Clipping and releasing Brain Cells?

[TimK65]

I just got my new Super Ego and Horizontal Brain Cell yesterday.

I eventually succeeded in getting the Brain Cell clipped into the Super Ego yesterday, amidst much huffing and puffing and swearing. (I'd never done that with my Vertical Brain Cell, and I just wanted to figure out how it worked.)

Now I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to unclip the damn thing from the bag without risking the destruction of one or both of them, the legendary undestructibility of Tom Bihn's bags notwithstanding. Is there a secret skill or trick involved in this process?

Puzzled,
Tim

[Darcy]

Tim,

Did you order the Super Ego and Brain Cell in the same order? If so: did they not arrive already clipped together? We always (or try our best to) send a Brain Cell already clipped inside of the larger bag so that you can see how they work together. Otherwise, it is pretty confusing.

To clip the Brain Cell to the Super Ego:
In the main compartment of the Super Ego, affixed to webbing loops against the back wall, are clips called Annex clips.
Squeeze the Annex clips together at the top (you'll notice ridges where you're supposed to squeeze) and pull one side towards you. This will form a sideways V-shape. This is the "open" Annex clip.

Next, put your Brain Cell inside of the Super Ego. You'll notice on the back of the Brain Cell two webbing loops. Slide the webbing loop over the open part of the V (the part closest to you) and then snap the clip shut.

To open the Annex clip, squeeze it together at the top just like you did to open it.

Let me know how that works. And, if your Brain Cell arrived not clipped into the Super Ego, I'm really sorry about that!

[TimK65]

Tim,

Did you order the Super Ego and Brain Cell in the same order? If so: did they not arrive already clipped together? We always (or try our best to) send a Brain Cell already clipped inside of the larger bag so that you can see how they work together. Otherwise, it is pretty confusing.

To clip the Brain Cell to the Super Ego:
In the main compartment of the Super Ego, affixed to webbing loops against the back wall, are clips called Annex clips.
Squeeze the Annex clips together at the top (you'll notice ridges where you're supposed to squeeze) and pull one side towards you. This will form a sideways V-shape. This is the "open" Annex clip.

Next, put your Brain Cell inside of the Super Ego. You'll notice on the back of the Brain Cell two webbing loops. Slide the webbing loop over the open part of the V (the part closest to you) and then snap the clip shut.

To open the Annex clip, squeeze it together at the top just like you did to open it.

Let me know how that works. And, if your Brain Cell arrived not clipped into the Super Ego, I'm really sorry about that!

Darcy! Answering stupid questions on a Saturday night? You should be out having fun! But I really appreciate it.

I totally suck at figuring out this kind of thing, but your explanation did the trick.

Just FYI, I did order the Horizontal Brain Cell and the Super Ego together; they arrived together, and the Brain Cell was not clipped into the Super Ego. Doesn't really matter, though, because it did spur me to finally try to figure out how the heck this worked.

BTW, I can already tell the Super Ego is going to be seriously sweet as my main cycling bag (I'm cycle-commuting as often as I can). I used it today when I went to Day 2 of the U.S.-Switzerland Davis Cup tie, and I love the way the straps keep it secure on my back. (That's also the reason I urgently needed to get the Brain Cell back out of the Super Ego -- I don't carry my laptop to work.)

Thanks!
Tim, satisfied as ever with Tom Bihn!

[Darcy]

Darcy! Answering stupid questions on a Saturday night? You should be out having fun! But I really appreciate it.

You're welcome! I think I am getting a cold so I'm taking it easy tonight. Glad the explanation helped.

BTW, I can already tell the Super Ego is going to be seriously sweet as my main cycling bag (I'm cycle-commuting as often as I can). I used it today when I went to Day 2 of the U.S.-Switzerland Davis Cup tie, and I love the way the straps keep it secure on my back. (That's also the reason I urgently needed to get the Brain Cell back out of the Super Ego -- I don't carry my laptop to work.)

Very cool. Keep us updated - let us know how it works for cycling! And post pictures if you have any.

[TimK65]

A follow-up to the above: On Sunday, which was Day 3 of the Davis Cup tie, I took quite a bit of stuff into the arena with me in the Super Ego, including a large, old-fashioned pair of binoculars. My friend and I stopped to get some (seriously non-nutritious) grub to take in with us, and I wondered whether it would fit down into the Super Ego along with the binoculars, random other stuff and my laptop in the Brain Cell.

It did. And it felt heavy, but I was sure impressed by the way the Q-AM Strap distributed the weight; it wasn't difficult to carry at all.

LOVING this bag.

Best,
Tim

[TimK65]

Ooh. Well, since you asked...

I don't like it for cycling at all. But I could just be stupid.

No matter what I do, it seems to shift from my back (where I want it, nice and centered) to my right side when I'm on the bike, which is obviously uncomfortable. I haven't been able to figure out how to work the straps to keep it centered on my back.

Am I just stupid? I've never been very good at straps and fasteners, as you can sort of infer from this whole thread.

For the time being, I've gone back to my Brain Bag for cycling; I know it ain't going anywhere when I put it over my shoulders.

Thanks,
Tim

[Tom Bihn]

Are you using the waist strap on the Super Ego? If so, are you attaching it to the Q-AM strap using the webbing loop with the female buckle on it?