Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

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jeatsy
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Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by jeatsy »

I've just noticed the Canvasman saddlebag on Spa Cycles website. Here's the medium-sized version, but there's also small and large:

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s73p374 ... -Edition-M

Is this new? I haven't heard of it before, but would love to see a review or at least some more pictures. "3 internal compartments" worries me slightly, as I'd rather have one giant one.
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robgul
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by robgul »

Not seen these before - looks like they're taking the same line they did when Brooks got excited about the discounts they were doing and stopped supplies - so Spa introduced own-brand leather lookalike saddles.

Guessing - the three compartment idea is probably the equivalent of the usual Carradice pockets but within the main bag rather than the traditional external pockets with additional straps (there's some sense in that)

Reviews on the Spa leather saddles have been mixed ... be interesting to see how the bags fare.

Rob
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pwa
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by pwa »

I wonder if they just got Carradice to run up some unbadged no frills bags. Can't be too many UK makers, after all.
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breakwellmz
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by breakwellmz »

Perhaps they are made by these people?-
http://canvasman.co.uk/
pwa
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by pwa »

Bet it's rebadged Carradice. It's not even that much cheaper. Why re-invent the wheel?
pete75
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by pete75 »

Their saddles look reasonable because they're basically copies of various Brooks models. The saddlebag would look a lot better if they'd copied Carradice directly.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
PH
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by PH »

They wouldn't be hard for anyone with a heavy duty sewing machine to make, many of the new bikepacking kit manufacturers are pretty much cottage industries, though that's no bad thing it doesn't require much in the way of investment or premises.
One of the selling points of the Spa bag is that it's a heavier material than normal, I've never picked up a Carradice bag and wished it was heavier, so the extra weight would be a minus rather than a plus for me. If I was looking for a new saddlebag I'd more likely choose the Bridge Street which is a proper alternative rather than an old idea copied. Something I'd like to see stocked by a touring specialist like Spa.
http://bridgestreet.cc/
pete75
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by pete75 »

PH wrote:They wouldn't be hard for anyone with a heavy duty sewing machine to make, many of the new bikepacking kit manufacturers are pretty much cottage industries, though that's no bad thing it doesn't require much in the way of investment or premises.
One of the selling points of the Spa bag is that it's a heavier material than normal, I've never picked up a Carradice bag and wished it was heavier, so the extra weight would be a minus rather than a plus for me. If I was looking for a new saddlebag I'd more likely choose the Bridge Street which is a proper alternative rather than an old idea copied. Something I'd like to see stocked by a touring specialist like Spa.
http://bridgestreet.cc/


Well that's how Wilf Carradice started in the thirties, made a saddlebag for himself then others asked for similar so he eventually stopped work and set himself up to make saddlebags. Carradice bags may, as you say, be an old idea but they're still in production because it's still the right idea for many.

The material Carradice use is very hard wearing - can't see there's any need to make it thicker and heavier.

The Bridge Street looks pretty easy to knock up for someone who knows how to use a sewing machine.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
JohnW
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by JohnW »

pete75 wrote:Their saddles look reasonable because they're basically copies of various Brooks models. The saddlebag would look a lot better if they'd copied Carradice directly.


The Spa saddles are very, very similar to several other brands which have similar characteristics - I don't think that they are 'copies' of Brooks saddles - how much different could a bicycle saddle be? For me the effective difference between the Brooks and Spa saddles is that the front/back positional flexibility of the Spa is significantly greater than the Brooks - it's easier to get saddle position correct with a Spa saddle on frames with a steep seat-tube angle. Yes, the Spa saddles do take longer to break in (although mine was OK on short rides from day one), but the big price difference more than makes up for that.

I'd have to inspect the Spa saddlebag to even form an opinion, let alone express one, but having tried only one or two other brands of bike luggage as well as Carradice, I personally have found other brands inferior for quality, resilience and general serviceability.

Despite that, I've yet to find a perfect design for a rack-pack - although even in that, Carradice have come nearest for me.
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gaz
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by gaz »

I've seen Spa-Nidd-alike Saddles from Viking, M-Wave and Brick Lane Bikes (not current).
Heinrich H lacks the lacing.
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Brucey
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by Brucey »

my understanding is that those saddles are made by Gyes in Taiwan.

Other leather saddle brands that are also thought to be similarly manufactured include;

Cardiff, Origin 8, Velo Orange, Zimbale, Dia Compe, Papillionaire, Rivet and Torelli.

Other leather saddle manufacturers include: Berthoud, Persons, Selle Anatomica, Selle Monte Grappa and Tops. And Brooks, obviously.

cheers
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pete75
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by pete75 »

gaz wrote:I've seen Spa-Nidd-alike Saddles from Viking, M-Wave and Brick Lane Bikes (not current).
Heinrich H lacks the lacing.

Yes they're all made by Gyes in Taiwan. Don't know how anyone can look at their range and not think it's not heavily influenced by the current Brooks range.

http://www.gyes.com.tw/2-1rail.html
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
LollyKat
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by LollyKat »

We still have an old Wright saddle from way back, the 1950s if not earlier. It looks just like a B17.
mnichols
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by mnichols »

JohnW wrote:I've yet to find a perfect design for a rack-pack - although even in that, Carradice have come nearest for me.


Same here, but I'm tempted by this one to go with my Tubus Airy

https://www.arkel-od.com/en/tailrider-bicycle-rack-bag.html
JohnW
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Re: Carradice competitor from Spa Cycles

Post by JohnW »

mnichols wrote:
JohnW wrote:I've yet to find a perfect design for a rack-pack - although even in that, Carradice have come nearest for me.


Same here, but I'm tempted by this one to go with my Tubus Airy

https://www.arkel-od.com/en/tailrider-bicycle-rack-bag.html

Sleek - but not as big capacity as the Carradice Super C - probably lighter though, if that's important.
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