Next I focused on routing the GPS mount bracket. Using folding manila stock to make a bending template I bent the alloy stock to shape and then placed it together with the interior U-bracket to determine the positioning within the bag. 

​Next I created a reinforced slot into the right-side interior closure flap which again presented an overlapping issue. Normally a D-ring is placed in this same general location--another conflict!  In this case I decided that there were opportunities to add D-rings later if the customer wanted them, and for now I would simply leave them off. 

​The grommeting route for the elastic closure works neatly with this side-closure arrangement with the benefit that it could later be reconfigured as a center-closure if so desired by only using the two grommets at the center of the top. For this reason I added a hook in the normal location--just in case. 

​Routing ports are a satisfying way to keep electrical wires neat and out of the way. If wiring is an aspect of your bike set-up, keeping it organized and safe makes for a neater and uncluttered ride. This bag has a covered port in the base of the right-hand rear pocket to run a wire from the rack-mounted light to a charger stored in the pocket. 

​With everything in place the bracket and the extension and the bag all fit together just as planned. There is enough lift over the bag cover that opening and closing the bag is easy, as is accessing the side hooks to close the cover. 

"New Bag Design..." read the email subject line from Peter Weigle. The attached photo showed a curious cardboard silhouette standing tall on one his fine front racks. 

“Would I be interested in making a bag something like this?” he inquired. 

“Of course” I replied, already curious about this new direction. The next image showed a bottle of milk on the same lovely rack, and then another with a bottle of wine. I wasn't sure what this was about as my curiosity grew...

It was easy to see the elegance in his concept and I was immediately taken with the bold shape. And given that I always enjoy a challenge I wanted to know more. Intrigued, I let him know I was excited to be a part of this project. 

​​“Could it be ready to test at D2R2?” came the next inquiry.

“Of course” I replied, casually ignoring the tight timeline with a previously-planned vacation smack dab in the middle of it. We agreed to have it ready for it’s inaugural shakedown at D2R2 a few weeks away.

Peter had a few ideas informing this design; his aim was to have a shape that lightened up the bag form visually and perhaps shaved a bit of weight in the process. Handlebar bags are commonly some variation of a rectangular box, and, when mounted, obscure the rack on which they sit. In contrast, the wedge shape allows the graceful lines of Peters racks to remain visible.  The bag retains the area and usefulness of the map case found on a conventionally shaped handlebar bag. The shape informs function; lesser-used items such as the tool kit and spare tube sit at the bottom of the bag, keeping the weight low and centered in the small footprint. Jackets, food and other bulky, light objects go in the upper portion of the bag creating a self-organizing arrangement. The goal here was to pare down the form but not constrain the functionality. The bottle of milk would happily sit within the bag proving its usefulness for a quick run to the market. The design was soon referred to as the Sportif, reflecting its slimmed down sporty disposition. ​

Peter is widely acknowledged as one of the preeminent constructeurs of our day; an artist whose medium is steel, silver and brass. To witness one of his bikes is to see a form reduced to its essence; an alignment of shape and purpose distilled into supremely clean, functional beauty. 

While he solicited my input and was open to suggestions, he’d already defined the profile that would become the new bag. Our job together was to refine the details. I translated the cardboard cut-out into a 3d SketchUp model which is handy to allow the customer and me the opportunity to look at the overall shape and proportionality while considering the relationship of the parts to make any changes when something looks amiss.

Questions were considered: ​Should we continue the tapered shape up to the very top (as seen above on the left) or bring the upper portion of the bag square where the leather edge band is located? What shape should the pocket cover be? Ought we try to make dimensional pockets on the sides? How deep should the bag be front-to-back? We had a productive back-and-forth with sketches, mock-ups and refinements. I experimented with creating a pattern for the tapered and pleated front pocket. To finalize the concept I sent Peter a mocked up front panel which provided a reasonable facsimile of the finished product without making the whole bag in case we decided to change anything. Peter hung the panel in place on his bike to give it a look.

