Ritterview

At the Blossom Ride today, one member of our five tandem peloton has been in communication with Joanne in Colorado, who has devised a stoker bag.

She will make more of these if there is demand.

Dimension of this model is 8 inches wide, 7 inches tall at the zippered end.

Is there interest here?

zonatandem

Looks very well designed, especially how it opens for easy stoker access. Bonus: The color even matches the daVinci tandem!
However, we have our own workable system . . . stoker reaches back into the rack trunk to access stuff.

AngelGendy

It's quite nice, once we get some miles under our belt we'll see if we have earned one!

akexpress 

We would be interested, probably more than one. Please pm me about them

IbisTouche

We migt be interested in one. Prefer a black one.

TandemGeek

Neat idea, and the workmanship on that one looks pretty nice.

Perhaps everyone involved knows this, but folks need to remember that the size of each bag will be unique to every team with some being nice and large, and others pretty compact. Width at the front of the bag can also become a problem if it brushes against the pilot's inner leg on each pedal stroke. Again, this will vary from team to team dependent on a number of factors.

Finally, if that was our tandem I'd definitely put some frame saver tape on the stoker's top tube to keep the bottom of the bag and the velcro strap from wearing through the clear coat and paint / anodizing.

wheelspeed

Definitely interested in a black one. Although, I'd also be interested in an appx measurement of the leading-edge height since our stoker stem may be a little lower than in that pic. Other than that concern, it looks like just the design I've been looking for.

hup

Interested!

carmie

I've experimented with a variety of bags this last year, none of which utilized the space below the handlebar stem as yours does.
We also have a daVinci, and I would be interested in one of your bags, taking into account Tandemgeek's concerns.

Martha

DCwom

Interested, depending on cost

Chris_W

This looks very useful, and I would be interesting in getting one.

I'm not sure the size would need to vary so much between different bikes, as long as the attachment points incorporated some versatility. We have a pretty short stoker stem (110mm), so a bag of the size pictured would protrude way beyond the stoker's bars. However, I don't think that that would be much of a problem since my stoker never pedals standing up, and so does not need so much clearance for her knees.

Width at the front of the bag, between the captain's things, does look like it might be a problem, especially for captains who have a seatpost with some set-back / offset (the seatpost in the image above has zero offset, which may have helped to prevent this problem). My thighs don't have much extra girth to them (I'm only 5'9", 145 lbs), yet I've managed to attach things to my seatpost on my single bike and things that protrude in front of my stoker's bars on the tandem that have rubbed on my thighs (I normally use a post with 20mm set-back). The corners of the bag pictured look like they may be in danger of doing this for me.

PMK

Tandemgeek is 100% correct. Absolutely use some type of frame saver protective film. Our Fandango has a set of custom built frame bags. I don't get too worried about the finish on that bike. I was planning to run the upper bag on our Co-Motion for some of our rides. It looks like it will fit. No way is it getting installed until I take the time to protect the frame.

The Fandangos finish is slightly worn from the Velcro straps and bag material.

Also, two other considerations.

First, if the bags bottom rests on a tube, install some foam padding. Our lower bag had helmet lights and spare batteries for the lights, within a mile they settled onto the boom tube. The noise was enough we decided to wrap them in spare soft goods.

Second, after install, do a good preflight of the brake and shifter cables. Clamping them with the Velcro is not a good idea. Don't ask, it was a last minute change ordered from the stoker.

Those look very nice, for now though we are good and have no need for one.

PK

TandemGeek

Yeah, I'm guessing the Joint Venture with the bag in that photo 'may' be one of daVinci's dual-disc models or, at a mininum, sporting a rear disc vs. rear cantilever brakes.

If that's the case, the brake cable is routed along the down tube and boom tube instead of along the top tube. It makes a difference. We've had seat bags under Debbie's bars in the past and they work fine, but as Paul / PK notes they reinforce the old adage: the devil's in the details.

I simpy couldn't deal with my leg brushing up against the small saddle bag we had under Debbie's stoker stem on the Calfee. But, it was never an issue with the Erickson, which used the exact same bag. What was the difference? The Calfee's stoker boom was custom made to my specs and has a much shallower angle. This moved the clamp up closer to my saddle and that moved the bag closer to my hammy's.

