Merry Christmas from Traffic Cone Bag mission control!

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... 

Ka-chingle bells ... stuck for a gift for the person who has everything-made-in-China? Consider this: a Made-in-New-York-City Traffic Cone Bag!  This bag is starting to pop up in the strangest places around the planet.

For all Xmas 2011 orders I've been throwing in 2 starter sheets of Lightweights reflectors worth $10, handy for blinging up your bike, helmet, shoes ...

... NOT another Bed, Bath & Beyond voucher for stuff I already got! 

Not one of those generic round tins of shortbread cookies everyone gives away ... 

Not something made by underpaid elves working in sweatshop conditions ...

... but a Traffic Cone Bag in a pear tree! 

It's a snap!

UPDATE, Oct 2011:

New for Oct 2011: A black(ish) metal button snap.
This is now the default unless you specify otherwise.

BLACK SNAP (standard, if you don't specify).
The new, discreet snap closure. The fabric of the bag fills the centre of the snap. 

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This may well come back to bite me on the butt, but I'm allowing you to specify whether you want an orange, silver or black visible ring for your snap ON THE BLACK SIDE (on the orange side it will always be orange). The default is black. Let me know when you order.

Silver snap.

Orange snap.

"Small things amuse small minds," my father use to say.

Well forgive me for my gnat-sized cerebellum today, but  I'm excited about the new snaps I've been putting on my bag - by hand.

The original TCB had a snapless front pocket, which worked fine -  I typically used the pocket for a magazine with my jacket stuffed on top and my cellphone stuffed deep, and wear it against my back for security.

But the launch of the new, bigger Guyfromdownunder TCB  with its bigger, New-York-Times-unrolled pocket begged a little closure to stop it yawning on the way to the coffee shop. One TCB owner  had already sewn a piece of velcro to his bag, and discovered how awful velcro is for this particular svlete application. Who hasn't had their clothes ripped up by Velcro?

The first batch of Guy TCB's had a rather large, heavy duty snap, painstakingly handsewn by Caroline Fu. Like this:

The OLD, handsewn snap. I have a bag of these languishing in my bottom drawer if anyone wants them!

Since then, I've discovered a nifty little snap maker by SnapSource. It's basically a three-part plastic gizmo you sandwich the fabric and snap prongy parts with, then whack it with a hammer - here's the Snapsource how-to video. And here's the kit - a hammer, the snap setter, and the male/female snaps.

 My friend Monika said she's had a kit like this for years - "from the time when it was fashionable to put press snaps on your jeans and shirts for decoration." Xanadu ... Xanadu woo-ooo ...

So, a couple of whacks later (plus a couple of tentative little ones to make sure), here's the result:

Using the rare silver snap. Most people want the black.

Great, except to be truly minimalist, these underparts should be BLACK. Especially for those who use my 3-1 TCB in the third "musette" mode, where you turn the black pocket inside out to make a smaller bag. Refresh your memory by watching the video. I asked SnapSource inventor Jeanine Twigg about this, and she got her Made in 'Merica factory (good one you Jeanine!) to rustle up some all-black prototypes. And here's the result ... 

All-black vs silver 'undersides' of the snaps:

Snap Source now make (in 'mercia!) matte black snaps to make your TCB truly ruly stealth

All-black snaps installed on a couple of TCB's:

A couple of whacks (actually three plus one for good measure) and .... it's a snap! 

Jeanine says she's worked hard with her factory to make sure the black won't rub off. Since I'm the prototyper I hope to hear from you folks about how they are wearing.

SO WHCH TO CHOOSE? 

As I said above, BLACK SNAPS ARE BETTER FOR MUSETTE MODE: Does anyone use the TCB in that trippy third i.e. "dressy little shoulder bag" mode (see TCB demo video if you don't know what I'm talking about 'cos it's dang impossible to explain)? If so, snaps are best all black, inside out and outside in. 

