A bit of saddlebag trouble - any suggestions or ideas

[carolonabike]

I'm hoping someone can suggest a solution to a bit of a problem.

I'm cycling from South Shields to Edinburgh in a few weeks time over 4 days and have a support vehicle so I only need to carry enough for the day. I have a Carradura Maxi Saddlepack which I used on last year's C2C which has ample room for everything I need. This year I really, really want to ride my beautiful Cube Axial. Oh how I love that bike!
On a test run last week it seemed fine until one of the catches on the bag came loose and because there is so little clearance (I'm small so have a 47cm frame) the bag started to rub on the wheel. I think because of the minimal clearance (about 1cm) a tiny bounce must have made the bag hit the wheel. This was enough to dislodge the bag causing further rubbing. Obviously this is a bit of a deal breaker.

Normally I use the bag on my Trek for commuting but I have mudguards on which would prevent the bag hitting the wheel, but there are no lugs for mudguards on my lovely carbon fibre Cube.

I have considered a few options
1. A mudguard on the back wheel - would it be possible, or advisable to fit an SKS Race Blade or such like to a carbon frame, or would this be a crime?
2. A different bag - my carradura is 6 litres but I could probably manage with a slightly smaller size
3. Fettling the bag somehow so I had more clearance
4. Asking my sister to carry everything for me

Any bright ideas? Just please don't advise me not to take the Cube

 

[alans]

Have a look thru the items on the menu on the right of this link

http://www.topeak.com/pages/342/news/detail/66

I use one of these
http://www.topeak.com/products/Bags/AeroWedgePack_medium_Velcro
which accommodates a spare tube,multitool,patches & glue,zip ties,surgical gloves,small swiss army knife,tyre boot & tyre levers.


I use one of these
http://www.topeak.com/products/Bags/tri_drybag
to carry energy bars & the like

Arm & leg warmers,when not worn, go into a jersey pocket.
Windproof,when not worn,into other jersey pocket
Phone & wallet in other jersey pocket.

Have you considered a small handlebar bag?

hth

 

[carolonabike]

Thanks Alans, I'll have a look at those, I already use a small saddlebag for my puncture kit, pump and spare tube on the Cube but I think because of the small clearance a bigger saddlebag just may not be feasible. Another option I'm considering is a small rucksack, I tried one beofre and didn't much like it but it may be time to have another try.

 

[carolonabike]

I hadn't really thought about a bar bag but it's definitely worth considering, thanks.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Hi, some thoughts.
Barbags work as long as you don't have cabling in the way, however if weighty they can affect handling on a twitchy roadbike.
Tools, tube, P*ncture repair kit, gels etc can be carried in a tool bottle in the 2nd bottle cage, leaving less to put under the saddle. Has the added advantage of keeping some weight lower down. A single 1L water bottle is enough, just keep refilling.
Beam rack and small rack-pack - depends on how this works with Carbon bits?
Or one of these which is my solution with a Barley saddle-bag. Should be able to mount high enough to clear rear wheel.
http://www.carradice.co.uk/products/other/sqrclamp
I also use a tr-bag for nibbles, phone, etc

 

[PpPete]

Don't know if one of these would work for you ?

which cantilevers off the seatpost.... and is surprisingly stable, even loaded to the full capacity of its 4.5 litres. There are bigger capacity models and I think either Altura or Endura do a clone, but when I want more space than that, I simply pop the bag off the frame (press-studs and velcro) and use the frame to support either a Barley or a Nelson. Works a treat, and lot lighter than the Carradice's supports.

 

[carolonabike]

Now they look like just the ticket, I've just googles my seatpost, an Easton EA30 and it's aluminium rather than carbon so presumably there would be no problem mounting it. I think I'll order one then I have a couple of weeks to try it out before our trip.

This definitely looks a better option than a rucksack or a barbag and the tool bottle is also an excellent idea, thanks guys.

 

[John the Monkey]

Carradice Barley would be my choice, of the options offered.