North St.’s Route Nine Convertible is for meanderers and detour takers, those who have traveled a few extra blocks to rummage through a yard sale and then rode home with a newly purchased typewriter perched on their handlebar.
“You never know what life is going to throw at you, or what you might collect along the way,” says Curtis Williams, who founded North St. five years ago in Portland, Oregon. The $228 Route Nine transforms easily from a messenger bag to a pannier and is (nearly) large enough to hold a typewriter.
North St. produces only one bag at a time, and each is sewn by hand. The Convertible’s padded shoulder strap feels plush, its waterproof liner seals out rain, and the matte Cordura fabric gives it a modern, sporty style that looks great whether you’re on a bike tour or stepping into a hip café.
When you order your new bike pannier or convertible backpack pannier you’ll need to select the hook size that best fits your bike’s cargo rack. These hooks—two near the top of the pannier—slot over the horizontal tube(s) of the cargo rack and then a bottom hook on a bungee holds tension for a secure fit.
While it’s a simple system, one of the most common questions we get is: what’s the right hook size for my bike? Click to read more.
