Messenger bag help

[Tri Girl]

OK- stupid question for you ladies. I've never worn a messenger bag before, but I hate my backpack (too bulky on my back) and I wanted something new. I don't know how this is supposed to look. I took pictures to see if you think it looks right. There is the big strap that has a padded part on the front, and a smaller waist strap that clips to the bag to keep it still. Is this how it's supposed to look when on? OMG- hello boobs! I have to have the main strap that tight or it falls off my shoulder, but I think it doesn't look right.

Don't mean to ask such a dumb question, but I'm still fairly new to commuting and really hoped the bag would come with instructions for dummies like me.

Thanks for your help!

This is the bag: http://www.titlenine.com/shopping/pr...ProductID=2355

[CycleTherapy]

TriGirl- check out this Timbuk link : http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/cms/faqPr...htm#genWearBag

If you read the question: "How do I wear the bag and what do I do with the xtra strap" there is a link that you can click and view a video of one of their models actually putting on and clipping into the bag.

Hope this helps

[Tri Girl]

That is SO helpful!!! Thank you, Bliss. See, this is why I posted here- because you girls are so informative and can help with just about anything!
My bag doesn't work quite like that one (and that model is waaaay too skinny- her strap has all kinds of room). When I do it like they show- the strap just falls off my shoulder. I'll have to mess around with it to find a good fit.
Thanks again very, very much!!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The heavily padded part of the strap is supposed to be on your shoulder, and the bag hangs between one hip and your lower back, sort of to one side. The bag is more of a shoulder pack than a backpack. It should not be in the middle of your back.

[Tri Girl]

hangs head sheepishly and looks at feet...

I AM an idiot!!! I figured out that the bag is made for righties (and I'm a lefty). When I took it off and put it on the "wrong" way- it fits like it's supposed to. Duh! It fits much better now (although it feels weird being over my left shoulder right now), so I'll give it a test ride tomorrow to see how it does when riding.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions. Thanks Lisa- now it sits on me like you said it should.

DUH! (hits self on forehead)

[mimitabby]

can we see the after picture?

[uforgot]

This is so great! I love this thread! There are so many things I don't know and no one around here rides bikes, so I am right with you! I had no idea how to wear one of these either. Do you ever read bike names and terms and have absolutely no idea how to pronounce them, but you've read them so many times they are in your head? I went into a bike shop and wanted to see a Bee-an-chee! (Bianchi) Hey, that's what it looks like! They politely corrected me. Now I'm scared to say anything bike related without a disclaimer ahead of time. "I only read this and have never heard it pronounced...".

TE is like being around a bunch of friends you can trust..."hey, how does this look" or "what on earth do you do with this?". And everyone tells. Now, let's go get some 99 cent Margaritas!

[DrBadger]

hangs head sheepishly and looks at feet...

I AM an idiot!!! I figured out that the bag is made for righties (and I'm a lefty). When I took it off and put it on the "wrong" way- it fits like it's supposed to. Duh! It fits much better now (although it feels weird being over my left shoulder right now), so I'll give it a test ride tomorrow to see how it does when riding.

If you prefer to have it over your right shoulder, Timbuk2 makes bags for lefties. you can select that as an option on their website when you customize the bag: http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/bagbuilder.htm

Don't know what you spent on yours, so don't know if this a more or less, but it is an option.

Good luck!
Ellen

[Tri Girl]

If you prefer to have it over your right shoulder, Timbuk2 makes bags for lefties. you can select that as an option on their website when you customize the bag: http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/bagbuilder.htm

Don't know what you spent on yours, so don't know if this a more or less, but it is an option.

Good luck!
Ellen

Thanks, Ellen! That is so cool that you can customize your bag the way you want! Timbuk2 bags are VERY cool (and very expensive, too ). My bag is about $60 cheaper, and since I'm a bit of a cheapskate- I'll just learn to adjust to the "righty" world in which I live. hee hee
Thanks for the link, tho. I absolutely love that you can customize a bag- when I win the lottery one day I'll buy one of those puppies!!!!

I'll post a pic tomorrow of how it finally looks after I give it a test ride or two and find the perfect position (although I think it'll still wind up lookiing weird- but then again- it wouldn't be mine if it wasn't a little weird).

[KnottedYet]

I'm a lefty, too, and just can't cope with the idea of putting a messenger bag on the "wrong" shoulder. (though the USAT Timbuk2 bag had me seriously tempted)

Thinkin' a backpack is in my future just for the bus commute I'm doing. Maybe one of those Ortlieb systems that let you turn a pannier into a backpack.

Keep us posted on how riding with a "righty" messenger bag goes, ok?

[Kimmyt]

I think my Timbuk is ambidextrous. The thing the bottom part of the stabilizer strap clips to is detachable so you can rig it on either side. I think. I'm sitting too far from my pack to double check that though....

[bike4ever]

The regular messenger bags from Timbuk 2 can be used on either shoulder.

[xeney]

They can be, but it is better to have one that is either left or right handed because then you can adjust the strap without taking the bag off -- the adjuster thingie winds up in the proper spot.

The heavily padded part of the strap is supposed to be on your shoulder, and the bag hangs between one hip and your lower back, sort of to one side. The bag is more of a shoulder pack than a backpack. It should not be in the middle of your back.

Ah, not true. That's not how messengers wear them and you'll be sorry if you try to ride a bike that way. Putting it in the middle of your back, way up high, means it won't flap or slide around when you're bent over riding, and it won't bang on the seat, and the bag will be well-supported and won't hurt to wear. Your description is fine if you are wearing a messenger bag to walk around with, but it's not how you wear one on a bicycle.

That's why I like the Timbuk2 bags -- I frequently transition between walking and cycling, and I like to be able to drop the bag down around my hip when I get off the bike. My husband is left-handed and uses a regular TimBuk2 bag and this is his only complaint, that he has to take the bag off to adjust the main strap when he gets off the bike, so I am going to buy him a custom bag for his birthday, I think.

[mimitabby]

So what are the advantages to these over a backpack that sits in the middle of your back?

[Pax]

...Thinkin' a backpack is in my future just for the bus commute I'm doing. Maybe one of those Ortlieb systems that let you turn a pannier into a backpack.

A friend tried one of those set-ups, she really liked it until she needed to put the backpack after a ride that included some puddles...the bottom of the bag was filthy. Now she just uses a backpack.