Re Carradice saddlebags eg Longflap

[in4]

I’ve used a combination of Carradice Super C’s and Ortlieb Sports rollers for a while and remain quite happy with them.
 
I was however experimenting with a pair of Altura Orkneys (50L) on the rear rack; wondering if I could use slightly smaller rear panniers.

Similarly, I also attached my Carradice Camper Longflap. Thinking it might work as a ‘weekender’ option.

Whilst I think the CLF with its ‘old school’ image is pretty cool I’m wondering if it’s a bit obsolete when it comes to touring. Perhaps it’s best suited for non-camping short tours or indeed an indulgent day ride.

Anyone currently using a CLF? If so for what?

Last time I toured with mine I used it solely to put my tent in, which was a bit of overkill as I could simply have the tent on my rear rack and used a cargo net ( which I’ve subsequently bought and find really useful)

[brummie]

I am a fan of the Camper Longflap, and Carradice saddlebags in general. I see them as the equivalent of a car boot on the bike !😆 Although I use panniers for bigger loads or camping gear, I prefer a saddlebag for its ease of use.

[Danneaux]

Anyone currently using a CLF? If so for what?

I use my Carradice Camper Longflap alone as the basis for my "ultralight" camping setup or in combination with my Ortlieb Large handlebar bag and occasionally with my smaller front Ortlieb SportPacker panniers for a bit more capacity without going to my full-on 4-pannier-and-handlebar-bag setup. It is nice for 1-3 overnights when I have more ready access to food and water I can replenish daily. I've been most pleased with it used in this way. See...

https://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=11787.msg85858#msg85858

Best, Dan.

[mickeg]

I am aware of a few people on the internet that use a Nelson Long Flap or a Camper Long Flap for credit card touring, where they bring no camping gear, they are sleeping indoors and eating in restaurants.

I am aware of one person that has used a Camper Long Flap and an extremely light weight tent and sleeping bag, he was primarily credit card touring but occasionally camped when he was unable to rent a room for the night.

I bought a Camper a few years ago to have for credit card touring, but have not used it.

I used my Nelson Long Flap on one tour, it was supported by my Ortlieb Back Rollers underneath it.  Photos attached.  I mostly used it for food on this tour.  It worked well because I could easily vary the amount of food in it.  To give it more structure to hold its shape, I put a piece of cardboard inside the Carradice bag.  The cardboard worked well enough that I later replaced it with a piece of Coroplast which essentially is a plastic based corrugated cardboard.

But, I have generally chosen to use a dry bag instead of the Carradice bag since that trip, the time to thread the leather straps through the saddle were much more time consuming than other options that now use.  On my touring bikes I use a Brooks Conquest (or on one bike a Brooks Pro).  These saddles lack saddle loops, but the conquest has springs and I can attach the Carradice bag straps to the saddle spring loops.

For several years I have used a Pendle on one of my bikes for day to day use.  I also have a piece of Coroplast in that, last attached photo, the Coroplast is white.  The Coroplast is not attached to the bag, it just sits in it loose.  The bag has a much better shape when not full with this to give it more structure. 

If you try something like this as a stiffener, I would suggest first trying paper based cardboard from a box you plan to discard to see if you are happy with it first.

[mickeg]

I have a fifth photo I wanted to show.  I did not like these bags hitting my legs as I peddle, I wanted to push the bag back a bit more.  For that I have used a threadless stem with appropriate shim to fit the seatpost.  A short piece of wooden dowel (sprayed black), to push the bag further to the rear.

And the second photo is the same Pendle bag on a different bike.  This photo really shows how well that Coroplast in the bag gives it a much better shape than a partly empty sagging bag would be.

You can see how I use the Brooks Conquest springs as the saddle bag loops in these two photos.

Yes, I am aware of the different saddle bag support options supplied by Carradice, I chose not to use them.