​With the design nearly complete Nancy and I went on vacation. Peter and I sorted out the last details via email as we enjoyed a tour along the St. Lawrence seaway in Quebec. We returned from vacation on Sunday, I made the bag on Monday and shipped it late that day, leaving Peter just enough time fit the bag and be ready to head to Deerfield, MA on Saturday. 
​

D2R2 is famous in the cycling world for its demanding, rugged climbs (and descents) through the wild beauty of western Massachusetts. If there were ever an event to test a bag, this would be it, and the shakedown ride was a great success. After the challenging ride, Peter was pleased with how the bag handled the rigors of the event and stayed in place well.  Shortly afterwards he made a couple of changes; he moved the hook for the elastic higher up on the center band (it is always a challenge to find the perfect location for this detail!) and added two magnetic buttons to the top flap to act as an automatic closure system with the decaleur bracket. Peter has long used a small pencil case inside his handlebar bag and so we made him one for this bag with tapered sides to fit appropriately inside the shape of the Sportif. It rests at the top of the back panel for quick access to small items while riding and is held in place by the decaleur mounting bracket mounting bolts. This little bag-within-a-bag is particularly useful with this design since there is limited exterior pocket storage. 

​Short of a full handlebar bag the sportif is perfectly suited to many (if not most) daily excursions. I’ve since made this bag in three different heights, the same as my regular handlebar bags, 8”, 9.5”, and 11”. I was curious to see if the shape maintained its attractiveness in shortened versions (Peter’s design is 11” tall) and I am glad that it translates well. Versions have included ones made of Dyneema and xPac, and one requiring a special sleeve to work with the unusual backstop found on Jack Taylor racks. You can order a Sportif here. The 8" version can also be configured to mount rackless--attached to the bars and supported by adjustable cord to the hoods. A few variations are shown below.

​Peter periodically posts pictures of rides around his rural Connecticut home.  I’m always proud to see the bag we came up with, it looks elegant and at home on his bike; both familiar with its traditional styling and yet strikingly uncommon. It was an honor to get to work with him on this project.  

I am pleased to introduce our new medium sized Waxwing handlebar bag--designed to work with the Rixen & Kaul/KlickFix handlebar mount system. This is a perfect solution for riders who want carrying capacity without the complications of racks and decaleurs. 

Most “handlebar bags” would be more accurately called “front rack bags” since they almost always rely on a small rack to support the bag; no doubt a legacy of the days when two straps was a complicated as it got. 

This is a true handlebar bag.

This innovative bag/mount combo is great for the essentials; it provides storage for all you might need on a day out or on your commute. It is similar in size (and intent) to the Mini Front Bag, measuring 5” deep x 6” high and 10” wide—about 2.6 liter capacity. The bag has extra space with the expandable pleated front pocket, and encourages organization on the inside with two internal mesh pockets on the sides and one along the front. Two D-rings allow off-bike portability and a map case completes the package. The cover and front pocket are closed with elastic cord and hook.

One might quibble that this is not technically a rackless bag since it uses the KlickFix mounting bracket, and that’s a fair point, but it's an easy and accessible set up for almost any rider and about as paired down as you can get for a bag of this size. The bracket connects securely to a KlickFix handlebar mount, centering the bag in front of the bars. The bracket is generally meant to stay connected to the bag yet can be removed when necessary. With this arrangement the bag is suspended which minimizes the need for stiffeners to support the load.

Conventional racks have their place for sure, but this set-up is lightweight, secure, easy to use and quick to install. The bag is a great choice for anyone looking for a moderate load capacity and a pared down aesthetic. Also, if you purchase a second handlebar mount, you can move the bag from bike to bike in seconds. You can order the hardware separately or order through me. 

Note: Klickfix recommended weight capacity is 15 pounds and  you shouldn't use this set up for demanding off-road use, and its important not to overload the bag with too much weight. For heavier duty use, consider a conventional rack with the same bag configured for that use. 

