The edges and ends of it were unsanded and squared off, and since fiberglass is essentially glass, a highly abrasive material, the extended rough vibrations we experienced day after day during the trip led to the edges of the batten literally sawing through the ends of the hypalon sheath. That particular bag (shown above) was constructed with an unfinished version of the fiberglass batten. The wider pair is spaced 9.5″ (24cm) apart and is meant for use on wider drop bars or flat handlebars.Īt this point, you might be wondering about the problem with the Zeitgeist prototype that we took to Colombia. The inner two are spaced about 3.75″ (9.5cmn) apart and match the standard spacing of integrated saddle loops, which also happens to be the ideal spacing for mountain bike handlebars. I also used a couple of foam spacer blocks to move the bag away from the bars and allow more hand positions.Įach of the mounting point slots are about 1″ (2.5cm) wide and the attachment system includes two pairs. That said, we used the 3/4″ straps in Colombia, but I’ve also put quite a few rides in with the Nanos and haven’t had any issues. Swift includes two 1/2″ wide Voilé Nano straps, but I might recommend using some trimmed down larger 3/4″ Voilés if you pack heavy or are heading out on a longer trip. This makes for a simple attachment method that’s undoubtedly quicker and easier than any other strap system I’ve used on a handlebar bag. Instead, it’s just a matter of sliding the straps behind the batten and quickly attaching them to the bars. The beauty of this design is that there’s no longer a need to fish straps through holes in the bag.
It also allows the included Voilé straps to simply thread behind the batten via the die-cut slots on the hypalon sheath and then pass through saddle loops or around a handlebar. The external batten completely eliminates the strap slots and dowel, and keeps the bag stable. In lieu of the slotted holes and dowel, the new Zeitgeist uses a 305 x 15 x 4mm (12 x 0.59 x 0.16″) fiberglass batten (strut) that’s mounted to the outside of the bag within a stitched sheath made of die-cut hypalon, a tough, leather-like fabric commonly used for high-wear areas on bikepacking bags. The main purpose of this new mounting system is to make it work better (and easier) when mounted on the handlebars. Saddlebags have been using this tried and true method for decades, so it’s interesting to see Swift introduce a unique alternative. This pulls the dowel toward the saddle loops, keeping the bag stable and attached. Straps are inserted through the bag, then loop around an internal dowel, and then exit the bag to connect. Traditionally, saddlebags such as Carradice Long Flap, Bags X Bird Goldback, and the original Zeitgeist all use two sets of strap slots spaced for saddle loops that go through the back of the bag.
Iswift review update#
The most significant update to the new Swift Zeitgeist is its handlebar mounting system. Here are all the details on that system and everything else that’s changed, along with our impressions after using it. First things first, you’ll note that the Zeitgeist is now called a “Saddle and Handlebar Bag.” Reason being, with a new mounting system focused on the handlebars, it’s not just a saddlebag anymore.
Since we already have a review of the older Zeitgeist saddlebag on the site, let’s dig in to how the new version was redesigned.
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