I ride an aluminium GT Grade for transport as well as for leisure and I'd love to get the weight of all my crap off my back. The frame has no rack mounts and I'd like to avoid the hassle of p-clamps and the extra weight and visual clutter of a rack. Has anyone had success hanging their backpack from the saddle rails? Perhaps a bikepacking-type saddlepack that doubles up as a backpack? (say that three times fast) Needs to hold a laptop.
Also posting in the Bikepacking and Accessories categories. Thanks!
GravelDoc wrote:I was just looking on-line at the Portland Design Works Bindle Rack. This might be something you would find applicable to your needs.
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\nDefinitely applicable, but ideally I'd achieve that without the rack. I'd rather have something permanently attached to the bag than to the bike. Does there need to be a rigid connection between bag and bike?
I suppose a lot depends on the size of the bag. A rack, such as the Bindle, would help to control bag sway by strapping it down tightly. A bag with a looser attachment might tend to sway back and forth causing some sway to transfer to bike handling.
Have you looked at Carradice bagman racks with a wider saddle bag? They come in like 10-25L sizes, so similar to a backpack and can pop off and be carried like a shoulder bag with a strap. The rack is held on by a beefy Allen bolt and can be removed in like 20 seconds.
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\nI have the QR rack but no bag yet. It's on order from Swift Industries.
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\nAlso I have a Swift Paloma bag that I really like but it's only 6L.
Very expensive and old school, but Frost River makes the Gunflint Trail Seat Bag that might work. It attaches to your saddle rails and you can add a strap to carry on your shoulder when you take it off bike. I have a few of their other products, and they are bulletproof. Just not modern high tech materials by any stretch. https://www.frostriver.com/shop/bike-bags/gunflint-trail-seat-bag/
Thanks for the input guys. That Frost River bag is expensive. But that and the Carradice Bagman rack are at least a proof-of-concept that as long as side-to-side sway is controlled, a load can be safely hung from the saddle rails without a seatpost or seatstay attachment. When I have some time on my hands (when? lol) I'll experiment with throwing together some sort of holster for the backpack...
Definitely. Just so you guys know, and in case you didn't see, they have a whole selection labeled as "bike bags," including a smaller Caribou Trail Bike Bag. A bit cheaper, too. https://www.frostriver.com/product-category/bike-bags/
I actually have collected quite a few of their products over the years. A couple packs/bags and a bunch of the other small stuff. Anything in particular you'd like to see? The only real bike bag I have is the Sawbill Trail handlebar bag, which I've never even used mounted on a bike. Let me know!
Stuff that's mounted up, opened up, or has been otherwise used. I'm *probably* not switching, but I do like the brand. I'm from Minneapolis and I've always considered riding up to Duluth to get bags.
