Salsa didn't consult with me about the Anything Cage HD http://salsacycles.com/culture/product_process_the_anything_cage_hd
and I was a little shocked to see them talk about the R&D process like they came up with the idea out of nowhere... perhaps they did and just never stooped low enough to see my little micro business.

Their coming out with the Anything Cage HD is a rather obvious admission of the weakness of their previous design.

I did think about a molded plastic version of my Everything Bag a while back (long before Salsa) but don't have the order volume or distributor network to make it work.

While the Anything Cage HD does fix a number of the problems with the original cage, here are a few design details in which my Everything Bag still wins out.

1. The Anything Cage HD (ACHD)  has a stiff rounded back so will only work well with rounded objects.  The Everything Bag (EB) has a flat framesheet with fabric sides so conforms to whatever shape you put in it - rectangular, round, odd shaped, you name it.  The following picture shows the Everything Bag carrying a rectangular 2 liter juice bottle - try that in a stiff round plastic cage!



2. The EB has a broad enough bottom and metal cam buckle straps so if you're carrying a Nalgene bottle, and run the straps just a tiny bit loose, you can get the bottle in and out without adjusting the straps.  Does this work on the ACHD?  I don't know but suspect not.

3. When ladderlock or side release buckles are tensioned over a round hard radius, the friction decreases with the angle of the straps.  So when the radius gets to small, the buckle creeps open or jolts open.  This is one of the major reasons the EB uses metal cam buckles which do not slip no matter what the angle.  I don't know if the buckles supplied with the ACHD suffer from this problem, but I'd be surprised if they didn't.

4. The ACHD has a wider plastic frame than the EB so when the plastic is bumped against a rock or tree or the ground the longer lever arm will put more force on the bolts, mounting bosses, and plastic frame, increasing the likelyhood of failure.

5. The EB is available with p clamps and hardware to mount on just about any fork on the planet - including suspension forks.  Only forks with sever tapers from top to bottom do not work.  The ACHD could also be used with p clamps but they leave you out in the cold to figure it out for yourself.  P clamps are readily available, but are not typically found at your local hardware store in sizes over 1 inch.  So that leaves the customer to figure it out for themselves, and more than likely, they'll have to get a bag of 25 when they only need 6 of them.  Salsa would be wise to come up with a molded plastic widget that fits on a wide range of diameter fork legs and allows the cage to be bolted on...  I would do it but don't have the sales volume to justify getting a plastic mold made.

I lived in Lake City for a few years and rode Snow Mesa (top of Spring Creek Pass on the north side) in February once.  That section of the CT isn't on the bike CT route since it dead ends into wilderness area, but it does have a groomed snowmobile trail up it in winter.

Without a fat bike, I had a lot of hike a bike, even in the best trail conditions... but still worth it just for the downhill and the pictures...







Don't hang out too long here.



The nice groomed corduroy was usually rideable above treeline on flat ground.  Slight uphills were sure hike a bike.



Then across the street on Spring Creek Pass going southbound, there's a network of groomed snowmobile trails for a ways, some go to Slumgullion Pass and partway down the hill (Rambouillet Park).
There is a yurt system up in there (4 of them I think) that would be fun to link up in winter.

I've also done a bit of snow biking up the Rambouillet Park snowmobile trail too.







My suggestion is head for the top of Spring Creek Pass with a fatbike, backcountry skies, and camping gear (or some yurt reservations) and see what the snow conditions are like.  Then in the likely event that the snow biking isn't great, just go skiing.  Baldy Cinco (above Snow Mesa) is a good ski peak, and there's lots of good tree skiing near the top of Slumgullion Pass.

Probably a fun route... but it'll be mostly pavement and dirt roads (nothing wrong with that).

The real way to experience the Adirondacks is on foot on the unmaintained trail High Peaks.

I cut my adventuring teeth in the Adirondack High Peaks so am rather fond of that area.

I run a part time bike bag company specializing in custom frame bags and Everything Bags.

www.cleavelandmountaineering.blogspot.com

I have made one pannier/shoulder bag that I've used for bike commuting to engineering school and work for the past four years.  It has roughly 12,000 miles on it, but I've only made one of these ever.  If there's a market for these I think the design would be worth pursuing since most of the stuff on the market is way too complicated.  In particular, the interface from bag to rack is too proprietary, too complicated, and too failure prone.  Here's some pictures from when it was much younger.

email me for further discussion - jeremycleaveland AT gmail

Here's the dimensions for the bag.  It should fit many frames that are close to this.

Down Tube 21.5"
Top Tube   16.5"
Seat Tube  12.0"

Somehow with such a big frame it looks like a normal sized early 90's mtb but with disc brakes.  I'm sure in real life or with fat tires this isn't the case...

In a few years I'll be posting pictures of Strider bike frame bags....

 

(Disclaimer - I own Cleaveland Mountaineering and am copying a blog post here for your entertainment)

Ezekiel decided to help out on the latest product photo shoot (this one is for a Motobecane Lurch fatbike in Pennsylvania).

