Russ Roca posted a video review of the Ostrich handlebar bag on his new blog, The Epicurian Cyclist. (Love that name!)
The photos are of the new versions of the VO Baguette and Croissant bags. They will have real leather piping and a few new features. But they are still 4 months out.
Our final prototype of the VO handlebar bag was shipped today and should arrive in a week or two. I'm feeling pretty good about it. I think we, and the factory, have finally nailed it. Now to get it into production.
No point in resting on our laurels so I'm starting work on a small rack-top bag. That's an easy project; it'll be sized to fit our racks perfectly. We also want some small VO panniers that can be used front or rear. These should be just big enough for some extra clothes and gear for an inn-to-inn tour. Any ideas on the capacity you'd like? I'm thinking of panniers that are smaller than the Ostrich version, but a big larger than the Berthoud GB799. Thoughts? Ideas?
The last photo is of some old French bars I've been riding with. I really like them and we're trying to have them reproduced. They are only about 42cm wide and have zero rise. I find them very comfortable and they look great.
Speaking of bars, we have a big order in for more of the very popular VO/Nitto Montmarte and Left Bank bars, but no word yet on when they will arrive.
20 August, 2008
Miscellaneous Bag & Bar Notes
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18 comments:
Chris,
Very nice looking bags. I like
the color. And I am pleased that
the handlebar bag is about to go
into production. I have just renovated and built up a 1978 Jack
Taylor Tour of Britain and made it
into a randonneur. It looks great
with VO rack and fenders, and I
look forward to outfitting it with
a VO handlebar bag. Hope they are
available before Christmas.
Preston
Looks good Chris.
When do we get to see more photos of Johnny or Ahren's work?
Check out Jonny's latest on his flickr page. Link at jonnycycles.com It is not a VO but it could be.
Lovely paint and chrome lugged mix. Very nice custom front rack. And some swell curved wood fenders and hardware made by a fellow Madison resident.
The fenders look as though they are too complicated to mass produce. Maybe they will show up on a VO bike some day though.
I want to see Johnny Coast, not Jonny K...
:)
Ooops! As they share a shop, I tend to link Jon and Ahren.
Johnny Coast's work is well worth seeing as well.
i have some small eclipse panniers from way back that i like a lot & use everyday for commuting. they are 13" high by 10" (tapering starting halfway down to 7" at the bottom) wide by 5" deep, with an outer mesh pocket, reflective stripe, aluminum stiffener, and 2 upper clips and a lower ring-and-spring mechanism for attachment to the rack. talk about solid! one is usually enough but if more clothes are needed, i use 2. there is never any problem with heel or rear brake clearance. they are nylon, but i assume you will make them out of canvas. whatever happened to this company? after their cycling stuff disappeared, i saw some motorcycle stuff but now not even that. alas, their stuff was so well made...
Do French city bikes tend to have long top tubes? It seems like using swept back handlebars like that would require either a long top tube, or a long stem. I've been thinking about putting similar bars on a road bike, and it seems like I would need to add at least 2 inches to the stem length to be comfortable. Thoughts?
ARrrgh. I don't know if I can wait indefinitely for those Montmartre bars... =(
The VO bags are really appealing to me, and I may be in the market for another handlebar bag pretty soon, so this could be just the thing.
I would like to see the VO panniers be a little smaller than the Ostrich, but not too small. The Berthoud special small panniers look quite tiny, so I hope they will be a little larger than those. Any plans for a large VO pannier? It would be cool if you had a full set eventually (HB bag, small front panniers, and large rear panniers)
With respect to the VO panniers, may I suggest including a shoulder strap? It seems like there are no good looking panniers that you could take off your bike and throw over your shoulder. I'd definitely buy one.
yes, you need a longer stem. city bikes had longer top tubes. longer wheelbase=more stability.
croissant bag ? geeze give me a break---how 'bout a Coors Light bad or a beef jerky bag. Or even a bagel, lox and cream cheese bag...but a croissant bag...oy vey
It's shaped like a croissant Freedumb. Would anyone at VO drink swill like Coors light? Doubt it. Oy vey indeed!
How about "camembert et demi baguette" bag?
But Patates, that is what the rack-top bag will be called.
As for Freedumb, you should be clear about this blog. It is a cheese eating, wine sipping, truffle hunting, pastis after the ride, unashamedly Euro-centric sort of place. Though we do have a weakness for lox. As for beer, it should be Belgian or British or micro-brew; Coors, mon ami, is not beer. ;<)
no Coors is not beer, but a fairly good clean tasting, low calorie alcohol delivery system.
and I will only go as far as admitting I like an occasional crunchy baguette, with some ripen Brie.
Coors is--how do you Amereecans say?--dishwater...or in nautical terms, bilgewater. C'est terrible!
I want those bars! When do you think you might be offering them?
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