Small frame bike - seat bag options???

[bakerjw]

Arrgghhh... I might need some options for a seat bag on a small frame bike.

My son, a friend and I are riding the TD leaving in early July. I've been up there 2 times and this is their first. I am sooo excited this year as I will get to witness their utter amazement at the scenery. This year will be a blast. My son is building up a new bike (small) with my assistance. I have built every bike that I ride but this is his first.

We will be making the frame bag and handlebar bag as I have designs that work great for them. For the gas tank and jeri can, I picked up Rogue Panda bags. If I buy bags, they are RP. I also picked up a RP picketpost as they seem to afford more rear tire clearance. After mounting the seat post last night I am unsure if there will be enough clearance for the picketpost... <<<ARGH>>>

So, who rides a small frame bike and what do you use for a seat bag???

[dream4est]

Add some strap/webbing/drawcord/paracord to "cinch" the bag to the post and test to ensure clearance. You should have ordered his Ripsey bag that is made for low clearance and small frames ( I make a lower profile one that doesnt attach to post at all so I know what you are looking for).

[RonK]

Better to use a rack.

[Adam Alphabet]

Possibly a Porcelain Rocket Charlene.

[trailhead]

I run size small frames and my wife XS, so I have experience with this.
When touring on my fat bike I add a rear rack so can use an ordinary dry bag and micro panniers.

Last trip my wife was on a FS 29er and the seat bag rubbed on the tire often requiring adjustment. Luckily, I added duct tape to the bottom of the bag so no permanent damage occurred. Going forward, she is on a 27.5 regular bike which should afford the extra required space.   So consider a 26 or 27.5 rear wheel.

[evdog]

I ride small frames.  On my old Mojo SL (26er) I could get away with a full revelate viscacha, just barely.  If fully packed I had to put an extra strap around the bag and through seat rails, cinched tight to keep it from contacting the rear wheel.  It still would in harsh g-outs.  I can't run a bag at all on the Mojo3 (27.5).  One of the dropper specific bags might work with seat at full extension, but I've not wanted to order one just to test it.  The seat rail to tire distance is less than almost every spec I've seen posted, so I've just concluded I won't be using a seat bag if I want to bikepack with that bike.  I use my hardtail most of the time anyways so not a big deal as the viscacha works fine on it. 

When you say building up a bike, you mean fabricating it yourself?  If not too far along in the process you may be able to change the design to help it accommodate a seat bag.  I imagine it would be a hardtail then.  As mentioned above going with smaller wheels will help, and for TD you shouldn't need a dropper post.  Any of these factors should make a seatbag more feasible.