Touring - DIY straps for a carridice bag

I don't ever have time to tour but I got a saddle bag for 2 or 3 day trip. I bought this bag:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/garethzbarker/Bora/bag2.jpg

I noticed it has loops for leather straps so you can roll a jacket or whatever in there but it didn't come with straps. The straps are kind of expensive. I was thinking I could probably just make some for a couple of $. Anyone use DIY straps on bags like this and what do you use. Maybe I should go to a sewing shop or crafts store?

I don't ever have time to tour but I got a saddle bag for 2 or 3 day trip. I bought this bag:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/garethzbarker/Bora/bag2.jpg

I noticed it has loops for leather straps so you can roll a jacket or whatever in there but it didn't come with straps. The straps are kind of expensive. I was thinking I could probably just make some for a couple of $. Anyone use DIY straps on bags like this and what do you use. Maybe I should go to a sewing shop or crafts store?

I use nylon straps from REI, they work well

I have some toe clip straps I use.Pretty much anything you can thread through the gussets will work,as long as the two ends can be tied or fixed to each other.

I have used 550 cord (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute_cord) before... we great amounts of it for free when the guys screw up and land in our back field.

Aaron :)

I have used toe straps as well. They work pretty well.

Do you have enough clearance with your tire? Maybe it the angle of the picture, but it looks like that bag might hit the tire once you put a bunch of stuff in it.

A lot of people I know use toe clip straps for most of the straps on the Carradice ... either for the purpose you're talking about, or to replace the existing straps when they wear out.

I've actually replaced the leather strap that goes around the seatpost with a velcro strap which I find faster and easier to use.

Is that the Pendle?

Leather cat or dog collars work well and are quite cheap - lots of sizes and colours to pick from to. The only issue I've found with using collars is the metal buckle can be of low quality, depending on the brand, and can rust a little on the surface over time - better quality ones don't rust.

lots of good ideas, thanks. I'm not a cheapo but I really didn't think the little straps were worth 30$. I was thinking of using a couple of boot straps but the toe straps and dog collars are much better Ideas.

The bag is a Pendle. It's a bit bigger than I expected or probably need but I like it. Wife bought it for me as a gift. I think it was marked way down. When I opened it up I didn't think it would fit my bike but once installed and fully loaded It has a little over 3cm clearance from the rear wheel. It will get muddy as hell but shouldn't drag with normal stuff in it I think. It will surely hit the wheel if I don't load it up all the way and put something really heavy in the middle though. I put a big heavy bottle of degreaser in the middle and it grabbed the wheel on bumps. Should be fine for clothes, a few tools, and some food but maybe not so good for grocery shopping :) Thankfully, the seat is the lowest it's ever been right now and will probably end up a little higher.

This is what it looks like loaded:

157155

The more you load it up the rounder it gets giving more clearance. The wood stick in the top stops the bag from sagging at the top so I guess it Should be OK huh? Can't ride the bike for a few days to check, doctors orders...

I've got my eye on the Pendle. I have the Nelson Longflap, but it is really too big for a lot of the rides I do. And I have a small Topeak, but it's too small for a lot of the rides I do. The Pendle looks about the right size.

I've got my eye on the Pendle. I have the Nelson Longflap, but it is really too big for a lot of the rides I do. And I have a small Topeak, but it's too small for a lot of the rides I do. The Pendle looks about the right size.

Yeah same here. I got it so my wife and I wouldn't have to wear backpacks on trips but I really don't think this bag is too big to use for distance riding. If I can heal up enough to do a century I'd like to take this bag for tools and nutrition and rain gear.

Just be careful with the measurements. I figured they would do like most companies and round up or measure it in a weird way but this bag is actually a little bigger than their measurements posted on the site it came from. They also didn't list diagonal length and that's the important one really. I can load it up and throw a tape on diagonal length later if you want.

I've seen the bag ... I was on an event a couple weekends ago and one of the guys had it, so I went over and checked it out and it was about the size I want. Now if I could find it for a deeply discounted price ....!!

I think Carradice bags are like potato chips...you can't just have one! FWIW if you have a problem with sagging/close clearances they do make a rack (http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=other&product_id=103) that will have support the load. Here is another one (http://www.velo-orange.com/visabagsu.html) from a different source. They are pricey but IMHO worth the money if you ride with the bag loaded much at all.

