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Frame bags

(15 posts)

Started 11 years ago by cb
Latest reply from Cyclingmollie

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Stingray Alpkit

cb
Member

I remember when it seemed like every 2nd bike you saw had a frame bag strapped under the top tube/seat tube join.

As well as providing some limited storage it was also used for carrying your mountain bike on your shoulder if you every tried to actually go up a mountain on it and discovered that, actually, walking was easier.

Browsing the Alpkit website (good kit at great prices IMO) I came across the "Stingray"

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16786&category_id=324

Pretty cool idea. You essentially send Alpkit a template of what you want and they'll make the bag for you.

I'm aware that some CCE-ers have the skills to do this kind of thing themselves so perhaps they can comment on the fairness of the price.

I'd actually like a very small one of these to fit the small triangle in a Birdy frame - I wonder if they'd do a discount for very small bag?

Edit: Also, this 'beta release/failed concept' tent in the Clearance section looks quite intriguing:

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16865&category_id=282

Posted 11 years ago #
Smudge
Member

Great spot, and would have been ideal for a wee trip I have in mind, if it weren't for the fact that two waterbottles pretty much fill the triangle of my frame, the downside of being a short***e!
Anyone got any top tips for putting luggage on an MTB? I'm thinking of a carradice longflap plus probably some sort of handlebar stowage (for the sleeping bag most likely), I want to avoid panniers and don't fancy dragging a trailer, but I'll need enough kit for at least one overnight and 24hrs+ in Scotland off road and away from civilisation...
(So lightweight sleeping bag, bivi bag, half length thermarest, stove, mug, spoon, lighter and food plus probably some odds and ends)

Posted 11 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

@Smudge - what about retrodirect's fashion of putting your stuff in waterproof compression sacks and bungeeing to bars / rack?

Posted 11 years ago #
Smudge
Member

I suspect I'll be doing something along the lines. The Carradice can hold a fair bit, and I am probably going down the esbit/hexamine route (and hoping to get lucky source suitable firewood) as it's a relatively short time out (and will be in the summer).
So if I drybag my sleeping bag and bungee/strap it to the handlebars the rest of the stuff can probably either get strapped to the frame or stuck into the saddlebag, even if I decide to take a shelter sheet.

Always glad to hear other suggestions and experiences of course :-)

Posted 11 years ago #
steveo
Member

Smudge, I've done a couple of mtb overnighters. Last time did a 13l dry bag strapped to the bars and the Nelson with the full size thermarest under the long flap. Rest of the sleep gear, bivvy, synthetic sleeping bag and silk liner were rolled together into the dry bag and bungied securely on the bars. Clothes and all other sundries went in the Nelson. With water proof secured through the loops on top of the carradice with a couple of toe clip loops.

I also had a camelbac because we were away from civilisation for longer than the 1.5l I could easily carry on the bike would allow, the bottles were for cooking and the camelbac was for on the go drinking. The camelbac was handy for "stuff" nothing heavy but that you would rather get at than bury under a load of clothes.

As for cooking I made a couple of "penny stoves" good fun to build and very practical.

My mate used a rack top bag + 20l dry bag instead of a carradice... he is a philistine! He was going to make a frame bag like the above but as he is also of a shorter stature the total usable volume from his frame is less than a small backpack.

All dry bags were the Alpkit Xtra line which has very sturdy rubber mount points down the sides of the bag.

This was an overnighter where I tried my diy bar bag, was fine for the night but didn't hold enough stuff for any longer.

IMG_3907 by steveo_mcg, on Flickr

Posted 11 years ago #
Smudge
Member

Cheers Steveo, that's the sort of thing I'm thinking of :-)
Good reminder on the camelback, an easy way to pack another 2 litres!

Posted 11 years ago #
cb
Member

I managed an overnighter (walking, no bike) with my 20L Alpkit Gourdon.

Packed with a tent, camping mat, sleeping bag, stove, gas, pot, mug, small amount of food. Not much in the way of spare clothes as I was wearing everything at this point inc. waterproof trousers.

My camping gear isn't all that compact/light, so you could do better by spending more money.

Alpkit Gourdon 20 by ccbb7766, on Flickr

Posted 11 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

even if I decide to take a shelter sheet

I imagine you could wrap that around the top tube?

Posted 11 years ago #
Smudge
Member

Possibly, though it may be as easy to strap to the top of the carradice, or even inside it, they are a bit awkward to roll neatly, though easily stuffed into a small bag. It will need a little experimentation I think to see what fits best and where.

Posted 11 years ago #
steveo
Member

I ended up with the tarp in its bag sitting on top of my clothes enclosed within the carradice.

Posted 11 years ago #
chdot
Admin

1899 versions -

Posted 6 years ago #
DaveC
Member

All my own work...

IMG_20170515_144138 by David Crampton, on Flickr

received_10155642983975579 by David Crampton, on Flickr

IMG_20170531_231316 by David Crampton, on Flickr

[MOD EDIT - Done!]Admin: feel free to edit my messed up post. Its not that intuitive is it!

Posted 6 years ago #
gembo
Member

Dave C if you are taking orders I will buy one

Posted 6 years ago #
Arellcat
Moderator

I picked up a couple of Alpkit bags at the York Rally last year. One is a factory second Fuel Pod (the webbing was sewn on squint), and one is a prototype extra large Enduro Pod that never went into production. The quality is first rate, I have to say.

But DaveC's handiwork is impressive. The only bag I've ever made was a cordura sleeve for my Decathlon water bladder, and the stitching leaves a bit* to be desired.

* actually quite a lot

Posted 6 years ago #
Cyclingmollie
Member

I was talking to someone at the weekend who had a self-made frame bag. He seemed to have used a thicker material from a donor bag which had also supplied the zip. This needed an industrial sewing machine which he'd bought on Ebay.

Posted 6 years ago #