He enjoyed a nice nap in the frame bag... and even managed not to pee or poop in it.





He even contemplated the mysteries of the universe...



Then we stuck him in an Everything Bag to see how he liked it...



And there was rather immediate feedback that he liked the frame bag better!





But - don't worry, despite this recent study, Everything Bags are still the hottest item this month.  So get yours today.  Now available in black VX42, camo X33, or storm orange VX21, with or without reflective tape (free option) and of course, with or without p clamps depending on your fork needs.

This one is for sale since the customer backed out...
Made for a small Access frame, but should fit many other similar sized frames.  I can provide triangle dimensions if you're interested.
Blue VX21 with black VX42 on the edges, reflective tape, panel loader on the LEFT HAND SIDE, hydration port, and tapered top to bottom.

This is a $140 bag retail, I'll let it go for $70 shipped just to get it out of the house.

Edit to decrease price!

Not on the tour divide, but on my commuter bike I've completely filled up a Cateye Velo 5 (9999.9 miles) and now am on a Velo 7 with close to 2000 miles on it.  No problems with either one - cheap and wired. 

For sale - if you want it make an offer, I'd like to move this stuff out of our tiny storage shed.

Blue with snowflakes Salsa Enabler fork - trimmed down steerer (can measure if you're interested). Low mileage.  $50.

Used Surly Endomorph tire - $40

Shipping included to the 48 states.

The fork and tire are shown in the picture below.

Feel free to buy a set of Everything Bags http://cleavelandmountaineering.blogspot.com/p/everything-bags.html  with the purchase.



I haven't ridden fat front in a long time so its time to clear up some space...

edited to add frame bag dimensions (inside of the front triangle)

If you want a light option without feeling claustrophobic at night, look into sleeping quilts - its just a fancy blanket with a foot pocket.

....and it even transmits torque from the rider to the rear wheel!

The kits would include both directions and all materials for the item - the one stop shop gets you all the best materials without having to shop around and also a pile of tips and tricks on the pattern and features.

How much interest would you folks have in buying DIY kits for bikepacking gear?

I have made and sold a number of custom frame bags so could write up some killer directions (including directions for all the features and harder frame types - full suspension, etc), then include all the right materials in the quantities you need, so all you need to provide is the elbow grease and the sewing machine (and maybe the thread?).

Dimension Polyant X-Pac fabrics - VX21, VX42
#10 and #8 YKK water resistant zippers
1" and 2" velcro
grosgrain binding webbing
reflective tape

No idea on pricing yet, but a lot less than paying me to sew it for you...
Kits could also be developed for bar bag, top tube bag, and everything bags....

For sale are 3 used Cleaveland Mountaineering frame bags (I run the company and these are sitting around doing nothing)

If you don't have the same exact frame, they might still fit your bike - check the measurements below for each bag and we'll see if they're close enough. All sales are final.

From my wife's old Motobecane:



Not much for features on this one, just a single pocket and a standard (not water resistant) YKK #10 zipper with a flap over it.
Probably has 2000 miles of gentle commuter bike use on it.
Tough VX42 fabric placed wrong side out just for fun.

DT 22 3/4"
ST 9 3/4"
TT 19 3/4"

Yours for $30 shipped

From my old Vassago Fisticuff 54 cm (also fits the new Fisticuff 54 cm well enough)


black VX42 fabric
tapered front
left map pocket (which has a non water resistant #8 zipper in good condition)
I replaced the worn out main zipper with a brand new #10 YKK water resistant zipper.
This bag probably has 9000 miles on it, mainly bike commuting.



DT 22 7/8"
ST 17 1/2"
TT 19 7/8"

Yours for $30 shipped

The current frame bag on my commuter is also for sale, designed for the old 54 cm Fisticuff, also fits the new 54 cm Fisticuff close enough.


This one has "only" about 2500 miles on it.
VX42 fabric, some inside facing out
Reflective tape
Hi vis green tape
tapered front
padded all the way around the frame tubes
dual compartment
left map/lock pocket

DT 22 7/8"
ST 17 1/2"
TT 19 7/8"

This baby new would sell for $160, but I want to make a new frame bag for the commuter with some hi visibility Storm Orange VX21 fabric...
Get it fast for $75

Let me know if you're interested in these deals or other custom frame bags or bikepacking bags...

I have 8 Everything Bags (4 pairs) in stock and ready to ship fast for your summer adventures.
They're all made with black VX42 fabric.



$50 per bag, $60 if you want P clamps to hold it on forks without the water bottle bosses.  Includes all hardware.

http://cleavelandmountaineering.blogspot.com/p/everything-bags.html

You'll want to get a custom frame bag for that frame as none of Revelate's stock frame bags will fit it.
Get a Revelate seat bag too.

www.cleavelandmountaineering.blogspot.com

people that drink beer and whiskey shave less
people that do not drink whiskey and beer shave more

I haven't drank a drop of alcohol in my life (well, except for a spoonful of vanilla once...) and haven't shaved since 2006...