Greatest custom bag ever! Waxwing Bags
05-14-19, 11:04 PM
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Bike Butcher of Portland
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Greatest custom bag ever! Waxwing Bags
My buddy Dave Cain makes custom bicycle bags under the Waxwing brand. Panniers, saddlebags, tool bags, handlebar bags, you name it. His attention to detail is amazing, at the same time evocative of the classic French and English canvas bags of the past, sometimes using modern materials, always with an eye towards style and the user. I've recommended him to a lot of people, @Dfrost and @nlerner are two BF members with his bags. He's great to work with, a great ear and eye and will listen to your whimsy and turn it into perfect encapsulation of your desire.
I already have a handlebar and saddle bag, and a great set of panniers from him. After using his handlebar bag for a couple of years, I wondered what the ultimate handlebar bag (for me) would be like. I sat down and made my list. I borrowed a custom decaleur design I found from someone I follow on flickr, and modified it slightly. We emailed back and forth, I realized I just had to trust his fantastic sense of style, usability, and proportion, and knew he'd nail it. I had a couple of patches that I wanted to add, he said just mail them to his shop in Vermont and he'd take are of it.
He did, and posted this video. I have to admit I got a bit verklempt watching it.
I already have a handlebar and saddle bag, and a great set of panniers from him. After using his handlebar bag for a couple of years, I wondered what the ultimate handlebar bag (for me) would be like. I sat down and made my list. I borrowed a custom decaleur design I found from someone I follow on flickr, and modified it slightly. We emailed back and forth, I realized I just had to trust his fantastic sense of style, usability, and proportion, and knew he'd nail it. I had a couple of patches that I wanted to add, he said just mail them to his shop in Vermont and he'd take are of it.
He did, and posted this video. I have to admit I got a bit verklempt watching it.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Likes For gugie:
05-14-19, 11:25 PM
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Very nice! Thanks for the link.
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Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
05-15-19, 07:38 AM
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ooh, mudflaps too! 
05-15-19, 08:24 AM
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Verklempt. I had to google that.
Thanks Mark
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
Thanks Mark
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
05-15-19, 08:49 AM
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Pix or it didn’t happen.
I’ve had designs on getting Berthoud and Guu Watanabe bags... now I need more bags...great...
I’ve had designs on getting Berthoud and Guu Watanabe bags... now I need more bags...great...
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Last edited by The Golden Boy; 05-15-19 at 09:00 AM.
05-15-19, 08:57 AM
#6
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Mr. Cain of Waxwing Bags also has an interesting blog that is no longer active, but has many years of fun-to-read posts regarding his adventures by bike in Vermont/New England - and his pseudo-homesteading experiences living in a yurt in central Vermont.
Yurtville
Yurtville
05-15-19, 10:03 AM
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And I have to wonder if Mr. Cain was a fan of Pale Fire.
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Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
05-15-19, 10:13 AM
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Bike Butcher of Portland
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Click the link, I gots pix at 24 frames/second x 120 seconds...I haven't figured out how to embed Flickr videos here yet.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
05-15-19, 11:00 AM
#9
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I missed the video link at the end!
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*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
05-15-19, 11:06 AM
#10
Bike Butcher of Portland
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05-15-19, 02:35 PM
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Wow that is a cool bag. So are you going to mount a Sinewave light on top of the bag? Or is that just the device charging feature?
Glad you're bringing a little Yiddish to the forums. Wait, aren't you Italian? 😂
Glad you're bringing a little Yiddish to the forums. Wait, aren't you Italian? 😂
05-15-19, 04:26 PM
#12
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Here’s my set. Haven’t installed everything yet, so no on bike pictures. There’s a Dock-It decaleur and Raclips hidden in there somewhere.
(Photo by Dave Cain)
(Photo by Dave Cain)
05-15-19, 04:52 PM
#13
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I'm an Italian guy that takes vintage English bikes and tries to make them more French. But my daughters went to a Jewish preschool, so there's that.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
05-15-19, 05:17 PM
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Oy Vey!
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
05-15-19, 08:55 PM
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Nice bag, the video did not show what the Velcro strips on the top were for.
05-16-19, 01:21 AM
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Here's the latest pic from Dave:
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
05-16-19, 01:47 AM
#17
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Oh I love the BikeTinkers Union badge, it fits the old bag, 
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Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
05-16-19, 07:01 AM
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05-16-19, 02:34 PM
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I like that he's not afraid to sneak some velcro in there, while keeping the vintage style. Snaps and buckles get old fast if actually camping, especially if it's cold.
05-16-19, 07:44 PM
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05-17-19, 04:57 AM
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Dang @nlerner! What do you pack in that monster? A Yeti Cooler? Need to keep your PBR cold on the summer commute to the university? 
@gugie, in which VT town does Dave reside? I'm wondering if a visit is in order. Have you recruited him to join C&V yet?
@gugie, in which VT town does Dave reside? I'm wondering if a visit is in order.
Have you recruited him to join C&V yet?
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Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
05-17-19, 08:00 AM
#25
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Dave is in the bustling metropolis of Waitsfield. And I haven't recruited him yet, good idea!
His Flickr
His website
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.