has anyone had problems with this? my left arm (the one that supports the weight) is frequently and very slightly numb most of the time.

are you wearing it right?

I'd say it's probably something wrong with the strap. What kind is it? I had a bag (Timbuk2) a while ago that I didn't like, I didn't have a pad for my shoulder and the strap would DIG into my shoulder.

Anyway, the bag was falling apart so I dropped a cool $130 on a new Chrome Messenger Bag (www.chromebags.com) and I LOVE it. No problems at all with slippage, sore-age, or water-leaking-in-age.

That or you're a wuss! Ha ha.

It also might be because you wear the bag too loose. The tighter you wear it on your body the more weight your back takes and less the shoulder takes. Does that make sense?

PFT don't be dissin on Timbuk2!
I have a timbuk2 messenger bag and usually stuff it with quite a bit of crap. It's waterproof, doesn't get dirty, has cool adjustment gizmos and is very comfy.

You need a wide and stiff strap. If the strap is narrow, or it's flimsy and "bunches up," it will dig into your shoulder. Then, you need a fat strap pad. Without a strap pad, the edges of the strap will dig into your shoulder. And you need a second adjustment point. Messenger bags usually have the mini strap that goes under your other arm and ties the main strap to one corner of the bag.

Without these 3 things, you either get your circulation cut off by a crappy strap, or you put unnecessary work on your arm muscles to keep the bag from sliding off your back...

Also, if you paid less than $70 for your bag you should probably get a decent one...

its a chrome, should have said that earlier, and im wearing it correctly

maybe its not the bag... i could possibly be putting too much of my body weight on that arm.. hmmm...

anyone have cowhorns and get numbness ?

~cough~ Al5 is a wuss ~cough~

in the arms, no. When I first rode horns, my wrists would crap out from numbness after 6hrs in the saddle...but that was then, this is now. Chrome is the best out there. I have tried them all (Reload, Timbuk2, Bailey, Ortlieb). Reload is just as good as Chrome (if not better!), but I needed a replacement fast and Chrome was available.
I usually have 25lbs worth of scshtuff in my bag at any given time...no probs for me.

never got numbness with my chromebag, and i've got the XL kremlin packed with loads of stuff before, sure my shoulder might ache but never numb. You could always try taking some time off and using a righty bag for a bit

Doesn't it ever strike as weird that we probably
carry more on our backs then our bikes weigh?

just me.
jeff

oh I broke a fork yesterday. crap

yeah, I am used to "the more than our bikes weigh" situation. I have 4 years 'practice' carrying 80lbs+ worth of gear around and getting it balanced just so!
As far as your fork, what type and kind? I have a spare if needed. Kinesis AL, threaded. PM me if you want.

jeff, head to urban bikes if 165 doesn't have a fork in your size, we were there a few days ago to get a replacement fork for a friend, they have a ton

-allan

PAC bags are pretty phenomenal...along the same lines as chrome and REload. i had a chrome bag and it just wasn't cutting the mustard as far as adjustability of the strap. i actually had to modify it to get mine to fit right. i'll still probably used my chrome when i go travelling though, i got it for super cheap and it'll hold like 3000cu. in. whereas my PAC will hold something like 2400...the other problem i had with the chrome bag was that it was too deep. (it was an overstock kozmo bag that i got for $60 +shipping). the other cool thing about PAC is that you can switch the strap from lefty to righty pretty easily. the strap is a little narrow on it, but i like it sooo much better than my chrome bag.

i'm such a big fan of my chrome bag. i'll take it over a timbuk2 any day of the week. and, if you find yourself at a scooter rally and need a cooler... throw some ice in it, fill it with newcastle.. good ta go. it works, trust me.