Mounting a Carradice Camper Longflap on a rear rack.

[in4]

Bit of a domino effect this one.
Looking to change my B17 for something with a cut-out ( Sella SMP trek or similar )
This saddle does not have saddle loops but I can buy them from SJS.
Alternatively I was thinking about mounting the saddle bag longitudinally; along the length of the rack. There must be a work around. I wondered if anyone had tried. One advantage I thought of is that the load would be well supported on the rack and not ‘bounce around’ like it might do if conventionally mounted, even with the Carradice Bagnan support.
My aim is to have a lightweight touring ( none camping)  set up with the Camper Longflap, Ortlieb Ultimate bar bag and maybe a small frame bag.
TIA

[martinf]

Not tried it, but the Carradice Bagman Quick Release Expedition Saddlebag Rack doesn't require saddle loops.

Until recently I was using something with a similar function, a Lord Uplift, this used to be sold mail order (30-40 years ago) by the chap that made them.

Visible in the first photo in the thread below:

https://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=12048.0
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A Carradice Camper Longflap will fit lengthwise on the top of a Thorn rear rack, but I haven't tried to fix a saddlebag to the rack in this position.

It would be easier to hang it off one side, and stabilise it with a strap round one of the rack struts.

But for me, the main point of using a traditional saddlebag is to avoid fitting a rack to the bike. If I have a rack I use pannier bags. Usually just one small one for day rides. For carrying more luggage I use two small, medium or large panniers depending on how much capacity I need.

With a stiff rack (Thorn or Tubus), I don't notice any difference in handling when carrying just one lightly loaded pannier bag.   

[Andyb1]

Rok-straps might work well to hold your bag longitudinally on the rack.  They come in two halves and each half has a loop at the end.  You would feed the strap around the side of the rack and back through the loop, do the same with the other half of the strap on the opposite side of the rack, clip the two haves together and then tighten.  The straps and clips are flat material and strong, and one half is elastic so they stay tight.   Two straps needed.  Have a look at their web site.
Safer and more secure than bungees with hooks.

[Danneaux]

Not exactly what you asked for, Ian, but...

Among my many projects on the burner is a DanneauxMade quick-release mount for *any* saddle rails.

I have some billet aluminum I plan to use to sandwich the saddle rails, clamped by a short (think seatpost collar) quick-release. The usual Carradice hardwood dowel will be reinforced on the outside of the bag with some half-round aluminum tubing (i.e. sectioned seatpost of handlebars...or replaced entirely eith tubing), secured through the lower billet clamp, tubing, bag fabric, and hardwood using longer bolts of the same diameter as original.

My goal here is to make my Carradice Camper Longflap mountable to virtually any saddle with exposed rails and, further, to make it quick-release de/mountable so I can take it quickly into a store with me while shopping or inside my tent to unload at my leisure if rain is bucketing down.

I've a few projects ahead of this one, but have assembled all the materials and it looks both simple and viable, which pushes for completion soonish.

Best, Dan.

[in4]

That sounds like a simple but effective solution. I'll look into that. Thanks.
I already have some male and female velcro straps that I've used to secure the CLF's base across the rear rack so I might be able to modify that set up.
Thanks again

Dan, that sounds like a very useful project to pursue. I'll look forward to seeing the prototype in due course.

I really like the CLF but I've rarely used it. That's primarily because it is awkward to take on and off if you're not using a Carradice bagman rack, more so if you already have a Thorn rack fitted. I think I last used it when I cycled down the west coast of Eire and carried my tent in it; leaving the CLF attached.

[Andyb1]

A pretty full packed bike!

[mickeg]

I took the first attached photo about a decade ago.  Someone made this bracket to support their bikepacking type saddle bag.

And the second photo shows how I put my Pendle bag on my road bike, I used a shim and a long threadless stem, plus a wood dowel (sprayed black) that my saddle bag attaches to.  My Brooks Pro lacks the saddle bag loops, so the Pendle straps wrap around the dowel.  I used a 5/16 inch diameter aluminum rod to support my bag weight, but if you wanted to support the weight of a packed Camper I think the system I am showing in this second photo would not hold the weight, that was why I showed the first photo.  It was pretty easy for me to bend the 5/16 inch aluminum rod to get it to fit exactly the way I wanted, but I only tested it with two kg of weight inside the saddle bag on a bumpy ride to see if that rod was sufficient to keep my Pendle from rubbing on the tire.  It holds two kg (two water bottles, one liter each for weight in the Pendle for my test).

In other words, you could build up something to support the weight under the saddle bag, and a separate bracket like mine using a threadless stem (plus seatpost shim) to put the saddle bag straps on since you would lack the saddle loops.

But before you try to build something like this, I am tall enough (about 6 foot) that my saddle has a good height above my rear 700c tire, if you are shorter, you might not have the height you would need for tire clearance under the bag if you attached your bag to a stem mounted on the seatpost like I did.  Note the third photo, I have the tire clearance I need.

[brummie]

Thorn accessory bar. Bag supported on rack.