Carry and Portage / 3 Saddle Bags Poorly and Subjectively Reviewed

from left to right,  Sackville Saddlesack Small,  Carradice College, Zimbale 7 Liter

During my first few months as a new bike commuter, I carried my junk in a backpack, which while admittedly was a nice backpack (Osprey Halo) left alot to be desired as far as back-ventilation goes. Riding on warm summer days equaled sweaty results. Picking up some groceries on the way home? Plastic bags dangling from the handlebars or  haphazardly tied to the rear rack.

This continued on for half a year, until I had changed my Felt Cafe's stock saddle out for an easier-riding Selle An Atomica- and I noticed that it had bag loops. "Bag loops. Hmm. You can attatch a saddle bag to those,"  went my very slow mental process.  "Oh, maybe I should get a bag..."

First up, the Rivendell Sackville SaddleSack (Small)

It is hard to find anything wrong with this bag- out of the three of them, it is the easiest to open, load and close. The bag hangs on the level from  the saddle loops which are located halfway along its length, unlike the 'British' style bags, which lean and tip backwards.  The bag flap is secured by a single strap, that is routed through a integral wooden dowel, this applies closing pressure over the entire flap. There is also an inner cargo flap that further secures your contents. 

SaddleSack open, cargo cover flap pulled back, exposing corroplast load floor. 

The single main compartment is big enough for some carry-out food, cable lock, and my tool kit which is in a klein pouch. The overall volume is enough and no more.  

 The strap leather seems a little raggy, but it after a spring and summer of use, they aren't any worse for wear and holding fast.  The construction of the bag itself is fantastic-superb- the flap's reflective strip adds extra visibility, while looking integrated into the design, which is more than I can say for the diamond and triangle reflective patches on the other two bags.  Metal hardware is brass, the buckles are finished with smooth edges. 

The Sackville is my favorite bag to deal with on a commuting basis.  It gets compliments from the LBS folks, from Lycra-types, from recumbent tricycle riders, - pretty much everyone.  

  

Carradice College

Next up, Carradice College. 

The Carradice is paired with my Azor/Workcycles Kruisframe bike.  I had been reading up on Brit-Dutch cycling before I made the order,  and a Carradice seemed to be the way to go, as far as keeping the theme rolling. I snagged this College bag from VeloFred.com for a modestly discounted price. (particularly compared to the cost of the Carradice Camper)  The College is simply the Camper, without the Long-flap or the side-pouches.  The interior of this bag is huge. I did bring home a complete rotissere chicken dinner for two in it at one point, and this maybe half filled the bag. On a single day of Ragbrai-  It held 6 liters of bottled water and assorted sundries.  Other riders kept offering me water, (no visible bottle cages) but I'd point at the bag and said that I had all I needed.   

Construction is waterproof cotton duck, hangs from the saddle  bag loops with chrome-white leather straps that are in turn secured to a dowell.  There is a cargo drawstring, and a nylon rain-cover.  The flap has slotted leather points for securing a rain-tarp or poncho. (Additional straps sold separately)  I use this as intended for keeping my waxed-cotton chore coat. Build quality is described as serviceable. I felt a little let down actually, many of the straps had incompletely punched buckle holes, requiring further reaming, some of the leather rivets were only half-engaged and the stitching wandered in spots (but always secure). Buckle hardware is stamped metal, rough-edged. The chromed leather itself is good.    The flap has an attachment loop for securing a bicycle tail-lamp but it sits so high, that I am finding it pretty much useless.  There is also an extraneous metal and leather Carradice name-plate which I removed. Too gaudy. 

I'd call my interaction with this bag 'unremarkable' . I'll frequently only deal with one of the buckles, reaching in under the flap and pulling out what I need, based on touch.  It gets the job done. 

Zimbale 7 Liter

Finally, Zimbale 7 liter.
Zimbale is a South Korean shop that has come up with a line of traditional bicycle bags on the English pattern, and a competitor to Carradice.  Seeing as I already had a Carradice, I decided to try the Zimbale. I ordered the 7 liter, which would complement my Raleigh-Roadster-Ripoff Flying Pigeon PA-02.

Wow. The build and material quality should be called "Luxury". Straight stitching, great leather, loops for a shoulder strap, metal poncho/tarp lashdown loops, and a nice plaid flap liner, not a single loose thread anywhere. The buckle hardware is either bronze or antiqued-brass, and smoothly finished.

I've spent the least time using this bag. Unlike the other two bags, it uses quick-release slot and post tabs, which are further adjusted by conventional buckles. These are holding securely, although it is a little bit of a pain in the rear to separately adjust these buckles if your cargo is a little larger than normal. Just adds another step to what would be a normal strap and buckle workflow. I might replace these closures with some curb-strap derived belt and buckle- when I can work up the energy.   There is a tail-light attachment loop that works well with a Blackburn Flea blinkie.

Side pockets hold spare tubes, and the inside can accommodate a modest amount of supplies, probably not a rotisserie chicken, but two cans of lager, tool kit, a bag lunch, cable lock, extra socks, etc.  I can lash my chore coat on top.  It lacks the broad uninterrupted shelf of the Sackville, or the super-capacity of the Carradice,  but for a light day-outing - Good Enough.



In Review:
As a light commuter:  Sackville SaddleSack all the way- it is just so dang effortless.   Supplies for a 60 mile day? Carradice College.   Zimbale? A few essentials, somewhat difficult.