Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Freewheeling => Folders => Topic started by: yorkshirepedaller on 14 March, 2018, 10:13:46 am
-
So i've got a new Brompton on order via cycle to work.
I'm looking at bags, the S bag looks to fit the bill in terms of size, compartments etc. How water resistant is it? With and without the cover?
Could i get a away without the cover in drizzle or rain and only use the cover when a storm hits??
I'll be carrying the bag a fair bit once at work so trying to avoid the "boxy" ones
-
I have an S Bag, which I bought some years ago and the design has been updated a bit since then, but I presume it is functionally much the same as ever.
I found it perfect for commuting - just the right size, with enough pockets and compartments to keep stuff organised. I no longer commute and my Brompton is dead so it's not getting much use at the moment but I don't want to get rid of it just in case I get round to replacing my Brompton, otherwise I'd let you have it.
I never used the cover with mine and rode in all weathers. It's water-resistant enough to fend off light showers easily. Heavy downpours will soak through eventually though - I was caught out a few times and ended up with soggy contents, but it really does have to be properly heavy rain for that to happen.
-
Could i get a away without the cover in drizzle or rain and only use the cover when a storm hits??
Pretty much.
(I have an older one with a rubbery vinyl top flap that takes the brunt of the rain. The current design with a fabric flap looks like it might do less well - but the flaps are velcroed on and replaceable if you fancy switching)
I'll be carrying the bag a fair bit once at work so trying to avoid the "boxy" ones
If you've not seen one in person, they have a full metal frame in the back and the base is semi-rigid, so they're still quite bulky. Reasonably nice to carry as a shoulder bag though.
-
I'm looking at bags, the S bag looks to fit the bill in terms of size, compartments etc. How water resistant is it? With and without the cover?
On the basis that the C bag is made of the same stuff, I'd say it will stand up to standard drizzle or short showers just fine. Hours of proper rain will eventually soak it, but are you likely to be riding it for hours? I certainly haven't managed to get it wet enough to reach the contents of anything other than the zip pocket of the top flap (which I cunningly store the showercap in, unfolded, to protect the rest of the bag even if I forget to fit it).
The shower cap appears to work. It suffers from the usual flaw that unless it's pissing it down when you set off you won't remember to put it on until too late to keep the bag dry, and it impedes easy access to the pockets. Fitting the cap to the bag while it's on the bike is a bit of a faff, but this may be easier with the S bag.
At Jurek's recommendation, I've just given mine a treatment with Scotchgard to increase the water-repellance. It's yet to be rained on, though.