[in4]

Using another stem is a great idea. The saddlebag stays more horizontal and the coroplast creates some rigidity. I had been resting my CLF on a Thorn Exped' rear rack and securing it with male-female velcro straps. It has been an imperfect solution though and I find having the bag at the same angle as the seat post inconvenient.
Thanks for sharing this. I really appreciate it. Great ocean-view photos too.
Thanks also Dan, for your link. You've sure been defying the laws of physics , given the amount of gear you managed to squeeze into the CLF. Chapeau!
Getting a bit forensic on one of your photos: Did you attach your CLP to the supporting rack with anything or was securing it with the saddle loops ( or something similar ) adequate enough.

[PH]

I like Carradice saddlebags, though I don't have a large one and even if I did I couldn't pack small enough to use it for camping without panniers. I can just about manage a non camping weekend away with a standard Nelson, but on;y if the weather is good.   My latest one, of three, is a Cambrian Audax, Cordura and plastic buckles instead of cotton and leather, I hardly use the other two since getting it, I never considered the straps an inconvenience till I didn't have to use them.  I'm undecided what to do with the other two, sell them or convert to plastic buckles.

[Danneaux]

Thanks also Dan, for your link. You've sure been defying the laws of physics , given the amount of gear you managed to squeeze into the CLF. Chapeau!
Getting a bit forensic on one of your photos: Did you attach your CLP to the supporting rack with anything or was securing it with the saddle loops ( or something similar ) adequate enough.

Thanks for the kind words, Ian. Like George, I use a Coroplast liner. From past experience, I tape the edges with duct tape as I found otherwise they can chafe neighboring fabric under the constant vibration of cycling.

As for the bag resting on the rack...it depends on which bike and how it is loaded. I move the CLF from bike to bike and the saddle loop-to-rack distance varies. When it is on the low side, I generally find the bag can reliably center and support itself...but leaving nothing to chance, I employ a self-made strap of nylon webbing with a quick-release Fastex buckle to secure the loop on the bottom face of the CLF 'round the nearest rack crossmember. With my bikes, the rack support is generally enough because, well, most of my bikes have rear racks that come into a pretty good relationship with the saddle loops. On the several that don't, I've been experimenting with Thorn's saddlebag-specific T-bar...
With shim...
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/accessories/thorn-saddlebag-bracket-1725-mm-extension-222mm-45-deg/?geoc=US
Without shim...
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/accessories/thorn-accessory-bar-t-shaped-1725-mm-extension-45-deg-no-shim/?geoc=US

I got mine initially with the idea of inverting it to drop a handlebar bag as low as possible. It does work nicely for that but can require placing a headlight other than at the fork crown to avoid interference.

When used as a saddlebag support, it has the big advantage of adjusting bag height independent of saddle height so you can set the bag easily on a rack pretty much regardless of frame size. You can also use your saddlebag on a saddle without bag loops or springs. In my particular case, I can attach the Thorn Saddlebag Bracket on my seatpost below the parallelogram arms of my Thudbuster suspension seatposts so the bag doesn't bob with the saddle. So far, I've found no interference between the actual seatpost arm travel and the bracket using the elastomer elements for my weight and position on the bikes. The Thorn Saddlebag Bracket doesn't serve as a standoff like George's repurposed stem does, so keep that in mind.

It also allows for a sort-of quick-release of the bag if you leave the straps just loose enough to wiggle over the acorn nuts or socket allenhead machine screws you fit to the holes at either end of the crossbar (see the photo below, cribbed from the SJS Cycles product listing). Do watch for water entry, though. I solved that problem by making some proofed leather "washers" the straps thread through and ride above the hole openings like little umbrellas.

Hope this helps,

Dan.

[Danneaux]

I'm still working on the ultimate quick-release upper mount for my CLF. Not "there" yet, but really close after trying a number of approaches. The nylon boat cleat trick came really close but rattled a bit on rough roads and interfered with the mount I machined to attach my Ortlieb Underseat Bag clamp to my Brooks B.17 saddle rails....

Best, Dan.