Below are pics of my prototype leather purse to randonneur style saddle bag.

In an earlier post, I described how my wife helped me identify brands of women's purses that had potential. The Dooney & Bourke bags appeared to me the best candidate. They are extremely well-made and have a sort of Orvis masculine look to them. These are the purses from the 1990's, black leather with tan leather trim with the duck emblem that retailed for $200 plus.

The first one I got off the Bay for about $30 was in LN condition and, as I planned, was immediately snagged by my wife. The next one was $20 and in a little different style that looked even more like a bike bag.

The bag is about 10" x 8" x 3-4" -- About right for a large textbook with room to spare. There are several small pockets inside, one zipped, and an outside pocket on the back. There really is a lot of room. This one contains my tube/tools stuff sack, a full size cable lock, 24 oz bottle, and a newspaper. And, I could expand the front straps and add a jersey or jacket if I wanted.

Using leather straps to secure the bag to the seat would be nice, however, velcro pressure straps do a much better job of creating a tight fit with less sway. On the prototype, I used layers of duct tape to reinforce the slits I cut for the straps. I'm sure many of you could find a more elegant solution.

This bag would also work well on the handlebars.