Size MEDIUM LARGE Width 34 cm 43 cm Height 30 cm 33 cm Depth 10 cm 10 cm Volume 12 l 15 l Weight 1450 g 1550 g
In 1910 John Boultbee and his son Wilfred Mason Brooks filed two patents related to improvements in satchels, knapsacks and the like. Both these patents guaranteed more equal distribution of the load over the straps and more stability of the bag whilst cycling. With this in mind we developed our new BARBICAN Shoulder Bag, featuring a shoulder belt which can be easily secured around the waist during the ride. The belt is the innovative part of this bag. Once adjusted to the desired length, depending on the height and waist of the cyclist, the belt can be kept loose to carry the bag over or across the shoulder while walking. For increased stability during the ride, the belt can be easily fastened around the waist simply pulling the two ends of the belt and locking them at the center with the “Sam Brown” fixing. Water Resistant Cotton Fabric and Vegetable Tanned Leather from Europe
Made in China
*Cost excludes shipping
I have seen it first time on the eurobike fair in Friedrichshafen. Just great! My Barbican arrived today and i think, i´ll get a lot of fun whíth it.
Dear BROOKS afficionatos, in my very humble opinion there is no question about a logo on the BARBICAN! It must be cleary visible! and should be worn with a certain amount of pride and joy to have it. Who is lameting about those wimpy Ladie s bags labelled "Gina George and Lucy"? Nobody! No one starts a discussion about it. The LOGO is part of the bag! You should be proud to show it! Best regards and keep on riding your BROOKS saddle.
My Barbican got part of my life. When I leave home or my office it is my permanent companion. All bags which I used before are dispelled into the wardrobe and won´t see light soon again. Since my Barbican got my one and only it accommodates my lucky stone, a black shiest from Lausitz. I love this bag because it is so special and stands out from the crowd of bags. I enjoy the wearing comfort in all circumstances. The belt is genial. Especially for riding my bike and at the airport it is very convenient to carry the bag close to the body. Also when I´m out with my little son it is just perfect that the bag doesn´t shift and I have free hands for Julius.
I have four bags which I combine to my outfit. After I have worn the Barbican for a little bit the leather of the shoulder belt got soft and I like to wear my Barbican very much because it snuggles nicely to my waist especially when I close the Sam Brown fixing. But I don´t ride my bike often so usually I carry the Barbican as a messenger bag when I walk through the city. All the inside and side pockets I like best because mostly I use the Barbican as an office bag.
Primarily I use my Barbican when I ride my bike. The Barbican is a space miracle: sportswear, beach towel or shopping – everything fits in. Even if I buy lots of vegetables and fruits at the Viktualienmarkt there is still room in the bag. The zipper pocket at the outside of the bag is very convenient for not loosing important things. I always store my cell phone, money and keys in it.
I bike pretty much everywhere I go – I can’t even remember the last time I had to use the Tube. I like Brooks stuff because it always works and it always looks great. The bike I’m riding in these photos is my 1952 Holdsworth Zephyr (an old English track bike), and of course I bought a Brooks saddle for it. When the Barbican bags came out, I thought, “I gotta get one of those!” I like that it’s a modern design that’s also really in tune with the Brooks heritage. It looks cool without being too fussy or technical. And like a saddle, the leather bits take a while to wear in and get comfortable. It doesn’t quite have enough functionality to be my everyday bag – for that, I use a proper courier bag – but I keep my Barbican bag as my second ‘dressy’ bag. I use it when I need to go somewhere and don’t want to look like such a scrub when I arrive. It comes to a lot of client meetings with me, and because it’s so well-padded, it has also become my default laptop bag. I love it.
My name is Jacqui and I am partner in an events company. Our clients are people who are accustom to the very best and expect quality. That’s something I can relate to. I chose a Brooks Professional for my Mercian because of its legendary lifespan, I kept meeting people who’d had had their saddles for 20, 30 even 40 years and who swore that it was the most comfortable saddle they owned. It didn’t hurt that Brooks is a quintessentially English brand that complimented the heritage aesthetic of my Mercian. The Brooks Barbican bag filled a gap in my accessory collection; it’s smart enough to take into meetings and thanks to the strapping system I can ride with it. When a very fashion conscious non-cycling client commented how much he liked my bag I knew I had chosen wisely!
