Saddle bag/back pack order

short circuit

Hi, In one of the previous threads posted by Gearoid, I nearly hijacked the thread talking about the bags he was carrying on this expedition. Since then, I've looked at it in action on Gearoid's bike and Emty also approached me a week back to see if I was going to place an order.

Also, I know there were a few others looking to get bigger saddle bags for light touring.

I just wanted to kick off this thread to see if there was interest in ordering off these people to see if we might get a group order in.

The link to their site (German only)
http://www.in-sy.de/main/start.htm

I am willing to co-ordinate with the help of someone speaking German (Gearoid already offered to help ... Thanks !!..) ... .. or if someone wants to take it onboard, that's fine too.

This thread is just to gauge interest ... will kick off a new thread for actual ordering if there is sufficient.

Excellent, I'd be interested in one or two of the bag bar combos. Cheers for starting this short circuit.

petethedrummer

I definitely want one. Gonna ask my buddies if they want one too.

blorg

I would be interested.

TinyExplosions

I'd be interested too

hynesie

I'd be interested in at least 1, probably 2 of them.

emty

I have someone in Germany buying one there and posting it to me.Had sent an email, in english, to the company but got no reply.Will post again when I get more information.

short circuit

thanks for the response guys ... at this stage, it looks like we might get orders for around 10 bags atleast .. I will let people touch base with others who might be interested ... will leave this open for another couple of days and then stick a thread in for getting the orders, payment etc in.

fergalmonaghan

Howdy, I'd be interested in 1-2 bag/bar combos too. Cheers!

Jawgap

Count me in, please.

I'd be interested in at least one, maybe 2.

Apologies if this comes across rude but just wondering if there's any update on this?

short circuit

Dónal wrote: »

Apologies if this comes across rude but just wondering if there's any update on this?

No sir ... it does not come as rude at all ... I got caught up in other things and this completely escaped my mind ... I shall post another thread to start collecting offical orders today.

Any German speakers out there .... Gearoid ... you still available to help ...

FrankGrimes

Sorry if I've missed another thread on this.

I tend to carry a rucksack on long cycles, mainly cos I've always been a heavy packer and just like the reassurance of having spare tools, food, gear with me. I should probably work on lightening my load but that's gonna take a while for me to ween off it and I like the idea of having a decent size saddle bag to use instead. It'd be easier to carry and probably reduce my drag.

Just because I'd have a big saddle bag doesn't mean I'd fill it, but I do like the option. I'd like to be able to store tubes, tools, spare winter gloves, overshoes and my Endura mid-weight jacket in it in addition to some snacks and a gilet. I've had a few cases where I've gotten really cold really quickly on a cycle and it can happen on cold or warm days so I like the flexibility of having gear with me as an option.

I had a look on that German site but couldn't see much that might suit but it looks like this bag might do the job. Does anyone have one and is it really big (too big for the above) or is it manageable? How do they affect the ride - do they swing from side to side much or do you barely notice it?

I have a carbon frame bike with carbon seatpost so, though I'd only have a couple of KG of stuff in it, should I be worried about placing that load on the seatpost?

Carradice seem to have a range of large saddle bags more geared towards touring and seem a little big even for my excessive needs. They may suit the needs of some of those on this thread looking for large touring saddle bags?

rottenhat

FrankGrimes wrote: »

Carradice seem to have a range of large saddle bags more geared towards touring and seem a little big even for my excessive needs. They may suit the needs of some of those on this thread looking for large touring saddle bags?

Carradice saddlebags are excellent for light touring/commuting - no problem getting tools, spare tire, rain gear, food, six pack etc in there. However, when they're loaded they do noticeably affect the handling of the bike (not as much as panniers mind you) especially when you're out of the saddle. Unless you're quite tall, you would probably need some kind of support under the bag to stop it from dragging on your rear wheel. If you have no saddlebag loops on your saddle (your Brooks might, but it's more a racing saddle so probably not) then you need a separate mounting system also.

All in all, probably overkill for what you need.

blorg

The Swallow does have loops, as does the Swift.



Team Pro does not

emty

Am still waiting for an answer to an email ,in German this time,so am beginning to wonder if they are they still in business.A friend in Germany said he will ring them tomorrow so will let you know what happens.

FrankGrimes

rottenhat wrote: »

Carradice saddlebags are excellent for light touring/commuting - no problem getting tools, spare tire, rain gear, food, six pack etc in there. However, when they're loaded they do noticeably affect the handling of the bike (not as much as panniers mind you) especially when you're out of the saddle. Unless you're quite tall, you would probably need some kind of support under the bag to stop it from dragging on your rear wheel. If you have no saddlebag loops on your saddle (your Brooks might, but it's more a racing saddle so probably not) then you need a separate mounting system also.

All in all, probably overkill for what you need.

Cheers for that. Yeh it's clear the Carradice are overkill for my needs....anyone have any thoughts on this bag though? Seems like it might be a good intermediary option - big enough to take a fair bit of stuff without being massive like the Carradice. Wonder if this bag would affect the handling?

When climbing uphill is it better to have any load you are carrying on your back or on the bike itself?

blorg

Another option would be a bar bag, I used one of these in the Alps when we went from sunny day climbing a mountain to the likes of this:



Fitted Boards jacket, rain jacket, two pairs of gloves, overshoes, camera, etc.

FrankGrimes

blorg wrote: »

Another option would be a bar bag, I used one of these in the Alps when we went from sunny day climbing a mountain to the likes of this:



Fitted Boards jacket, rain jacket, two pairs of gloves, overshoes, camera, etc.

