Pannier / Backpack etc

rick_chasey

Headhuunter wrote:

pangolin wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

How many of those frame bags do you want to test? I've been thinking of getting something like that for a while. I'm basically looking for something to shove puncture kit in when on a ride. I find that the bags that sling under the saddle and the "tri bag" type which sits behind the bars on top of he frame both generally attach with velcro or have velcro straps etc which end up wearing holes in my lycra gear. I'm trying to find some kind of solution which would keep the lycra away from the velcro or a bag without velcro....

My topeak tribag really annoys me. The velcro seems to be just the wrong size and it flops from side to side, looking ugly and hitting my knees. Poor knees.

Anyway. So do you mean you don't mind velcro as a rule, but where it's positioned means it rubs between your thighs or on your knees (and so wears out your gear)...? Had any thoughts about what you would prefer? I guess I could attach it with a bit of webbing with a popper on it, but you still end up with a strip of webbing going where the velcro would have, which might have much the same effect.

I'm not really sure what the solution is, I don't mind velcro as long as it's positioned so that it doesn't wear holes in my clothing! If there's some other way of attaching it may be all the better... At the moment I tend to try to stuff everything in the rear pockets of my jersey but sometimes with puncture gear, tube, couple of bananas, phone, money, credit card etce etc the pocket starts to stretch so I'm quite keen to find some kind of bag that fits somewhere! Is there some way of covering the end of the velcro in some way do you think? If this is all too much hassle for you then feel free to tell me to b*gger off so that you can find a less high maintenance guinea pig!

I have a saddle bag that is velcro free - you screw on a little clip attachment to your saddle and the bag just clips in and out.

clarkey cat

Pangolin - that looks amazing!

You should start charging for these. I'd buy one off you. I'm well impressed.

pangolin

Sorry Clarkey Cat I'm out of pink fabric

clarkey cat

used it all up on this...?



anyway - I'm feeling a magenta phase coming on.

NGale

pangolin wrote:

Spasypaddy's pack is complete! And sort of in his club's colours. It needs a couple of bits tidying up but it's basically finished.









Pretty pleased with this, it's better than my previous attempts. It has a hip belt and sternum strap (just basic webbing straps). The mesh pocket is divided into 3, like the back of a jersey. It needs some shockcord for compression and the straps need tidying up a bit, then it is done.

Spasypaddy, shall we meet up one evening on the way home? Maybe pm me to organise.

No other packs are currently in the works, as everyone has spectacularly failed to send me the dimensions I asked for! First one to send me some frame dimensions gets a free attempt at a frame bag.

this might explain why Jake brought me a sewing machine the other day :shock:

pangolin

I think you misposted, you inserted a picture of my orange pack. Some forum error maybe.

Did you mean this?



In all seriousness I added up roughly what it cost out of interest. All the materials come out at roughly £20 - £25, bit hard to be sure though. If I was seriously selling them I'd have to add labour obviously. This one took about 8 hours!! That would come down as I got better and made less mistakes. Maybe 4 hours? That's anywhere between £25 & £100 depending what I charge per hour.

So a home-made pack ends up being about £50 minimum. Not sure anyone would bite. Also, not sure I would want to do it, work is busy and doing this as well uses up evenings. I'll probably just do it as a hobby to make stuff I need. That way it stays fun.

spasypaddy

wow thats brilliant! thanks. some good news after the atrocious 14 hours ive just had. i'll pm you!

pangolin

spasypaddy wrote:

wow thats brilliant! thanks. some good news after the atrocious 14 hours ive just had. i'll pm you!

Glad to be the bearer of some good news! Have pm'd you.

mudcow007 has pm'd me about backpack size so he's going to get the second and final free backpack. I'll try a slightly different design for this one. Who knows, it might even work.

Still no news on frame sizes for a frame bag though, I'd like to try making a couple of these (no promises on how quickly).

While looking around for methods of carrying stuff not using a pannier I found this site, it's pretty cool! http://www.bikepack.eu/

It was linked to from here http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewforum.php?f=14.

And here's a guy who started making his own backpacks and did go into business doing it. Some awesome looking packs here http://www.zimmerbuilt.com/

apreading

Sorry - will get you the frame dimensions asap, probably tomorrow as I am away at the moment.
Thanks
Rob

NGale

pangolin wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

wow thats brilliant! thanks. some good news after the atrocious 14 hours ive just had. i'll pm you!

