TRANSIT

Moving On

Thank you

Some of you know that I recently finished my undergrad at GSU, and that I just entered the Masters in International Business program.  I've held off on making this announcement for a while, but I think now on the eve of the FM 24 hour race the timing is right.  From this point forward I'm not going to be making new bags.  I have immensely enjoyed providing you all with custom locally made gear.  I have learned a great deal from this little experiment we call Transit.  That's part of why I'm shutting down at this time.  I've learned a lot about what it wouldrequire to take this endeavor to the next level, and given my current investment in higher education I have neither the time or the financial resources to expand.   

I will be keeping my equipment and will continue to independently work on bag design.  I am happy to share my experience with up and coming bag makers, and am more than willing to refer anyone who is interested to other small producers I've had contact with over the years.  I will also continue to provide service for the bags that I have made to anyone who requires a repair. 

Thank you all so much for your faith in me,
Lynn

(photo credit, psd)

 

A Hip Bag to Match Gabe's Messenger

Gabe back

Gabe inside

Gabriel hip bag

Gabe is a tech student that I made a navy and white messenger bag for about a year ago.  Recently he decided that he needed a hip bag to match.

This is the result.  The vinyl inside is actually a Ga. Tech Banner that Scott found and brought by for recycling.  I really like the tech colored stars on that blue background. 

Jessica's Bag

Jessica bag

Jessica saw a bag that I made for another customer floating around Emory's campus and decided she wanted one just like it. 

Well not quite just like it.  Her bag has dual front three dimensional pockets, and the ATL skyline screen and she had me tilt one of the pockets like JP's bag for easy access. 

Gotta go with what you really like. 

Scott's Multicolored Bag

Scott front

Scotts bag

Scott's bag is pretty custom.  He wanted an extra long flap on the front, which I'm happy to do for whoever would like that option. 

Also, Scott scrounged up some sewable black reflective striping which I sewed on under the edging for a really finished look.

Enjoy friend!

Neon Orange

Orange fabric

I just got in some neon orange fabric which I'm hoping some of you will want to put to creative and wonderful uses.  I've got a hip bag in the works, and I'll update as soon as I get it done so you can see how something this bright looks when it's all put together.  In the mean time though, if you want to be visible, know that I've got you covered. 

SOPO Sponsor Bag, Broken Hearts

Sopo broken hearts

Here's the bright yellow bag that I made for this year's Broken Hearts and Bicycle Parts race.  I love the yellow and black, and that SOPO sheep is soooo cute. 

(Whoever won, enjoy!!!!)

Two Wheels Good. Ha.

Annah's Bag

Annah worked with my on some of the eariest versions of the current messenger bag.  She actually made one of her own on the old tredle sewing machine that I had before buying the big industrial machine that I now use.  A few months ago she came for a visit and we spent the day picking out and cutting fabric for this bag.  Well, it's finally done, and it looks great.  The flap is overlayed with a piece of Moda vinyle showing an Atlanta building and a set of lungs, symbolizing the living city.  The bag itself features double 3d pockets, double compression straps with metal lower buckles, side pockets, and an X strap for stablizing huge loads.  Annah lives in Philadelphia these days and I'm happy to have one of my bags gracing that city's streets.   

Grad School Bag

MBA Bag

As some of you know, on top of making these fabulous messenger bags, I also go to school full time.  Well, I'm nearly done with a degree in International Economics and Spanish.  I've been applying to a number of MBA programs. 

There's more to making bags than just making the bags, so I'm working hard on getting the skills to provide even better service and quality.  Anyway, this is a bag that I sent off with one of my applications.  It's one of my best, and when they're done with it, it's supposed to get shipped to SOPO to find a home with someone who needs a bag. 

I owe many thanks for all the people who have given me the opportunity to spend my time making these great recycled bags.  It's good work, and I'm happy to know that my bags are finding good homes. 

Graham's Grey Beauty.

Graham

Here's Graham with his brand new bag.  It features double reflective stripping, an easy access angled 3d pocket under the flap, bottom compression straps, and bright yellow webbing. 

