I've been using a Bailey Works medium size super pro for a couple years now. I love it, it's a great bag, but I wanted something bigger, so recently I got a Chrome Metropolis. Partly because it's cheaper than a bigger Bailey Works, and partly because I just wanted to try something different. So I've been using it for a little over a week, commuting to work 25 miles r/t every weekday. It's working out great. It fits all my crap, plus extra stuff when I stop by the grocery store on the way home or something. It's comfy on my back and shoulder.

One thing that just seems weird to me though is the stabilizer strap. On the Bailey Works, it's sewn onto the bag around the center and connects below the buckle (around the sternum area or slightly below) into a clip that slides up and down the main strap, so it's pretty adjustable. The Chrome is sewn on at the corner and attaches to a non moveable clip above the buckle (closer to the shoulder), coming from under your armpit, which is the part I don't get. It doesn't seem to stabilize it at all. The bag's still able to swing around on the strap side even with the stabilizer connected.

Is there something i'm missing? I just don't see the point of this design..

might be a dumb question but have you tightened down the stabilizer strap? its kind of a pita to adjust on the fly but on my chrome bag ive never had the bag swing around and ive carried a lot of heavy loads with it.

I don't ride with a Chrome bag any longer, but I did for about five years.

I adjusted both the stabilizer strap and the chest strap for every load.

It worked for me.

Yeah I needed a lot of tightening depending on the load. I had a metropolis, I sold it - I didnt really need it . It was too huge.

Stabilizer strap should be tight.

I have a custom bag and my strap is from my right armpit down to my cleavage. And its tightend before i ride. Its really tight and it works pretty well considering how short the strp is. right armpit to boobies.

I ride with the stabilizer strap even without a lot of stuff in the bag. It gives me extra support.

I have both the mid sized bailey works and the chrome metropolis and never use the stabilizer strap on either, just load it and cinch up the main strap, never a problem.

I have the same bag, been using it around 2 years on and off, only bag I've used. I don't ride with that much in it most the time, but i've gone with 40lbs of loose power tools, a few times with a 50lb computer in it 3 miles across town, and recently a grocery trip that filled the bag to it's max, straps all the way out, 68 lbs (i weighed it at home just to see how heavy it was), 4 mile ride home, and other than a pretty sore shoulder i had no problems. There was very little movement in the bag. The strap always works just fine for me as long as it's adjusted

Seems like it's not an issue. I've literally only used the bag one week, so I haven't had an opportunity to really fill it up, but it seems to hold its place pretty well without the strap. I just thought it was a strange spot for it to latch onto compared to what i'm used to.

I don't use the stabilizer strap unless I'm hauling lots of stuff for more than a couple miles. It helps a lot when I need the extra support, though... it keeps the bag centered correctly on my back.

If I have really awkwardly shaped loads that prevent me from closing the flap or clipping it shut (like stuffing a Wald basket in my Citizen), I will use the stabilizer strap and clip it to the front flap on the clip furthest away from the stabilizer strap (so that it goes across the bag).

I don't understand bhop. What is different from the chrome and bailyworks strap? Aside from one being fixed and one sliding up and down across the main strap.

This
Chrome



Bailey



As you can see, the strap on the Bailey Works bag sits lower on my torso when it's attached. I feel like this is a more stable position, but I have to say, after shooting these pics a couple minutes ago, I realize that these bags 'hang' differently on my shoulder. The Chrome is more vertical, which may explain the stabilizer design. Maybe it just doesn't need anything more than it already has.

Anyway, like I mentioned, I haven't had any issues, just thought it was weird and wondered if anyone's ever had issues with it. Guess not...

no issues with that strap design on my kemmer bag, and i generally don't use it anyway. when i do, it helps stabilize... but my bag hardly ever swings under my arm even without the strap attached.

bailey works looks dope.

My wig bag attaches from either bottom corner of the bag and then has a sliding clip on the chest strap similar to the bailey, I just recently hauled school gear, clothing + packages I needed to ship for work, and then 3 12 packs of soda for my grandpa in it, very stable.

I have never used a stabilizer strap, ever. Stacks of books, copy boxes, whatever, just cinch it up real good and roll. Never had problems with wobbling. I think you might need to HTFU.

Yeah, I don't think I've used the stabilizer strap on my Metropolis in the 3 years I've had it. Even loaded up, including a kids bike that was probably the least stable thing I've ever carried strapped to a bag, it stays put pretty well. My previous bag was Timbuk2 shoulder bag, which is great for walking and horrible for riding; in that case, even a moderate load required using the chest strap to prevent sudden and potentially catastrophic movement of the bag.

Your chrome main strap isn't tight enough. Pull that strap down snug. (see how much slack you have down there?) The way you're wearing your Chrome bag is like you're sagging your pants. Main chrome buckle should be right below your chest and make your stabilizer strap just as snug bucklng in right at your cleavage (chest cavity?). All this bag design isn't going to make sense if you're not wearing the bag right: tight and high.

I'll take that into consideration.

Makes sense. When i'm on the bike, I pull it tighter, I think it was a little loose just cuz i was standing around.

If I catch you on your commute I'll show you how to do it

I'm pretty late to this, but you are right. The Chrome stabilizer strap sucks. When full, the bag still shifts, it offers little support & I find it uncomfortable in my armpit. Baileyworks and Timbuk2 are way ahead of Chrome in that dept.

then you're doing it wrong, sorry. One thing I notice is that many people ride with their bags sagging on their backs when the bag is supposed to be high up on the back. That and some fairly simple adjustment of both straps the bag won't go anywhere and it won't pull on your shoulder or anything. I'm sure the same is true for most of these messenger bags

My experience with Timbuk2 and straps is terrible, but the bag is like 4 years old. They just hurt my back.

hey, guess what hairnet? i wear it right & still don't like it. thanks for the predictable bike forums contradiction.

You don't have to like the bag, but you should explain your comment rather than complaining about someone disagreeing with you. I've ridden several years each with a Timbuk2 messenger and a Chrome Metropolis, and there's no comparison. The Timbuk2 damn near swung me off the bike several times even with the stabilizer strap, whereas the Chrome has proven far more steady even without the stabilizer. The bags have fundamentally different designs; the Chrome is made to lie across your back, but the Timbuk2 isn't. If I'm walking, it's Timbuk2 all the way. When biking, it's the Chrome.

Well, actually, now it's homemade panniers. Screw this heat.