Below: And how does it look on the body? Here I am in Caroline Fu's studio ($20 retro paisley dress courtesy of Happening Fashions Wholesale, 209 W37th St NY):

So how does the orange side of the snap look? Very orange!

The orange side has an orange ring. Not a true match (navel vs valencia) but not bad. 

This is on the non-pocket side of the bag, the side against your back when riding the bike (or walking) in orange mode. The small stud falls between your shoulders and should not be felt. 

Yes, I know it should ideally be hidden INSIDE the bag, installed before the bag is all sewn up, but logistically, for this little 1-woman project, it's easier to do it on the finished product.

If you want to send your bag bag for me to retro-fit the snap, email me. I'll have to charge you a nominal amount to cover postage, snaps and time, otherwise you can always go to the SnapSource site at www.snapsource.com and become a happy snapper yourself. It's a little tricky to get right, be prepared for a couple of wasted snaps as you whack the wrong side, get it off center etc.

Thank you for your intense interest in the Galfromdownunder, made Upover Traffic Cone Bag.
Can you stand more of this? Go join the TCB Facebook Fan Page.
 

Q: How to you make a minimalist bag? A: Start with a piece of fabric and take away everything that's not bag

Today a friend was pick-pocketed in the subway - her stylish, backpack-style purse was zipped opened and her wallet taken, "first time in 25 years living in NYC."

Stuff in zippered compartments on your back is asking to be robbed.

The Traffic Cone Bag, worn with the black pocket against your back and closed tight, is "lite" security by design - light fingers can't get at your stuff without slashing it with a knife.

Wearing the TCB the security-conscious way - drawn closed, the outside pocket against your body

It's all part of designing only what you have to, or "minimalist design."

I learned something about this from my advertising days at Saatchi:

Q: How do you carve an elephant from a block of wood?
A: Take a block of wood and remove everything that's not elephant.

Minimalist industrial design has always been my first love.

When designing this bag to be 'everything you need and nothing you don't', I found myself re-thinking the actual wearing process, and how that interaction with the body might influence the design.

For example, you need somewhere to put your cellphone. This would normally suggest a pocket with some kind of closure - a zip, button, that awful velcro stuff that rips into delicate fabric if you brush against it - to keep it secure.

In the above picture, Linda is wearing the bag with the large black pocket against her back rather than facing out.

Not only is the patch pocket deep enough to drop items into and have them stay there, wearing the bag in this way replaces the need for a zip.

What's wrong with a zip? Adds cost, bulk, and looks like, well, a zip. It's just not minimal, and the zip can catch and break.

I have though, conceded to adding a single snap closure you can eyeball on this post. That's to stop the lip from gaping somewhat when open.

Of course there's nothing wrong with these closures. But unless you're specifically designing a bling thing (and I like crazy bling too), re-thinking how an object is used in a holistic sense leads to no more - or less - than a perfect elephant.

 TCB security at your favorite bar

Stayin' Alive, stayin' alive ... new Scotchlite strip is here

Just in time for Christmas 2010: the latest incarnation of the TCB now sports a life-saving scotchlite strip for safe travels in low light (like, way past your bedtime).

The strip is actually centered on neon orange grosgrain ribbon, which blends nicely with the screaming neon orange polyester. Caroline insists that she needs to sew 4 rows of stitching to do it right, when I was pretty sure the two outer ones would suffice, but hey, never argue with an expert!

Pair it with your blinky light on the elastic loop, and you're hot to trot in the darkest night (with your dark knight).

Of course, you can add even more life-saving bling to your TCB with iron-on Lightweights. I sell a starter sheet. You can stick them on your helmet, bike and other bling-starved accoutrements. The second shot below shows them applied to my original prototype TCB circa 2007 in a whimsical flower pattern:

The reason I don't sell it like this - men may object. So iron 'em on in whatever pattern you want yourself, OK?

