We just got a shipment from Japan with a few items we've been out of for months. We once again have the very popular Ostrich handlebar bags, as well as Ostrich panniers and rain covers.We've also received Japanese sound bells. And we finally have Nitto Campee rear racks, but not the front.
The two photos on the left are of the latest prototype of the Velo Orange bar bag. I think the quality and design are really nice. The production version will likely be black with brown trim. We hope to have them in stock in about three months. We will also have new versions of our other bags and perhaps small VO panniers.
Neat!
ReplyDeleteI was looking over the site this morning, and it said the Nitto M-12 racks were out of stock. I've been thinking of getting one as part of a front basket setup. So does this new shipment mean they're back in stock?
What I *really* want is a front basket/rack/decaleur setup, but no one seems to make such a thing. I've got a removable front basket now, but the attachment isn't as sturdy as rack/decaleur seems to be. That means I can't use the basket for much weight on the bike... so I'd love to see a sturdier removable design.
A fixed basket means I need to remember a shopping bag, which is a bit dicey. A removable one means I always have a way to carry things on my bike... and off it. Much more convenient.
talk about pushing a barn door down the road....
ReplyDeleteThe bag looks really nice, Chris. How does the size compare to Berthoud, Ostrich, etc?
ReplyDeleteI, for one, don't have a clue what anon 15.18 is referring to...???
The green is beautiful. Keep the green
ReplyDeletefor a custom rack contact leah at banjo bicycles.
ReplyDeleteLose the buckles on the two small rear pockets! The hook and loop system is simpler, cheaper, lighter, and a lot easier to use when riding.
ReplyDeleteGreen looks really good to me to! Why not keep that as an option?
ReplyDeleteYes, light green, grey, tan, - something that road dirt blends in with better than black.
ReplyDeleteThe bag looks great btw; projected pricing?
EE
Emily said:
ReplyDeleteWhat I *really* want is a front basket/rack/decaleur setup, but no one seems to make such a thing. I've got a removable front basket now, but the attachment isn't as sturdy as rack/decaleur seems to be. That means I can't use the basket for much weight on the bike... so I'd love to see a sturdier removable design.
Can you mount a decaleur onto a front basket? I should think you could easily mount a Velo Orange type decaleur to a wicker basket. Add a loop to slide over the hoop of the front rack and it ought to be as solidly mounted as a handlebar bag.
The VO Decaleur will work with many baskets, just as Steve describes.
ReplyDeleteMultiple color bags are not possible. The minimum production run for these is quite large and it's not feasible to double it by adding a second color.
Black with tan is one of very few color combination that would look good with any color frame. But I'm still not sure if we can the fabric made in black, so it might be green after all.
These bags are roughly the size of a medium Berthoud bag or an old TA bag. The price will be very reasonable given the quality.
We actually wanted elastic cord closures, but the factory "improved" them. I don't want to delay things another 6 weeks to change the closures. After all, many cyclists like the buckles.
One more vote for green or tan over black for the very cool VO boxy bag. At the margin, black bags get hotter and are more difficult to find things in than lighter colored bags. (And, IMHO, tan bags look better than black bags on any color bike except yellow/tan/khaki and maybe white.) I'd also vote for hooks and loops on the small pockets.
ReplyDeleteWow,the VO bag looks great! I think I'd be a fan regardless of color, as long it were low-key. About the VO panniers, are you saying you think you got some in with this shipment or that they should be in fairly soon? I've actually been on the lookout for some small panniers. Also glad to see the Ostrich bags are back in stock.
ReplyDeleteGreen for me. The Berthoud bags are black; I have one and it's fine. But green ones look infinitely better IMHO.
ReplyDeleteYep, green is nice. How many cyclists who actually use bar bags have told you that they like buckles? Do they ever open their pockets while riding? Probably not.
ReplyDeleteMake em green with elastic and I'll buy one!
They look great. +! for green or tan.
ReplyDeleteI have a black Berthoud bag with buckles and I open/close them all the time while riding. I actually prefer them to the elastic and hook while riding since I know they are latched and won't pop open on a bump, even at the end of a brevet....
ReplyDeleteTan and/or black for the body of the bags on my opinion...
Good job Chris.
Sell me the green one when you're done with it, if you're going with black for production...
ReplyDelete+1 for green. My black carradice bags are wonderfully functional, but the black canvas just looks junky when it gets dusty/dirty.
ReplyDeleteI like the buckles. Sure, elastic straps might be a bit more functonality points, but in the elegance category, buckles win in a rout and its not like they're wildly impractible.
