Fresh Goods Sunday - Restrap Canister Handlebar Bag - Black

 

If you have followed my blog for a while you will know I bought one of these handlebar bags many years ago in 2020 when I first bought my first Specialized Creo 1 gravel bike. It was the first generation of the bag and it did not have the elastic strap to the rear to stop the bag from swinging up and down over bumps / rough stuff. The only other change on the version 2 model is the main material to bag is more thicker to keep the shape better. 

There bags are made in Yorkshire and have a life time warranty. I did test the warranty as one of the plastic buckles broke so sent it off. They replaced the broken buckle and replaced the two damaged / missing foam bar spacers. On the down side from memory it took over three weeks to get the bag back. 

This time I have bought the same colour black- version 2 also comes in orange and green as well. The rrp has gone up by a fiver to £50 now. Not bad considering the two different upgrades. The size is perfect for me and what I put in the bag. I also use one of the end mesh pockets for my camera. I also use the loop on the front for my small LED light. There are two velcro straps which attach to your handlebars with foam spacers. The overall size of the bag has never changed, 200mm long x 120mm diameter. Over the five years I have never had any water enter the bag and the zip has a big enough pull chord attached even for use when you have gloves on. The inside lining material is still bright orange as well which makes finding things in darker light conditions easier. 

As ever shop around as some retailers have around 10-15% off at the mo. 

RRP £49.99 and I paid £42.15 from Team Cycles @ Gateshead. 

Manufacturers Info - 

Description

This spacious yet compact bag is the ideal accompaniment for day rides. Elasticated side pockets and the unique canister shape mean you’ll easily have room for tools, tubes and extra clothes.

The Canister Bag features a rear shock cord retention strap along with a Hypalon loop to attach a front light, which is perfect for early starts or late finishes.

Handmade in our Yorkshire workshop from 100% waterproof textured nylon outer and finished with the classic vegan-friendly PU leather Restrap label.

Weight - 120g
Capacity - 1.5L

Technical Features

TEXTURED NYLON OUTER FABRICS
YKK AQUAGUARD™ ZIP
EXTERNAL MESH POCKETS
HYPALON LIGHT MOUNT
HEAD TUBE BUNGEE RETENTION

Lifetime Warranty

Restrap products carry a lifetime guarantee to be free of defects in materials and workmanship. We stand by our products and will cover the cost to repair or replace any defective product.

Post Holiday 30 mile gravel ride in the wind and sun

 

Aye up I am back from my holidays and back out on the bike. I was up and out early with the sun blazing away in a cold wind. I have changed into my autumn cycling wardrobe for todays ride as the forecast was for 9 degrees in the wind chill. I opted for 3/4 bibs, short sleeved base layer, lightweight long sleeved jersey and windproof gilet. I jumped onto the old railway line at Langley Park and headed left towards Broompark, then turned left again all the way to Bishop Auckland. The lines were mainly dry and dusty which was surprise considered the thunder storms Durham has had recently. There was quite a few others out considering it was early doors on a Sunday. You can tell the Great North Run is soon as ever Tom Dick and Harry is out running, never seen nothing like it. It was a simple out n back route to get me back into the swing of things again. The wind was taking the edge off my legs but pushed on, on the way back in places. I was was feeling slightly overdressed on the way back as well in the sun as the Garmin was over 13 degrees by now. I took the Creo 2 and had no problems today and was scrubbing in my new front tyre as they say. Below are a few snaps from the ride. All in 30 miles in 2hrs 18mins with 900ft of climbing. Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Fresh Goodies - Restrap Fast Straps - Black - Mixed Sizes

 

There has been a few times I have been out on my bike this year where I have either had my jacket on and had to take it off mid ride or needed to put a jacket on mid ride and did not have it with me. The thin Assos jacket I normal uses packs down into its own pocket but is still a little bulky and does not fit into my frame pack or my bar bag if it has my other stuff in. I Could stuff it into one of my rear jersey pockets but have stopped using them and like my bits n bobs on my bike. I thought I would by some straps to either strap it to my frame or to my bar bag. Restrap sell a pack which has three different sizes which was a better idea for me. They come in black or orange but I picked black to be more stealth! 

RRP £18.99 and I paid £13.49 from Team Cycles @ Gateshead. More on these in an up coming Fresh Goods Sunday after some use in the wild as they say. 

Evening gravel ride ruined by a front tyre blow out again

 

The sun came out around teatime last night so I decided to go for a quick spin out on the bike. I hoped onto the old railway line at Langley Park and headed up towards Consett. I was only about 3-4 mile in and my front tyre blew out again in the same spot as I patched it. Me being a tight arse thought I would get away with a second patch as there was plenty life left in the tread had back fired. Yet again the bike and myself were covered in Stan's. It did reseal but I lost most of the pressure from the tyre but the bike was still just about rideable. I was going to turn and head back back but I said screw it. I kept going for a while longer until I reached 7 miles. This is where I turned and headed back as I had lost the sun and was starting to feel real nippy. It was a steady ride back especially on the loose corners. 

I have now swapped the front tyre to one of my new spare Teravail Cannonball 700x47c. More on these soon in a Fresh Goods Sunday, I have kept the Specialized Tracer Pro on the rear for the time being. 

Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Co Durham has another mini heatwave this year - too warm in the saddle for a fat lad!

 

Another mini heatwave in Co Durham and it has to been too hot for me on my bike, not too mention chocka at work this week. I was up and out early today before the real heat kicked in and was overcast at times and a slight breeze which made a huge difference. It was one of my regular shorter gravel loops taking in two of Co Durham's old railway lines and a some short inter linking roads. It was mainly lovely and quiet early doors and just took it steady enjoying the miles ticking on bye. Below are a few snaps from the 19 miles in 1hr 27mins with 700ft of climbing, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Back out in the freezing cold wind enjoying the views over Weardale

 

Back out into the wilderness again today for another local spin on the Specialized Creo 2 gravel bike. The did the old railway line from Langley Park to Consett then up to Waskerley which is still bone dry, dusty and fast going if it was not for the stonking headwind all the way up. All I kept thinking of was coming back down with the tailwind. There was hardly any others out just a few dog walkers, runners, cyclists and a horse rider. There was more sun today but just no heat and it felt a little nippy in the headwind. My legs still did not feel 100% but I am just getting back into it again after a spell off the bike. All in just under 30 miles 2hrs 11mins with 1300ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon-