First impressions of a Brooks Millbrook
#1
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First impressions of a Brooks Millbrook
I'm not as happy as I expected. I had the dimensions when I ordered, but it sure looks bigger than it measures. Oh well. Sometimes big is what you want. First time I tried to mount up, though, I fell over. My right leg hung up on the left side of the bag, and over I went. Like clipless pedals, I guess there's a learning curve.
A more serious problem; it's not totally compatable with the Brooks Champion Flyer. It mounts to the rear of the seat as expected, but the Champion Flyer has springs that keep it from strapping to the seatpost. Fortunately, all three straps are easily replaceable, so the seatpost strap will get replaced, either with velcro, or maybe a narrow Fastex strap. Unfortunately, the bag rubs the bottom of the springs, even without being strapped to the post. This is going to require some sort of wearstrip, and dangit, I just hate putting black electrical tape, or something, on a brand new bag. I also had to move the blinkie from the seatpost to the seat stay. Bless Planetbike for including a small clamp for this.
Anyway, if you have a sprung Brooks, this is something you might want to give some thought to. And hey, the bag, which is okay, cost more that the saddle, which is great.
A more serious problem; it's not totally compatable with the Brooks Champion Flyer. It mounts to the rear of the seat as expected, but the Champion Flyer has springs that keep it from strapping to the seatpost. Fortunately, all three straps are easily replaceable, so the seatpost strap will get replaced, either with velcro, or maybe a narrow Fastex strap. Unfortunately, the bag rubs the bottom of the springs, even without being strapped to the post. This is going to require some sort of wearstrip, and dangit, I just hate putting black electrical tape, or something, on a brand new bag. I also had to move the blinkie from the seatpost to the seat stay. Bless Planetbike for including a small clamp for this.
Anyway, if you have a sprung Brooks, this is something you might want to give some thought to. And hey, the bag, which is okay, cost more that the saddle, which is great.
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Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
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Rog,
The bottom strap is to secure it to your handle bar stem if you want to mount it there.
It is larger than you would think. The Glenbrook must be huge.
{the cats let you live down flopping over in their presence yet?}
--A
The bottom strap is to secure it to your handle bar stem if you want to mount it there.
It is larger than you would think. The Glenbrook must be huge.
{the cats let you live down flopping over in their presence yet?}
--A
Last edited by Allen; 12-05-06 at 10:14 PM.
#3
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Not yet, and cats have a very droll sense of humor.
The handle bar stem! Thanks for putting my mind at ease, Allen. I do think I'll leave it on the seat, but I dunno. . . . I'll give that some thought. Yah, I'm sure glad I didn't order the Glenbrook. I'd need to stand on a pile of bricks just to get on the bike.
The handle bar stem! Thanks for putting my mind at ease, Allen. I do think I'll leave it on the seat, but I dunno. . . . I'll give that some thought. Yah, I'm sure glad I didn't order the Glenbrook. I'd need to stand on a pile of bricks just to get on the bike.
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Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
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I don't get it. Why buy something made from Leatherette? This is hardly a hard-wearing material and one that was only ever a cheap option in the past which was the reason it was supplanted.
At this time Brooks are mounting a very successful campaign which uses nostalgia in order to sell its products. No seasoned cycle tourist looking for a traditional product, would ever choose Leatherette, over the stout and durable duck cotton used in Carradice saddle-bags.
"Image" is winning out over good sense in my opinion.
At this time Brooks are mounting a very successful campaign which uses nostalgia in order to sell its products. No seasoned cycle tourist looking for a traditional product, would ever choose Leatherette, over the stout and durable duck cotton used in Carradice saddle-bags.
"Image" is winning out over good sense in my opinion.
#5
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Yeah, but those Carradice bags are big. I mean really big. Honest, I tried to find something in nylon that would mount on the slots in the Brooks. No go. And other designs didn't work at all, or just worked poorly. With an unsprung mode, about any old bag would have worked as well. So, I was looking for something with at least a minimum cargo space, and to heck with tradition.
As to Leatherette (plastic), it probably won't wear as well as leather, and nylon cordura would probably out last them all. Really, leather is a good saddle top, but is heavy and less weather resistant than other choices in a bag.
As to Leatherette (plastic), it probably won't wear as well as leather, and nylon cordura would probably out last them all. Really, leather is a good saddle top, but is heavy and less weather resistant than other choices in a bag.
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Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
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I mount mine off the handle bars and it's held up well on my bike for the last 8 months or so. It's seen rain on many occasions, more than it's share of road grime (live on a dirt road) and now freezing weather. It's kept its contents dry and has no cracks in its skin. So far so good.
--A
--A
#7
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The large bags are designed to use this: https://cgi.ebay.com/NITTO-R-10-BICYC...QQcmdZViewItem
It supports the bag from underneath and will keep it from rubbing on the springs or the back of your legs. Good luck.
Tim
It supports the bag from underneath and will keep it from rubbing on the springs or the back of your legs. Good luck.
