my hunt for the perfect bike satchel
This has become a fixation with me – finding THE satchel that I can carry my laptop (and wallet, keys, glasses etc) in, which also works on a bike. If you ride, you’ll know that not all satchels are created equal. So I’ve been exploring…
via copenhagencyclechic.com
via downtown from behind tumblr
The sling over the shoulder deal is great…but I’ve been finding it mucks with my left shoulder over time. And it does a swingy-forward thing if I’m not careful. Worse, to avoid this swingy-forward thing, especially when going up hills, I find my body tensing – including my right hip – to stop it doing so. Which leads to lots of niggly pains. Ooooh, I have many!
via copenhagencyclechic.com
So I started to ride, often as possible, with no bag. My key and my ATM card and my mobile go down my bra, my lock over my shoulder, and I even started stuffing my groceries down the back of my pants. Which is clearly not satisfactory. And having my mobile close to my boob worried me.
Then I found Cambridge Satchel Company on Trendhunter. They highlighted the flouro colours. Then I looked closely. They came in a version that
a) fitted a laptop perfectly, and
b) had two straps, so you could carry it on your back, evenly, and not over one shoulder!!!
This is the one I got. Green. Because it contrasts nicely with my orange bike.
Anyway, here follows some other ideas which seem to tick off at least one of my criteria (laptop or double straps).
peace4you messenger bag (via coolmaterial)
fullgive leather macbook case (via: etsy)
I tested this Witchery one below…it holds a laptop snugly!
Witchery – army satchel
Witchery - Libby satchel
Feel free to add your own finds below…or suggestions for carting your stuff on a bike.
Have you seen these? http://hiplok.com/ Wearable bike locks!
I am thinking about getting one for my new Tokyo bike which I pick up this weekend!!
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Gorgeous!! Great taste Sarah – I ordered my own satchel from the Cambridge Satchel Company last week – can’t wait for it to arrive! It’s RED 13 inch – not big enough for a laptop, but will be perfect for cycling around Paris when I head over there on holidays in October.. Another satchel I was tempted with was from the Canadian company – Roots – http://canada.roots.com/ – they have some really classic designs and colours..
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I loooove C.S.C but zatchels.com have some great options also! xoxoxo
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http://www.usegrunt.com/images/products/octopus_strap_75.jpg
You can turn any bag into a satchel with these, you can also strap any bag you want to your bike! Can’t beat the occy strap!
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When I was looking for an ideal satchel, I looked for something that would provide security for my lappy, camera, book and would allow me to ride reasonable quickly. I tried lots of items and was quite disappointed with what I found. In most cases the satchel was too loose around my body and if I had to brake suddenly it was dangerous. In the end I just went back to light rucksack.
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What’s wrong with a backpack? I would have thought that it would be ideal. They never fall off.
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August 4th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
A backpack is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for…but one with style.
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August 4th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
In Newtown there is a shop that makes and sells a whole range of backpacks. Will get their name for you!
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August 6th, 2011 at 8:41 am
Shopbop….Marc by Marc Jacobs do a beautiful leather backpack (it’s not too spenny) and with free shipping and favorable dollar you, you can’t go wrong!
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August 6th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
Sarah, I saw some very nice notebook bacpacks made by Golla.com. They make and sell a wide range of bags, but their slim backpacks are ideal. You can purchase these on-line
There is also a company in Sydneythat makes and sells nice backpacks, Crumpler.com.au that has stores in every major city and can bepurchased on-line.
I hope this is helpful to you.
Tony
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Crumpler! Ultimate bike courier satchel! X
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I find bags of any kind (backpacks or satchels) quite annoying, especially if they are loaded up with lots of gear. Can anyone recommend a good pannier? I’m keen to try one and came across this the other day (that can be carried as a satchel when you take it off the bike):
http://detours.us/store/panniers/toto/
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Just got this in a Heartsy (they send out deals for items [mostly] on etsy.com) e-mail:
http://www.vayabags.com/
They have a backpack option, bright colors, made from recycled bicycle materials and they are, apparently, weatherproof! They look pretty spiffy to me! I’ve never tried one, though, so I can’t really say how comfortable or well they work. Still, worth a gander, I think!
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Okay, so i’m going to be the stick in the mud for once.
Sarah, you say you don’t need possessions or care about the material, and yet it’s really important to you that the bad you ride around with to carry your things is stylish?
I don’t understand…
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August 5th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Aesthetics and Practicality are different from Possessions and Material things, like the strap of a sandle, you need them to hold the sole on and if you have a choice of colour you’ll pick your favourite. I thought Sarah put forward a decent question, and, a lot of the suggestions here seem to be sustainable options and ethical purchases.
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August 5th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Yeah I suppose… it’s just such a contrast isn’t it? To the visual I had of Sarah trekking through the mud in her gumboots in search of local fresh eggs to purchase.
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August 5th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
She’ll need a bag for those eggs yeah? I too have had that visual
August 5th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Yeah… a designer one it seems.
August 5th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Where is the correlation between not wanting to own a lot of stuff, and not wanting the stuff we own to look nice and serve its function properly? If anything, people who dont own much (me definitely) are more conscious of what we buy and how we want it to look. Mostly cos we hate shopping and know we wont want to replace it, let alone have spares – so it damn well better look nice, suit us and last a damn long time!
