Frame Bag myog

[tea-face]

I love making stuff which I can use. Gives me a real satisfaction when using it.

Over Easter I made/designed a frame bag so I could carry additional gear on extended trips. As you lot have inspired me, I thought these pics might inspire some MYOG amongst some of you. It probably took a good solid 10-12hrs of actual work I reckon, spread over a couple days. And the design was whirling around in my brain for a month or so.

Vertical compartment separation (removable)
Two outlet ports under cross bar (front and back for lights, hydration)
2 internal net pockets (the red mesh bit)

The compartment by the down the tube was designed to take a 3L bladder (optional of course). This seem to work fine, but the hose is a tad short for juice-on-the-move. Apart from that, its great. The bike was certainly heavier to accelerate, but was still very capable on technical/fun stuff. I did notice the extra inertia the bike has when entering a corner. All good though :)

Hopefully this inspires someone to MYOG something. Thanks







sorry if pics are cutoff/too big

[Ray Young]

That's superb, well done. I definatley need a sewing machine for the next one I make.

[tea-face]

Ahh, it was you who did it by hand! well done mate. must have been torture - I thought I was patient

I don't have a sewing machine either (on the lookout for one), I just told the old dear how and where to sew my pattern, with some guidance from her as to what's do-able. Once I knew that, we were signing from the same hymn sheet - as they say. You learn so much from making things.

Thanks for the compliments!

[didnothingfatal]

Awaiting a fabric delivery currently

[Nick]

Good work!

I've just finished mine off, it's not a full triangle bag as I've decided to leave enough room for a bottle, might make another one though (have a little bit of VX21 fabric left over ehem..)

Will stick a post up on my blog over the next couple of days when I've had the chance.

[tea-face]

I look forward to see both your pictures. Nice blog nick.

What do you lot generaly put in you frame pack? I was wondering whether the bladder is best there or on my back...? If its full with 3L then thats alot of weight moved off my back. but that weight would slowly disapear as it was drunk......

[didnothingfatal]

Glue, tape, fabric, zips, velcro of assorted widths, pattern cutting board! The frame bag is costing a fortune!

[Nick]

I spent £80 on stuff from Extremtextil! But I've made one bag which would have cost me about that to get from Revelate, and I've got enough stuff left over to make a gas tank plus a full frame bag and one for my wife.

I know a lot of people put bladders and bottles inside frame bags, but it's a lot of weight especially if it's a 3ltr one, so I've decided at the moment to carry on with bottles, one on fork and one or two on frame (if riding in Wales normally two bottles is enough as easy to find water to replenish them).

My plan is:

Bivvy Bag & Sleeping Bag on bars.
Sleep mat in one anything cage (on fork)
Water bottle on other fork leg.
Cooking kit, food and waterproof jacket in frame bag
Tarp & clothes in seat pack
Spares and snacks in gas tank

[didnothingfatal]

I'd be having some major issues without backpackinglight, the MYOG on there is inspirational. if I've got my measuring correct, my pack weight should be going through the floor from the off cuts being used, never mind the weight of the stuff bein made

[didnothingfatal]

Work In Progress



Weight for full frame bag is around 75g, and it is a tough fabric to work with

[Bearbonesnorm]

How are you finding the cuben tape DNF?

[Ian]

Looking good DNF, but you need to put more efforts into your posts - far too little information and too many questions unanswered for the rest of us. This a "discussion forum", not a "series-of-short-ambiguous-or-incomplete-statements forum" :)

it is a tough fabric to work with

Tough as in difficult, or tough as in strong?
What weight Cuben is that - 25g/m2?
What are you doing about a zip? Non-drive side I presume...?
How about the attachment to the frame? Interested to see how you joining it the cuben.

[didnothingfatal]

Ok, here goes Cuben is a pain because it blunts everything brand new dress making scissors are dying, you also need a rotary cutter, steel rule and a self healing cutting board too. The tape is hard work, one chance to get right, I'm using 10mm 3M tape. Once stamped down it is secure though. I've had a cunning idea for frame attachment and will post pictures sometime in the next 48 hours, straps are 30mm wide.

Zip is non drive side, YKK waterproof, this is a tougher bit, but involves laminating multi sheets of Cuben and some ingenuity. Glues being used are Seam Grip and StormSure. Will post up pictures when it's dry. The Cuben is 49g/m from ExtremTextil, I have acres of it!! I have a load of Cuben bits here from US cottage manufacturers and also the Terra Nova Fastpack for the Laser Comp, all are using lighter weight versions.

I've made a few stuff bags, and replaced the Keg Stove case with Cuben version, saving 101g! For stuff bags a eyelet rivet machine is useful and a hot poker/ soldering iron :)

The research I did threw up evidence against stitching, tears appearing at 15lbs of pressure against sewn seams!

So yes it's light, it's a ability to hold a crease is helpful, and the tape is hard to work with! The glue is just messy! Is it worth it? I doubt its longevity, but the fact I can further lighten ultralight gear is perfect for the trips planned (Scotland, Iceland trekking and Swiss Alps, and a few more bits and bobs thrown in for good measure). I'm currently designing some more bits using Cuben, for the summer trips. I'll test it out on the new bike before WRT but WRT will be the first real test of it before 4-5 weeks of use. One positive, gaffer tape will stick to it no problem!

