Sunday 27th June 2010
by
I recently received a terrific little pannier from The Bicycle Muse in exchange for a review here on the site. That’s my disclosure but of course there was no promise along with it that I’d give the bag a favorable review. The Bicycle Muse has nothing to worry about, though; their products are wonderful and this one is no exception.
Some of the things I adore about this bag:
- The bicycle clips are easily accessible but also hidden. My favorite thing about this bag is that the clips that are used to hold the pannier to a bicycle are zipped into a pocket on the side of the bag. They’re super-easy to access when you need them but they can be hidden away so as not to snag on anything when the bag is off the bike. Genius design.
- Super cute design. As you can see from the photo above, the design on this bag is super cute. It’s got a great flirty retro feel. I chose a red bag but they come in blue and black. If you fancy getting one from The Bicycle Muse’s sister store, Cyclechic, then gold and green are also options. It’s made from a shiny waterproof material that is easy to clean which is a nice bonus. It’s got a firm design so it sits well on a bike, protecting what’s inside. Pocket space keeps smaller items from getting lost in the big bag.
- Perfect size. This pannier is perfectly sized to hold a lot inside of it without being too bag to easily carry around. Right for taking writing / reading materials to the coffee shop or stopping at the farmers market. Notably, this a single-pannier design rather than a double-pannier; I think a single is sufficient; don’t you?
- True to the trends in female cycling. Girls who like feminine touches are increasingly common in the commuter bike world. A few great accessories designers are starting to recognize this fact. This pannier is a great example of that.
- It comes from two great stores. This product is sold through The Bicycle Muse but it comes from Kitsch Kitchen, a product manufacturer from the Netherlands. This company, too, is worth mentioning. From the pictures on their site, the store looks like terrific fun to shop in. And I have to admit that I’m currently coveting their umbrellas along with this pannier.
- It appears to be durable. Of course, I won’t know for sure until I’ve had it for awhile. And I suppose it’s not as durable as a good old-fashioned metal basket (which isn’t nearly as stylish!) but upon first inspection it does seem to be durable which is an earth-friendly, cost-effective thing to know.
Of course, if this bag isn’t your style, the site carries a variety of other bags and panniers that might suit you better. Their products are high-quality and their customer service is terrific so they’re worth checking out. Incidentally, The Bicycle Muse is about to start carrying the Yakkay helmets that I have mentioned in the past are among the coolest bike helmets out there right now.
