Fabric and Colors: We currently stock the following fabric colors. Swatch packets are available upon request. Leather trim available in honey brown or black). The following are all durable #8 canvas , treated with commerically applied water repellant. Waxed fabrics are a mix of #8 and #10 canvas.
#8 Cotton Duck
#8 and #10 Waxed Canvas
Color Reference: The bags shown below represent a few examples of the various color options used in actual projects (click on image to see color name) More to come!
Some thoughts about color
Sometimes color is the hardest detail to decide on before a bag project gets off the ground! Often I'm asked to make a bag that compliments the a customer's bike and naturally I like to offer suggestions. Color preferences are always subjective and I continue to keep a keen eye out for arrangements that strike me as particularly appealing. You can read here how one customer decided on both his bag size and color arrangement.
-In general, I think that complimentary colors, colors that harmonize rather than contrast, are what I'm drawn to. A light tan on a cool light blue frame, for instance, or a cream color for a green hued frame such as Mark's bike (right below, image courtesy of Mark Guglielmana/Flickr). On the other hand contrast can work well too: a blue bag on a cream frame, an orange bag on a blue frame, etc.. (bottom left)
-Trim and details come into play. Sometimes there is a detail color on a frame that's fun to pickup on in the bag somehow. Additionally, if there are leather elements on the bike, such as the saddle or handlebar tape, the leather on the bag can be dyed to match.
-Its worth considering elements beyond the frame color. What color are the tires? The components? Bar tape? Sometimes the overall impression is an assembly of all these elements. The bike image (center below) demonstrates this pretty well. If you ignore the blue front bag, you can see that the cream tires, natural colored saddlebag, silver parts and the medium blue frame all sit nicely together.
The color swatch images below are rudimentary, but give an idea of some options and combinations--not all colors shown are available--check to see what current options are. Better images to come soon.
Sometimes color is the hardest detail to decide on before a bag project gets off the ground! Often I'm asked to make a bag that compliments the a customer's bike and naturally I like to offer suggestions. Color preferences are always subjective and I continue to keep a keen eye out for arrangements that strike me as particularly appealing. You can read here how one customer decided on both his bag size and color arrangement.
-In general, I think that complimentary colors, colors that harmonize rather than contrast, are what I'm drawn to. A light tan on a cool light blue frame, for instance, or a cream color for a green hued frame such as Mark's bike (right below, image courtesy of Mark Guglielmana/Flickr). On the other hand contrast can work well too: a blue bag on a cream frame, an orange bag on a blue frame, etc.. (bottom left)
-Trim and details come into play. Sometimes there is a detail color on a frame that's fun to pickup on in the bag somehow. Additionally, if there are leather elements on the bike, such as the saddle or handlebar tape, the leather on the bag can be dyed to match.
-Its worth considering elements beyond the frame color. What color are the tires? The components? Bar tape? Sometimes the overall impression is an assembly of all these elements. The bike image (center below) demonstrates this pretty well. If you ignore the blue front bag, you can see that the cream tires, natural colored saddlebag, silver parts and the medium blue frame all sit nicely together.
The color swatch images below are rudimentary, but give an idea of some options and combinations--not all colors shown are available--check to see what current options are. Better images to come soon.
Materials
Waxwing bags are made of durable heavyweight canvas and leather of various thicknesses as needed. Waxed canvas is an option, although the color range is limited. The standard fabric offering is commercial water repellent finish impregnated into the fabric. All hardware is solid brass.
Waxwing bags are made of durable heavyweight canvas and leather of various thicknesses as needed. Waxed canvas is an option, although the color range is limited. The standard fabric offering is commercial water repellent finish impregnated into the fabric. All hardware is solid brass.
Sizing
Sizing depends on many factors, first of which, is how much capacity and what style bag are you looking for? Is this a daily use, all-conditions kind of bag, or a bag big enough to carry a few essentials on a warm summer day. A large-capacity porteur for hauling the groceries home? A handy place to start for most front bags is the height of the bars; if you're unsure of how tall a bag to go with, a bag thats at the height of the bars or shorter will look fine. My standard footprint is 6" deep and 10" wide--it works great for all standard use front bags, but those number are changeable if required.
Configuration of your bike--taller bikes easily accommodate taller bags, narrow drop bars might constrain the width of the bag, and the location of a light or the size of your rack might be factors to look at. You can read one customer's sizing (and color selection) story here.
Sizing depends on many factors, first of which, is how much capacity and what style bag are you looking for? Is this a daily use, all-conditions kind of bag, or a bag big enough to carry a few essentials on a warm summer day. A large-capacity porteur for hauling the groceries home? A handy place to start for most front bags is the height of the bars; if you're unsure of how tall a bag to go with, a bag thats at the height of the bars or shorter will look fine. My standard footprint is 6" deep and 10" wide--it works great for all standard use front bags, but those number are changeable if required.
Configuration of your bike--taller bikes easily accommodate taller bags, narrow drop bars might constrain the width of the bag, and the location of a light or the size of your rack might be factors to look at. You can read one customer's sizing (and color selection) story here.