Thanks for the suggestion. Do you mean something like this or maybe a little smaller?

If that weight was to go onto the handlebars, I imagine it might affect handling and climbing more than if it was on the saddle?

If the general perception is that having the weight on your back is easier to carry than having to push it along on the bike with the legs (can't figure out which one is easier), I'd just keep using my rucksack. But if the saddle or bar bag would do the job and improve my drag without affecting climbing or handling that much, it'd be worth it as it'd be easier to get comfortable.

hynesie

FrankGrimes wrote: »

If the general perception is that having the weight on your back is easier to carry than having to push it along on the bike with the legs (can't figure out which one is easier)

With the bag on your back you have to carry the weight on your back AND push it along on the bike with your legs.

blorg

The one I use now is a fair bit smaller than that which probably helps with the handling. Got it in Decathlon.

Bar bags can be a bit of a hate thing, it could drive you absolutely nuts or it could be fine I think you want to try to keep the weight down. I used to find a bar bag very annoying on flat bars but it doesn't affect handling so badly with drops in my experience.

I have a Carradice very like this but in red which I used touring but am looking to sell, you would be welcome to try it out and only buy it if it worked for you.



To be honest at root for a day cycle you should be reducing the amount of stuff you bring, other than Alpine conditions where there is a major weather change I fit everything in a tiny saddle bag and indeed could stick it all in my jersey if required. This would go for cycles up to 200km and indeed over.

FrankGrimes

blorg wrote: »

The one I use now is a fair bit smaller than that which probably helps with the handling. Got it in Decathlon.

Bar bags can be a bit of a hate thing, it could drive you absolutely nuts or it could be fine I think you want to try to keep the weight down. I used to find a bar bag very annoying on flat bars but it doesn't affect handling so badly with drops in my experience.

I have a Carradice very like this but in red which I used touring but am looking to sell, you would be welcome to try it out and only buy it if it worked for you.



To be honest at root for a day cycle you should be reducing the amount of stuff you bring, other than Alpine conditions where there is a major weather change I fit everything in a tiny saddle bag and indeed could stick it all in my jersey if required. This would go for cycles up to 200km and indeed over.

Cheers for the offer on the trial of the bar bag. While I won't know if I'll like a largish saddle bag until I try it, I'd say the bar bag would drive me nuts so I doubt it's worth trying, thanks though.

You're dead right that I need to cut down what I'm carrying with me - I do like the reassurance of having bits and pieces with me, but will narrow it down so I only need a medium size saddle bag as a balance.

emty

Well, it looks like I will have one of the German saddle bags next week, the company is still in business but I think a German-speaker(or writer )would be needed to get the order sorted out.Will post again when it arrives.

lukester

Ich kann Hilfe geben wenn es noch noetig ist. Tad rusty, but ping me if needed.

petethedrummer

Hey, wir woll´n die Eisbärn sehn, wo oh oh oh oh.

emty

Well,my one has arrived but the instructions are in German .
Looks pretty good though,will post a pic when I can figure it out.

emty

Man,those Germans,they have a word for everything
Looks a good piece of kit,bag is very well made,easily put on and off and the straps seem like a good idea.The hook on the strap that goes onto the frame of the bike is a tad on the small side but that seems to be the only drawback.Only takes a few minutes to put together and will carry more than enough for an overnight stay.

AstraMonti

emty wrote: »

Man,those Germans,they have a word for everything
Looks a good piece of kit,bag is very well made,easily put on and off and the straps seem like a good idea.The hook on the strap that goes onto the frame of the bike is a tad on the small side but that seems to be the only drawback.Only takes a few minutes to put together and will carry more than enough for an overnight stay.

Nice one emty

Did you go out for a ride with it? Is it any noisy? This metallic thingy seems that could generate a lot of noise!

emty

Have not used it yet,am waiting for the Boards overnighter
Tbh,don't think it will make any noise.Everything fits together just so and am hoping that you won't notice it(apart from the extra weight)

Caroline_ie

:pac: ... not euro

FrankGrimes

I collected this bag from the post office this morning and it looks good - not quite as big as it looks in the photo which is probably a good thing as I don't need something massive.

Will need to play around with it but it looks like this will be big enough to let me stuff a medium thickness jacket into it along with some bits and bobs, which is exactly what I need. Will post when I know how much it can fit and if it affects the handling.

FrankGrimes

Took that new saddle bag out on my spin yesterday and found it pretty good.

It's not that massive so doesn't affect the handling much though I did feel the extra weight on the climbs (noticed the difference when I ditched it into a bush for the Kippure climb).

I had 2 tubes in boxes, a small mini tool, a few granola and energy bars, a long sleeve base layer (came in handy), puncture repair kit, sun cream, phone and my wallet in it so it weighed a fair bit and can hold more than the bare essentials so is a pretty handy bag for my needs.

Not sure on the physics of it, but I've had heavier loads on my back and don't notice them when climbing but I noticed a little bit of a drag on climbs with the bag in place. Think it might be as with a load on the back that helps pump the legs downwards, but with the bag on the saddle the legs have to push it along, if that makes sense?

Anyways, I'll be lightening my load a little bit (e.g. cash instead of full wallet) and will then find the bag very helpful (certainly felt freer not having a load on the back). Thought I'd post the review in case it's of interest to anyone looking to carry a little bit more than a normal saddle bag can fit on long rides.