Taking inspiration from thesergeant and bumbler, I made my first frame bag and used a shock cord lacing system to attach it to the bike frame rather than using the traditional Velcro straps. I haven't taken it out for a test yet, so don't ask how well it holds up, but my first impressions of it are good.

The bag itself is the usual VX21, with 500D Cordura for the internal dividers and zipper garages and 1/8" shock cord for mounting. The shock cord is laced through a continuous length of 1" nylon webbing bar tacked every 1.25". As was pointed out in the original thread on the subject, the shock cord can be replaced in the field with spare cord, rope or Velcro straps if it ever gets worn out.


Shock cord lacing by bigadventureguy, on Flickr

I've started working on the bag and I am going with a double zipper and dividers (one horizontal and a vertical to divide the upper section). I really appreciate the feedback from everyone. All the research and reading on how to sew a frame bag doesn't matter as much people's experience actually using what they made.

Thanks. I had considered the extra strain put on the vertical zipper with a panel loader, but hadn't even thought of the problems that would arise if that zipper failed completely. For simplicity, I'm going to go with a single zip option for my first bag. I'll see how that works and then make adjustments for future bags (because you know there won't be just one  ).

I'm about to sew my first frame bag and I still have a final design decision to make. I have the materials to make a basic single zip bag, double zip bag with horizontal divider, or a panel loading bag. My bike is an XL Pugsley, so the bag will be fairly deep (about 15"). That's why I like the double zip or panel load options, since I'll be able to more easily get at items near the bottom of the bag.

Anyone have experience with sewing or using a panel loading bag? Every tutorial I've seen is for a single zip or, rarely, a double zip bag, but I've not found anything for a panel load. I realize I'll need to sew in stops for the zippers. Anything I'm not thinking of that would make a panel loading bag more complicated? And are there any real advantages of a panel loading bag over a double zip bag?