The wife has a Marin hardtail MTB and has, up to now, been using a rack with panniers due to having the saddle quite low, due to her being a short arse.
This is heavy, clunky and a potential point of catastrophic failure. It also looks crap.
What are my options for a rear saddle bag / holster that requires less exposed seat post, and is longer rather than deeper, to avoid tyre contact ?

Ta

My Apidura one sits quite high



But I have made an extra strap which holds it up and stops it slipping down the seatpost, which keeps it more horizontal.



How room do you have?

We've had similar issues with my girlfriends set up - 5ft 1 (just) and rides an XS frame running 27.5 x 2.6 tyres leaves very minimal tyre clearance between the seat pack.

Generally we've found an Apidura seat pack like Sean's to work well, it does have to be cinched high and tight, works well on all but the roughest ground, in that case I've added another Voile strap to give it a bit more rigidity.

It works for us, as we don't do a lot of technical riding together, if we were to in the future, I'd maybe look at something like the Porcelain Rocket Mr Fusion, or keep running a rack and micro panniers.

How much capacity do you want / would you like?

Cath uses an Alpkit something or other, think it's the Koala. But, she also has a Mudhugger mudguard fitted so it can't touch the tyre. She's 5' 2" and generally rides a Stooge so a 29er.

Sort of visible in this shot:

Porcelain rocket Mr fusion, with it’s mini rack it just does not move. It also has the bonus of being a holster type and drybag is removeable

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 2:41 pm How much capacity do you want / would you like?

Good question. 8l would be nice.

BigdummySteve wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 2:55 pm Porcelain rocket Mr fusion, with it’s mini rack it just does not move. It also has the bonus of being a holster type and drybag is removeable

Where's the Porcelain rocket gear available from in the UK?

PR is only available direct from Canada.

Email Scott and he'll be able to get something over to you, I've ordered a lot of gear from him over the years, top guy and the best quality bikepacking gear you'll buy in my opinion.

Only thing to factor in is customs duty, I've been fairly lucky over the years

I just got an email from Apidura, they have today released one for a dropper post which is 6litres

Alexinthepeaks wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 4:08 pm I just got an email from Apidura, they have today released one for a dropper post which is 6litres

Yeah I saw that, but it's also £125....

Would one of the smaller Exo-rail packs from Alpkit be any good?

or a PDW Bindle rack?

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 4:24 pm
or a PDW Bindle rack?

Now that looks interesting. Is it basically a mini, saddle suspended rack for strapping a.n.other dry bag too ?

ootini wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 4:09 pm Yeah I saw that, but it's also £125....

It's only £92 if you don't need the dropper adapter, which works out at £15 per litre

Revelate do a small one.

I have an Ortlieb which is (IIRC) 4 litres. I've used that with a dropper post on a full suspension frame.

Defiant have a special version for the wheel clearance problem.

https://backcountry.scot/product/pearl- ... w-profile/

Is it basically a mini, saddle suspended rack for strapping a.n.other dry bag too ?

Yeah kind of. It pivots at the bottom but unlike a rack the load is suspended from the saddle rails like a seatpack. I've never tried one but i have heard people say that they're good when tyre clearance is limited.

Good find Stu - looks really interesting

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2020 5:12 pm

Is it basically a mini, saddle suspended rack for strapping a.n.other dry bag too ?

Yeah kind of. It pivots at the bottom but unlike a rack the load is suspended from the saddle rails like a seatpack. I've never tried one but i have heard people say that they're good when tyre clearance is limited.

I know I'll be banned for this but I've wondered about the possibility of fitting some mini panniers to that (assuming I could stop them swinging into the wheel)

A variation on that PDW item is the Arkle Randonneur (I think that's what it's called), fits via a clamp to the saddle rails with a small collar at the top of the seat post. Again here's Cath modelling it

It's all getting a bit "how close to a p**r rack can we make something, without being accused of making a p**r rack by the softbags brigade" now

One of these?

https://rockgeist.com/product/gondola/

Exactly the same issue (26" inside leg!) and I found the Alpkit Exo-Rail system to be spot-on.

Functional, lightweight and cheap. What's not to like?

Alex

Without being "That guy", has anyone used one of these : Selighting Bike Saddle Bag Waterproof Cycling Tail Bag WILDKEN Strap-on Bike Seat Bag for Mountain Road MTB Bike (Black 5L) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07V5FYN8K/ ... pEbBHCVJCE
It seems to have a nice shallow profile up at the seat post. But it's also screaming cheap and nasty

No but I can't help wondering whether you'd be throwing £30 away. I could be wrong but when I see a description that says
"customer plastic buckles are more strong" and "Add non-skid leather to all positions of contact seat" confidence is seldom increased.

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2020 6:55 pm No but I can't help wondering whether you'd be throwing £30 away. I could be wrong but when I see a description that says
"customer plastic buckles are more strong" and "Add non-skid leather to all positions of contact seat" confidence is seldom increased.

Gotta love a little Engrish.
I completely agree, hence the curiosity around others experiences.