FS: Unique 4x8" Round Leather Saddle Bags
05-12-20, 06:54 PM
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FS: Unique 4x8" Round Leather Saddle Bags
Hello folks!
(EDIT - these are both sold now! Cheers!)
These saddle bags are completely hand-crafted from vegetable tanned leather with copper rivets and buckles, and are carved, stained, and waxed. Each one has 4" round sides of 3-4mm thickness, and the main piece and straps are cut from the same 1.5-2mm thick leather. The straps are completely detachable as they are just slotted into the bags, making for easy replacement over time. There are minor imperfections in the stitching and tooling marks here and there, but overall each bag presents very nicely and is of the same fine quality that my patrons have admired for nearly a decade.
The sizing is based on my desire to have bags that can fit a flat repair kit, a spare tube, a multi-tool, a protein bar or other small snack, a phone, and a wallet - typical necessities without cutting corners. I am often grieved to find that I have to take cards out of my wallet before a ride, or downsize my key fob, or leave a spare tube or snack behind, with the slightly smaller bags that are so common on the market.
These are no more waterproof than most natural leather products, although the wax balm used as a final step to seal the finish provides some protection. Any usual waterproofing spray will help, but I would recommend trying to keep the bags dry as much as possible, for obvious reasons...
-Gregory
(EDIT - these are both sold now! Cheers!)
These saddle bags are completely hand-crafted from vegetable tanned leather with copper rivets and buckles, and are carved, stained, and waxed. Each one has 4" round sides of 3-4mm thickness, and the main piece and straps are cut from the same 1.5-2mm thick leather. The straps are completely detachable as they are just slotted into the bags, making for easy replacement over time. There are minor imperfections in the stitching and tooling marks here and there, but overall each bag presents very nicely and is of the same fine quality that my patrons have admired for nearly a decade.
The sizing is based on my desire to have bags that can fit a flat repair kit, a spare tube, a multi-tool, a protein bar or other small snack, a phone, and a wallet - typical necessities without cutting corners. I am often grieved to find that I have to take cards out of my wallet before a ride, or downsize my key fob, or leave a spare tube or snack behind, with the slightly smaller bags that are so common on the market.
These are no more waterproof than most natural leather products, although the wax balm used as a final step to seal the finish provides some protection. Any usual waterproofing spray will help, but I would recommend trying to keep the bags dry as much as possible, for obvious reasons...
-Gregory
Last edited by Kilroy1988; 09-18-20 at 11:40 AM.
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05-12-20, 07:16 PM
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Saddle Bags
Love them!!
They are larger than the Brooks I use.
But not so large as to be distracting.
The Brooks can fit only tire tools, a spare tube, and precious little else.
Very Nice!!!
They are larger than the Brooks I use.
But not so large as to be distracting.
The Brooks can fit only tire tools, a spare tube, and precious little else.
Very Nice!!!
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05-13-20, 01:44 PM
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Handsome bags!
05-13-20, 01:56 PM
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These are so cool! I don't have a bike that would work aesthetically with these bags, but I hope to eventually see one in person on a fellow C&Vers bike. I'll also keep these in mind for future builds. Best of luck with this new venture.
05-13-20, 01:59 PM
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These are very nice bags. I'm curious but is that a sort of a Lord of the Rings map on the brown bag? It's a very striking visual.
05-13-20, 05:47 PM
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Thanks for the compliments, folks.
bikemig That particular motif was just imagined up by me and I did not have Tolkien or anything else in mind. However, I've been heavily influenced by Tolkien's literature and artwork for years, and one of my articles was even published in Mallorn, the annual journal of the Tolkien Society. I've finished several examples of leather work inspired directly by Tolkien's charming, amateur artistry. Here's some of it... Please note that everything below is actually carved into the leather, though some of it may appear to just be ink or paint work. The colors on the purse are all leather stain applied with brushes.
I can and hope to do this level of work for cycling equipment in the future. It just takes clientele!
Cheers!
-Gregory
bikemig That particular motif was just imagined up by me and I did not have Tolkien or anything else in mind. However, I've been heavily influenced by Tolkien's literature and artwork for years, and one of my articles was even published in Mallorn, the annual journal of the Tolkien Society. I've finished several examples of leather work inspired directly by Tolkien's charming, amateur artistry. Here's some of it... Please note that everything below is actually carved into the leather, though some of it may appear to just be ink or paint work. The colors on the purse are all leather stain applied with brushes.
I can and hope to do this level of work for cycling equipment in the future. It just takes clientele!
Cheers!
-Gregory
Last edited by Kilroy1988; 05-13-20 at 05:50 PM.
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05-13-20, 05:51 PM
#8
car dodger
Looks like it would be a good handlebar bag also!
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05-13-20, 06:57 PM
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Beautiful bags. You are incredibly talented.
If I can make a recommendation. Where the bottom piece comes up and is covered by the flap., it appears somewhat shallow. It looks like it would hold items more securely if it continued up at least halfway up the back.
Great job!
