Lightweight chi-chi saddlebag of about 9 liters / 61 ci

[Patrick Moore]

Does anyone make a lightweight (nylon and plastic instead of canvas and leather and metal) transverse saddlebag about the size of the Junior or Barley (would prefer no side pockets) that also looks good? I'd prefer a transverse style but might consider a bikepacking style if it's easy to get to the contents.

I've been attaching a Junior to the gofast at the start of the cold season and, now that it's time to go back to the bike-kit seat wedge I think I'll miss the volume. But I'd like something more sleek in all the various meanings of this term.

A vanity bag for a vanity bike, sure, but why not?

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In other news, just installed a NOS silver 3-speed quadrant shifter (tt mount) meant for AW type gears to replace the NOS 2-speed TF shifter for shifting the TC hub (get that?). The TC had its original driver swapped out for an AW driver, and the AW driver means that the hub now requires considerably more cable pull to shift securely to Low. The new shifter provides that by using the Low/first gear shift position instead of the Middle/second gear shift position to hold the clutch securely in place for low 86.54%) gear. 

But this nice 3 speed shifter will also shift the 2 speed TF: I'll just use the High/3rd gear and Middle/2nd gear positions. And I've finagled the 25.4 mm clamps for the shifter and roller so that they go easily on and off the 28.6 mm tt and dt (roller) so that I can easily switch between TC and TF wheels and to the original Phil/Dingle wheel.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[DavidP]

Hi Patrick - the Swift Catalyst (7.5l) or Zeitgeist (12l) come to mind. I have a Catalyst and a Barley on different bikes - they are close in size but the Catalyst doesn't have side pockets.

[Patrick Moore]

Thanks, David; the Catalyst looks very possible.

I must say, I asked for chi chi and that's what Swift offers! 15 oz versus the 17.3 oz of the Carradice Jr: $70.18 per oz saved!

Question: It's made from recycled plastic bottles. I'm happy to recycle but does the cloth made from them resist abrasion, fading, and above all, very strong sunlight? Our mile-high southerly sun makes the sunlight at LA beaches look dim, not kidding, and in summer it will destroy a great many plastics in a couple of months.

I see Swift offers this: 

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[Patrick Moore]

Speaking of light ~9 liter saddlebags: Can anyone recommend a custom maker with a proven record of quality? Again, lighweight and prettier version of the Carradice Junior or something similar.

In winter I use the bag for carrying outer layers as the temps warm up (they do so very quickly here with our sun and thin atmosphere) as well as the usual bike kit, but 9 liters also allows you to stuff in a bottle of wine or 2X25 oz Australian lagers and a sandwich (on the way home, for the much desired post-ride refreshments and not for the journey!).

Thanks.

[Steve]

I'll put in a plug for Dill Pickle Gear, owned by Emily O'Brien jn Mass.. I own a saddle bag and a handlebar burrito style bag (built to my custom dimensions). She offers a variety of bag styles and will modify her standard designs upon request. You select the color(s) from her menu. Pricing is reasonable and her work is flawless. Definitely worth a look -  

 https://www.dillpicklegear.com/picklejar/

Steve

[rlti...@gmail.com]

Bags x Bird make the Piccolo which sounds Ike it could work. You have your choice of fabrics, colors, etc. Side pockets but they lay flat.  The bags are made to order so maybe those can be deleted? I have their Goldback bag and the quality is very high. The costs reflect that…

Robert Tilley

San Diego, CA

Sent from my iPhone

On May 22, 2023, at 2:03 PM, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[ascpgh]

I'll recommend Ruthworks. Eli Rodriguez (iBOB) made me a great custom rando bag for my Coast rando. It replicates the volume I had with my Carradice Nelson Longflap I used for 20 years on my Rambouillet. He has many stock bag designs, multiple materials and lots of colors to pick from that may suit your needs. 

 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

On Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 2:30:57 PM UTC-4 Patrick Moore wrote:

[Patrick Moore]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'll check them all. Actually, I did check Ruthworks since I've owned at least 3 of his seat wedges -- yes, very well made -- but he is no longer making customs and he doesn't have a saddlebag in his product line.

[Peter Adler]

Phil Woosley of Loyal Bags in Richmond CA is another Bay Area option. He's a long-time shop rat; formerly at the late lamented Missing Link and now at Blue Heron in Berkeley. He was Bruce Gordon's last bag maker, for about a decade before Bruce shut down operations; you may recall a recent thread on CR about Phil doing some bags forJim Merz.

I've got an early example of Phil's handlebar bag, acquired from an iBOBer/RBWer few years back. It's quite shrewdly designed - larger at the bottom than at the top, it directs the weight further downward in the bag where it should be. I took it around to Phil at Blue Heron when I got squeamish about forcing one of the non-rectangular delrin stiffeners into the pocket sewn in on the inside; he was pleased to see that one of his old bags was still kicking around, especially since his bags carry a lifetime warranty. No warranty service needed here!

Phil works primarily in waxed canvas and leather, but his site used to feature images of bags in modern ultralight (ahem) petrochemically-derived materials. He's not really a web store guy; you're best off emailing/phoning and talking to him about what you're looking for.

Peter "very satisfied second-hand customer" Adler

Berkeley, CA/USA

[Eric Norris]

I have a Loyal rando bag on one of my Alex Singers. Very nice quality on par with the pricier French bag I have on another bike. I like Loyal’s closures, which are easier to use than the fiddly ones on my French bag.

--Eric Norris
campyo...@me.com
Insta: @CampyOnlyGuy
YouTube: YouTube.com/CampyOnlyGuy 

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