Also, how would a rack move the bag away from the brake cable?

I realize the obvious answer here is to use a different set-up, and I may do that. It just bugs me that the bag is so exactly what I need, but not quite. If I can't conclusively solve this, I'll have to box it up and send it back to Rivendell, and start over, which annoys me to no end because the size of this bag is exactly right. I just need it off my brake cable.

The lbs definitely has racks, and we could try them out. I'm sure they have p-clamps. That's probably how he's going to attach my fenders. I'll call Rivendell today and see what they suggest. I feel like this should be a minor fix, and then -- tada -- the perfect set-up! But it's turning out to be more complex than I thought it would be, and now I'm miffed.

If Rivendell can't solve it, and the lbs can't solve it, I'll have to return it, add a rack, and then buy different bags. That will annoy me, but I suppose I'll survive.

I have the a superblinky clamped onto the seat post instead, don't worry. I'll just remove it once I have a bag system in place.

sure. just keep in mind that the rack won't be able to carry a super heavy duty load... but for supporting 5-10 lb inside the bag, no problem.

it would be helpful to have a profile shot of your bike with the saddle at your optimal height, with the bag attached, to get an estimate at how high or low the bag will hang above a hypothetical rack and how far it pushes into the brake cable. i am beginning to see how the shape of this bag causes it to push forward on the brake cable, and i'm not 100% certain a rack will prevent this. normally, a rack prevents a bag from "rotating" downward and forward into the brake cable/seatpost. but in this case, it looks like the bag has to slide back, not rotate back. you may have to add a wooden dowel between the bag and the seatpost, to slide it rearward. i'm concerned that if it slides back far enough that it clears the brake cable, the top bag straps will be too far rearward from the saddle loops. am i making any sense? i'm also beginning to think that only a bagman type of support will fix this problem.

Pics tonight, I promise. It looks like it does on the Rivendell photos, only since my bike is smaller, it's further down onto the seat stays and cable.

I can understand your frustration, but I think that bag is ridiculous. I don't believe for a second that you could comfortably ride your bike the way Riv has it set up in the their photo. Get a rear rack and some panniers and put your laptop (in a sleeve) vertically in one of the bags. That bag looks like a trunk.

Milwaukee Bicycle Co. also carries a lot of Nitto, and lists the rear cable guard. I didn't check if they have it in stock.

I'm starting to totally agree. Having never used a big saddlebag before, I just made the -- apparently stupid -- assumption that they would work. I was originally all set to do panniers, but when the rack didn't seem to work out, I dismissed the idea.

I think I'm just going to return this bag. It isn't worth the fussing. Then I can ask my lbs to help me install a rack with p-clips (or I could just do it myself), and get some panniers. If I can have both rack and fenders on this bike, I'll be happy. I can get a teeny tiny saddle or handlebar bag for rides that don't require a load to be carried, like when I just need a wallet and a spare tube and a multitool.

I'm just too fussed about this bag design. It is a great size, but unless my seatpost were sky-high (and Rivendell doesn't recommend that, do they?), it would hit something. Panniers have always made more sense, or a saddlebag that sits on the rack.

I'm returning this bag. <fist shakes at Rivendell>

Now, which set-up would work better? I don't want to carry a ton of stuff. Spare clothes will already be at work (I'll only be commuting two days a week, at most). I will have:
13x9 laptop and powercord. Not heavy, but probably 2-3 pounds
2 spare tubes
CO2 pump and cartridge
multitool
spare batteries for my head/tail lights
wallet
powerbar
rain jacket if I'm not wearing it (very small, stuffable)
my gloves if I take them off (they could clip somewhere)
maybe a book if I need to bring one home

That's it. Not a lot of stuff, really. It would all have fit in that bag. So do I do a different saddlebag? Panniers? What kind? I'm not worried about waterproofness, as I can wrap my laptop in a plastic bag, and I won't ride if it's pouring. I'm not hardcore about this. I just want something reaonably attractive that will work.

The appeal of a saddlebag is that it can be used for a nice short ride more easily than a set of panniers. But again, a very small bag elsewhere would do that. I have a nice little Minnehana bag on my Ralieigh Sports. So, what do folks suggest? What would be the ideal set-up for a small racing bike with no braze-ons?

Here's the bike once again. The only difference now is that the seat is further back and down by a centimeter, giving me even less clearance. Giant lollipop reflector is off. Otherwise, this is it.


panasonicsetup by snarkypup, on Flickr

i guess at this point, a rack makes the most sense. i'm sure others here can recommend one; i haven't bought one in a while so i can't make any recommendations. it should bolt up easily with two p-clamps for the lower stays. for the upper support, try finding a rack that uses a single upper adjustable stay (some racks use two parallel stays, some use one center one), which will bolt to the seatstay bridge (where the reflector bracket bolts on). for inexpensive but decent panniers, i've had good luck with axiom "seymour" panniers... got a pair for $33 from tree fort bikes. they're water resistant and should hold everything you mentioned with room to spare.

Thanks Southpaw. While I like the look of the Axioms, they have quite a bit of negative feedback on the attachment system. Have you found that to be an issue? Don't want the laptop damaged .

I decided not to take my blinky off the back of the bike just to put on a saddlebag I now know I won't keep, to take pictures. I think everyone is right in saying that a rack and panniers makes more sense. That was my original plan anyway. I can't let the relative PITA-ness of sending back a bag keep me using something that just isn't practical.

