canopus 

This is what I want but can't get here in the states.

Now I don't care much about material except for the waterproof part, and it needs to open up while facing the rider (hinge to the front)

Tom Velo Orange

Google checkout and Paypal is a bit of a mess to deal with for an e-commerce site, especially with Yahoo. Not all banks and merchant accounts work the same, nor do they accept every payment method, so we would end up with one merchant account for master and visa, another for paypal, another for google, etc- each with their own monthly/annual fee, and a per transaction cost- percentage and/or dollar amount. Our costs for each payment method are different, with paypal being the most expensive. There are some other issues beyond that too, but that pretty much sums it up. It's something we occasionally review, but it's not a simple as clicking a box and taking your money.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I don't understand why people keep requesting this that and the other thing with Cartridge Bearings.

Cups and loose balls are tried and true and can be rebuilt cheaply and easily.

USAZorro

I was thinking more of the mount. I have a bag I like, but the mount is butt-ugly.

canopus 

Something like this.

canopus 

I like cartridge bearings simply because i am old and lazy and don't work at a shop anymore with everything laid out nicely for a bike rebuild and regrease. Where I live sand is aplenty and after a rain ride or two open bearings have to be pulled apart and cleaned and I don't want to do it. If I don't do it the bearings will just grind themselves away from all the sand in them. With cartridge bearings you just ride and if they explode (implode?) or otherwise become less than useful you replace them without having to break out degreaser, oodles of rags and grease and 2 hours of time more or less.

Rabid Koala

Mafac Competition bridge cables.

Sluggo

IGH thumb shifters (Shimano, anyway; I don't know about nuvinci) only require a little adjustment with channel locks to fit on road-bike-diameter handlebars.

Twist grips are a different issue.

USAZorro

That's an improvement over mine, but not at all what I meant.

Thanks for sharing.

Sluggo

I like cup and cone BBs just fine, but I am no longer willing to swim upstream on this one. Parts are increasingly difficult to get. Finding a compatible complete BB can be a chore, even when you have a good selection of parts, especially with cottered cranks. A cottered cartridge would save a huge amount of fuss and save a lot of cottered cranks.

Grand Bois

Have you looked at Arkel?

https://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/sm_...asp?fl=1&site=

I've been using the small bar bag for years. The aluminum mount is rock solid, but has a quick release.

tatfiend 

I have seen photos of such a bar made, or at least offered, in Europe. Primarily for those who want drop bars on a Rohloff hub bike apparently. I have talked to Cycle Monkey about getting such a bar in. They are the new official Rohloff service facility.

vettefrc2000

Tom - Love your products and I look forward to buying more.

canopus 

I bet I know what your talking about. Cannondale used to make a nylon bag that was supported by a one piece metal bracket that went under the stem and over the bars, then the bag slid onto the bracket from the front and was suspended on the bar (similar to a GB192 bag) then you had two bungie cord on either side that went down to a bracket on your fork eyelets so the bag wouldn't bounce up. (I saw one on eBay about 4 weeks ago NOS.)

Similar to/Like this?

canopus 

I really like that aluminum mount but it seems kind of high to me on the bar, I would like a little lower center of gravity, and I didn't see where they were waterproof. Other than that I do like that bag also...

CloudyBright

Oh, didn't realize all the old 3 speeds with narrow front hubs (Raleigh?) were low end department store stuff

USAZorro

That's exactly it. The elastic strap isn't very elegant, but it's light, inexpensive and effective. Thanks.

avocado

Regarding drop bolts, I've considered those, too. But these days, there are so many good long-reach dual-pivot calipers available that it seems easier, more stable, and more fender-friendly [if less cost effective] to just install new calipers with the correct reach.

Tom Velo Orange

cloudy- i think you are misunderstanding....
Back in the day, raleighs and other roadster type bikes had the narrower fork dropout spacing. Thats how they built them. It's not a qualifier of quality.

Nowadays, that spacing is more commonly found on cheaper bikes. I'm not at all stating that 3 speed raleighs are cheap department store junk. Specifications have evolved and better quality bikes- for whatever reason- adopted a 100mm overlocknut dimension, probably around the time that aluminum alloy hubshells became more ubiquitous. The cost sensitive department store bikes kept a specification that is generally cheaper due to legacy tooling and material choices.

Folding bikes have really narrow (60 or 80mm??) front hub overlocknut dimensions. They certainly aren't cheap.

Tom Velo Orange

We are working on some new bags and new bag attachment systems. We are still determining exactly what it will look like, but it will not require a little front rack for support.

banjo_mole 

How about those handlebar water bottle cages again?

Grand Bois

I saw a T.A. on eBay. The minimum bid was $70.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

goddamn, it can't be that hard to get some chinese guys to make a knock-off...can it? somebody just spring for the T.A cages and mail em off to Singapore. They'll work out the rest.

digitalbicycle

I've read through about half this thread so far and would like to second the following suggestions:

- Clamp on downtube cable stops with barrel adjusters.
- Gum hoods (Aero ones are just about impossible to find).
- Decent quality cartridge bearing 7spd freewheel hubsets at an affordable price.

I have searched for all these things in the past with no success. I bet they'd sell well for VO and I know I'd buy at least one of each of them.

ottothecow

I have changed my mind a little bit on the bushings for old centerpulls...I realize now that I can go down to the used shop and buy a brake with decent bushings for $3...Thus I am not sure you could sell them for enough that it would be worth producing them (the used ones might not be perfect but the price is right).

If you do decide to make it, can I suggest maybe making them white in a plastic that takes dye well? I have seen some pictures of people who dye ibook cases with RIT dye and it looks great. They get a scratch resistant job done in the color of their choice!