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  Nigel Smythe BarSack Tweed - 20222

 
$250.00
Made in: England


product code: BANBS
Qty:

Description
 

Note: the tweed for the bags is actually this red stripe variety, not the tweed that is shown in the pics on the bike.


Nigel Smythe BarSack (For drop, Albatross, Dove or straight bars only)

About seven to nine years ago we had two other handlebar bags, made-for-us by Carradice, and then a Baggins (our brand then) model. They were both made to fit onto the Nitto Boxy Bag Rack (which Nitto calls the F-15), and so is this new Sackville BarSack.

Those were good bags, but this one is way better. It's made for us by Waterbury, and nobody in the world makes bags that good. And compared to those bags--which were fine--the Sackville BarSack is easier to use, less fiddly, quicker to access.

Dimensions of the main pocket in inches: 9.5" wide to side x 7" front-to-back x 8" tall.  In metrically: 242mm x 178mm x 203mm.

Capacity in cubic inches, not counting pockets: 532 cubic inches.

The main pocket opens and closes with magnets. They work well, don't wear out, and make life with bag easy. You lift up to open. There's nothing to buckle or hook or zip, and gravity closes it for you.

 There's a zippered pouch inside the main pocket. It's about 6.5 tall" x 8.5 wide", and good for whatever you want to keep separate.

There are two pleated pockets on the sides for more things you want to keep outside of the main pocket. Your patch kit, sunglasses, or a glucose kit?

On the front of the bag there's a zip pocket, the only pocket you can't get to while riding.

So: One main pocket, four smaller ones. That's enough!

Weight capacity:

Three or four pounds? It doesn't sound like a lot, but when you add up the kinds of things a bar bag is for, you'll be hard put to come up with more than that: A rainshell, extra wool layer, beanie, mittens, shades, cell phone, camera, mace, a snack, and if it's your only bag, maybe your wallet, too. If you can't do that in three and a half pounds, you're stuff is too dense. Your repair kit and tools go best in a seat pack, since they're dense and you probably won't use them.

The underside of the BarSack is leather, and there's a slot in it, so if you're out on a ride and come upon something that weighs seven pounds and it fits in the bag and you just must bring it home, run a strap under the bag, through the slot, and up over the brake levers, and tie it off. It's like a hammock.

There are four D-rings on the outside of the flap. Our map case (not included) fits onto two of them perfectly. If you don't need a map case, keep some elastic cord on the d-rings, so you can keep a shirt or hat or something there.

It requires the BarSack Rack; don't even try to make it work without it. That rack is not cheap but it's worth it, and required.  But for the price you've got a really nice handlebar bag supported by a super duper rack.

Scottish fabric, California-design, UK-made.

There are lots of good handlebar bags out there. This one has the design and features we prefer.  The best we've seen and used.


Average Customer Review: 4 of 5 | Total Reviews: 1   Write a review.

  0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 
Almost perfect April 22, 2013
Reviewer: David S. from Sunnyvale, CA United States  
Owned Nigel for six months.

The top cover of the bag is inspired, accessible, but less secure than zipper.  

The number of small compartments seems right on the Nigel. Any more for me would create odds and ends collectors.  The quality and look is first rate.

The bag is attached to the Nitto tubing nearest the handlebars by a pair of brass snaps that are attached to a square of leather that is sewn at the top and at the bottom to the outside of the tweed bag. The leather square is thinned from the center of the patch toward the top.

The unsnapping puts a lot of shear on the thin end of the leather next to the sewing and can tear at the weakest point of the leather.  Like paper, which was unsettling. I would recommend carefully popping of the snaps from the middle rather than from the outside corner of either snap to minimize the shear force.

Useful for day bike rides as well as working well on a long tour. This compares well with an 83 Touring Cyclist Shop handlebar bag.

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