Tim
#8
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Thanks for the lead. I may still re-engineer the thing for handlebars, but that's a good solution.
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Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
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SNIP< Yeah, but those Carradice bags are big. >
Not really. Try this one.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-C...city-10482.htm
Not really. Try this one.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-C...city-10482.htm
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Originally Posted by Nermal
A more serious problem; it's not totally compatable with the Brooks Champion Flyer. It mounts to the rear of the seat as expected, but the Champion Flyer has springs that keep it from strapping to the seatpost.
Anyway, if you have a sprung Brooks, this is something you might want to give some thought to. And hey, the bag, which is okay, cost more that the saddle, which is great.
Anyway, if you have a sprung Brooks, this is something you might want to give some thought to. And hey, the bag, which is okay, cost more that the saddle, which is great.
Anybody has a way around this?
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A motorcycle tool roll or fork bag will mount to the champion flyer loops, and looks good if you hunt around for one that isn't too wide. They can be found for between 20 and 40 dollars.
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That's a thought or two....a tool roll or a fork bag. Let me check those out. But would that mean that I will be strapping on the bag horizontally. If that is the case, then I should look for one that is not too wide. Or do I push the bag in between the springs of the saddle and strap it in the same plane as the bike frame?
#13
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Originally Posted by foolish heart
I agree with you regarding the Flyer. I have a Brooks Champion Flyer and I love it. However, it does make it pretty physically impossible to strap a bag underneath it because of the springs. And I'm not about to swap my Flyer for another saddle just because of this problem.
Anybody has a way around this?
Anybody has a way around this?
https://cgi.ebay.com/NITTO-R-10-BICYC...QQcmdZViewItem The bag attaches to the back of the seat. The bag stays mounted behind not underneath it. The saddle bag is supported by the rack. The tabs on the seat are there only to keep the bag in place, they provide no support all.The rack is actually quite small and when the bag is sitting on top you can barely see it.
Tim
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It mounts horizontally behind the seat. I just had my wife buy me one for christmas and I tried it out when we got home and it looked great. Too bad she took it off and told me I can't have it back until the big day.
#15
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Originally Posted by c_m_shooter
A motorcycle tool roll or fork bag will mount to the champion flyer loops, and looks good if you hunt around for one that isn't too wide. They can be found for between 20 and 40 dollars.
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Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
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Originally Posted by c_m_shooter
It mounts horizontally behind the seat. I just had my wife buy me one for christmas and I tried it out when we got home and it looked great. Too bad she took it off and told me I can't have it back until the big day.
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I will. Should be getting a camera too.
#18
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Camera? Tool roll? Hang on to that wife, ya hear me?
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Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
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How has the vinyl of your Millbrook held up?
Are the leather straps easy to take on and off? Would either the Millbrook or the Glenbrook work on a rack (where the straps attach to the top part instead of the saddle loops?
Are the leather straps easy to take on and off? Would either the Millbrook or the Glenbrook work on a rack (where the straps attach to the top part instead of the saddle loops?
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The straps are easy to take on and off, they just thread through loops on the back of the bag.
Attaching it to a rack may be difficult.
Good close-up images of it may be found here
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Thanks, those are nice photos. What would make it difficult to attach to a rack's top bar?
Also, do the Brooks holdalls convert to bags that can be carried over the shoulder? What about carrying it around when it's off the bicycle? I don't see a handle...
Here's what I was thinking of doing with the bags:
Also, do the Brooks holdalls convert to bags that can be carried over the shoulder? What about carrying it around when it's off the bicycle? I don't see a handle...
Here's what I was thinking of doing with the bags:
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I did not think about attaching it to the side of the rack, that would work fine. Placing it on top would mean holding it on with a bungee or strap.
They have no handle, or place to attach a shoulder strap. I think they are intended to be primarily left attached to the frame.
Ortllieb's handlebar and rack-top bags do come with shoulder straps and quick releases. Not as pretty to me but they are very high quality and defiantly water proof.
They have no handle, or place to attach a shoulder strap. I think they are intended to be primarily left attached to the frame.
Ortllieb's handlebar and rack-top bags do come with shoulder straps and quick releases. Not as pretty to me but they are very high quality and defiantly water proof.
#23
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I swear I'm going to try tha bag on the new B-17. No springs so it ought to work like a champ.
As soon as I can get my leg over the top tube without a ladder.
As soon as I can get my leg over the top tube without a ladder.
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Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
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Darn.
The Glenbrook looks good and has just the right amount of space. But I'd want to take it on and off from the bike rack to the office, etc. and have a strap or at least a handle so that I could carry it more easily.
The Glenbrook looks good and has just the right amount of space. But I'd want to take it on and off from the bike rack to the office, etc. and have a strap or at least a handle so that I could carry it more easily.
#25
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Rick, my little experience with the Millbrook tells me that those little buckles don't make for a slick and easy removal. I might consider switching to a quick release Fastex buckle on nylon straps. If nothing else, it would be infinately adjustable. Sometimes, the new ways really are better.
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Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.