Carradice

A collaboration between fashionable British accessories designer Ally Capellino and Carradice of Nelson, the Cavo Pannier is a smart, stylish shoulder-bag-cum-pannier designed specifically for cyclists.

The Camper Long Flap is a saddlebag, part of the Carradice Originals range, and designed (you will not be surprised to hear) for lightweight touring and ultralight cycle camping.

Manufactured from 'cotton duck', a traditional fabric woven from cotton which is incredibly hard wearing and has an inherent water resistance, the Camper Longflap is the largest bag in the Carradice Originals saddlebag line.

Considering its 24 litres capacity, I was very keen to see if the bag would indeed carry everything necessary for a camping tour.

If you have a Carradice saddlebag then the chances are you'll already have a Bagman, or one of the assorted variants. Although Carradice bags are a joy and wonder, they can be a bit of a sod to fit to your bike. Unless you are tall enough to have enough space between saddle and rear wheel you'll end up with a saddlebag dragging on your back wheel, which is just rubbish.

Way back in the mists of time, I tested the  Carradice Super C saddlebag. I fell in love with its simplicity, convenience and retro-styling and it has been strapped to my bike ever since. What I didn't fully appreciate is that the Super C is in effect the modern version of the Nelson, which is what I'm testing here.