I've been cycling since I was about 8 years old. When I was a kid it was how I explored the area around my house, it gave me real freedom to roam and discover new things on my own terms. That never changed and that's still what I love about cycling now. Nothing beats getting on my bike with no real idea of where I'm going to end up, just that I am going to have a great time finding out. it's still just as exciting as it always was, just that now older, wiser and with bigger calf muscles I can get a lot further and see a lot more. I first came across Brooks when my wife and I decided to do a grand tour of South America by bike. We knew that we'd be going along some pretty rough roads, heavily loaded and miles away from the closest LBS so we put out own bikes together. We spent a lot of time planning an trying to get the most appropriate components, stuff that was reliable, easy to work on and that we had some chance of fixing or replacing in the smallest Bolivian pueblo. When it came to the saddles, it seemed that Brooks were the only real option: tough, comfortable and the only saddle I'd want to be sitting on for that length of time. While other cyclists we met had problems with their gel or padded saddles, we rode from Ushuia to Cusco without a chaff or blister. In London, daily cycling is more restricted to the commute to work but Brooks stuff works just as well: comfortable, practical, hard wearing and (more importantly in London) good looking as well! The Millbrook bar bag and Barbican courier bag have both received a lot of attention... especially the bar bag: people stop me just so that they can touch it and see if it is real (seriously, this has happened 3 or 4 times now).
On a daily basis I carry 'stuff' but I also like to look good when I do it. The more stuff you put in a Barbican they better they look, and the more you appreciate the micro adjustment available on the shoulder strap. The leather pads which comes into contact with your back remind me of a bespoke performance detail that you devise with your favourite tailor, occasionally others might get to see it but its there essentially to make your life that much more comfortable and… luxurious. Having a bag that performs as well as it looks is a win, win situation for me.
My name is Max Knight. I'm a 23 year old artist from London. Bicycles and art are passions of mine and it’s nice to find a way to combine them. I've been making strange bicycles for a few years now and there is nothing I love doing more. I welded together my tallbike from a couple of scrapped bikes. It’s good fun to ride around London. I think Brooks saddles are cool, and my girlfriend’s bum looks great sitting on one! The Barbican Bag that they make is great, it fits my angle grinder in it with some other tools!
This bag is absolutely brilliant. I use it every day to go to work by bike. It wears a bit like like the saddles, becoming more beautiful and comfortable with time. The shoulder pad in fact was a bit hard for a couple of months. Then it got softer and shaped to my soulders. Differently than my previous "messenger bag", a Freitag "Rex", the Barbican can be worn on both shoulders, as it is symmetrical. Many cycle bags in fact are designed for messengers, and can be worn only on one of the shoulders, either right or left, which in my case is a limit. Commuting for 20-30 minutes with my laptop and other heavy stuff in the bag, I like to switch shoulder after a while, as I stop at one of the many traffic lights. It took me a while to figure out how the belf works, as it needs quite some adjustment. You should provide some technical explanations. What I particularly appreciate about the belt is that it both prevents the bag from moving while cycling and it also truely distributes some of the weight around the waist, relieving the shoulder. One improvement I would recommend is the closing system. The small magnets don't hold when the bag is full. Maybe some stronger magnets? Thanks for a great product.
Having read the comments on this board I wonder why people even left them they seem bitter and vindictive without justification. That's one of the problems with the internet. I am an actual owner of a BARBICAN bag. I was able to purchase it at cost from a dealer due to the the exchange rates, here in Canada the bag costs over $640 in stores. The dealer sat on 3 of them for over a year. Took one home and sold the other two at his cost. Even at cost it was a debated purchase. I agree I would like to see more leather mostly the front flap. I love the bag it is functional, rugged and damn smart looking, seriously the jabs at the size of the label...it is not that much of an issue. Why does it bother so much? It is smooth and classy. Maybe an embossed leather tag would do the trick but it is a nice contemporary touch. I sincerely think the people that complain like that are in no way prospective customers. The padding at the back and the way the bag cinches at the waist are brilliant. Functional and well made and about the same price or less than a comparable bag (which there are very few of).
Of course these bags are expensive. Quality always is. You can always find someone who makes things cheaper. But sheer quality and beauty - gently improving as the item gets older - is still appreciated by the buyer long, long after the cost has been forgotten.