​As always, customization is readily available when you order a Waxwing Bag and there’ve been some fun variations already with this bag. What are your colors? Available in canvas, xPac or waxed options.

Imagine my wonder when I came upon this aged and worn bag in a remote North Carolina workshop. My mind swirled with a mix of admiration and curiosity. The bag evoked in me regard for the skill, design, and care in its creation, but also amazement in discovering it was made a couple towns away from our home in Vermont forty-five years ago. I had to know more! Making traditionally inspired bike bags isn’t exactly a common avocation, particularly on the quiet backroads of our rural state.  

How I found myself holding this bag on a misty January in that workshop is a long story, but I am proud to say that you’ll be able to read the whole tale in the 2020 Summer issue of Bicycle Quarterly*. Two winters ago I had the honor of spending a day with noted framebuilder Roger Jansen, who did his work under the name RT Jansen. Roger’s story is a tale of a man who believed in active, engaged learning and was willing to go to great lengths to pursue his craft while forging a life and education for his family. ​

Most of the components and parts required for the bikes Roger made were imported from France, including bags, but at some juncture decided he would offer bags for his customers as well as the bikes, and he would make them himself. This would be a logical extension of his work since his bikes were envisioned as touring-ready machines complete with racks and decaleurs. In those pre-internet days, I imagine it would have been hard to even know where to find accessories like bags that would be appropriate for a bike like this. I suppose some general purpose nylon bike bags would have worked fine, but they wouldn't have, you know, made sense with a carefully conceived French-style touring bike. There’s no point in getting almost there with a concept and then diminishing it with the wrong bags. 

I was moved to think of a craftsman intent on his effort, working outside the mainstream, maybe even a little against it, in pursuit of his vision. Seated in front of the sewing machine, making panniers to accompany his newly completed Routens-inspired touring bicycle. I feel inspired picturing Roger engaged in the same work decades ago. Since we no longer live in a world of guilds or traditional apprenticeships my avenue into this work has been solitary and at times hard-won and I’ve often daydreamed about where and how I might have learned from others--sometimes I still do. Roger may have had a similar feeling. 

He did great work. It is one thing to master the myriad skills required to build a complete constructeur bicycle, and it's yet another to take it to making bags. Since we met Roger has consistently made a point of complimenting my bag-making work. Perhaps what he’s seeing is someone, like him, who has dedicated his life to craft, to making, to the work required to hone a skill, and who combines the production of goods with the deep satisfaction that comes with making as its own reward. I’m so glad Roger’s little-known story will be shared with the broader bicycle community. 

*Bicycle Quarterly is available by subscription and at select bookstores and bike shops

Postscript:

I was delighted to receive a note from Roger's son Larry with this photo attached of a matching handlebar bag that went with the panniers. Larry said he snagged the bag from his dad in the 70's and has been using it ever since. He said he'd forgotten that it was once part of a full set his dad had made. I wonder if theres a picture somewhere of the whole set together on one of Roger's bikes? That'd be fun to see!

Do you ever struggle to keep your handlebar bag steady, stable and secure atop the front rack? Do you wish it was quick and easy to remove, yet more firmly in place while riding? The intersection of the bag, the rack and the decaleur is a work in progress in need of improvement. 

This important task can be a challenge to achieve. Almost all elements of a bike are precisely brazed or bolted in place, but not our bags. 

Most riders find it handy to be able to remove their bag, ideally with little fuss and yet make it reliably secure for all the bumps, twists and turns encountered while riding. The flexible quality of fabric plays into the equation along with bag size, cargo weight, and loading choices. For many years I relied on velcro straps to hold the bags I make to the rack with reasonable success, but that was never completely satisfying. Now I do my upmost to talk customers out of velcro straps...

There is a better solution.