Lightweights added to helmet and an original TCB from way back (no pockets)

Lightweights starter set

I recently did a special commission for some New York Cycle Club folks. Special Scotchlite jobs like this are a little involved but can be done:

The price of the TCB with scotchlite strip will remain the same for 2010, as a special introductory offer. Buy a handy TCB, stay visible on the road, stylish at night (yes, it's reversible to black in case you missed that detail) and support the local economy.

Note: Remember that the TCB can also be used for walking and running. Runners can unclip the straps and cross them over the chest to make the bag sit closer and not flop around.

Buy your TCB here

Night Riding: New scotchlite strip for 2011

UPDATE! New for 2011:

All TCB's now come with a 3M Scotchlite grosgrain strip down the center orange pocket, courtesy of my fabric supplier, Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics.  Now you can combine it with your blinky light + optional Lightweights reflectors and you're ready for the darkest night ...

Caroline Fu and I prepare to execute another run of TCB's, this time with the new reflective strip.

The orange pockets have to be just a leeeeetle wider to accommodate the 3/4" scothchlite strip.

The view from Caroline's shared workroom, her trusty industrial Juki sewing machine close at hand

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A little note from Clay and Rob in the tech dept at 3M: 

"Highway standard ANSI 107 requires a minium RA of 330 (level 2) for their safety garments. If you are using the reflective material as a safety item, I would recommend keep the brightness above that value." 

I asked them to geek on a bit more: 

We take a brightness reading per ASTM standards.  Our silver (ie. what is seen on highway workers vests) has a typical brightness values of 500 ... 

The stripe I use as an RA of 500. 

The new bags will retail for $55 and $65, an increase of $5 to cover the cost of materials, Caroline's time and so forth. Yes, it's a little pricey to be making things in 'merica, but I thank you for supporting local talent, labor and materials. We'll get out of this mess yet!

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Some non-3M tape sold in the NYC Garment District. I've been experimenting with these too. 

Up until now, I've been selling a starter sheet of the Lightweights reflectors that you can iron on yourself. They work nicely and last at least a few years, at which time you can put new ones over the old. Read about Lightweights here:
http://trafficconebag.blogspot.com/2010/07/stayin-alive-stayin-alive-lightweights.html

They also work great applied to your helmet, spokes etc:

Of course, as you can see above, you should hang a good blinky light off the provided elastic loop for even more visibility.
Thanks!

Fashion Week: Put it in reverse and let's ride, please!

You can't tell a NYer how to look fashionable in Fashion Week - it's black and black.

It's Fashion Week (Sep 13-19) - everyone wants to be seen - so how come I couldn't convince Lynne to wear her TCB orange side out when biking?  

"I like it black!" she says, jumping on her folding bike after coming to my Chelsea Rec yoga class then eating a killer pad thai at Cafe Zemi. Looks like you can't take the black out of the NYer ... 

Fortunately, the little loop for the blinky light on the orange side is elastic and stretchy, and can be flipped over the lip of the bag to light up the black side, as she has done in the pic above.  But the bag was meant for stayin' alive, and that's what both the orange color + elastic loop for your blinky light + the optional Lightweights reflectors are for.  Read my TCB Night Visibility rant.

The Power of Two: I put all my stuff in an inner bag - a TCB in black mode - and pop it inside the larger TCB in orange mode. Then when you want it black you just whip out the inner bag and leave the larger one at home. When doubled up, you have extra cavities you can stuff things into. Of course this sounds like I'm trying to sell you two bags ... but all I can say is that's what *I* do and it works well. You have an an outer bag for the impromptu trip to Trader Joe's, which can be slung over handlbars or worn over the other on on your back - get my drift?

Speaking of Fashion Week, Benepe's Bike Blog featured a some cool cycle threads that would go great with my bag. It's written by journo and apparel designer Jennifer Benepe, who clearly knows what We Wheel Women Want - a decidedly un-matronly wardrobe for being seen in all the right places, please!

