DIY Frame bag (first attempt)
 

I've been wanting to make one of these for a while now. Finally got the guts to order the fabric and give it a shot over the winter break. It all went pretty well except for one minor major detail. I was so afraid of making it too small, I ended up making it too big. So it looks a little sloppy in the frame, but functionality is pretty darn good right now.

An over all shot of the bag. I just loosely filled it with some clothes to give it form. As you can tell, it's a tad large for the space.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...eyInc/bag1.jpg

And here is a detail shot of the top flap. Just a length of hook and loop, but I made the flaps, as well as the spine of the bag where it contacts the frame, with a microfiber liner to both treat the paint a little nicer and to add a layer of abrasion for the bag itself.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...eyInc/bag2.jpg

And finally, a detail shot of the zipper. I added a little storm flap for added weather resistance. The bag is made with a PU coated fabric, and I plan on finishing it off with some seam sealer, so all in all, it should handle a decent rain or driving mist, but definitely won't be fully waterproof.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...eyInc/bag3.jpg

Overall I'm pretty pleased with it. Who knows when I'll get to use it, though. With school and a baby in March, I'm not sure when my next trip will be. There may be an overnighter/weekend trip in Spring, though. I'll at least give it a good test run then.

That's really nice. Good job! I can't understand why everyone doesn't have a frame bag. They're incredibly useful and they don't take up valuable handlebar and/or rack space. I didn't have to make mine. I got it for $2 at a yard sale.
BTW, you don't need to tour to use your bag. I leave mine on the bike all the time, and leave a spare tube, patch kit, inflator and cheap multi-tool in it. Nothing worth stealing or too costly to replace.

great bit of work you done a first class job on it, but does everything fall out if you unzip it fully. like to see what way you pack and unpack it.

Antokelly, that's a good question. It's actually a 2-way zipper, so I don't need to unzip it all the way to get to the opposite side. Some folks also add a divider or something in the middle that connects to each side to keep it from getting too fat in the middle. I may add one if I feel it's getting too thick. But it would seem something to keep both sides close together would also keep everything from falling out when you open it.

Nice project! How many liters do you think it holds? I almost think it might suffice as an only bag, other than maybe a handlebar bag, if traveling really light. With the addition of a seat bag it definitely would be sufficient to hold a minimal touring setup.

I am kind of surprised you lined it though.

thanks for that WO2W still you did a first class jod obviously you know your way around a sewing machine.

nice job. looks similar to my JannD. (sp?) i've used one to good effect on a couple of long tours. the thing can schwinggggg! though. very handy to get into things while on the move too.

Looks real good to me also. I would agree with a divider straight up from the V point, that would need 2 zippers. Then you could stuff the front half twice as wide between your knees.

You did a very nice job making that bag. I could see a lot of Randonneurs wanting to use something like that.

I only lined it on any surface that touches the frame. The bag itself is primarily single walled. I wasn't even shooting for lightweight, but before any seam seal treatment, it weighed in at 118 grams! I was pretty happy with that. I will admit that the fabric isn't super heavy duty, but no different from something you'd see on a backpack, so we'll see how it holds up.

I'm going to make a handlebar mounted bag in the style of a stuff sack for my sleeping pad and bag. I'll fully line that one with the microfiber and turn it inside out to stuff and make a pillow. On the last trip, I was able to stuff my tools and spare tube along with my tent (Eureka Spitfire) in my largish seat bag. The poles will just fit inside the top of the frame bag and I can then fill it with extra clothes, toiletries and foodstuffs. I'm also considering making a detachable "gas tank" that mounts the top flap of the current frame bag and wraps around the stem. I could keep the phone and energy gels/bars there.

As for liters, let me take some measurements and I'll get back to you on that. :lol:

I'll definitely consider this. Like I said, it's a two way zipper, so I could add a divider anywhere and be set. I can still leave an opening at the top for the tent poles. I'll see how fat it gets once it fills up and see if the divider is necessary or not.

you know.. this is how mr. ortleib and mr. arkel started out. first a little bag here and there, and then before you know it they were haunting garage sales and thrift stores for old industrial singer sewing machines.

it's a slippery slope my friend.

edit: be thirsty.

The hard dimensions tell me about 4 liters. Seems like kind of a small number to me, but it is only about 1.5 inches wide. I was able to fit a good bit of stuff in there loosely for the photo. I'll probably pull out something like a weekender check list and pack it to see how it does.

I applaud your resourcefullness!

So I ditched the handlebar bag plan in favor of something I saw on bikepacking.net which is a simple sling. I've been using a set of straps to mount my bedroll in the past. The idea is the same, but this makes it much easier to mount the bag and it also protects the stuff sack from the strap buckles and brake/shifter cables. It also has the benefit of being able to use any size stuff sack without limiting yourself to a single size bag.

without bag:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Inc/sling3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Inc/sling4.jpg

With bag

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Inc/sling1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Inc/sling2.jpg

I also used the microfiber again on the inside so it's easier on the stuff sack and not as slippery as nylon on nylon.

EDIT: I'll cut that excess strap length later on. I just didn't bother for the photos.

I'm quite impresed with your idea and skills. Wish I had both the imagination and sewing skills.
Hat's off to ya!!!

I've been pursuing this myself!

I was wondering what the dimensions are of the stuff sack you're using for the handlebar sling?

smart idea, a girdle for whatever you put in there. I guess if ever you see lateral movement of the stuff sac, you could add on a horizontal strap to stop it sliding out if rough trails start that happening.

That's the one that came with my winter bag. It's about 7 inches dia. by 11 long with the sleeping bag.

Someone else on the bikepacking forums mentioned a drysack made by Outdoor Research that had a daisy chain on the side so you could run the straps through there. I was pretty scure as is with the microfiber backing. I'm thinking this more versatile setup might make me move to a foldable foam sleeping pad that I could just put at the bottom of the sling and cinch it all down at once. It would definitely be lighter than my current insulated air core pad.

an old (cheap) Profile aerobar works as a front rack just like this. and doubles as an aerobar too.

Very nice work. At 118 grams your frame bag is considerably less than my 185 gram Jandd and looks to be quite roomy. You need to fill it with peanuts or beans to find the volume.