My lbs guy says he can help me fit a rack, no problem. He's more worried about fitting fenders than a rack. Wish I'd known this before! I like the Ortlieb panniers okay, and think the Caradice SuperC's are nice. Anyone have a preference of one over the other? I realize they are very different bags. Price is good on both, but the SuperCs are pretty darn cheap over at Wiggle, and I don't mind waxing 'em up. Would they work? Too big? Thoughts? I like the classic look over something like the Ortlieb, though I could live with those too.

I don't know much about your frame so I am just tossing this out there. Make sure you have enough space to attach pannier bags without heal strike.

I've already considered that, too. Sigh.

I spoke to Rivendell, and they said: "Sounds like that bag won't work for you. Send it back."

So I'm considering a Tubus Fly rack, which will attached to my brake, since I have no braze-ons. I can get one from Wiggle for $75. I'm sure I can find something else I need there to get the free shipping, maybe even the panniers. I just need to pick a pannier set. The Ortliebs look good, though they aren't cheap. The Carradice SuperC are the most traditional, but they look too big and like I might get heel strike. I fear the same thing on a laptop bag.

And of course, I can't try 90% of this stuff out, which is frustrating.

Or I could get a giant Carradice saddlebag and a bagman. I need to fit a 13x9 laptop and a few other things, as I said above. I'm not touring or anything. Thoughts.

I know that the owner of the Lovely Bicycle blog carries a lap top. You might get a few ideas from her?

Link:
https://lovelybike.blogspot.com/

Stupid idea, maybe...

What if you put the reflector back on? Or, at least the reflector bracket and bolted on a wide piece of aluminum or steel bar stock? it'd keep it off the brakes and prevent your problem...

That, or what about the Rivendell hupe? Seems that it's mounted low enough to protect the cable, if you had a way (reflector again) to keep it pushed forward.

She carries it in a beautiful leather shoulder bag. I'm not interested in carrying it nine miles that way. It's a gorgeous bag, though! And I've read everything Veloria. That blog is good stuff!

The problem with this bag, I've realized, is that I literally CAN'T push it forward. In the conversation with the guy at Rivendell today, he also admitted this was a flaw of the bag. To be stable and not sway all over the place, it has to be cinched down tightly to the seat post. But if you do that, you can't move it forward. Also, it doesn't load from the top, like a Carradice, but from the back. So if you tip it, even if one could do that, it would be much harder to load. I think it's just a crappy design, unless one has one's seatpost up over 6 inches, which I don't. And it miffs me that Rivendell, who clearly advocate a style of riding where one wouldn't put a seatpost up that high, sell something that won't work otherwise. And when I called to discuss it, the guy I talked to basically admitted that it's poorly designed. Yet, again, on their site it states that this is a perfect small bag for big and small frames. What a load of crapola. While I like the chatty style of selling a product, it's also a good way to make promises that aren't true, I think. And as a novice saddlebag owner, how the heck would I know?

Now I'm out the shipping for returning the bag that Rivendell fully admits won't work on many bikes, despite their claim that everyone should own this bag. MIFFED.

I need to internally debate this for a while. I don't like most of the pannier options out there. They are generally waaaay too expensive, or way too big, or could cause heel strike, or all of the above. Because I have no braze-ons, I would need a rack capable of attaching to my brake bolt. There are some inexpensive options, but they aren't known for being sturdy. The Tubus is a nice rack, but once I outfit it with panniers, I'm looking at nearly $250, and they may not even fit (again). The cheapest place to get that rack is Wiggle, so if I hate it, I'm sending it back to the UK. Not a fun plan. I was hoping to spend under $150 on this. Adding another hundred is chapping my hide, and I'm not thrilled about the buy-it-try-it-send-it-back options. But I feel like I no other choice. I don't think anyone in my area carries traditional bags. Dang Seattlites and their high-tech gear fetish!

In the end, I'm starting to think that a Carradice saddlebag and Bagman QR make as much sense as a rack and panniers. Could I be more indecisive? I don't know.

This whole thing has thrown me for a loop. I thought I had a great solution in terms of my needs, the price, the quality, the look... in theory, this was THE bag. I now have to go back and rethink everything. That sucks.

It's not very C&V but I do like my Bontrager Back rack II. It was inexpensive and it's designed to work with Treks quick release bags. You could get a trunk bag to fit on top and not worry about heal strike or any number of bags they sell for it. I have a grocery pannier, it's nice and square but open to the weather.

Here is a picture of the rack without the bag attached. You can see I also use it to carry my U-Lock. I think it comes in both black and silver.

Mkeller, how does it attach to the seat area? Brakes? On their site, it uses the two attachments for seatstay braze-ons. I need a brake attachment. It looks like that's what you have. Tell me more

It came with a bag of hardware for different setups. I have mine attached where the brake caliper is mounted with the hardware included. It can be adjusted front to back a little to get the rack level. P-clamps would work at the drop-outs like others have suggested.

I have head nice things about Topeak equipment too but I have no experience with it myself.

Hmm... that rack, and some Banjo Bros panniers, and I could stay under $100. If they fit my bike and didn't hit my heels. Of course, having it fixed to the brake does put the rack further back.

I keep thinking that since I own big, metal basket panniers that I use easily on my Raleigh Sports, I could get a rack and then try those out to get a sense of the size I'd need on regular panniers.

But then I'd have to decide not to get a saddlebag. Geeze, I have never been this indecisive. I literally cannot figure out what I want, and I'm normally the decider type.

The saddlebag that I have is called the "11 liter" size, equivalent to the Carridice Barley. It's fairly large but I don't know that it would be great for a laptop. For starters, mine is just one large open compartment and it has more of a round shape to it. I don't know what size your laptop is, but take that into consideration. I know that Carradice makes some pretty good sized saddle bags.