On the other hand, I've seen folks who can ride with all kinds of stuff brushing up against their legs -- stoker bar ends & brake hoods, brake cables from V-brakes, large saddle bags etc. -- and it doesn't seem to faze them in the least. Heck, it drives me batty just seeing it!!

ct-vt-trekker

Interested, but we don't have too much depth.
My wife likes a low aero position like her road bike so her handlebars are almost under my seat. We run the adjustable stoker stem at its shortest position.

2vinci

Hi--Joanne here, designer/builder of the stoker bag. I'm happy to see there's interest in the bag. Thank you for your comments. I totally understand that each tandem has a unique configuration, and my idea is to take measurements for each bike and create a custom bag that perfectly fits the setup and maximizes the space available under the stoker's bar. For some tandems this design wouldn't work, but for many it would be the best for optimum storage and minimal impact on the riders. A couple of notes: the bag is mostly suspended from the stoker bars, but it also attaches at the back to the captain's seatpost and the bottom to the top tube so that it doesn't move at all. I don't think the velcro straps would interfere with cables on the top tube. I can stand and pedal with no interfernce from the bag. Also, all sides of the bag have thin plastic sheets between the lining and outer cordura fabric to help the bag keep its shape when loaded. I'd also be able to make the bag in a palette of colors to compliment your bike. I'm now researching setting up a plan to produce these bags, and when I'm ready to take orders, I'll post a notice here with all the info. Thanks for your interest!--Joanne

PMK

Joanne, really, the bag looks very nice.

If you have moment, jump the link and check out post #74, it shows our Fandango "bagged" and ready to race last fall.

https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=638913&page=2

Those photos may explain my comment about the cables and a quick double check.

Yes stiffening the bag walls is often good. These bags were the first set our guy built for a tandem, our timing chain was pretty close and was likely to wear through. The quick fix was a carbon fibre panel stuck to the inside.

I mention this knowing, I believe we all get super critical of how things fit and perform. Your concept of building the bags custom is spot on, and pretty much a given. Our bags fit very well and work as they say "beyond our expectations" in the dirt.

The trunk bag and rack is typically our road setup, but we needed more space for when it got colder at night during the race.

No doubt there is a market for this stuff, and with quality and fair pricing you'll do well.

PK

Chris_W

PMK - maybe you could re-post those images here so that we can all see them without having to sign up for an account at mtbr.

PMK

Sorry about that, the photos were not available at the time I posted. I'll try and dig them up and add them.

PK

Machka 

I use an ordinary seat bag that looks something like the picture below


https://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/...addle-bag---g1

Or like this ....


https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...7_10000_202602

Or like this ....

https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...45524442618245


You can get them in different sizes and shapes and colours. Between the two of us, I wouldn't be surprised if we had 10 or more of these sorts of things around the place, so we've chosen the one that fits the best. I keep my camera in there and some tissues ... things I want to access quickly when we stop.

wheelspeed

I don't really understand PMK's comment on the cables... I would think we can just run the velcro strap under any cables, not over.

For the bag, you can have a loop at the bottom so people can use their own velcro straps by passing them through the loop and then around the frame under any cables. This way they're replaceable if a cable starts to wear through a strap after a couple years.

PMK

PMK works with some very expensive stuff on a frequent basis. Knowing he should have double checked, but got in a hurry, found he had clamped a cable during install. PMK was dumb that day...

Absolutely, the cables will run fine provided the velcro is latched correctly.

Point is, after install double check all cable movements and runs where the bag is positioned.

PK

wheelspeed

OH, okay, I've been there before. I normally notice when I'm riding, pull the brakes on, let go and still feel drag. :blush:

bikefor2

Joanne, I'm definitely interested in a black one, depending on the price. Also, I would want yellow, light gray or red inside so I'm not looking into a black hole. How soon could you make one? I can't PM you because I am a newbie here and don't have 50 forum posts Our bike is a da Vinci and it also has the cable (and cable separator) in that spot running under the top tube. That's the only thing I'm unsure about--the cable could probably move, but the screw/separator thing would be right in that spot and may get caught on a velcro strep.

WebsterBikeMan

Whether that works depends on the position of the bars relative to the saddle. In the original photo there was no room for anything much between the bars and the saddle. We currently have a small saddle bag beneath my saddle - like your idea, but it has to be small. The design pictured at the top of the thread would give us substantially more space. This is not entirely unlike the "Bento Box" in its positioning. We looked at a Bento but for our purposes it looked too small. Stoker is currently hoping to make something custom, but if this one is available soon enough that could be just the ticket.

WebsterBikeMan

We would most likely be interested, if availability is pre-May. Don't know your timeline.