Q > I'm loving this bag - the idea behind the strap and the design is illy. Will you be releasing anymore messenger bags of this type with same/similar strap concept but perhaps with another base design? Why? I want one, but in a different base design perhaps...
A > More bags will come in 2010 and 2011.
This is the best and unique bag I ever had: no compromise
I always use my Barbican when I drive my bike to my studio. The bag is huge but when I fix the belly belt I don´t even feel the bag because it perfectly adapts to my body. Everything gently fits into the bag: my casebook, power book and writing case. I put my cell phone in the little side bag with zipper. The bag is very functional and enormous convenient. Honestly I have to say that I wear the Barbican even if I´m not by bike or Vespa on the road but by foot. Because everything fits into it Barbican is my lovely indispensable companion.
I use my Barbican for almost everything and carried lots of different things in it: laptop, spices and champagne for example. I'm a chef after all. I wear my Barbican when I drive my motorbike and also when I just take the car. Unfortunately the lap of the bag opens when I drive faster than 100km/h with my motorbike because there are only magnets to close the bag. Anyhow I love my Barbican because it offers me to travel 40 years back in time which is very worthy. I´m the person who loves special things not everybody has. And the Barbican is one of those things.
I don´t need much words to describe why I love my Barbican: It is very tough and indestructible, has a unique nostalgia design and is perfect to carry a Laptop. But it is also proper to do grocery shopping with it.
I am the cofounder, along with Kirsty McDougall, of Dashing Tweeds a weave based design, clothing and fabric label. Dashing Tweeds came about because I was unable to find the type of fabrics and clothes I wished to wear while cycling around London on my way to meetings and photo shoots. We have designed urban tweeds to fit with the colours of London and created a reflective tweed we call Lumatwill. A major part of the business is selling suit lengths of cloth to tailors around London from Savile Row to The City. By far the best way to get around is by bike. I love my kronan, every morning I carry two kids 4 and 6 years old to school. Hector the 4 year old sits on the back and Amelia 6 on a cross bar seat. Their home work fits perfectly in the Barbican Bag and the straps stop it swinging around while cycling the heavy load. On a typical day I change from my more colourful school run tweed cycle outfit to one which looks more elegant in the West End. I detach the rear kids seat and the paniers fit quickly and securely to the back of the bike. I can fit enough tweed for over 4 suits in them and then with the shoulder bag containing a camera and sample bunch I head off to town.
Q > Hello, is your BARBICAN Messenger Bag produced in England or somewhere else? Regards, Ingo
A > No, it is not. Brooks have not been producing bags for many decades, therefore we have not the skills and machinery to produce them in Smethwick, England. Brooks are doing their best to keep production in the UK and in Europe, but nowadays some products are hardly manufactured in the old continent with the quality standards required to be Brooks products and at the price most cyclists are willing to accept for their equipment. We still make all our saddles in England and many other products in Europe. Regarding our bags some, including the Barbican and Brick Lane, are made in China. We wish to inform you that we are still lookin for possible partners in the UK or Europe, as this seem to be a popular concern.
Q > It's a shame the color combination featured in your catalogue - asphalt bag with brown leather - is not available for purchase. Why is that?
A > Why don't we make any with honey leather, then? We simply can't make all possible colour combinations, can we? :)
Q > Hello, i have a question, can you send me a adress from a shop in Germany where can look all the cycle bags before i buy this produkt.
A > Please find a dealer list under the section "OUR STOCKISTS". Not many dealers are listed, but those who are rated 5 or 6 rivets should have the bags. Please call the one closest to your hometown and ask if they stock the BARBICAN.
Q > I would like to have one. It looks fancy and solid. Anyone knows where I can purchase it in The Netherlands?
A > Our dealer database will be online soon. For the moment please ask our distributor, AGU bv.
Q > Will you be making the your selection of large bags and panniers in additional colours? I have a honey saddle, and would like something to match that has an actual capacity to transport things. Thank you!
A > For the moment we have no plan in making more colours. Maybe one more, but not with honey leather.
COMMENT > I think if you are seriously going to charge £230 for a bag, the very LEAST you can do is offer a variety of views of the item. Lets face it the high street bike shops arent really stocking these so given that VERY simple fact why not push the boat out guys and do something a bit crazy ! Lets try to actually SELL EM ! Good idea ? Thought so
REPLY > We actually selling them, as you may read in the left column :)
Q > Is the bag weatherproof?
