Fizik arione: How to fit carradice super C audax bag

[freeflow]

There is a bit of back story not included here. To try to resolve aches and pains I went for a bike fitting. Very happy with that process (professional, knowledgeable and insightful). However it means that I've gone from an 80mm stem and Brooks type saddle set forward to a 130mm stem with a fizik arione saddle set the furthest back it will go. My various combinations of brooks/spa saddles could not be set far enough back. And yes I did gulp at the new position as it is radically different, but a test 15k ride didn't throw up any issues despite the fact I spent the whole time on the drops (something I never normally do).

The problem now is how do I fit my Audax bag (Carradice Super C Audax - 9 litre capacity) to the saddle. I've tried using the bolt on loops where one loop is clamped to each saddle rail, however, even after seriously bending these to get a vertical loop there is still too much saddle between the loops and the end of the saddle and the bag (if I force fit it) ends up being horizontal rather than vertical.

The problem is that I now have 8.5 inches from the centre of the seat post to the end of the saddle. It seems like a a Carradice SQR Saddlebag Uplift System would work in this situation but I don't want to fork out and find it doesn't work.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/carradice-sq ... m-prod621/

If anyone is using the above fixing system I'd be gratefull if you could provide some measurements so I could judge if the system will work.

Do I need to look as some other solution? I have an alternative, smaller bag which I can use as an interim replacement.

Given the adjustments made to my riding position it would seem that a bigger frame is likely to be the ultimate solution but that's a bigger project which I've been thinking about for a while.

[cycleruk]

I have used these but would need to check if suitable for your rails. :-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carradice-Cyc ... 2ec929c680
But you will still need some thing to support the bag.

Then there are these from SJS :-
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/page/find/?n ... amp&page=1

[freeflow]

Thanks cycleruk. The first reference doesn't work as I stated in my post (clamp on loops). The second looks interesting so will investigate further.

[robc02]

I use the Carradice SQR uplift. The back of my saddle is 14cm behind the centre of the seatpost. I had to bend the uplift bracket slightly to get it to clear the saddle. It is easy to bend - just clamp the vertical rails (just below where the bag hangs) in a vice and pull/push on the bit that fits in the SQR block. Don't try and lever or clamp the horizontal piece where the bag straps fit or it might break off (ask me how I know )

[freeflow]

Hi Robc02.

Your 14 cm is about 5.5 inches so that would mean 'adjusting' for another 3 inches. Given you have 'experience':-o in this matter is that an achievable goal?

[robc02]

Hi Robc02.

Your 14 cm is about 5.5 inches so that would mean 'adjusting' for another 3 inches. Given you have 'experience':-o in this matter is that an achievable goal?

The distance from where the bag straps to the bend below is just over three inches, so even if you straighten that section completely you won't quite move the bag back a full three inches - more like 2 - 2.5, depending on the exact angles involved.

If you have the facilities you could always weld a piece on. Or, could you put up with the bag attachment point being slightly under the back of the saddle rather than behind it? Either way you'll need to do something to stop the bag swinging forward into your legs - there are various simple ways of doing this.

[tim-b]

Hi

I have the same bag with the Carradice Bagman 2 QR. I went for the expedition version with the additional struts, which are handy for hanging pumps and lights off. You can successfully attach lights to the rearmost rail of the version without struts as well http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=category&category_id=51

I'm assuming (probably wrongly) that you're struggling to strap your bag to the seat post in your new position. Here's a variation (thanks Crepello) that gives you a light mounting (you could of course use the bolt-on saddle loops linked in previous posts) http://forum.ctc.org.uk/download/file.php?id=28270&mode=view

Regards
tim-b

[freeflow]

Here's a picture of the saddle with a Carradice Super C Saddle pack attached.

I currently have about 6.5 cm of seatpost showing.

[tim-b]

Hi

Ooooops! Got my Super Cs mixed up. Mine's the Super C Audax SADDLEbag

Is yours the SQR Slim?

Regards
tim-b

[samsbike]

Given the space you have you may get away with one of carradice QR fittings on the saddle.

http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?pa ... ebag-Clamp

Note their is a rack that goes with that, but I dont know what fittings your bike has.

You may also be able to use a brooks with a grand cru set back post, but that easton looks set back already.

Out of interest (and off topic) - what is your height and pubic bone height (if measured?)

[freeflow]

Hi

Ooooops! Got my Super Cs mixed up. Mine's the Super C Audax SADDLEbag

So did I. This is what is in the photo.

http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?pa ... duct_id=31

I don't like this saddle pack as it has very restricted access.

This is what I'm trying to fit

http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?pa ... uct_id=115

as I have this support for it

http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?pa ... uct_id=136

I do

I have an upgrade temporary solution as I've managed to fit a rack to the bike usinf this

http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?pa ... uct_id=121

I I can just strap the sadlle bag to the panner as a sort of bodge rack pack.

Given that the rack is a 5 minute job to put on and remove I think I'm now minded to move to a rack pack anyway as there are reasonably cheap rack packs that are not much more than buying a bagman quick release adapter.

[freeflow]

Out of interest (and off topic) - what is your height and pubic bone height (if measured?)

I'm 5 f 11 in (180 cm). I've never measured my sit bone height but after my bike fitting the distance from the top of the saddle to the centre of the crankshaft is 75.5 cm.

[samsbike]

Out of interest (and off topic) - what is your height and pubic bone height (if measured?)

I'm 5 f 11 in (180 cm). I've never measured my sit bone height but after my bike fitting the distance from the top of the saddle to the centre of the crankshaft is 75.5 cm.

Thanks

[freeflow]

I took the fizik saddle off today for a comparison against the Brooks and Spas saddle collection I have. My current frame has a virtual top tube of 57.5 cm. To get the brooks or Spa saddles in the same relative position (with a 73 degree seat tube angle) as the Fizik I would need a virtual top tube length of at least 62.5 cm without significantly increasing the length of the seat tube (i.e. keeping the vertical height from the centre of the bb to the horizontal line through the stem/handle bar clamp in the region of 70 cm. That still leaves me with a 130 cm stem!!

[samsbike]

You must be really flexible and/or have a long torso.

I assume you are running drops.