Traffic Cone Bag: Bigger, Guyfromdownunder Version

Large or small? Depends on what you want to carry!

NOTE! Since 2011, both TCB's now come with a vertical reflective strip. See photo below. 

In 2009, I introduced a larger Traffic Cone Bag size.

The specs for the new, larger "Guyfromdownunder" (for want of a better term) version, pictured above left, are:

• 15" wide x 18" deep
• 3/4" webbing straps
• Orange pockets are deeper and wider to take larger water bottles (and rolled up issues of Carbon Fiber Enthusiast?)
• Black pocket is 13" wide x 14" deep - holds an unfolded copy of the New York Times (or Sydney Morning Herald, or Chicago Tribune - you get the idea)

The specs for the original, smaller "Galfromdownunder"  pictured right, are:

• 13" wide by 17" deep
• Slender,  1/2" lighter webbing straps
• Orange pockets take regular water bottles
• Black pocket is 11" wide x 13" deep - holds holds a manila folder or several standard trashy magazines

Both feature:

• A new ANSI orange polyester neon orange lining, which is more water resistant than the previous version
• 2.2oz black Supplex fabric - slightly less bulk than the 4oz original, but still very sturdy, with a subtle sheen that can partner your little black dress, or if you're a guy, your whatever
• A length that does not block bicycling jersey pockets.

Here's how they compare? Well, the small one held quite a few gifties last Christmas ...

The small one even holds three 1-liter bottles of coconut water and then some - read about that here:

The large one holds my chunky Dell work computer and its chunky power adaptor:

What's better than a traffic cone bag? Two traffic cone bags! I've been carrying the small one inside the big one, in whatever orange/black combo is most logical. So, when I want to spend time on or off the bike,  I just whip out the inner bag rather than empty the contents, reverse and re-pack. At the risk of sounding like I'm trying to coerce you to buy 2 bags, read why double bagging the TCB is so useful and how I traveled 11 countries in 12 days with just two traffic cone bags

Having one inside the other creates two extra sleeves to stuff things in. Handy for buying extra stuff on the way home - you can wear "one over the other". You can also, at a pinch, sling it over your handlebars like this, thanks to the quick-release snap hooks on the straps.

Steve Chang commented that the straps cinch nice and evenly. This is because each strap is secured in place by a few stitches at the top where they loop around.  If you have an earlier edition of my TCB that keeps exposing the raggedy join in the straps, simply stretch open the neck of the bag wide, make sure the straps are even, and stitch the strap to the channel at those four points.  The new straps are also now cauterized with a flame to stop any fraying. You can do this to your early TCB too.

The stylish Steve Chang in Florence with his large Traffic Cone Bag

If you turn the bag inside out into musette mode you will of course see the "male" part of the snap on the outside lip of the pocket. I'm guessing that few guys do that, but I'm begging off putting it on the Gal version for now. Your thoughts? Post comments at TCB Reviews.

Update: I now use a more conventional snap.  I'm offering people a choice of silver, orange or black, an offer that might well come back to haunt me, but let's see if anyone takes me up on it.

Read about and order the TCB here