www.cleavelandmountaineering.com
Custom bikepacking gear sewn in Grand Junction, CO.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Get some Everything Bags
Materials are in stock (December 2018) for a limited run of Everything Bags. Also I just received another batch of cnc machined fork mounts. Order now, while supplies last, before I shut up the shop permanently.
www.cleavelandmountaineering.com
www.cleavelandmountaineering.com
Friday, January 26, 2018
NEW WEBSITE LIVE
The new website is LIVE. Now you can actually place orders online directly rather than having to email me first! Note custom frame bags are no longer available, I will only be making stock items that no one else makes. This will allow me to better keep up with orders.
Check it out at www.cleavelandmountaineering.com
Enter Coupon Code Old Blog for free shipping until March 31!
Thanks everyone for your support!
Check it out at www.cleavelandmountaineering.com
Enter Coupon Code Old Blog for free shipping until March 31!
Thanks everyone for your support!
Thursday, December 7, 2017
New Website, New Mount
Coming soon, Cleaveland Mountaineering will be moving to a real website with real shopping cart. The ONLY products will be Everything Bags and accessories. I also intend to keep a few bags in stock for fast order fulfillment.
With a busy engineering day job and a growing family, this is the best option for me. I've made a few tweaks to the production process that make sewing faster, easier, and more professional looking. The bag has a spot to tie a short cord from the bottom of the bag to the lower strap. This keeps softer cargo from creeping down and squishing through the gap (cord is currently not provided with the bag).
Also, I designed a new and improved hose clamp mount, and had my favorite local machine shop CNC them. There are three tapped M5.08 holes that the bag (or bottle cage) mounts to and cutouts that fit the body of a hose clamp inside them. This tucks the bulky body of the clamp out of the way and makes installation a breeze and there's one less thing to scratch your leg on. The new CNC mount will be $20 per mount including 3 stainless steel hose clamps.
The Everything Bag with new CNC mount (or fork with threaded holes) is a very robust and versatile way to carry gear on your fork (or downtube or other creative places on unusual bikes!). Treat it like an oversized water bottle holder or a lightweight low-rider front rack.
I have a few sets of bags and CNC mounts in inventory now, contact me at jeremycleaveland@gmail.com to order (before the new website is operational).
With a busy engineering day job and a growing family, this is the best option for me. I've made a few tweaks to the production process that make sewing faster, easier, and more professional looking. The bag has a spot to tie a short cord from the bottom of the bag to the lower strap. This keeps softer cargo from creeping down and squishing through the gap (cord is currently not provided with the bag).
Also, I designed a new and improved hose clamp mount, and had my favorite local machine shop CNC them. There are three tapped M5.08 holes that the bag (or bottle cage) mounts to and cutouts that fit the body of a hose clamp inside them. This tucks the bulky body of the clamp out of the way and makes installation a breeze and there's one less thing to scratch your leg on. The new CNC mount will be $20 per mount including 3 stainless steel hose clamps.
The Everything Bag with new CNC mount (or fork with threaded holes) is a very robust and versatile way to carry gear on your fork (or downtube or other creative places on unusual bikes!). Treat it like an oversized water bottle holder or a lightweight low-rider front rack.
I have a few sets of bags and CNC mounts in inventory now, contact me at jeremycleaveland@gmail.com to order (before the new website is operational).
Friday, November 17, 2017
Coming Soon!
Cleaveland Mountaineering will NOT be closing, despite the previous post's claim. Instead, I will be opening a "real" website and will be outsourcing much of the sewing to local Grand Junction, CO seamstresses with extended experience in the outdoor industry. I will no longer offer custom frame bags, just Everything Bags, a new CNC machined hose clamp mount, and the stuff sack custom sized for the Everything Bag. Outsourcing will allow me more time to focus on marketing and customer service, and will shorten the lead time for my customers.
Thanks for your support!
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Everything Bags In Stock
Cleaveland Mountaineering has always been intended to be a part time business, and I will likely taper it to zero on January 1. In that regard it has been quite successful, and fun to run. Its been a pleasure serving the bikepacking community. But now I have two energetic little boys, a "real job" with professional goals, and lots of other projects!
So, this is the time to order Everything Bags while you still can! I'm building a bunch of them to stock right now, ready to ship, and would like to reduce my materials inventory as much as possible.
