hate, hate hate Cyclo loops (their sharp
edges may be another point against them, tho' I've never had any
problem with straps failing with them). Anyway, full circle from
saddlebags of all sorts with all sorts of mounting schemes and
devices, to racks and panniers and now back again.

It's good to know that the more recent Carradices are back up in
quality. I know that there was a period when at least the larger
models were, as mine, not as good as the oldest ones.

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[Philip Williamson]

I have a "Schwinn Approved" large saddlebag that sounds a lot like
your Camper. Compared to my Carradice Cadet, the straps are thinner,
canvas is thinner, and the bottom is vinyl. Still a fine bag for the
farmer's market, it's just not as sturdy-seeming. My Banana Bag
(oldish Baggins by Duluth) seems nicer than either.

Philip

Philip Williamson
www.biketinker.com

[PATRICK MOORE]

Carradice quality seems to have gone back and forth. I know that
recent Juniors have been made of the older, heavier fabric and I've
had at least one later model bag (Nelson, I think) that had the
drawstring neck but was still heavy fabric. This one is indeed a
Carradice but thinner and vinyl, as at least one other I've owned. As
you say, though, still a fine bag -- worked fine today with a huge
load of Mom's mail (overflowed from her POB) and a collection of
library books and DVDs). And the old Bananas, and my ex-Adam were
indeed the best.

[Karl Fundenberger]

"No sway" is encouraging - I may try this!

Should I worry about the longevity of the leather straps?

How did you manage to keep the straps from sliding down the rails?

[PATRICK MOORE]

I simply cinched the straps as tight as I could get them (used pliers on the second strap but not to the point of stretching the leather -- have used pliers often with saddle loops, too). I don't seen any strain that the straps would not also have with saddle loops: the straps are twisted but not in any way that ought to compromise them. I carried ~25 lb home from the store the other day (the equivalent of a full paper grocery sack plus 3 bottles of wine).

When I say "no sway" I mean "beyond what the design of the bag implies" -- ie, no worse than with saddle loops.

On Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 11:40 AM, Karl Fundenberger <karl.fun...@gmail.com> wrote:

"No sway" is encouraging - I may try this!

Should I worry about the longevity of the leather straps?

How did you manage to keep the straps from sliding down the rails?

On Oc

[PATRICK MOORE]

To be as clear as possible: cinching the straps so tight means that they remain at the top of the rails because that is where where the distance between the rails most closely matches the distance between the straps -- in effect, it is the dowel that keeps the straps apart and does not let them slide downward and closer together.

[PATRICK MOORE]

Oh, and this is a tricycle: for what it's worth, the stays are more vertical because the rear-center is so short.

https://picasaweb.google.com/BERTIN753/BIKESMISCELLANEA#5665987116273041874

[Karl Fundenberger]

Ah, OK! They stay there by virtue of the closest matched distance.
That makes sense. Thanks!