Camera bag for a mountain bike

I was on a mission to build the best camera bag for my mountain bike. It must transport a 35mm SLR body and three lenses from wide angle to telephoto while protecting it from excessive shock and weather. Shown below I have a full size (Gitzo) fibre tripod secured to the down pipe with bungee anchored in a bottle cage. Its not ideal, but tripods are required if your paying £2k for a lens, so its better to humf one than curse blurry shots.

The camera bag lashed to the rear rack takes too long to open. Its a 25+ year-old Billingham canvas and leather bag and I love it, despite poor water resistance. I saw new bags at an Focus on Imaging in March 2012 and hated them –  rigid and too clean! I suggested, to the Billingham rep, they offer a stonewashed service that roughs-up the leather and adds  character creases. I received a dismissive look!

So this was my mountain bike camera bag and tripod rig of choice through 2012. Still not satisfied though…