SurlyLaika

I'm thinking about a Barley, Pendle, or Nelson classic saddlebag just for day rides and commuting duty; and then taking off the 8 pounds of touring rack I got on my bike at the moment. The sizes listed on the website are in liters, but it's hard to really imagine how big 11L is compared to the bike. I just want it for a book, a journal, a hoodie, some bike tools, and other assorted items, nothing heavy duty. I might pack a bivvy in there at some time and take it bikepacking for a S24O in the mountains. So something in the middle like a Pendle might be best but I just don't know how big that really is. I don't want to order it online and then find I made a mistake on the sizing. Anyways, without the ton of rack I have on there, I think the ride would just be a lot funner. So anyone got some Carradice saddlebag pictures to share? Thanks.

Actually the photos on the website are not very good, at all. Way too close up to really see the size of the bag compared to a saddle.

cubs1982

I was just thinking the same thing. I was torn between the barley and the pendle and then, in a moment of weakness (or frugality), I bought an origin-8 saddlebag.

My understanding on the origin one is that it falls (volume wise) somewhere in between the barley and pendle.

Sorry I didn't have a pic to post, but I'll be checking back to see some lovely bags on some lovely frames.

SurlyLaika

Yea, whatever...I mean, you can buy those fancy Revelate or Carousel Design Works bikepacking bags or you can buy Jandd. I think a lot of it is brand name. I mean, of course, brand name carries some pedigree of quality but I think your origin 8 bag should be just fine. Also, bikepacking should totally be a sub-sub-forum of the touring sub-forum.

My alternate choice would be a Acorn saddlebag or something from rivbike.

SurlyLaika

ha! I used to be a tutor at the university writing center. To hell with the grammar police, at least on the forums.

-holiday76

SurlyLaika

which model is it? BTW, cool fenders.

-holiday76

longflap. fenders are bluemels.

thanks

SurlyLaika

apparently, the Nelson long flap is something of a heifer at almost 2lbs. Still better than my 4lb Surly Nice Rack, but that's just one thing to consider. Also, here's a link to someone who uses the Nelson long flap. So that must be adequate for bikepacking needs, but I think it might be overkill for regular commuting/day ride usage.

-holiday76

no idea what it weighs. DOnt care really either, not on this bike.
If it's all you're using, it's perfect for commuting, though I do like to have extra space if needed. That said, I recently look it off so I can use this setup instead for a while:

2Fer

Sorry in advance for the poor quality cellphone images.
Carradice longflap Camper, and Carradice front panniers used on rear rack.







As you can see, I'm a Carradice fan........
2fer


Here's the Camper on the back, and a regular Nelson longflap attached to a front rack, with a Rivendell 'Lil Loaf lashed on top of the Nelson:

SurlyLaika

demnnnn, that's a BIG BOY! [on the rear] How did you mount a Nelson Longflap on the front? Any special rigging or are they just that flexible? All right, well off to my little brother's baseball game. I'll check on this thread later.

sstorkel

I posted pictures of my 54cm Nashbar touring frame with Carradice Nelson Longflap here and here. I had several changes of clothes for both on the bike and off, a large number of tools and spares, toiletries, diabetic supplies, and a bunch of other stuff in the bag. And that's without even needing to use the extra-long flap. For commuting, the Nelson Longflap is overkill.

FYI, Google will convert litres into cubic inches, if you're more familiar with American measurements. Just search for, say, "11 litres in cubic inches". I think the capacities are just for the main compartments. The Carradice website will give you fairly accurate dimensions for their bags.

KDC1956

I use the pendle as a handlebar bag.And it works out great for my self.I have the Camper longflap on the rear and a set of carradice super c panniers on the rear and front as well. All of them is great I thing I have took a few week end trips I am very happy with them.My self I would not use anything else.If you don't think they want keep your stuff dry then add a set of dry bags to them that's what I did.

SurlyLaika

okay, so the Barley is 427 cu. in., the Pendle is 671 cu in., and the Nelson regular is 915 cu. in. I couldn't find much about their weights.

SurlyLaika

Okay, yea...I'm pretty much looking for a good looking handlebar bag but for the rear. I have cross levers on my handlebars so that's kind of difficult to mount a handlebar bag, there. The Barley seems too small, the Nelson long flap would be overkill. So I'm between a Pendle and a Nelson regular. This would be to replace my racks and supplement my back pack.

nun

The Barley is my bag for day long rides. The side pockets are good for tools and tubes and the main compartment will take a jacket, lock, food and a couple of books. It's too small for shopping trips or to carry ring binders though. For that stuff and for touring I use a Nelson Longflap with a Bagman. It's excellent combined with an Ortlieb handlebar bag. Here's my setup minus my tent that I usually strap under the saddle.

wahoonc

I have a couple of Carradice bags.

Here is a picture of the regular Nelson on my Raleigh Superbe. I have a Barley on my Raleigh Twenty (no pics). I have used either one with for S24O. In retrospect I probably should have gotten a Nelson Long Flap.

Aaron

late

First, my Tubus Fly rack weighs 12 ounces. I much prefer a Bagman support with my Barley, and that also weighs about 12 ounces.

Second, you need to get a handle on how much space you need. The barley is great, but it's not much use for groceries.

Third, lower is better if you're talking some weight. You might want to consider getting a Tubus Fly and use your current panniers.
I have had mine for several years, it's tough.

https://www.lickbike.com/productpage....=%273590-00%27

tarwheel 

Here are some shots of my Carradice Barley that I use for commuting. It has plenty of room for my tools, spare tube and repair items, spare batteries and parts in the side pockets. In the main compartment, I can easily fit a dress shirt, t-shirt, underwear, wallet, cell phone, lunch, eye glasses and more. I would be tempted to get a Pendle if buying another Carradice, but the Barley will hold everything I need 99% of the time. If my bag was larger, I would just be tempted to carry more stuff that I don't need.

The main reason for more space (for my purposes) is during spring and fall when temperatures vary widely through the day, or when rain is threatening and I want to carry a rain jacket for insurance. This time of year, my bag is usually more fully loaded in the afternoons when I have to carry home my vest, arm and leg warmers, long-fingered gloves that I wore in the mornings when it was much colder.

BTW, you can find the best selection and prices for Carradice bags at the British websites like Wiggle, SJS Cycles, Ribble, etc., as well as directly from Carradice. They also have information on the volumes and weights for each bag.

Currently I am using an Acorn Medium-Large bag on my main commuter, a Salsa Casseroll. It has about half to two-thirds the volume of the Barley, but I have made a conscious effort to lighten my load. My commute route is very hilly and I can average 1-2 mph faster with the lighter bike and bag.

Machka 

Tell you what ... next week, I'll line up my Nelson Longflap (or Rowan's Nelson Longflap), my Pendle, and Rowan's Barley beside each other and take a photo.


However, I like the Nelson Longflap for touring and for really long randonnees. The Pendle is a more recent acquisition, but already I like it for centuries and shorter randonnees.

indyfabz

"I want to see your Carradice saddlebags"

Wonder if is would work as a pick up line.

SurlyLaika

only at REI

Jim Kukula

Here's a SuperC saddlebag on an SQR mount with a Brooks Champion Flyer Special:

seat_boy

Here's a super C on my Crosscheck:



and the same bag on my Fargo:



Even though the rated capacity differs only by a liter, I think this is actually quite a bit smaller than the Camper, so I may upsize some day.

mycoatl

Check out the photos at Wallingford Bike. They show photos of each bag on a bike--very helpful for gauging their size.