Aaron :)

The more you load it up the rounder it gets giving more clearance. The wood stick in the top stops the bag from sagging at the top so I guess it Should be OK huh? Can't ride the bike for a few days to check, doctors orders...

Looks to me like you need more clearance. My experience is that the amount of clearance you've got is fine when just riding along, but when you hit a bump the bag will (potentially) move/sag enough to briefly make contact with the tire...

FWIW if you have a problem with sagging/close clearances they do make a rack (http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=other&product_id=103) that will have support the load.

The Bagman rack, in my experience, is a bit flexible. I have a Nelson Longflap mounted on a Bagman Expedition QR rack. When attached to my "everyday" saddle, clearance is fine when just riding a long but if you hit a bump the bag will make contact with the tire. The "Sport" size rack would probably be a better fit for this particular bike/saddle combo, though it might push the top of the bag up past the top of the saddle.

If there are clearance problems I'll probably get the SQR system so I could throw the bag on my MTB too.
http://www.simpsoncycles.co.uk/product.php?xProd=458

you can use a leather belt to wrap around the underside of the bag and around the seat rails to afford a little more tire clearance. Thanks for the post I'm looking for some straps as well for my Nelson Longflap. Wiggle UK has good deals on all Carradice stuff.

I think Carradice bags are like potato chips...you can't just have one! loaded much at all.

Aaron :)

I know! Love the matching handlebar bag but I don't have any reason to get it other than it looks cool. I wish I had more time to do longer trips. Just doesn't happen with work and flying across the ocean for holidays.

I've got the matching handlebar bag along with the matching super c front and rear panniers.
I just made the switch from the pendle to the barley and added the handlebar bag as well.

I have that same bag in green but I use mine for a handle bar bag.And I have the Super C Panniers as well both front and rear they sure do hold a lot of stuff.
England sure knows how to make touring stuff guess that why I also have a brooks B17 Saddle in green too.They should last longer than I do out on the road lol.
The Pendle bag is great little bag I think.Sure works good as a handle bar bag.

how would you use this bag as a handlebar bag? You would put it on a rack I guess? Mine means a little wide for that.

I want the Pendle in green ... to go with the green Brooks I want to buy, the green handlebar tape I want to get and my green forks ... or the forks that will be green when they are painted. :D

I love the green but my bike is purple, I'm not pimp enough to pull it off. I REALLY wanted the green brooks, those are so pretty.

I went for a real slow bumpy ride today and yes that bag did barely touch the wheel on a couple of bumps, eventually it would put a little hole there and the sound is annoying as hell. It only had a wallet and a bike lock in it but who wants a bag they have to fully load every time they use it? Ordered the SQR thing, it's a little more than a rack but I like the way it's light and has a high weight limit. should give it a couple more inches easy.

If you are not concerned about the strap color, Acorn sells straps similar to the Carradice straps for less money but are available
in tan leather only:

http://www.acornbags.com/straps.html

how would you use this bag as a handlebar bag? You would put it on a rack I guess? Mine means a little wide for that.
I will try to post a few pics of my LHT very soon.

I don't have a Carradice, but I use a couple of straps and buckles I've removed from old helmets for similar purposes. Light, quick-release and free.

you can use a leather belt to wrap around the underside of the bag and around the seat rails to afford a little more tire clearance. Thanks for the post I'm looking for some straps as well for my Nelson Longflap. Wiggle UK has good deals on all Carradice stuff.

Thanks, I forgot to say I ended up using your method. I was going to buy an expensive system that clamps to the seat tube and then thought,"that guy from the forum had the right idea all along." I found a small thin leather belt from my wife's "smaller" years and used a punch to make a few custom holes. It even matches the color of the bag. I looped the belt over the top of the seat tube though then under the bag. Tightening the belt takes a little stress off the straps and just slightly curves the bottom of the bag giving extra clearance. Also grabbed the matching handlebar bag so my ride be pimpin now. That handlebar bag is the best bag I have ever had for a bike. It straps on the top tube, saddle, on the pendle or the handlebars of course; never leaves my bike.