RaClips are now available from Waxwing Bag Co; they are quick-release clips that attach to the bottom of the handlebar bag for a secure hold on the front rack. These handy clips quickly and reliably attach the bag to your rack while remaining discretely out of view. As long as you have 1 1/4" length of clear run on tubing (up to 5/16" diameter), you'll be all set. What's so great about these is the ease with which you can mount your bag and engage the clips. There's no crouching over trying to fish velcro straps over tubes; theres no worrying as you watch your bag sway from left to right as you round corners; you just drop the bag in place on the rack, reach under to feel the retention clips then slide them into place. That's it. When its time to remove the bag, simply reverse the action and the bag is free.

For a small bag like the Waxwing Mini Front Bag, you may find that RaClips --in conjunction with the backstop sleeve-- are all that are needed to hold your bag in place, You'll need to be the judge based on your riding style and typical cargo. For larger bags, RaClips used in conjunction with a decaleur, such as the Dock-It™, and the backstop sleeve, create a nicely triangulated retention system that's easily accessed and simple to use. 
​
Depending on how much you want to limit movement, you can mount the clips through the base leather of the bag, add a flat piece of coroplast or plastic to match the interior footprint of the bag, or acquire a full bag stiffener that extends up the interior sides of the bag. RaClips can be added to any bag. ABS stiffeners come as an option with our standard bags.

To demonstrate this system, I created an "invisible bag" out of plexiglas and made a brief video to show how it works. The second video shows the same process with an actual bag. ​

In mid-July I got an email from Peter Weigle with a photo that showed a wedge-shaped piece of cardboard standing on the rack of one of his recent bikes.
 
Would I be interested in making a bag to this shape? Did I have any suggestions that might be useful in bringing this idea to reality?

Peter’s aim was to have a shape that lightened up the front bag--both visually and in weight--, didn’t bury his lovely racks, and maintained the usefulness of the map case found on standard bags. His intention was to put lesser-used items like tools and a spare tube at the bottom of the bag, keeping the weight low and centered in the small footprint at the base. Jackets, food and other frequently needed stuff goes in the upper portion of the bag.

I was immediately taken with the bold shape and wrote back saying I thought it was a great concept and it would be a pleasure to be a part of the project. The goal became to have it ready for use at D2R2. We had a great back and forth with sketches, mock-ups and refinements including working out the wedge-shaped front pocket that tapers to the bottom that provides an expandable yet svelte storage option.  I fed-ex’d the finished bag down with just enough time to fit it before heading to Deerfield.

The shakedown ride at D2R2 proved a great success. After riding it hard, he was pleased with how it handled the rigors of the ride and stayed in place well.  Shortly afterwords he made a couple of changes:  preferring the location of the hook for the cover elastic to be a bit higher than I placed it (its always a challenge to find the perfect location for this detail!) and adding two magnetic buttons to the top flap to act as a automatic closure system with the decaleur bracket. An additional feature that came a short time afterwords was a making a small pencil bag that mounts inside the the  bag. It rests at the top of the back panel for quick access to small items while riding and is held in place by the decaleur mounting bracket mounting bolts. 

I’m grateful Peter included me on this project and look forward to taking this design forward.

As our departure drew near I decided it was going to problematic using these bags so I decided to make a somewhat larger set. With a tight deadline I pulled together a pair of waxed bags with leather straps and buckles and a small exterior pocket. The bags came out nicely (and match my DRB handlebar bag) and I was so glad I made the effort once we were en route in Japan. I had the space I needed and the bags worked really well. They are a perfect size for touring without having to leave too much behind, or for camping if you can be judicious in your packing. ​

I learned a little too--the bags slid horizontally on the top bar of my low-rider racks and one end would occasionally slip off the forward end. Not a good thing! Although it didn't cause any mishaps. Gladly, I devised a solution: the brass D-ring (for a shoulder strap) had enough movement that I could slide it over the trailing top end of the rack top-bar and it created a firm hook. This will be an important detail to cover going forward.

The bags acquired a nice pattina --beausage--and did their work admirably. I'm glad to have 'em. ​