Carradice Bicycle Saddle Bags

Duck cloth is a heavy cotton fabric whose threads have been impregnated with wax before being woven. It is waterproof, retains its impregnation even under mechanical stress and can be easily re-impregnated with environmentally compatible material.
Wilf Carradice, a weaver in the 1930s in the industrial north of England, sewed himself a waterproof bag to protect his belongings on his bicycle tours. The bicycle saddle bags are still made today from the material Carradice developed and among long-distance cyclists, including globe trekkers, they enjoy an exceptional reputation (they lose their waterproofing only when they are completely submerged, which only happens under extreme tour conditions).
The robust seams and double stitching swell up when exposed to water, making the seams water tight. The side facing the luggage carrier and the bottom of the bag are sewn with a double layer of fabric. The paired bags are slanted in the directions of travel in order to keep free the heels while pedalling.