In celebration of the visual and literary arts, we present you with our first annual gifted collection. The 2009 holiday season features an exclusive run of Swift.Industries bags illustrated by the artist Karl Addison, and includes a subscription to Wolverine Farm Publishing Company’s very own Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac.

For an interview with the illustrator, and to find out how to order your limited edition Gifted Package, please click here.

If you haven’t yet, please turn to http://www.pathlesspedaled.com to view a wonderful photo essay and interview with Martina, here at Swift. We think you’ll enjoy it as much as we do!

The holidays are quickly approaching. Click here to check out CycleSwift for some gift ideas. We’ve been posting friend’s and other projects that we think are really amazing, and would make wonderful presents this year!

are your bags waterproofed?

frequently responded answer:

Our panniers are all vinyl lined like the interior of a messenger bag (there is no extra fee). This makes them 98% waterproof…the hitch is that when we stitch through the vinyl it does puncture the seams and hence loses its efficiency. Companies like Ortleib heat seal or heat weld their fabric making them seamless, and hence totally waterproof.

We take measures to divert the water by putting a vinyl tubing along the seam which encourages the water that may enter down along the tubing and away from the interior of the bag and your belongings.

All that said, I commute 20 miles daily to my afternoon job, rain or shine, and have found dampness (as opposed to downright wetness) only twice: riding through two inches of street water.

It’s a totally valid concern to get picky about!

In Rain or Shine,

Martina and Goods

Dear Customers,

We’re delighted to offer you an upgraded mounting system!

We’ve been riding this new system since July, and have tested it on various racks and all sorts of terrain. We’re really happy with the results because the new system adds more tension to the entire mounting system, and is more adjustable to suit your unique set-up. Simply lengthen or shorten the shock cord by retying the knot in the appropriate place and you’ll get the all tension you need.

Also, we were really disappointed to learn that a customer had been on tour and the shock cord rivet had broken on a dirt road. With our new mounting system you can source replacement materials (shock cord and webbing) really easily when you’re on tour, and you don’t need some fancy part that only pannier companies have in stock ; )

The hardware is still our trusty Haulin Colin manufactured hooks.

Arkel Hardware  is also available for your Swift.Industries Bags. The Canadian pannier company kindly agreed to let us offer you  their wonderful mounting system on our bags. The Arkel Cam-Lock (r) Hook Kit costs an additional $48.00, and can be applied to all of our pannier models.

Cheers,

Martina and Goods

Well friends, I’ve been meaning to write you all a note for some time now–but your orders are keeping me in the stitching room (thanx!). When I’m not there, you could place money that I’m on my bike. Hence the neglected blog. I say screw that thing: I wanna ride too. But there are a few things I’d like to tell you all, some aesthetic, and some practical announcements:

• I’ve decided that on all the flap bags (Pelican Porteur and Roll Top Pannier), I’d like to hide the fastex buckles beneath the flap. Same convenient spot, but a much cleaner look. I hope you like it. 
• We’ve also switched to cloth labels. Each bag will have a 1.5X2 inch pink and brown label off centered on the front pocket.
• You may now choose Arkel Hardware for your Swift.Industries Bags. The Canadian pannier company kindly agreed to let us offer you  their wonderful mounting system on our bags. The Arkel Cam-Lock (r) Hook Kit will cost an additional $48.00, and can be applied to all of our pannier models.

Less on the business note, and more fun: Russ Roca, the author of the Epicurean Cyclist wrote really wonderful reviews on our Roll Top and Mini Short Stack Panniers this past week.

Also, we’re delighted to have been published in this coming issue of Boneshaker A Cycling Almanac.

Thanks Evan and Russ for introducing us to more cycling communities!

Well folks, I think that’s all.

We love to hear from you–keep up the adventures and merry cycling!

–Martina

This is our all new saddle touring bag.  Classic style for the retro in all of us, but a “modern” fabric option.  The newest edition to the Swift line-up is currently ready to roll away on your next adventure!  If you are interested shoot us an email.  For more info check out the saddle.bag tab on the right.

Hey Northwest Folks! We’re now a Madison Market/Central Co-Op Participating Business. What does that mean?

If you’re a Co-Op Member Owner we’ll hook up 5% off any purchase if you give us proof of membership. 

Why are we a participating business? We’re really impressed by our local Madison Market Co-Op grocery and think that member-owner business models are a good step towards participatory democracy and positive purchasing power. So to commend your membership we’d like to give you a price break on our bags.

Cheers,

Martina and Goods

We’ve teamed up with Cetma Cargo down in Eugene to bring you the Cetma/Swift love-child: the Pelican Porteur Bag!  

Have you been longing to have a Cetma Rack or maybe a Pelican Porteur Bag?  Well, now is your chance:

To celebrate both companies’ dedication to hand-crafted bicycle products we’re offering you $30.00 off of rack-and-bag purchases!

That’s $240.00 for your customized Pelican Porteur bag and 5-rail Cetma Rack.

For the aesthetician in you: powder coat your Cetma rack to match your bag and bicycle–HOT!

ORDER YOUR COMBO TODAY: swiftindustry@yahoo.com