The bags work great, and you can carry (almost) everything in them. The customer photo below shows the Everything Bag carrying a potted plant back from the garden store! I use them to carry a thermos to work all winter on the commuter bike.
To complete an order, email me jeremycleaveland (at) gmail (dot) com
So, this is the time to order Everything Bags while you still can! I'm building a bunch of them to stock right now, ready to ship, and would like to reduce my materials inventory as much as possible.
The bags work great, and you can carry (almost) everything in them. The customer photo below shows the Everything Bag carrying a potted plant back from the garden store! I use them to carry a thermos to work all winter on the commuter bike.
To complete an order, email me jeremycleaveland (at) gmail (dot) com
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
New Everything Bag Mount Testing!
Ever since I came up with the Everything Bag I've been searching for the "perfect" mount that would secure it to any fork or frame. In the name of continuous product improvement, I've searched for that mount, and keep circling closer.
The idea mount would
For a while I sold P clamps, which function well enough, but failed in several points. First, they are diameter specific so I have to inventory several sizes and have to ask each customer what size I need to send. Then if the customer changes what bike they put it on, they need another set of p clamps! Also the p clamps offset the bag from the fork, which bugged the machinist inside me.
Next, I came up with a better mount, involving a strip of aluminum, with three M5x0.8 tapped holes. This bolted to the bag, and 2 or 3 hose clamps secured it to the bike. This worked better but involved fabrication on my end, and was harder to set up. Also, the hose clamp tails are sharp! The mount was very rigid, noticeably more than the p clamps.
A month or two ago, a customer alerted me to a product out of Germany that he used to hold his Everything Bags on with, so I looked up the product, liked what I saw, with a few reservations, but contacted the company anyway. They responded quickly and offered to send me a pair, for free, to test out with my product. Sweet!
I've been commuting to work with it for a couple weeks (probably 200 miles on it now), with no issues, and put in some miles on the mountain bike trails too, with good results. My confidence is growing.
The mount consists of a molded plastic bit with a vee shape that secures to the fork/frame with a rubberized velcro strap. I was initially skeptical of the holding power of these straps. The bag bolts to either two or three of these mounts. Swapping the assembly between bikes is very fast, with no tools needed.
I took the Krampus off this drop, with a 1 liter Nalgene on just the left side of the fork. The bike flew fine, the bag mount held just fine. The only problem was my confidence, since this was the biggest thing I've dropped in a while....
I'm planning to switch permanently to this mount, details will be forthcoming.
Its called the SKS Anywhere Mount. The mount will of course work with any other bottle cage mount out there, and can go many places on your bike, recumbent, tricycle, whatever! Its a very handy little device.
Further experimenting will include putting a 2 liter bottle in there, and using a hose clamp on instead of the velcro strap to see how that works. The hose clamp would be an optional extra for heavy loads and long distances, offering a bit more security to the bag.
This bag is off for some touring in Baja.
I use two zipper sliders on all main zippers. This costs me a bit more, but results in a better product. Zippers tend to fail when the wedge in the slider wears too thin. The first fix is to use the other zipper pull! You've gotta open the bag from the other end, but your stuff stays in. The next fix is to get your pliers and gently squeeze the worn slider side plates a tiny bit tighter. This often helps. The main zippers are all heavy duty #10 YKK water resistant zippers.
The zipper pulls are nice fat parachute cord, with two knots, so you can grab it easily with puffy mittens and cold hands. No puny thin zipper pulls for me!
The bag is nice and simple, with just a few highly practical features - left map pocket, reflective tape, hydration port, and pump straps inside under the top tube.
Nice and clean.
And now for a few shots from recent personal adventures
For you Grand Junctionites, this is a traverse from Mt Garfield to Tellerico Trail, above the Bookcliffs. About 20+ miles of walking, with no water and no easy bailout, with a wee bit of route finding fun in the middle.
Funny sign I came across, after bushwacking for an hour or two through where the nonexistent trails where supposed to exist. "Thanks, now you tell me!"
I came across a good deal on a rusty old Stanley #4 Bench Plane. Knowing the fun and utility of a good plan, I picked it up, and went about restoring it. Two tricks I learned in the process. To remove rust from old steel tools, just submerse it in vinegar with some salt (the salt increases the acidity) overnight. The rust wipes right off with a green scrubby, leaving nice shiny metal! The vinegar also worked on the brass bits, I only left them in for an hour.