Graham caught the brunt of my slowness over the last couple of months and and I owe him my thanks for keeping faith in me. 

Like I said though, with Diana's help I've gotten caught up, and will be able to provide this kind of bag with a shorter wait time from here on out. 

 

Suspension System

Suspension system

This is just a short video to show you how a few of the main features of my regular messenger bags, and explain how the suspension system works.  The number of straps is a little intimidating so I thought physical demonstration would help clear things up. 

Diana

Diana

So as some of you know, I was more than a little behind for a couple of months there this winter.  I've solved the problem.  Diana, pictured as left is helping me out once a week, and we've fought the backlog back down to a reasonable level together.  Diana is a fabulous knitter, a creative seamstress, and a snappy crafty dresser.  In short she's just the kind of help I needed.  We've also put a lot of time into improving our efficiency and streamlining our cutting and sewing processes so you'll be able to get higher quality stuff faster.  Wait times from order to completion right now are about a month. It's good news all the way around.

Nannette's hip bag.

Hip bag

This is a hip bag that I built for Nannette, a local cyclist here in ATL.  It's got all the usual bells and whistles, and should provide years of faithful service. 

First Black President

Thank you America, now the work begins.  We can be great, YES WE CAN.

Jay's wide loads

Jay's wide loads

Jay's wide loads

Jay's wide loads

Jay's wide loads

How much can you fit in one of my bags?  I often get this question, and my stock answer is: too much to reasonably carry.  Here's proof. 

Here's how Jay describes what's stuffed in his bag. 

The first ones show my bag with a laser-jet network printer and a ream
of paper plus my normal load of a spare tube, pump, wrench, iPod,
phone charger, notepad, lights, camera (though not in my bag while taking pictures), whatever book I'm reading and random sundries.

The other ones have all the normal load plus my 15" MacBook and
charger, 5lbs bag of dog food, box of treats (tucked under a side
compression strap) and a 30 pack of PBR.

What kind of crazy things have you recently carried in a bag that I made?  Hit me with some pictures and I'll put them up for all the world to see.  What can you fit?

The winner of the FM men's solo distance category

Eddie O

Eddie edged out Mouhamed this year for the most laps by a male solo rider.  He rode an astonishing 32 laps.  That's 384 miles.  Almost double what I rode.  The custom recycled bag went to Eddie.  Enjoy, I know that you've earned it. 

Sorry about the lousy picture, I didn't have it in me to get up and get a better one. 

Props

Thanks so much to Alex who flew in from London to drag my sorry self along for something like seven consecutive one hour laps to accomplish this task.  Thanks also to all the people who comprise FM.  You are awesome. Shout outs particularly go Christopher, Kirk, and Chris Kelly's crew of computer engineers who make all of the technical aspects of the race possible.  Thanks to Mike at the Elliot street pub for and my friends Josh and Amy who stayed into the wee hours of the night cheering me on. Thanks to team Fahrrabgemeinschaft who made me feel at home and fed me peanut butter goos and other delicacies. Connie, thank you for you floor.  Those two hours of sleep meant the world.    Thanks to my opponents. Amelia (13 laps) thanks for you friendship and for showing me so many times that it's possible to ride a century.  Emily (20 laps) without you to chase I wouldn't have ever made the double century mark. Finally thanks to my insane friend Kyle for sharing his insane solo riding dream with me.  Kyle it's your fault that I'm officially crazy.    

Fuel

So I raced further and faster than I thought possible at this years 24 hour race.  17 laps x 12 miles each=204 miles. 
On a single speed.  Seriously.  I'm sore. 
What does one consume to go that kind of distance?

Three footlong subway sandwiches. 
As much peanut butter as I could stuff in my mouth
One delicious sandwich from the Elliot Street Bar
A gallon and a half of Gatorade
Salt tablets (thanks to Johnathan)
A bunch of electrolyte jellies and goos (thanks to David)
A bowel of oatmeal
One package of Indian dal
Three cookies

After the race:
Half a gallon of Gatorade
One three omelet with toast
hot chocolate
1lb pasta with red sauce
lots of vitamin I

Race Results