Carradice super c

[strictnaturist]

Good New Year to everyone and hope that wind is behind you!  Could anyone with Northern European (wet) touring experience give me any advice regarding buying a set of Carradice Super C panniers?  I like the size of the bags (bigger than Ortlieb) the look of the bags (tough,but not too flash to try and run off with) etc  .... The bags appear a lot on southern/drier touring kit lists...but can they keep that wet stuff off your camping/sleeping gear if you head North?
your thoughts are appreciated.
SN

[julk]

I use Super Cs cycle camping in the UK.
I have experienced enough rain to even wash the A7 away at Langholm.

I have found my bags keep the rain out.
The material can get wet and I keep a supermarket 'bag for life' in each as insurance, but I have yet to find the inside getting wet.

After 5 years use I purchased some of the carradice wax and treated mine to a layer, spread by cloth and then heat soaked in with a hair dryer. I am not sure if this was necessary, but it does no harm except it makes dust cling easier to the bags.

The capacity is excellent, probably encourages me to take too much...

[strictnaturist]

Brilliant,thanks. I look forward to treating my sherpa to these legendary bags.

[Danneaux]

Julian,

I've always wondered if the cotton bags are a bit like the old cotton tents -- waterproof until you touch them, the surface tension is altered, and the water comes through?  I'm guessing the wax works to prevent wetting-out?  At any rate, you sound like the fellow to ask, and it would be nice to put this question aside.  Certainly, the cotton Carradice bags have a wonderful, classic look that really can't be matched in modern materials.  Nothing says "expedition" quite like a Carradice, at least to my mind.

Best,

Dan.

[julk]

Dan,
I used to use several and still have one of those old cotton tents. They are superb in hot sunny weather but miserable in prolonged rain.
When family camping I used to be like a gramophone record - "don't touch the tent or it will let rain in".

Some years ago I was camped with my then young family and a depression came and sat over the area for 3 days giving us continuous heavy rain. We decamped to nearby grandparents after a day leaving the tents up.
Once the rain cleared up we came back and found that the old cotton pup tent had a sleeping mat afloat in the water inside it!
We soon got everything dried out, the children thought it was a great adventure.

The Super Cs are the opposite, they just never have let any water in or through for me and they get tested regularly in the UK.
The material is so dense and thick that it works like the old cotton Ventile garments.
Waxing seems to leave the material working the same, the outside can get and feel wet, the inside is dry.

I have tried just about every brand of quality pannier commonly available here in the UK except Ortlieb, they have all been very good but the Carradice Super Cs are my favourite.
Julian.

[julk]

Jim,
A couple of changes I did make to my Super Cs.

I was finding the rack fixing clips a bit awkward to undo in cold weather, my fingers are not as nimble as they used to be.
I searched around and found Arkel Cam Hooks which I purchased and retro fitted the system to my Super Cs.

I find the Cam Hooks excellent in use, although I have had one return spring failure. Contacting Arkel resulted in them sending me a free bundle of spare hooks! Great customer service.

On another forum I came across the suggestion of doubling the lower retention clip. I have done this on my rear panniers with each clip facing outwards. The double clip setup just fits right into my Thorn expedition rack.
Julian.

[Relayer]

The Super Cs are the opposite, they just never have let any water in or through for me and they get tested regularly in the UK.
The material is so dense and thick that it works like the old cotton Ventile garments.
Waxing seems to leave the material working the same, the outside can get and feel wet, the inside is dry.

+1 for the waterproof properties of Carradice waxed cotton.

While I have no experience of Super C, I have used Carradice Nelson Longflap (waxed cotton) saddlebags over the years and I have never known them to let water in - even before they put nylon drawstring around the inner.  Added to this, they are tough as old boots, several members of my local CTC have used these for who knows how many years through tens of thousands of miles in all weathers.

Incidentally I was once introduced to a chap who had just returned from a tour of New Zealand, he used B&Bs mostly, but he carried ALL of his luggage in a Nelson Longflap!

Brilliant products.

[Danneaux]

Julian, Relayer --

Thanks, guys; this is just what I was hoping to hear.  There's something reassuring about finding one more product that -- like all-leather Brooks saddles -- is pretty much unimprovable.  It seems Carradice and cotton-bike bag makers got it right, and somehow -- despite competition by whatever trendy whatsit later hit the market -- have been able to continue producing them for an audience that knows they're a Quality product.

Great photo of a terrific mod, Julian. 

There is a wonderful piece on Carradice here:
http://thebikeshow.net/another-day-in-carradice/

...with links to an audio-accompanied slide show and a lengthy podcast audio interview with current Carradice Owner and MD David Chadwick from that page or directly here:
http://thebikeshow.net/slideshows/carradice/

Additional photos of the author's (Jack999 for the Bike Show, a weekly radio show about cycling broadcast in central London on radio art station Resonance 104.4FM) factory tour on Flickr here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19871340@N00/sets/72157628147760119/

Wonderful stuff!

Best,

Dan.

[julk]

Dan,
Thanks, I enjoyed that 'trip' round Carradice.

My first Carradice bag was a Camper Longflap, still in my garage and fits on a bike using a Carrimor Uplift, now a collectors item.

My more recent Super C bags are signed by Priscilla (rear), Christine (front), Kelly (bar bag and zipped roll), Maggie (rack pack) and one unsigned (stuffsack).

Wonderful stuff indeed!
Julian.

[freddered]

Super C fabric will resist the most severe of downpours (I have a Super C saddlebag that has been in the rain for days).

However, for camping I bought Ortleibs because they are waterPROOF.  You can wipe them down and bring them inside your tent (this is not good with soaking wet Super C cotton) OR you can leave them outside on wet grass in the rain (it doesn't matter...they are totally waterproof).

In reality I throw them in the space between inner tent and fly-sheet, sometimes on wet grass...it down't matter with Ortleib.

Care must be taken when storing damp Super C though...it will rot if left in, say, a damp shed with no air movement.

Nothing (in my opinion) looks as good as a classic tourer sporting black Super C panniers though.

[6527richardm]

I like the look of the Super C's it might be a silly question but when they get wet do they take on water and get a lot heavier

[Relayer]

Nothing (in my opinion) looks as good as a classic tourer sporting black Super C panniers though.

I agree.

I think it's all part of the allure of traditional/natural materials i.e. steel bikes, leather saddle, leather bar tape/grips, waxed cotton baggage, leather touring shoes/mitts, merino wool tops ...

An interesting take on this here  http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2012/01/being-in-nature.html


P.S. check out the comments on that blog post also, lively discussion

P.P.S. Woohoo I'm now a Full Member!!   

[jags]

thanks for those links dan relly enjoyed the tour. mind you i never as yet heard anyone say they own or worn the poncho  so anyone willing to pose with there mystery poncho

[JimK]

anyone willing to pose with there mystery poncho

Here is the pro-route poncho:




Mine doesn't have a hood - seems like some do.

This is the first time I have tried it on my Thorn. When I was commuting a few miles on my Azor city bike, back in Oregon, it worked very nicely. That bike has a fully upright posture: one's hands are roughly at one's knees, not stretched out at all. I'll have to experiment a bit to see how best to adjust it on the Thorn, with my hands more out front. But I can be patient - today was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, not poncho weather at all!

[jags]

cheers jimk looking good there buddy what you now need is one on those old firemen oil caps remember the big yellow ones they work brilliant if you have the b...s to ware one.