The wooden handles where old, dried out, and the paint was in bad shape. So I sanded them down, and, not wanting to buy a jug of linseed oil, tried Vasoline instead. It took a day to soak it in, then you've got to wipe off the extra. But now it works fine and looks good too.
That's all for now folks. Thanks for checking in.
The idea mount would
- Hold the bag to any diameter tubing
- Hold the bag rigidly
- Be simple to install and swap to other bikes
- Be light and low profile
- Economic pricing
- No custom fabrication
- Mounts the bag "on center" with the fork leg or frame tube
For a while I sold P clamps, which function well enough, but failed in several points. First, they are diameter specific so I have to inventory several sizes and have to ask each customer what size I need to send. Then if the customer changes what bike they put it on, they need another set of p clamps! Also the p clamps offset the bag from the fork, which bugged the machinist inside me.
Next, I came up with a better mount, involving a strip of aluminum, with three M5x0.8 tapped holes. This bolted to the bag, and 2 or 3 hose clamps secured it to the bike. This worked better but involved fabrication on my end, and was harder to set up. Also, the hose clamp tails are sharp! The mount was very rigid, noticeably more than the p clamps.
A month or two ago, a customer alerted me to a product out of Germany that he used to hold his Everything Bags on with, so I looked up the product, liked what I saw, with a few reservations, but contacted the company anyway. They responded quickly and offered to send me a pair, for free, to test out with my product. Sweet!
I've been commuting to work with it for a couple weeks (probably 200 miles on it now), with no issues, and put in some miles on the mountain bike trails too, with good results. My confidence is growing.
The mount consists of a molded plastic bit with a vee shape that secures to the fork/frame with a rubberized velcro strap. I was initially skeptical of the holding power of these straps. The bag bolts to either two or three of these mounts. Swapping the assembly between bikes is very fast, with no tools needed.
I took the Krampus off this drop, with a 1 liter Nalgene on just the left side of the fork. The bike flew fine, the bag mount held just fine. The only problem was my confidence, since this was the biggest thing I've dropped in a while....
I'm planning to switch permanently to this mount, details will be forthcoming.
Its called the SKS Anywhere Mount. The mount will of course work with any other bottle cage mount out there, and can go many places on your bike, recumbent, tricycle, whatever! Its a very handy little device.
Further experimenting will include putting a 2 liter bottle in there, and using a hose clamp on instead of the velcro strap to see how that works. The hose clamp would be an optional extra for heavy loads and long distances, offering a bit more security to the bag.
This bag is off for some touring in Baja.
I use two zipper sliders on all main zippers. This costs me a bit more, but results in a better product. Zippers tend to fail when the wedge in the slider wears too thin. The first fix is to use the other zipper pull! You've gotta open the bag from the other end, but your stuff stays in. The next fix is to get your pliers and gently squeeze the worn slider side plates a tiny bit tighter. This often helps. The main zippers are all heavy duty #10 YKK water resistant zippers.
The zipper pulls are nice fat parachute cord, with two knots, so you can grab it easily with puffy mittens and cold hands. No puny thin zipper pulls for me!
The bag is nice and simple, with just a few highly practical features - left map pocket, reflective tape, hydration port, and pump straps inside under the top tube.
Nice and clean.
And now for a few shots from recent personal adventures
For you Grand Junctionites, this is a traverse from Mt Garfield to Tellerico Trail, above the Bookcliffs. About 20+ miles of walking, with no water and no easy bailout, with a wee bit of route finding fun in the middle.
Funny sign I came across, after bushwacking for an hour or two through where the nonexistent trails where supposed to exist. "Thanks, now you tell me!"
I came across a good deal on a rusty old Stanley #4 Bench Plane. Knowing the fun and utility of a good plan, I picked it up, and went about restoring it. Two tricks I learned in the process. To remove rust from old steel tools, just submerse it in vinegar with some salt (the salt increases the acidity) overnight. The rust wipes right off with a green scrubby, leaving nice shiny metal! The vinegar also worked on the brass bits, I only left them in for an hour.
