Bags for small bike owners (48cm Hunqs, 47cm Sams, Atlanti, etc.)

[Ginz]

I'm curious to know which bags small frame owners.  My saddle height on the Hunq is low enough relative to the wheel that even a small saddlebag cannot be run without a rack to hold it up off the tire (at least when loaded and saggy).  Even a Carradice Bagman is too tall.  I think I tried a Mark's rack and the tombstone hit the saddle rails.

I've got a Brand V bar sack on there, but I need more space for day rides.  Any ideas?  I'm really trying to avoid a rack as this is more of a trail bike and I've got racks on my other bikes.

I wonder if I could have someone modify a Carradice Bagman to shorten it a little bit?

[Patrick Moore]

I don't ride small frames, but I do ride a Fargo with a very tall rear tire that rubs even on a lightly loaded Junior and, for that matter, on a Jandd Mountain Wedge III when the extension is unzipped.

The solution was a Revelate bag; I bought the Pika which has a 12 liter capacity if you unroll it to full length. I could have fit the larger (14 l?) Viscacha, but the Pika is large enough for this bike: it will carry a pair of size 45 men's bulky mtb shoes with thick, lugged soles in addition to the  usual bulky (8"X5"X3") off road repair kit and 7" Lezyne. The secret is that the volume extends rearward rather than downward.

I've carried an amusingly large, heavy, and bulky grocery load that included 1/2 gallon of coffee creamer and a 4 lb pkg of corn tortillas, plus 3-4 other items, all at once.

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[Patrick Moore]

The Pika, extended, also makes a very good impromptu rear fender.

[drew]

carradice has a "lowsaddle" bag. ive never seen or used one, but the name implies some connection to this issue.

also, what about a frame bag? im coming around to them, especially on trail bikes. 

[Shoji Takahashi]

I've got a 48cm Hunqapillar (70-cm saddle height). Rackless, I can use the Saddlesack small. I have to wrap an Irish strap around it to keep it off the tire. Here's a pic: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stakx/10216505583/in/set-72157634163491121

I think the latest Nitto R-14 rack is tombstone-less. It's about as close to no-rack as a rack can get. Maybe that'll do? Good for a Saddlesack Large, even.

Good luck!

SHoji

[John]

I have the same problem with my 54cm Hunq, especially w/ large tires, unless I use a tiny saddlebag.

I wanted to use a large (11 liters) Swift Industries Zeitgeist saddlebag, so when I mounted a Mark's rack in back, I tilted the platform to fit the tombstone under the saddle.

And now the back of the bag lies on the tombstone, and the bottom of the bag rests nicely on the rack. Look unconventional, but it works.

Or you could use a small bag like an XS Riv (Keven's) bag on your saddle, and a big basket in the front.

Or you could use the Nitto R-14 Top rack which Riv sells w/o a tombstone.

John

[sean]

I used to ride a 50cm Rambouillet and used a Viva saddlebag support for my Carradice lowsaddle longflap. Kept the bag off the rear tire nicely. It mounts to the seatpost and I'm thinking it may be smaller than the Carradice Bagman support. 

Sean

ATX

[Ginz]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

I had a Viva for a minute but my thoughts were that it was so heavy, I may has well put a rear rack on there.

Frame bags are interesting though I hear they rub off the frame's paint.  That wouldn't bother me on a battle machine but, on the Hunq, not sure I can allow that.

'
Patrick -- regarding the Pika, how easy or difficult is it to pack and unpack mid ride, pack in groceries, pull out a cable lock, grab your jacket, stuff it back in, etc.?

[Anne Paulson]

I have the same problem on my Surly Krampus. I'm not that small, but
the bike wheel is that big. Even a Revelate Pika doesn't work for me.

I'm using a little Nitto R-10 rack. I'd rather use no rack, but I
can't find any bag that works with no rack.

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-- Anne Paulson

It isn't a contest. Enjoy the ride.

[Anne Paulson]

I own a Revelate Pika, and tried to use it on a randonnee on my
Roadeo. I hated it for the purpose. It's difficult to load and unload,
and whatever you want is always on the bottom so you have to unpack
everything to get to it. I would find the Pika a complete non-starter
for groceries. IMO, a Pika is better suited to holding something you
pack up in the morning and take out at night, like a tent or a
sleeping bag. YMMV.

[Deacon Patrick]

Ginz, what about the current rack(s?) from Rivendell that have no tombstone? That would open up all kinds of options for grocery getting, including a medium or large SaddleSack or panniers.

With abandon,

Patrick (the other one, who also doesn't ride small bikes, so I'm spitballing here, which is likely all it's worth. Sardonic grin.)