If I can make a recommendation. Where the bottom piece comes up and is covered by the flap., it appears somewhat shallow. It looks like it would hold items more securely if it continued up at least halfway up the back.
Great job!
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05-13-20, 07:56 PM
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Beautiful bags. You are incredibly talented.
If I can make a recommendation. Where the bottom piece comes up and is covered by the flap., it appears somewhat shallow. It looks like it would hold items more securely if it continued up at least halfway up the back.
Great job!
If I can make a recommendation. Where the bottom piece comes up and is covered by the flap., it appears somewhat shallow. It looks like it would hold items more securely if it continued up at least halfway up the back.
Great job!
-Gregory
09-11-20, 09:41 PM
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Bumping this thread and willing to take reasonable offers! Both saddle bags are still available... I've got them sitting on a shelf next to my desk and they have not been mounted or used in any way since these photos were taken in Spring. Cheers!
-Gregory
-Gregory
09-12-20, 04:56 AM
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Any estimate on bag volume? Thanks!
09-12-20, 06:13 AM
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Nice.
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09-12-20, 06:29 AM
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Beautiful Bags, love the brown one and would jump on it if it were a bit cheaper.
I also think that the bottom edge of the inside is a bit low.
I would love one that is more rectangular 2 inches front to rear and about 3in tall.
I also think that the bottom edge of the inside is a bit low.
I would love one that is more rectangular 2 inches front to rear and about 3in tall.
09-12-20, 08:32 AM
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Thanks for the compliments, folks!
Based on a calculation of the volume of a cylinder using approximate inside dimensions, it should be around 75 cubic inches.
Currently I'm busy finishing up a couple of long-term projects so making the smaller bag would be held up a bit, but I did note in my post last night that I'm open to offers on these. I suppose I should just lower the price. I'll edit the initial post as well!
As far as the lower edge being low I can see what people are saying based on the photos, but if you have the bag secured properly there's no way even a penny would slip out of there. I have been riding within a similarly designed though cheaply made eBay purchase bag that looks exactly the same for years, and have never had any issues. The straps hold the edge of the lid about half an inch below the bottom edge.
I'm asking $80 for each bag and that includes the price of shipping within the United States (lower 48). Cheers!
-Gregory
Based on a calculation of the volume of a cylinder using approximate inside dimensions, it should be around 75 cubic inches.
As far as the lower edge being low I can see what people are saying based on the photos, but if you have the bag secured properly there's no way even a penny would slip out of there. I have been riding within a similarly designed though cheaply made eBay purchase bag that looks exactly the same for years, and have never had any issues. The straps hold the edge of the lid about half an inch below the bottom edge.
I'm asking $80 for each bag and that includes the price of shipping within the United States (lower 48). Cheers!
-Gregory
09-12-20, 09:24 AM
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I saw these when you first posted them, but had no bike I would consider suitable to sport one. I ended up with 2 3-speeds over the summer, and the Raleigh-built Hercules might have loops on the saddle. Let me check! I know I'm getting tired of finding ways to carry the 'flat kit' for the Schwinn.
09-12-20, 10:00 AM
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What is the turnaround time looking like on a black bag? Thanks!
09-12-20, 10:41 AM
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Other than the one posted here? Quite some time, since I need to finish some other projects currently. I'm actually hoping just to sell these two at this point in time without committing to more commissions. My initial post was from last spring when I had some time to do this kind of work but no one expressed interest then!
Thanks for looking.
-Gregory
Thanks for looking.
-Gregory
09-12-20, 10:45 AM
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PM sent on the black bag.
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09-12-20, 10:59 PM
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Thanks for the compliments, folks.
bikemig That particular motif was just imagined up by me and I did not have Tolkien or anything else in mind. However, I've been heavily influenced by Tolkien's literature and artwork for years, and one of my articles was even published in Mallorn, the annual journal of the Tolkien Society. I've finished several examples of leather work inspired directly by Tolkien's charming, amateur artistry. Here's some of it... Please note that everything below is actually carved into the leather, though some of it may appear to just be ink or paint work. The colors on the purse are all leather stain applied with brushes.
I can and hope to do this level of work for cycling equipment in the future. It just takes clientele!
Cheers!
-Gregory
bikemig That particular motif was just imagined up by me and I did not have Tolkien or anything else in mind. However, I've been heavily influenced by Tolkien's literature and artwork for years, and one of my articles was even published in Mallorn, the annual journal of the Tolkien Society. I've finished several examples of leather work inspired directly by Tolkien's charming, amateur artistry. Here's some of it... Please note that everything below is actually carved into the leather, though some of it may appear to just be ink or paint work. The colors on the purse are all leather stain applied with brushes.
I can and hope to do this level of work for cycling equipment in the future. It just takes clientele!
Cheers!
-Gregory
09-12-20, 11:10 PM
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Something like 21x17 inches, if I remember correctly. I made five of them over the course of two or three years, but it's been a while! I was selling them for $100-150 a piece, but I was a poor college student with nothing but time on my hands... Nowadays I'm afraid it would take quite a bit more than that to motivate me! 
-Gregory
-Gregory
