After 5 or so rides with my first bag, I'm happy I did 2 zippers and a divider, it is nice to have different places to put things.  I did a map style pocket on the non-drive side and while I think I will in the future I have not yet used it.

I like the key holder idea, that would be nice.

Sorry, I forgot I didn't link the blog post I did:

http://step2racing.blogspot.com/2014/12/frame-bag.html

can we see more?

What do you want to see more of, which parts?

I've had a couple rides now to test and the bag is fantastic.  I'm bummed the velcro doesn't match up perfect but it works perfect anyway.

I'll update more later, but I skipped our local group ride tonight and made this:

First side panel is done for the most part.

Very nice, thanks for sharing.

What does a typical day look like from a standpoint of miles, meals, sleeping arrangements, etc?

Got a bit of a start last night. 

I'm not sure if I did what I wanted to do for the little zipper "covers" I want to make to keep water/snow/ice out.  I have to think about those.  All I did last night was make the strips that I'll have for the zippers on the drive side.  More than anything it was figuring out stuff like thread tension and such for the thread I've picked versus normal thread on the machine.  I'm used to a much older machine and I'm using my wife's newer machine now.

Still haven't started, maybe this week.

Thanks. Hope to start seeing/cutting this week.

Addy: After re-reading, you're definitely right about what the OP was referring to.  So yeah, I just *slightly* upsize the sides of the bags ("faces" is maybe a better term?).  Like, 1/4 inch.  So not really enough to worry about.

For what it's worth, my template is just big enough that it won't fit inside the triangle, but isn't too big that it really covers the tubes either.  Think that should work?  I'll be adding 3/8" seam allowance around the whole thing I think.

Yeah, sorry I was out for a few days.

I am talking about the big flat side panels - trying to see how big to make them.  It seemed that I could just tighten the straps to keep the flat panels tight but I won't lose space that way.

Thank you all for the input so far.

For the other discussion on width - I am going to make it the width of the down tube, which is wider than both the top tube and seat post.

Lots of views, no replies... thoughts on this?

Question I've got (and thanks for helping), should I try to size the side panels and have them to fit the size of the opening INTERIOR to the frame, or have them so they come up and wrap a bit around the frame a hair?  I've seen both ways?

This is going on my Borealis Yampa, it's an XL.  

I've ordered up fabric, zippers, etc.  It'll be VX21 with some 400x300 for interior.  Zippers are the water resistant ones. Got a template laid out, thought you guys could help.

Question I've got (and thanks for helping), should I try to size the side panels and have them to fit the size of the opening INTERIOR to the frame, or have them so they come up and wrap a bit around the frame a hair?  I've seen both ways?

Here's my template:


I'm using a lot of ideas from other bags, took a really deep look at a friend's Revelate Salsa bag and have the luxury of looking online at many of the bag makers ideas.  I'm intending to "borrow with pride" quite a bit, knowing my first bag may be a bit rougher than the picture in my head.  I do however intend to have something very functional off the start.  I've got sewing experience so that doesn't scare me so much and I like figuring stuff like this out.



Luxury of my XL frame and something nice for me finally being 6'4" is that I'll have a lot of room.  Intending on a double zipper on the drive side with interior dividers (velcro) that will separate top/bottom of the bag.  Intending on mesh pockets interior to the top section to give room for small items to have a place designated - I'll probably do a few compartments in this mesh pocket so I can have room for snacks, tool, etc.

On the non-drive side, I'm intending to have a map pocket, with some red interior to make the pocket and provide a good non-black interior color for finding things inside.  I may do some flannel lining inside there for electronic stuff.

I'm also wondering if I should sew flannel or fleece or something on the underside of the velcro to protect the frame a bit?