Cycling UK Forum

Hi,

I am looking at getting a saddlebag for my tourer, primarily for spare tube, tyre levers and pump. But also ideally with room for snacks, rain jacket etc.

I like the look of the Carradice bags but would ideally like to get something without leather if possible (I am a vegetarian, we'll leave it at that).

Budget wise, I am happy to go up to £40 for a decent bag.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Cheers

James

Carradice are by far the best bags IMHO, but if you want to avoid leather, then Ortlieb are also excellent. Both make saddle packs and Carradice make their trademark saddlebags.

Do Carradice use any leather in Super C luggage?

(No ducks are hurt in the production of cotton duck )

The Ortleib site has quite a section on their ethical stance (avoiding PVC etc.)

I think the Super C bags use manmade straps , but the Barley and Camper are leather.

Older Carradice luggage had leather trimming around the side pockets (now some sort of fabric binding is used) and the reinforcement of the base was with a large leather patch. I think that now is some sort of heavy, flexible plastic.

diapason0 wrote:I think the Super C bags use manmade straps , but the Barley and Camper are leather.

The compartment straps and buckles on Super C saddlebags are man-made, but they still have leather straps for the saddle attachments and also the 'seatpost' strap.
It might be possible to ask them to make a 'special' with all man-made straps.
The Barley is probably about the size that you are looking for, they make a Super C Barley for the American market and sometimes have spares, I got one a couple of years ago.

rualexander wrote:

diapason0 wrote:I think the Super C bags use manmade straps , but the Barley and Camper are leather.

The compartment straps and buckles on Super C saddlebags are man-made, but they still have leather straps for the saddle attachments and also the 'seatpost' strap.

These are removeable, though - it would be very easy for either the OP or Carradice to use a synthetic substitute.

The straps to attach to the bike are leather.

They don't have to be, though. My Barley arrived with the three straps packed inside - I had to thread them myself.

There does exist a Super C version of the Barley -- see here.

It's made as a special job for Peter White Cycles in the US, but Carradice generally do extra on the production run and sell them to UK customers who've put their names on the waiting list. How long you've got to wait depends on when Peter White puts his orders in.