Rambler Bullmoose Bag Project!

[Matthew Williams]

Hi everyone, I thought you might like this project on which I’ve been working for the past year.

Since I got my bike, I’ve wanted a handlebar bag to fit under my Nitto bullmoose handlebars. I wanted a canvas bag with rider-facing pockets, and I wanted the bag to hang from the bars instead of resting on a front rack or a decaleur. I needed a bagmaker with design and engineering skills.

I found Rambler Bags, a one-person shop in Pennsylvania, and I immediately knew Kuba was the right talent for the project. Kuba’s design philosophy and aesthetics matched mine: Rambler’s waxed-canvas bags are simple, the hardware is easily replaceable, and have drawstring closures instead of zippers.

I ordered a set of panniers and a saddlebag, and I sent Kuba sketches of what I was envisioning for a frame bag and a handlebar bag.

[Matthew Williams]

I then built cardboard mockups to fit in my frame and handlebars. I taped the mockups in place and went for a few rides to check clearances and fitting. Once I was sure the size and fit were correct, I sent the cardboard patterns and mockup to Kuba.

[Matthew Williams]

The finished bags are amazing. I chose black cords and waxed canvas; the bag interiors are bright orange. The bags are sturdy, the craftsmanship is superb, the fit is perfect, and Kuba's engineering solutions are spot-on.

I'm looking forward to some long rides this summer.

[Jay Lonner]

Very impressive! Your sketches and mockups are more put together than my amateurish but functional collection of bags and racks. It looks as if your handlebar bag is designed to be suspended from the bars rather than supported from below by a rack. Is there Coroplast or some other rigid substance in the bottom to help the bag maintain its structure?

Jay Lonner

Bellingham, WA

Sent from my Atari 400

On May 2, 2025, at 7:26 PM, Matthew Williams <matthewwil...@gmail.com> wrote:



The finished bags are amazing. I chose black cords and waxed canvas; the bag interiors are bright orange. The bags are sturdy, the craftsmanship is superb, the fit is perfect, and Kuba's engineering solutions are spot-on.

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I'm looking forward to some long rides this summer.

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[Matthew Williams]

> Is there Coroplast or some other rigid substance in the bottom to help the bag maintain its structure?

Yes, exactly! That was one of Kuba’s design and engineering solutions: the bag has a replaceable stiffener, like a sideways taco.

[Adrian]

This is awesome.

[Steve]

Very nice !!!     Good looking Appaloosa as well.  Thanks for sharing the Rambler Bags link, I'll check them out. 

Steve in AVL

[Nicholas A]

That is so well thought out, so satisfying to see it go from a cardboard box to a real life bag!

[Doug Van Cleve]

HiBOB.

Do you happen to know if this bar bag would fit the other Nitto xxx-Moose bars (Bosco and Choco)?  seems like it would mostly depend on whether the triangles are the same(ish) size…

Thanks, Doug

On Fri, May 2, 2025 at 8:13 PM Matthew Williams <matthewwil...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Is there Coroplast or some other rigid substance in the bottom to help the bag maintain its structure?

Yes, exactly! That was one of Kuba’s design and engineering solutions: the bag has a replaceable stiffener, like a sideways taco.

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[Matthew Williams]

Do you happen to know if this bar bag would fit the other Nitto xxx-Moose bars (Bosco and Choco)?  seems like it would mostly depend on whether the triangles are the same(ish) size…

I don’t know if the bar-stem triangle geometry is identical for the Bullmoose, Boscomoose, and Chocomoose. Surely drawings with dimensions must exist online and we can compare.

But even if the triangles have different dimensions (also, the Bosco and Choco have straight bars, whereas the Bullmoose is curved) all you need is a tracing of your handlebars so Kuba knows where to place the attachment straps.

In addition to the mockups, I sent Kuba this pattern for placing the attachments on the top of the bag. You could trace your handlebars and make a similar pattern and the bag would work on the Boscomoose and Chocomoose.

[Doug Van Cleve]

Thanks Matthew!

[PDXJohnny]

holy moly, the bags look just exactly like the design. Impressive work Matthew, beautiful!