A > Water-resistant!
Q > Very interested in getting this bag but I need to know which size to get. I plan on carrying a 15" macbook along with some college books and papers. Can i get away with a M or do I need to get a L?
A > I am using both sizes of the bag. I also carry a 15'' MacBookPro and it fits in both along with other stuff. The large is slightly more comfortable to have extra books and papers.
Q > Is it possible to see inside the bag? Are there compartments?
A > The bag has 2 compartments. Soon we will upload more views and some slides to show the bag better.
I looks like a beautiful, well made bag. But why the big Brooks logo? I really like your products, but refuse to ride about town looking like an advertising billboard. Is there a chance this design 'oversigh' might be corrected in newer models?
Q - I'm in sales and carry a laptop computer. Which bag is suited for me - M or L? What padding, if any, accommodates a laptop computer? Many thanks. Gorgeous product!
A - Both the Medium and the Large fit a 15-inch PC. If you have a 17-inch PC we recommend the Large BARBICAN.
Q > Hello, how is it closed ?
A > The flap closes with magnets, but there is a little leather strap with "Sam Brown" fixing to secure the 2 big compartments.
Q > Is this bag designed to carry a computer and if so, which size is most suitable-M or L?
A > It depends on the size of your computer. My MacBook fits in both, but it is a 15-inch. If you have a 17-inch, I would choose the L size. Andrea
Q > What is inside the Bag, Compartments for Handy or so ?
A > The interior is devided in two parts, although the design will change soon. The bag is padded both on the bottom and on the rear side. On the front under the flap there are some pockets for your mobile phone, pens, business cards, etc. There is also a pocket with zip fastener for documents. Soon we will upload more pictures with detail views.
Q > Hi, Is the body of this bag leather or fabric? A > The body of the bag is made of fabric. Leather would make the bag far too heavy!
Q > I already have a Brooks swift saddle and a leather bar tape on my bicycle. They're both great products. Now i'm thinking about buing the Barbican Messenger Bag i think it look's wonderful. Is the bag made in England as yours saddles?
A > The standard Barbican messenger bags are made in China. In a few weeks we will release a few leather versions of the Barbican which are made in Italy.
Q> How about making a trouser WAIST belt? Yes, I know it's not strictly a cycling item but with all that expertise with leather I bet that it would be a winner.........size 34" please!
A> Maybe as a gadget...
Q > How is the interior divided? Is there a sleeve for a laptop?
A > The interior is devided in two parts, although the design will change soon. The bag is padded both on the bottom and on the rear side. Soon we will upload more pictures with detail views.
Q > Is the bag waterproof?
A > Not properly waterproof, but water resistant.
Q > Sure is nice on the OUTSIDE, but what about inside? Pockets? Compartments? What's "under the hood"?
A > See the other replies we posted.
Q > Do you have the address of shops who stock barbican messenger bag, I would like to look at one before I buy it.
A > Please visit "OUR STOCKISTS" section.
I really wanted to buy the Barbican but the logo is really annoying. I don't want to pay for something that is an extra advertising for a company for free. It feels like I would pay twice or fell victim to fashon like many people who just want to show off with their expensive products/brands. A really good company stands out with it's quality of products and therefore mouth propaganda and doesn't need big logos on their products. The day the logo disappears from the Barbican, I will buy it, I promise. Until then I stay with my Brooks saddle.
REPLY > Some of our products are not MADE IN ENGLAND and this fact is an issue for some. The MADE IN CHINA is an issue for more people, so we just added three new BARBICAN bags which are MADE IN ITALY. We hope this won't create further issues, as Italians have a fairly good reputation in manufacturing leather goods. The BARBICAN LAETHER bags don't have the big logo, which caused another debate. We look forward to receiving orders from those who complained about one of the mentioned issues!
COMMENT > Just encouraging you to continue your search for a solution to having the bags made in china. I have gotten to the point where I refuse to but what should be "collectables" there. I was about to purchase one of your bags for a very good friend but to give them a nice bag that says "made in china" on it just won't cut it.... I recently went through a USA based motorcycle company store (Yes I proudly ride one! -I won't say the name but there are only so many to choose from!) -- everything was twice what it should have cost becuase it had their logo but was made in china. Come on! Keep up the search and let me know when you have someting, I will place my order that day! -- Big logo or not....
