Traffic Cone Blog

The Small Traffic Cone Bag can neatly stow three 1-liter cartons of my favorite poison: Zico Coconut water from Trader Joe's In a previous post, Double Bagging: Why two Traffic Cone Bags are better than one I talked about how handy it is to carry two TCB's, one inside the other, for those unplanned side trips to the grocery store. The other day I ran out to teach my yoga class with just my small Traffic Cone Bag, in its svelte little-black-dress mode from my soiree the night before. After class, I remembered I was out of my favorite hydration medium, coconut water. Of course, like many Trader Joe's shoppers I go in there for 1 thing and come out with ten, including three rounds of samples in my belly. And I have to walk five long blocks home, so to protect one's rotator cuff one should distribute groceries as evenly as possible, and avoid carrying one ginormous heavy bag on one shoulder, which can lead to back twinges  like I experienced in 2009. The...

Linda Donovon wearing the TCB the secure way - drawn closed and patch pocket against your back! 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."  Putting 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 s ecurity by design - light fingers can't get at your stuff without slashing it with a knife. More about TCB's clever security-by-design

How small does the TCB roll up? Above, you can see the Gal (13") and Guy (15") versions rolled up next to a standard small Kleen Kanteen water bottle. Not ultra small, but not so big either. Small, ultralight bags that squash into a matchbox do exist for race day and hardcore roadie rides, but the TCB is meant as a hybrid. From League of American Bicyclists Education Director Preston Tyree: The TCB is for hard core city riding. Highly visible getting to the City Council meeting with my camera,  iPad and keyboard inside and then turns inside out for the presentation to the Council Members so I don’t look any dorkier than usual. I have a blinky on the hook that looks like a reflector but turns on to light up. Wide straps are good when I load it down with camera and iPad.  Preston, we love you stylish and dorky, but we think someone beat you to it ! Here's Ciclismo Classico grand dame Lauren Hefferon wearing it on a commute in Boston:  You know you wa...

A simple carabiner from any dollar store add length the straps. Buy a quality one from a camping store for extra strength.  In the spirit of K.I.S.S. I've tried to keep the straps of the TCB's One Size Fits Most.  And indeed they do. When the bag is laid flat and the top is opened completely, the strap lengths are cut as follows: Small TCB:  54" (or about 13" exposed length) Large TCB:  56" (or about 14" exposed length) It's better that they're a bit shorter than longer, because it's a real pain to make them shorter later (the join and strap anchoring stitches have to be in just the right place, ends cauterized with a flame and stitched etc etc - all by hand). But if you want to make them longer , it's simple. Buy an inexpensive, stylish black carabiner like the ones sold at the store I worked at*. Or you can get a real el cheapo kind from $2 stores. You simply insert the carabiner between the D-ring and snap hook at the b...

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 f...