Buckles = good.
ReplyDeleteGreen = very good. The prototype color is great, here's hoping you can't get black.
I've ridden a Carradice Lowsaddle with buckles for a couple years now and have finally quit thinking every time I open it, "gee, these buckles are easy". Cuz they LOOK like they should be a hassle, but they just aren't. I think the reason is is that the leather straps are thick and stiff and thus easy to thread through the buckles.
OK, what gives? When we started importing Ostrich bags I received at least a dozen e-mails asking me to get them in any color other than green. I even tried to persuade Ostrich to change the color; they wouldn't. Now everyone loves green. Is this a fashion thing. Did I miss an important article in Bike Vogue? Is green the new black? ;<)
ReplyDeleteI vote for black - looks good on any color frame.
ReplyDeleteIf you want green go with the Ostrich. I have one and it's a very nice green. Black is already done too. My choice would be the classic TA tan. Matches your other bags and looks good on any bike.
ReplyDeleteI think all green, a la Ostrich, is one thing, but green with leather trim is entirely better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with michael s -- the leather trim sets it apart from the ostrich. plus the green on the VO bag is paler and classier looking than the ostrich, which is plenty classy in its own right.
ReplyDeleteTan please. The original TA bag was tan. If you want a black or green bag you already have options with Berthoud or Ostrich but there is no tan bar back out there, yet.
ReplyDeletekhaki, tan, or green. Black gets yucky looking as the color fades in the sun...
ReplyDeleteDitto on the green! Keep it, it looks fabulous. Berthoud has black and grey covered already.
ReplyDeleteAlso, another vote for elastic loops and hooks instead of buckles. Buckles are a hassle.
tys
Look what I started. Sorry Chris.
ReplyDeleteSorry- +1 more for GREEN. I don't know what the new black is, but green is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteI think some baskets are available with Klickfix-style mountings. You could get one of those and then fabricate something like this...
ReplyDeleteThe existing color combo is too cool! No need to convert to Berthoud colors.
ReplyDeleteI like the green, but I would go with either tan or grey. Yes, the leather trim gives this a different appearance than the Ostrich, but do you really want to sell two green handlebar bags and zero not-green handlebar bags? I like your impulse to carry a color that will go with almost any frame, but I'd prefer tan or grey over black.
ReplyDelete+1 for hot pink! looks great on my Zunow!
ReplyDelete"+1 for hot pink! looks great on my Zunow!"
ReplyDeleteYes it would! But so would neon yellow, magenta, day-glo orange, lime green, etc. You have loads of choices!
:D
+1 for classic tan.
ReplyDeleteI'd really like to see a complete VO Camper bike with the Nitto Campee racks and VO bags.
ReplyDeleteTan please, like the traditional touring bag I used to have.
ReplyDeleteWhat about a one-hand snap button (like the one found on Filson jackets) with a little strap where you can slide your finger underneath and just press the snap button with your thumb.
black and white Zebra stripes would be nice, but pink with bright yellow trim would also satisfy my desires.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I like velcro. Velcro is fine.....
The campee rack is really great. I've riding with one for a couple years and love it. Heal clearance can be a problem though. My heal just barely clears the low mount racks. I'm talking millimeters. If my shoes were a size bigger or if my cranks were 170mm instead of 165 or if the chainstays were a tad shorter, then it wouldn't work.
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for the green. Make it identical to the prototype bag. It looks much more classic than black and won't show road grit nearly as easily. TA tan would be my second option. Only becuase I miss my TA.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the move! Sorry that Comcast pushed you around. They like to do that when they can. I hope the business flourishes even more in the new space!
The picture of the new bag looks like a lighter shade of green than the earlier VO bags. I'm not sure if it's the leather accents, more light in the photo, or a different fabric, but it looks much nicer to my eye than the color it's replacing.
ReplyDeleteRe: straps
The main advantage of carrying front bags is easy access to your goods. It's unfortunate they decided to 'upgrade' these bags, because you lose a bit of this convenience with straps and buckles.
That said, I really like the new bag design changes and appreciate the work you've done with this and all the other fine additions you've brought to the table.
here's another vote for TA tan.
ReplyDeleteOther than the colour, do you have any details on the fabric that will be used. Waxed cotton? Denier?
ReplyDeleteIs it somewhat water resistant, like the Berthoud bags are supposed to be?
Ohter than the fabric, is there any features in the stitching to improve water resistance?