Two days ago I received a parcel from the east coast with exciting new toys. For a few years I have been trying to work out how to carry more and more water as I wander further from the beaten track. Actually living in the desert, I am more concerned about being precisely on the track, but not having access to water for hundreds of kilometres.
Anyway, the parcel contained a Bike Bag Dude Frame Bag, and BBD Chaff Bags. In my excitement I have fitted them onto the LHT and aim to get out and test them in the coming weeks. These bags are made of a special light weight material, so I will be trying to use and abuse the bags as a “product test”. I will be giving info back to BBD and will keep the world posted about the bags exciting exploits.
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Update: Three Days of Commuting
So after three days of commuting with my fun new bags I have made some discoveries and fallen in love.
- Discovery One: Frame bags are not designed to be packed out to their capacity. I made the mistake of throwing a 2L water bottle straight into the bottom of the frame bag, and not using the internal divider. By the time I reached work the bag had wobbled around so it was rubbing against the front cassette, which as you can imagine is not good for anything.
- Discovery Two: Chaff Bags are bloody amazing. I mean seriously. They are great! I like to ride sitting you and without hands on the way to work, because it is currently about 5 degrees during my morning commute and having chaff bags on the handle bar with a water bottle, and to hold wallets and keys etc while commuting is so incredibly convenient! I’m not afraid to say it. I am in love with an inanimate object!
- Discovery Three: Panniers are more flexible than I ever realised. I tried to take the frame bag shopping and you know what? It is hard to fit a celery plant and several cartons of soy milk in there along with all the ingredients for a cheesecake. Thank be to the small gods for ocky straps!
All said I am pretty impressed with the frame bag still. It looks great, is function for running around town (eg so you can stash your man bag somewhere rather than having it slung over your shoulder).
I think I will take it for a tour and see how it really copes though!
Categories: Alice Springs, Australia, Life and Daily Interest, Northern Territory, Planning, Rants
Tags: bike bag dude, camping, Cycle Touring, Cycling, frame bags, gear, long haul trucker, Surly LHT, transportation
The Graceful Cyclists 
I love the new frame bag!
It is pretty great. I rode to work today with it on, doesn’t hold quite as much as my Ortleib pannier, but the bike is amazingly stable with all the weight centred.
Weight that is low and centered is so much more stable than weight that is sitting above the tires! Now you have to plan a multi-day tour to really try it out!
Already planning. I’m going to load it up with 20L of water and go for a long weekend ride to see how it handles. I’ll be keeping the world up to date with progress (or lack there of).