One last thing, would I do it again, Yes, because even though it's a arse to work with, the SUL suppliers, especially Terra Nova really are taking the urine with prices being charged!

[Ian]

Cool, thanks for that. Useful insight there :)

[didnothingfatal]

This is the zipped side, to get the zipper you need to laminate it between sheets, so here is a extra section of fabric glued to the side panel, with slot cut for zip, the brown lines are tape backing.

Next is the YKK waterproof zip. with locking zip pull.


This is going to cure for another 6 hours and about midnight I'll add additional sections of fabric to hold the zipper in place. That will allow me to 'glue' and tape the side into the bag tomorrow, and fabricate the frame straps and additional bits can be fabricated.

It's all very experimental currently! Couldn't find any details online about building frame bags from this stuff!

[Ian]

Couldn't find any details online about building frame bags from this stuff!

Odd that

Seriously, it's very interesting seeing you try this. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished result, and hopefully at the WRT too.

I looked on Extremtextil, but couldn't see their 49g/m2 cuben - have you bought the lot?

[didnothingfatal]

Had I known exactly what I was getting involved with maybe I would have thought twice but then again it's something to do

Well it seems that I may have bought all of ExtremTextil's 49g Cuben I have loads of it :?

I'm already planning on a Cuben tarp bigger than SilTarp1 namely longer. Plan on using a lighter weight Cuben but using th 49g for reinforcing the tie out points, it will also be designed around using a wheel one end. Although this project is hampered by having a new Silshelter to play with, although considering making a groundsheet for the Silshelter as I may take this on a few trips, will definently be changing the bag though, it's a little too fat for the frame bag.

[timothy.doran]

Here is my frame bag. Its not as swanky as a cuben one but I hope it will do the job.





It is actually 99% finished I need to attach velcro to the head tube webbing. I bought 1 meter of 4oz PU backed nylon from Pennine Outdoors. I asked their advice and then got confused and ended with some slightly thinner material than I was expecting. It is however strong and light enough for my needs.

The zip is a standard moulded tooth zip but hopefully as most of the zip is covered it could be classed as water resistant.

If I remember correctly my frame is something like 600mm x 500mm x 250mm. The bag is 75mm wide at the seat tube tapering to 100mm at the head tube.

I went for a blast last night and it was very stable and my legs did not rub on it. It is large enough to contain a high vis waterproof coat (so not very compact), pump, tools, inner tube, mobile, chocolate etc and still have some space.

The machine that I am using is a hand driven Singer 99K (K means made in Scotland) from 1954. It is very simple and only does straight stiches but it is more than adequate. They cost about £30 on ebay or less in the free ads, so if you are looking for a simple reliable machine I would recommend this. It is very suitable for me as I live on a boat with no mains and limited battery power.



See you all in June

Tim

[Nick]

Good work Tim, don't you need three hands to operate that thing?

[timothy.doran]

Good work Tim, don't you need three hands to operate that thing?

For most of the time two will be fine. As it is hand driven it can go really slow allowing me to feed the material single handed.

If you do need 3 hands then there is an option for an electic motor, but that was not included in the skip I got this one from.

Tim

[didnothingfatal]

Zip fitting

tape is no good for this job, forget it! I'm using Stormsure, basically bag side panel, reinforce with second piece of cuben over it, slot cut for zip runner. Zip glued to the side panel

30mm webbing straps are then glued, catching about 4-5mm of the zip either side, again glued in. Then additional webbing is added over the end position of the 30mm webbing straps, to further beef up the one weak link in the structure.

the locking zip pull, rubbish! it works by causing friction against the zipper. Obviously this requires greater force to unzip it

The ends of the zip will be capped over later today.

Currently folding and knocking up the webbing system.

[didnothingfatal]

I'm actually starting to wonder if the concussion from last week or the glue is getting to me! As this is my next project, Cuben legwear

[didnothingfatal]

Non drive side,



You can see the reinforcements required to hold the zip in, this panel is taped in, on to a triple thickness cuben 65mm band. Once taped a double thickness band is to be applied with tape & glue. this will cure over night, before adding the frame strap system tomorrow. The process is slowed by the requirement of letting the glue cure.

[Matt]

I know Cuben is a wonder material and super light but it just looks awful.

Surely for the weight difference/workability VX21 or whatever it's called is far better?

Also for Tarps surely Sil Nylon is better and only a few % heavier?

Looks like great work DNF and not trying to piss on your bonfire* as I'm sure at the end of it you'll have the lightest most niche high tech bag in town but for smaller items such as these surely it's the wrong material?

:?:

*All up for playing and making stuff, it's half the fun really :) make stuff, learn and all that.

[Nick]

Looks about the same size as my VX21 made bag, will be interesting to compare weights once it's finished.

It's certainly an interesting exercise in ingenuity and persistance!