[bert...@gmail.com]

The Pika is not as convenient as a Nelson or Sackville; the load space is essentially a tube. But if you pack smart -- pull out the lock you'll need mid ride so it's not at the bottom -- it's OK; better IMO than dragging on the tire or needing a strap around the middle.

Sent from my iPhone

[Ginz]

Hmm...all food for thought!

Has anyone tried the Revelate Sweetroll on a Bull Moose bar?

[bert...@gmail.com]

Fwiw, the size 45 mtb shoes go in and out easily.

Sent from my iPhone

[Tim Gavin]

Not on a Bullmoose bar, but mounted a Sweetroll to the Jones Loop bars on my fat bike.  It works very well, especially with an add-on pocket (I have a spare  large pocket if anyone wants it).  The pocket is for the small stuff (phone, keys, snacks), and the roll holds the bulky stuff (extra layer, spare chain, super heavy fat bike tube).  I haven't used the "flap" to sandwich in a rolled item yet (like a sleeping pad or bag).  I also use a Revelate Jerry Can under the front of the seat for my tools (multi hex, chain tool, multi pliers, air gauge) to keep them from rolling around the Sweetroll bag or pocket.  I have a rack on back of the bike for panniers, if I'm carrying a serious load.

The Sweetroll has a loop (on back) that goes around the stem or head tube, so it doesn't swing too much (though that loop could mar paint).  Totally secure on the wicked off-roading I do on the fattie.  

The Sweetroll looks to be Bullmoose- or Bosco-compatible (and probably Albatross bars).  

I'm impressed with the build quality and smart features of Revelate products.  Though I remain a skeptic of the ease-of-use of the Pika/Visacha design.

MUSA!

I have a couple surplus bags/pieces, make an offer if interested?

Large add-on pocket, barely used, $47 retail

Large Tangle frame bag (21" long), new with tags, $90 retail

--Tim

[DS]

I ride short frames (48 hunq, 51 Sam) and also have this issue and haven't really found a good bag. Tried the carradice barley, rivendell saddlesacks, some velo orange bag, ultimately i decided having a front rack with a bag or basket is preferable, and will put a small tool bag under the saddle. I did get an n-14 for one of my bikes and use that in the rear. I also have a silver hupe which i use on my hunqapillar to hold my medium saddlesack for overnighters.

[Anne Paulson]

I have a Revelate Sweetroll on my Jones Loop bars too. It's excellent.
I too use a large pocket.

But for grocery shopping and around town, my preference is a rack and
a saddlebag. So very, very much easier to use.

So, to review, I have and use all three systems:

Revelate Pika: Good for camping, for things you'll only need at the
end of the day. Bad for use during the day. Terrible for groceries.
Light, gets out of the way when empty. Well made and sturdy. Cannot be
overstuffed.

Revelate Sweetroll with pocket: the pocket is useful for stuff you
need during the day. The stuff sack part is mostly useful for things
you are not packing/unpacking during the day. Well made and sturdy.
Might drag in the front wheel. Cannot be overstuffed.

Rivendell Large Saddlesack: Heavy. Requires a rack. Big capacity. Easy
to get at what you need during a ride. Easy to pack. Handles heavy
groceries like a gallon of milk, or a ten pound sack of potatoes, or a
gallon of milk AND a ten pound sack of potatoes, with ease, because
it's supported by a rack. Can be overstuffed, a fact I demonstrate
almost every time I go to the grocery store.

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[Lynne Fitz]

Short frames here - 51cm Bleriot, equiv small custom Sweetpea, both running 650b wheels.
Bleriot always had a rack, so the Carradice Barley worked "ok"
Sweetpea has a Carradice Bagman. I bent it up a bit.
I know you don't want a rack, but the Racktime Fold-it is really quick on/off, if you only want to use it sometimes. I installed it for a multiday credit card tour, and used the Banjo Brothers rack trunk that morphs into a couple of small panniers on it.

[Michael Leven]

Why not an RBW Sackville Bar Sack for the handlebars?
Then you don't need anything on the back end of the bike.

[Ron Mc]

Front bag is a great idea on a low-trail bike.  My recent bike is without low trail, used a 7-l Ostrich saddle bag (boxy 10 x 10 x 7) and it works great with a Nitto R12 bag support - I think the same setup would work nicely on a small frame for a rear bag. Raining today - maybe I can get a photo later.  If you like the Ostrich saddle bag, make sure you shop in Japan...http://www.alexscycle.com/bags-1/saddle-bag/
  it's about 1/3 of the price from US suppliers.  

[Will]

Sometimes you have to accept geometry. It determines what works. In low saddle cases, seat bags do not work and you should simply move to other solutions.