Living frugally/ minimally has absolutely nothing to do with a lack of style. Its just a different sense of style.
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August 5th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Yeah that’s a fair point. So living frugally in this instance isn’t so much about spending less on the individual things you buy, it’s about having less things as a whole? I hadn’t seen it like that, i’d seen more as an overall adjustment towards spending less, including on each individual purchase.
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August 5th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Rosie, I love your questions…and I’ve pondered them myself. The minimal-but-quality argument is part of it. But I also think this: a lot of people who are trying to do life better can fall into the trap of being mean to themselves and not allowing themselves an appreciation of beautiful things. They brutally deny themselves -yes – an egoic need to wear certain things and to be defined by certain attachments. And I’m not sure that’s fruitful. We can’t be wholly unattached and we’re here having a human experience, and part of that is engaging with “things”. I’m mindful of “things” and I like the dance of finding things that reflect me and enhance my life. This is different to needing them to make me feel better, or wasting resources on stuff I don’t need.
August 5th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Honestly, I cant speak for anybody else, but I know I definitely buy high quality whenever I can because I’m a quality over quantity person. I dont want to buy something disposable that will break and be wasteful. I also dont want to go shopping for the same thing over and over again. I have one handbag, if it breaks Im stuffed, but its good quality leather and has lasted me 4 years so far – as an example.
I dont necessarily think designer is always quality, but in this instance it might be. Anyway, whats wrong with sludging through the mud with a designer bag on? That would be fun.
It would also go perfectly with that post about divided lives Sarah did recently. Fun for all!
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August 5th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Great food for thought guys. It was the first time I wasn’t able to place something about Sarah (not that she really needs me to of course)… but it was something I didn’t understand or appreciate, and I now I can absolutely see where it comes from.
Thanks all.
These are the very same satchels we had to have for school 50 years ago in England, except ours were a boring brown. They last for years and years. Wish I’d kept mine!
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Crumpler!
get a crumpler and your life will be better….
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August 8th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
I just got 2 Crumpler bags on the weekend and I concur – life is definitely better
My fiance bought one 10 years ago and it still looks brand new, so they’re definitely great for longevity too.
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I have just spent the morning in Bondi. Interesting place, but full of pretentious & wanky wannabes. You almost need to be in the ‘beautiful people’ category not to get run out of town.
No wonder you left the place Sarah. I guess the older you get, it makes it harder to compete with the 20 something year olds. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I can actually see why you lived there for 5 years. You fitted into that world. However, I’m sure you realised this and now live in a place where you can just be yourself. Apart from the beach, the place is quite toxic.
(Byron will be the next Bondi in 5 years)
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What a load of bullshit. As a local, Bondi has a diverse community. More so than anywhere I have ever lived. That’s the beauty of the place. It’s for everyone. You obviously didn’t take the time to really see what the place is about. It has a wonderful sense of community. You have completely missed the point of what Bondi is about. You certainly don’t sound like the brightest crayon in the pack. Next time I suggest you dig a little deeper and enjoy what the place has to offer.
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I HATE all the trendy bike pics where noone ever wears a helmet… Its illegal here to not wear one and it bugs me so much that for all the ride-a-bike campaigning on here there’s never a photo of anyone looking nearly as dorky as i do riding to work in victoria.
My nutcase is pretty nice, but all the girls and guys looking so happy with the wind in their hair still irks me…
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i know it’s off topic, but it gets me on every single bike post..
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Just saw this on Biome…on sale and with free shipping!
Bike bag – Detours Juicy Messenger Bag: Recycled juice boxes and truck tarp makes this a strong and sturdy bag for those on the go.
http://www.biome.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=99&products_id=4292&osCsid=60ce390b572aed5dc17f69c0e660747a
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Just wondering, since I was planning on getting one of these for school – does the Cambridge satchel backpack design also have a messenger bag strap aswell as backpack straps?
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Have you seen Zatchels Sarah? They have some gorgeous little patterns, I know you have one now but thought you might love these aswell! http://www.zatchels.com/
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Look no further!
http://www.likecool.com/Style/Bag/Star%20Wars%20R2-D2%20Backpack/Star-Wars-R2-D2-Backpack.jpg
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all of these packs look great,but if your like me and ride in the rain, hail or shine a waterproof pack from a surf shop does the trick.these have compartments for all your stuff and once its on you forget its there..
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Take a look at the Cooper Bikes / Ally Capellino satchel which comes out later this year. It has fastenings on the back to use as a pannier & will be available world wide
(made from shower proof waxed cotton)
http://www.facebook.com/Cooperbikes
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Hi Sarah
A girl with compulsive obessive trends, sounds good to me
The search for the ultimate do-able (sic) satchet is a good start
From that left field engineer’s position, the thought of a laptop in a crumbles is a
disaster I think. Backpack would be my prefence, however maybe a saddlebag type setup on the crossbar, but chafe and ladder the stockings I guess.
As a motorcyclists I have tried bum (sic) bags and tank bags which are still popular
I’ll wait here for your ultimate FIX
Cheers
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