I’ve got a nice little front bag for randonerding which has leather straps with velcro that go around the rails of my rack, problem is the velcro isn’t quite strong enough and comes undone over largish bumps (the bag also slips over the rear support of the rack so doesn’t get ejected or anything but it 's annoying to keep having to re secure the straps).
Anyone have any experience retrofitting press studs for this kind of application?
spotlight and the like seem to stock press studs with tools etc but for the price (~$10 with the tool) i’m not sure how strong/durable they are, i’d want brass of stainless for corrosion resistance.
the two leather straps in the pic go around the rails of the rack, it works fine just the velcro doesn’t have quite enough strength, hence. press studs would do where teh velcro is for extra security.
The rails are a loop so i don’t see how punching holes in the straps would help (you couldn’t thread any part of the rack through the holes).
I reckon press studs might be a problem if you switch racks or something. You want something that you can tighten to quite a specific length for versatility. Maybe better Velcro or some kind of strap like a pedal strap or something.
studs will cause a problem unless i get the same rack (it’s a nitto M12 or reasonable facsimile thereof, i.e. tiny) , however i only have the one bike with a rack (gasp) and have a handle bar/seat bag of similar capacity for non racked bikes.
if i do get another rack in future it would probably be much larger, porteur style with suitably larger bag to match. however this would require a new bike as the standard diameter steel tubed miyata in joel garner size does “interesting” things with much more load on the front and is (based on Leighs experiance) unsuitable for loaded touring anyway
P.S. drozzy check your PM’s about that front derailleur
Got myself a GT ZRX frame set and some bits and am looking to 1x10 with SRAM Force cranks on it… I like sram, it’s on my roadie I have Sram shifters for it already and Force cranks look rad with a single ring. So I realise the frame has a BSA BB housing and the cranks are BB30 or “BB30 compatible” and research has left me more confused than I started. Can someone just tell me what it is I need please!! Is there just an external bearing BB that threads in and fits the spindle through it?? The inter web beat so far on this one…
I don’t think the press studs themselves are beardo, modifying a rack mounted bag probably is though.
beard growth will likely occur on installation of studs ;p
I found one of the little Zimbali bags same as in OP and bought one today in Sydney.
Yeah the velcro knitted sections are a bit short when bag is on the rack, although my Soma rack is the same width as bag, so it is a better fit than the Nitto ones. How did your mod go DaFrog? I might have to do something to improve holding as well.
i put the press stud i got off ebay on the front two velcro straps (one on each side).
never had a problem with it coming loose after that, beard length was unaffected
I’m eyeing that little Zimbale bag, how do you guys find it? Looks like it’s not really accessible while riding.
Other pros/cons? I’m after a small front bag for day rides to go on my front rack.
It might be discontinued, so they are pretty cheap as being runout, if you want one grab it when you see it.
Yeah it could be better designed I think. It is very low and the hinge end is closest to the rider, so it would be more risky to try to open while riding than trad rando bags. But it is accessible if you stop and stand with bike between legs - so that is gives it advantages over a rear trunk bag or panniers I think.
It is very small and I doubt it will ever be the only bag on my bike. But it allows me to keep things like mobile phone, camera, GPS and wallet in the front so I can always get them easily, and keep tools and spare clothes for the day in a separate saddle or trunk bag on the back. Plus I can still roll out a plastic map holder over the top of the bag, which is handy although I will have to attach it from back and roll forward.
Pros: functional front bag, small aero profile, leather trim looks good on my trad tourer (gumwalls, fake leather seat and bar wrap). It is so small it is unlikely to effect handling. Platform for maps / route guide to see when riding.
Cons: Very small. Velcro attachment system isn’t up to standard. Plus the loop at back that is supposed to go over the nitto rack tombstone is too narrow for my soma rack which has full width tombstone. But another loop that is a leather carrying handle does go over my tombstone. So I might sew up the bottom of cloth flap, to make a little pocket at rear of bag that could hold a banana or food bar or something that I could get at while riding.