I'd recommend a lightweight Tubus rack and an Ortlieb pannier. I am 5'6", riding the biggest Riv I can fit, a 53 Atlantis. The rack and pannier I've installed work great. I have huge capacity, great access to cargo contents, immediate on-off bag convenience. I cannot imagine fooling with a saddle bag. It would never be as convenient.

Will

[Ron Mc]

dry line pushed through - even with shuttling my daughter to wrestling training, we'll get in a couple of rides this weekend before the rain resumes tomorrow afternoon

got those shots of the Ostrich bag and Nitto R12 - complicated by a Nitto wire guard around the canti brake cable (and tough light)

even though this is a very large frame, total distance from top tube to lowest point on bag is 6cm

        

but I think this combination would work great on a small frame with useful capacity

[Patrick Moore]

+1 for this sensible statement, and +1 for rack + pannier(s). Having used many if not most of the saddlebags out there, as well as any number of pannier types, I've always come back to rack + panniers for any serious loading. If you need a rack for a bag anyway, panniers give you at once the most volume and the greatest flexibility. Currently I have big ones -- Ortlieb Rollers -- and small ones -- Ortlieb Sports Packers -- and I can mix and match as I wish, or forego altogether. And panniers carry the load lower which, at least for loads of 30 lb and upward, makes the effect on handling less, IME.

Even if a decent rack must be more or less permanently installed, panniers (at least those with modern attachment hardware) go on and come off very quickly and easily.

The Tubus Fly is cheapish, light (11 oz), and rated to 20kg. 

All that said, I do have a nostalgia for the old fashioned English saddlebags, just as I do for M-bars -- even though I find both impractical, overall, for my needs.

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[Ron Mc]

there are loads and there are loads - all of my bikes have roadside necessities permanent on the bike.  Chore loads require panniers, but not daytrip loads.  

[Liesl]

Late on the thread here, but I have a 46, 50, and 51 Riv's all with squeezy space for saddle bags. Carradice Barley can really tuck in there and hold a good amount. I've also found the marks mini to be really really adjustable and I bet one could angle it to fit its tombstone under the seat.

+1 on a light Ti tubus rear rack. Pricey but barely noticeable. I think it's the fly.

[Kellie]

Add helicopter tape under the straps; it's clear. Also I have a frame bag that hangs off the top tube; they come in sizes. Works great!

[Lynne Fitz]

fyi Racktime is just the Tubus value line. Same company.

[Patrick Moore]

Well, chore loads can use other containers, too. But rack + panniers is a good choice precisely because it's flexible: 2500 ci, or nothing, or anything in between. For daytrips I can use a single small Packer Sport.

That said, on bikes that aren't used regularly for bulky or heavy loads, I prefer to forego a rack and use the appropriately sized seat bag. As with the OP, I don't have clearance for even a small Carradice, so the Pika is a very good solution -- and of course there are others.

[Ely Ruth Rodriguez]

How much stuff do you carry for a day ride and how do you want to access that stuff?
You could just use a smallish to medium front bag and medium rear bag.
rear for repair stuff and things you dont access, front for stuff you access.
But really, it depends on how you ride and how you want to use the bags, everyone is different.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruthworkssf/16597621730/

[Ron Mc]

I still think the Nitto R12 is the answer to her original question.  https://www.benscycle.com/p-4354-nitto-r12-rear-bag-supporter.aspx  

On my go-fast bike I use the discontinued Acorn tubular bag for all my roadside - it's only open on the roadside, but carries fold-up, 2 tubes, flat kit (Stans, Zap-a-Gap and valve cores), compliment of full-sized Allens

 

    My daughter and I both have Randi-Jo bartender bags on most of our other bikes to carry wallet, cellphone, keys, a mini wrench for adjustments and maybe a power bar

[BenG]

My wife rides a 47Betty. She uses panniers with a big (not very) Nitto rear rack. It is solid and she has lots of space. Her bags came from Natril Gear. I think Riv's hub area bags would be nicely scaled for the back of her bike, but she likes more color. They look nice.

[islaysteve]

I ride a 51 Bleriot. The Kevin's bag is perfect for most of my riding. However, anticipating some longer rides in the future, I'm just finishing a project to convert an inexpensive canvas tool bag to a somewhat larger bag for my saddle, for those longer rides. I will start a separate post with pictures when it's done.
Steve

[Lynne Fitz]

Wandering around the Internets, I stumbled across this.  Might work for you.

http://eprider.blogspot.com/2011/01/small-racks-are-nice-too.html

[Ron Mc]

One more saddlebag option- all Acorn saddlebags, but especially the Large bag are designed to ride very tall above the rear wheel.  http://acorn-bag.myshopify.com/collections/all/products/large-saddlebag

[David Stein]

They also just released some black canvas ones this AM, I hear these sell out quickly, within hours.

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