And for more bedtime surfing, take an Anna Wintour seat at my multimedia expose of the fascinating collaboration between Bike Friday and the NY designer Telfar Clemens in 2008.

Buy the TCB | TCB on Facebook

The TCB gets 4 stars in RoadBikeRider.com!

The TCB reviewed by the legendary Jim Langley, bicycle aficionado and all-round nice guy: http://www.jimlangley.net

How much of a coup is this? Let me tell you - you're talking to a readership of 63,000 largely male, largely hardcore roadies, many of whom wouldn't carry so much as a spare tube let alone the air to fill it if they flatted mid-sprint.  RBR's resident mirthman Scott Martin ("Scott's Spin") wrote about this breed some time ago in his hilarious In the Bag piece. Excerpt:

*Minimalist*. Seat bag contains: ---1 tube with valve cap and stem nut removed to save weight ---1 tire iron ---1 glueless patch ---1 CO2 cartridge (or mini-pump not exceeding 2.5 inches in length) Motto: "Don't you know how much a hex wrench weighs?"

*Leech*. Seat bag contains: ---Nothing. Doesn't use seat bag. Ruins bike's "pro" look. Motto: "Thanks for the tube. I'll pay you back on the next ride." Read the rest

To address the "Not!" about limited capacity - both small and large bags comfortably hold a helmet. But it's not supposed to carry a life support system - just an errand-support system. You can actually put one inside the other and create even more "pocket space".

Quite a few of Lon Haldeman's PACTOUR riders now sport a TCB at Desert Camp. "We can spot 'em from the support van a mile away." 

But what about the times you're not in training, but simply heading out for a more leisurely spin or to get something?  What if you commute? And what about the many RoadBikeRideHER readers? Yes, there are hardcore roadie women to, but we women have lives off the bike - and we like stuff that is useful, unobtrusive, multifunctional, and uh, a little bit sexy, please.

The RBR editors, faithful to their cause, were initially leery of my little bag. Indeed, there are smaller, lighter, cheaper or completely free backpacks out there, usually with some ugly graphic on it and cords that cut into your shoulders. Yes there are ones that are orange. Yes there are ones that are black. Yes there are ones that are completely waterproof, even though statistically most people avoid intentionally riding in the rain. But not many of them do most of the above things so simply and stylishly.

The TCB is a minimalist, versatile little bag that screams "Share the road/path" when you want it to, and reverses to a stealth black when you don't (board meetings, red carpet functions).

It's handmade made by Caroline Fu in her tiny workshop in the NY Garment District rabbit warren, thus stimulating the local economy.

Read about Caroline on my FastCompany.com post: New York, New York, If I can Make It There, I'll Not Make It Elsewhere

You can get Caroline to sew you a nice jacket like she did for Denzel Washington in An American Gangster, or a meticulously detailed dress like she did when she headed up Ralph Lauren's cutting room - before everything got outsourced to China and she and others lost their jobs. Call her on (917) 660-4673 (NYC).

Art Hellebusch isn't afraid to be seen in the TCB! Read about the amazing Art Hellebusch

Here's League of American Bicyclists Education Director Preston Tyree talking about his Traffic Cone "iBag":

And here's Ciclismo Classico founder Lauren Hefferon modeling it at 15 mph:

Remind yourself of how the TCB works by watching the original TrafficConeBag demo movie featuring bfold.com's David Lam.


As you can see, there's a loop at the top for your blinky light for night riding, but if you add a sprinkling of the optional Lightweights reflectors in whatever trippy pattern you want you're good to be seen on the darkest night:

Thank you to reviewer and former Bicycling Magazine senior editor, Jim Langley, who must have convinced RBR it's What Wheel Women Want. Who is Jim Langley? The legendary bicycle aficionado and all-round nice guy: http://www.jimlangley.net
 

VIDEO: Leverless Langley's Tire Removal trick

Buy a TCB here