Touring - Arkel Tailrider bottom sag?

Hello, wasn't sure where to post this, so I posted it here figuring it the most likely place to find people with this bag.

I have a fairly new Arkel Tailrider that recently began sagging on the drive side. This bag has a hard bottom, but on that side the bottom can be pushed up into the bag. This doesn't happen on the other side. It didn't do this when new and it results in the bag moving around a bit more as the velcro on that side can't cinch the bag down as well. Does anyone know if this is normal? Not a big deal, but it is a bit annoying.

Thanks.

Can you take a picture and post it? I 'm not sure what you mean by sag. Maybe with a picture I could compare with mine.

+1 for the picture. I ride with one, and have nothing I would describe as a sag.

Maybe sag isn't quite the right description. The bottom doesn't really sag, the hard bottom is still solid. It does however push up into the bag easily which then pushes that side of the bag over and the whole thing is lopsided. Here are some pics of it (sorry for the light):

http://picasaweb.google.com/jzamor/TailRiderSagIssue?authkey=bGUOuKzR_ss

This is with the straps on both sides being drawn equal, thereby centering the hard bottom on the rack (a Tubus Logo). In these pictures there is very little in the bag, but in the drive-side pocket (the side that is sagging), there is a mini-tool, tube, and patch kit. It doesn't really effect it if that stuff is switched to the other side.

All in all it just looks lopsided, and on that side in particular the straps don't hold it as tight to the rack, so it bounces around quite a bit more. This wasn't the case when it was new, but I'd say it started within a week of using it. Does it look typical? Is there a way I can prevent/fix it?

Thanks.

Maybe sag isn't quite the right description. The bottom doesn't really sag, the hard bottom is still solid. It does however push up into the bag easily which then pushes that side of the bag over and the whole thing is lopsided. Here are some pics of it (sorry for the light):

http://picasaweb.google.com/jzamor/TailRiderSagIssue?authkey=bGUOuKzR_ss

This is with the straps on both sides being drawn equal, thereby centering the hard bottom on the rack (a Tubus Logo). In these pictures there is very little in the bag, but in the drive-side pocket (the side that is sagging), there is a mini-tool, tube, and patch kit. It doesn't really effect it if that stuff is switched to the other side.

All in all it just looks lopsided, and on that side in particular the straps don't hold it as tight to the rack, so it bounces around quite a bit more. This wasn't the case when it was new, but I'd say it started within a week of using it. Does it look typical? Is there a way I can prevent/fix it?

Thanks.

Hi, I see what the bag is doing, and it looks to me like this isn't normal at all. I checked my bag and the bottom rigid part doesn't want to go anywhere. I tried moving it around, but can't reproduce the "sag effect".

I think you should send those pictures to Arkel's Customer Service. They might have a simple solution or if they don't, they'll offer to fix/replace your bag. Nice folks.

This what it should look like (rack is Tubus Cargo):


http://flickr.com/photos/jpmartineau/sets/72157605063476052/ (http://flickr.com/photos/jpmartineau/sets/72157605063476052/)

Nice taillight ;)

and while we're on the subjec of the Tail Rider, has anybody noticed that there are two tiny little holes on both sides of the bag at the very end of the zipper (where the flap closes over it) where water can infiltrate when it rains? Seems like a tiny design flaw to me, but then again, there's the built in rain hood.

and while we're on the subjec of the Tail Rider, has anybody noticed that there are two tiny little holes on both sides of the bag at the very end of the zipper (where the flap closes over it) where water can infiltrate when it rains? Seems like a tiny design flaw to me, but then again, there's the built in rain hood.

I never noticed, but then again, I put on the rain hood as soon as there's the slightest chance of rain.