Glad to be the bearer of some good news! Have pm'd you.

mudcow007 has pm'd me about backpack size so he's going to get the second and final free backpack. I'll try a slightly different design for this one. Who knows, it might even work.

Still no news on frame sizes for a frame bag though, I'd like to try making a couple of these (no promises on how quickly).

While looking around for methods of carrying stuff not using a pannier I found this site, it's pretty cool! http://www.bikepack.eu/

It was linked to from here http://www.bikeandbivi.co.uk/php/viewforum.php?f=14.

And here's a guy who started making his own backpacks and did go into business doing it. Some awesome looking packs here http://www.zimmerbuilt.com/

What material are you using BTW??

Thinking about having a go myself now that I have got the hang of my sewing machine

pangolin

NGale wrote:

What material are you using BTW??

Thinking about having a go myself now that I have got the hang of my sewing machine

Good question! It took a while looking around to work out what to use and then where to buy it.

If you decide to make one, make the first one out of paper to work out the order to do things. Make the next one out of something cheap. Get the cheapest cordura, or fairly heavy nylon, or canvas, you can find. Or tyvek if you can find some. Or maybe something like this? https://www.profabrics.co.uk/shop/show_product_info.php?id=CAL1 Or just head into a local fabric shop if you have one and buy something cheap that feels bag like

Once you've messed around a bit and worked out how it all goes together and want to make a good one, I'd use one of the following.

X Pac VX21 - this one is heavier, for bottom, back etc
X Pac VX07 - this one is lighter for the rest of the pack
Cordura - either what you got already or some slightly nicer stuff
Uncoated Nylon - loads of varieties, a heavier one makes a good bag
Ripstop Nylon - loads of varieties, a heavier one makes a good bag
Ripstop Nylon sil coated - waterproof, light, slippery
Cuben Fibre - for a ridiculously light (expensive) bag
3D mesh - this is the meshy stuff that goes on the shoulder straps

And you can buy them at these places:

http://www.extremtextil.de - well known, delivered stuff to me quickly, sell loads of great stuff. Use this one for X Pac or Cuben.

http://www.fabrics-n-stuff.co.uk - sell some ripstop, some pertex-ish stuff etc

http://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk - sell some good stuff, decent standard delivery speed. Not very helpful in regard to queries about if they could stock other things or if they knew who did.

http://www.profabrics.co.uk - sell some good stuff, site is a bit painful to use. Slow delivery.

http://www.shelby.fi - not used yet, seem good.


Here's a good way to make straps
http://www.zimmerbuilt.com/padded-shoulder-straps.html

Headhuunter

Rick Chasey wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

pangolin wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

How many of those frame bags do you want to test? I've been thinking of getting something like that for a while. I'm basically looking for something to shove puncture kit in when on a ride. I find that the bags that sling under the saddle and the "tri bag" type which sits behind the bars on top of he frame both generally attach with velcro or have velcro straps etc which end up wearing holes in my lycra gear. I'm trying to find some kind of solution which would keep the lycra away from the velcro or a bag without velcro....

My topeak tribag really annoys me. The velcro seems to be just the wrong size and it flops from side to side, looking ugly and hitting my knees. Poor knees.

Anyway. So do you mean you don't mind velcro as a rule, but where it's positioned means it rubs between your thighs or on your knees (and so wears out your gear)...? Had any thoughts about what you would prefer? I guess I could attach it with a bit of webbing with a popper on it, but you still end up with a strip of webbing going where the velcro would have, which might have much the same effect.

I'm not really sure what the solution is, I don't mind velcro as long as it's positioned so that it doesn't wear holes in my clothing! If there's some other way of attaching it may be all the better... At the moment I tend to try to stuff everything in the rear pockets of my jersey but sometimes with puncture gear, tube, couple of bananas, phone, money, credit card etce etc the pocket starts to stretch so I'm quite keen to find some kind of bag that fits somewhere! Is there some way of covering the end of the velcro in some way do you think? If this is all too much hassle for you then feel free to tell me to b*gger off so that you can find a less high maintenance guinea pig!

I have a saddle bag that is velcro free - you screw on a little clip attachment to your saddle and the bag just clips in and out.

That sounds interesting Rick, what brand is it? Sorry I haven't sent the measurements Pangolin, been away on hols, will measure up and send them through asap...