COMMENT > It really is a beautiful looking bag... except for the logo. I can see it's already been mentioned several times below, but thought I'd better add my two cents. Hopefully Brooks will release a more subtle version in the future.
REPLY > We will release a more discreet version.
Q > Any chance of rigging this with a hand grip, as well, in addition to shoulder strap - maybe as a simple option. Thanks
A > Not for the moment. We will make a briefcase in a while.
Brooks stands for quality, style and heritage. The Barbican messenger bag stands for quality and heritage however, with the huge "Brooks" stamped on the flap , fails terribly in style. A badge, similar to the one used in the saddles, could be placed on the bottom right corner: it would still show it Brook's heritage with style and discretion ( the product speaks for itself, without the need of being loud). The big "Brooks" stamped on the side is vulgar, and it is "pimping" a stylish and classy bag.
Q > I agree with the others. I'd been interested in purchasing one if the logo was much more discreet. Would it be that hard to do a run without a logo?
A > We will put one for sale on the internet with a small logo during the winter of 2009. Let's see which of the 2 sells most!
Q > I agree, the logo should be removed. a tasteful stamped steel one on the inside such as is on the saddle would be cool, but the bag is too classic for that big logo on it. also, how does it stay closed? magnets?
A > Yes, magnets.
Q > You say, "Good products seem expensive before you buy them. After using them you appreciate their value and understand why they cost." Actually, I usually understand and appreciate the value of things BEFORE I buy them. If I don't, I dont' buy them. What YOU should do is explain to people why the heck that bag is worth 4x the usual bag, seeing that it costs 4x as much.
A > A lot of people seem to undestand it without much explanation. The cheap bags you are talking about are not made of high quality canvas and leather. They normally are made of synthetic materials. And they have not the metal accessories. Mostly it's plastic, which is normally cheaper :)
Q > Would it be posible to order one without the logo? I love the bag, but I liked the pictures I've seen of a logo-less model
A > Could anyone argue why they really like the BIG LOGO? We did run a survey and most people liked the logo. So why doesn't anybody speak in favour of it? Thanks from the BROOKS TEAM!
COMMENT > I agree with Karl. This is a beautiful bag and I would definitely buy it if the logo wasn't so large and obvious.
REPLY > Is this such a concern? Should we possibly release a version without the logo? Anyway we have all been using the bags in the office and after one year the logo tends to be less visible. What a pity :)
COMMENT > I agree with Karl - It would be worth purchasing if it didn't have a massive brand logo across it. While you say this bag is 'no compromise' i'd say it is comprimised by the big logo. Why would I pay £260+ to be your advert??? Try being more understated please.
REPLY > We understand that like in all other matters of life, there are different opinions. Other people are proud to "wear" the logo, as BROOKS is not a big, anonimous and boring brand like many other... (not sure this makes totally sense, but we did a survey with over 200 people before making the decision!)
QUESTION > Is this bag outrageously expensive, or is it just ridiculously expensive?
ANSWER > Good products seem expensive before you buy them. After using them you appreciate their value and understand why they cost.
Its a beautiful bag. I checked it out at a store here in Switzerland. It would be worth purchasing if you hadn't put such a huge logo on the front. I don't want to be your advertisement.
Such a LARGE logo is a no no no!!! and a total put off for such an expensive bag... very cute though but if I had to carry advertisement around like I was a London cab then I should get paid for that privilege. I would not object if it just came with one of those little metal badges like the original ones in the saddle...
REPLY > All of us at BROOKS and lots of our dealers have been using the BARBICAN for much longer than 2 months. Personally I have been using it for 2 years. I did not experience nor heard of the problems you mention... Andrea || BROOKS
CLAIM > Bought the bag a couple of months ago, wasn't cheap. It looks great, has a lot of space and is easy to use, especially on a bike. But the (very) bad thing is, you simply can't use it when you're wearing knitwear, cardigans, T-shirts and other cotton clothes. Why? Because the fabric of the bag chafes on the cloth and roughens it. Result: a lot of cotton lint/fuzz. Ruined several cardigans and T-shirts (some expensive designer shirts as well...) till I found out, that it's because of the bag... So I'm forced to buy another bag for daily use. Huge disappointment!