*Musettes (By Be)

After a crash with a cab wrote-off my old dutch racer, I started riding fixed-gear in 2018. It's the simplicity of them which attracted me- with so few things to go wrong, it seemed the perfect choice for bike-deliveries in the city. After a very short amount of time, I realised I was absolutely not, the first to see such sense! I started to delve into the world of cycle-messengers & couriers, keeping my bills paid, by delivering takeaways & bits of bar work alongside.

I soon learnt the importance of pedalstraps on a fixed-gear bike & got given a pair, made by a fairly reputable brand. Ecstatic to support a (not too-distant) local(ish) brand, I put this seemingly unbreakable product through the paces, singing its praises to everyone I met. Then, within our whole friend group; one after the other- them straps started to fall apart. After getting in touch, the company would replace each pair, which was great. But each & every time one of us got in touch about another broken pair; they'd guarantee each & every one of us, that this had never happened before.

To be blunt: this really fuckt me off. Like, seriously? Gonna say this shit will never break; we all break the shit- then you have the nerve to promise us all, that it had never happened before? Fuck off, man. Straps snap whilst riding brakeless- best hope you aint going fast huh- could be the last time you do & that is not funny in the slightest bit.

Musettes have been around, for about as long as folk have been professionally cycling. Traditionally used by team-managers, passing race-supplies to the pro's during a race; Musettes are easily-slung over the shoulder, keeping essentials to hand when needed.

Typically, the construction of musettes has always been the same as a classic tote-bag... kept as simple/cheap as possible, they'd usually be a flat piece of fabric, with a single strap & a single pop-stud to close. As a consumer/user: I was always a bit confused why these bags always sucked SO much...

Looking at the classic musette, I knew it didn't need much, but it definitely needed a lil sutt'n-sutt'n to just make it work within my own lifestyle. I'm kinda long/awkwardly shaped, which means two things...

Firstly- fixed-strap-length is no good for me- it may not fit over my shoulders/across my back & I don't wanna have a bag hoisted up, somewhere uncomfortable; just because that's the length the strap is- makes no sense. Secondly- that flat shape of the classic musette is fantastic, for making them from flat-pieces of fabric. That flat shape is just amazing, for marking out flat-pieces, with flat/straight rulers.. That flat shape is great, for cutting out flat-pieces, on a nice big flat desk... HOWEVER. put that flat shape on a 3D body & there's a lil bit of misalignment to be found.

Alongside the plain2see-problems, presented through flat forms; was a single-pop close, offering little-to-no security of contents, whilst on the move. With the problems at hand, the solution was clear... the bag needs to have some depth & not be a flat shape, the strap needs to adjust for each & every user & it would be reeeeeal nice if it just ACTUALLY closed.

Enter the Musette (By Be) the shape was inspired by teabags, the strap is designed to work for almost anyone & believe it or not, these badbois actually close alll the way across the top! Similar to most Bits (By Be)- Musettes are typically handmade to order, with custom options available upon request. They're designed for a day-out, giving you enough room for a light-jacket, bottle & some snacks- or, as many cans as you can fit (think it was around 8 last time I tried!)