The UPSO Bike Bag Guide

What makes a UPSO bike bag different isn’t just how it looks. Every UPSO bike bag has already lived a previous life. Truck tarp that’s crossed countries strapped to the side of a lorry. Fire hose that’s spent years on the front line. Seatbelts that have carried countless passengers from one place to another.

These are materials originally designed for demanding environments, upcycled into something fit for a bike ride.

Instead of being discarded, they’re cut, cleaned and rebuilt into practical cycling bags designed to handle commutes, café stops, muddy lanes and sudden rain showers without fuss. That history stays with each bag. You’ll see it in the creases, marks and textures that make every piece unique.

For now, our recycled bike bag range remains small and concise, so here’s a quick spin through the range.

Potters Pannier

Capacity: 12-21L
Best for: Commuting, shopping, cycle touring

At a maximum of 21 litres, the regular Potters Pannier has enough room for work essentials, groceries, waterproofs or a laptop, without feeling oversized on the side of your bike. The structure is simple and practical: one large main compartment with a roll-top closure, offering a small amount of flexibility to accommodate different-sized contents.

Like all good panniers, it’s built to deal with the realities of cycling. Wet roads, muddy spray, being lifted on and off the rack multiple times a day - these are exactly the kinds of conditions the tough reclaimed materials were made to withstand long before they became bags. The mounting system keeps things secure while riding, while the tarp construction, which once protected everything from white goods to watermelons, now protects your gear.

Deployed as a pair, for up to 42L of storage in total, the Potters Pannier makes a truly unique cycle touring setup. And with the reinforced fire hose base, they're set for withstanding the rigours of multiday riding.

Naturally, like all UPSO bags, the truck tarp may carry marks and imperfections from its previous life on the road, but those details are what make every Potters Pannier one of a kind.

Potters Pannier Small

Capacity: 10-13L
Best for: Short commuting or front pannier racks

The Potters Pannier Small takes everything people like about the original and pares it back slightly.

Compact and lightweight, it’s designed for riders who want the practicality of a pannier without carrying more than they need, or cyclists looking for a unique front pannier bag to add up front.

Inside, there’s one simple main section with just the right amount of space for the daily basics. Lunch, tools, a jacket, maybe a book for the train home - while keeping the bike feeling balanced and easy to manoeuvre.

Like the larger version, it’s built from reclaimed truck tarp and designed to shrug off bad weather and daily wear without complaint. This is a straightforward, dependable and easy-to-live-with pannier bag.

Tamworth Tarp Roll

Capacity: 3.5L
Best for: Bikepacking, gravel or road riding

The handlebar bag has made a comeback, in a big way! Finding favour in bikepacking, now everyone from road riders to commuters are enjoying the utility and design of this kind of bike bag.

Strapped neatly to your handlebars (or saddle if it has the necessary loops) the Tamworth Tarp Roll is our take on a ‘bar bag. It gives you extra carrying space without overcomplicating things. Spare layers, tools, snacks or other small gear can be loaded inside instead of stuffed in your pockets or buried deep within a pannier bag.

The beauty of the design lies in its simplicity. The Tamworth has one main section, which is closed with a zipper and secured with a storm flap.

Like all UPSO bags, the Tamworth wears its history openly. Scuffs, faded markings and small imperfections in the material are reminders that these fabrics have already travelled thousands of miles before finding their way onto your bike.

That’s the end of our spin through our upcycled bike bags. Because each bag is unique, our range is consistently changing. Don’t like what you see, right now? Visit us a week later, and you may find something you like! And if you’ve got a special request, drop us a message.