The wooden handles where old, dried out, and the paint was in bad shape. So I sanded them down, and, not wanting to buy a jug of linseed oil, tried Vasoline instead. It took a day to soak it in, then you've got to wipe off the extra. But now it works fine and looks good too.
That's all for now folks. Thanks for checking in.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Garage Sale, etc.
(Garage Sale items at end of post)
Since 2010, I have been pedaling with a "midfoot" position, that is, the pedal axle is underneath the center of my arch. I began doing this because of a calf overtraining issue, but now it has become habit. Last year I heard of an "innovative" platform pedal, and, wondering what it could be, checked out their website. I became more skeptical as I read, all they did was make the pedal wider.... that is, until I read why it was wider. The pedal is wider because it is designed to be placed midfoot, exactly how I had been riding. With a normal pedal midfoot, the pedal body is narrower than the arch. But with the Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedal, the platform is wide enough for the arch to be supported at both ends, just like an arch bridge's foundations. This results in a more comfortable pedal to stand on. Pedaling midfoot reduces stress on the calf muscles. The calf contributes almost no power to the pedal stroke, so this actually saves energy. The pedals work great and integrated flawlessly into how I ride.
Our child would throw rocks in the creek all day long.....
Meanwhile I tried to climb Dunsinane Mountain, which is completely trail less and seldom climbed... I got to the North Ridge, and didn't like the look of the loose rock scrambling ahead so turned back.
Ultralight Frame bag for Fisticuff 54 cm
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Since 2010, I have been pedaling with a "midfoot" position, that is, the pedal axle is underneath the center of my arch. I began doing this because of a calf overtraining issue, but now it has become habit. Last year I heard of an "innovative" platform pedal, and, wondering what it could be, checked out their website. I became more skeptical as I read, all they did was make the pedal wider.... that is, until I read why it was wider. The pedal is wider because it is designed to be placed midfoot, exactly how I had been riding. With a normal pedal midfoot, the pedal body is narrower than the arch. But with the Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedal, the platform is wide enough for the arch to be supported at both ends, just like an arch bridge's foundations. This results in a more comfortable pedal to stand on. Pedaling midfoot reduces stress on the calf muscles. The calf contributes almost no power to the pedal stroke, so this actually saves energy. The pedals work great and integrated flawlessly into how I ride.
Our child would throw rocks in the creek all day long.....
Meanwhile I tried to climb Dunsinane Mountain, which is completely trail less and seldom climbed... I got to the North Ridge, and didn't like the look of the loose rock scrambling ahead so turned back.
Garage Sale
All items are cash pay or Paypal, buyer pays shipping.Ultralight Frame bag for Fisticuff 54 cm
This frame bag is custom sewn for the Vassago Fisticuff 54 cm, but will also fit many similar sized cyclocross or road frames.
It weights a scant 4.5 ounces or so and is made from cuben fiber, for the ultimate in strength at low weight. It features a #8 YKK water resistant zipper, and reflective tape and bright orange color for commuter bike visibility. It secures to the frame with 1.5 mm cord (included) to save weight over using velcro, and experiment with the method. Each side of the bag has a small hole where the crank arms rubbed the bag (only when large hard sided objects where in the bag). More careful bag packing will prevent the problem from continuing. I can patch the holes before shipping. The zipper is in great shape.
Regular price new on this would be $150. Get it now for $75 including shipping to the 48 states.
Rare 29er V brake 240s wheelset!
There where only a handful of these rear hubs made by DT Swiss. It is a non-disc 240s rear hub with singlespeed cassette, 135mm quick release. Mike Curiak laced them up with butted spokes to Stans 355 29er rims, I got the wheelset used.
The unique wheelset is very light but ready for rough endurance riding, touring, commuting, or bikepacking on or off road.
The rear hub makes for a very strong wheel build because the non-disc and singlespeed cassette means the flange spacing is as wide as possible, giving the rear rim the best support from the spokes. This means a light weight rim will be stronger.
The front hub is a standard 240s non-disc hub.
Run it singlespeed, or with a few cogs from a cassette - I used 5 cogs from an 8 speed cassette.
Comes with Schwalbe Marathon Racer 35 mm tires and tubes, probably 90% tire life left.
Get this rare workhorse for about the cost of the rear hub - $325.
WTB Silverado and bike saddle
Only a couple hundred miles on it, doesn't work for me. $40.
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