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review

Miss Grape Internode Road 3L

7
£90.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Quality bag that works well in larger frames, but I'd like full waterproofing and a cable port for my money
Good width for road riding
Large, easy-open zip
Shape limits versatility
No cable port
Bit pricey
Weight: 
179g

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The Miss Grape Internode Road 3 frame bag offers three litres of storage and is a decent option for larger frames. It's tapered to minimise issues while pedalling, and the fabric is good for most weather conditions, though the seams aren't sealed for full waterproofing.

The Internode Road 3 is narrower than some frame bags, to minimise contact with your knees when pedalling. It's designed primarily for road/gravel bikes and to work with drivetrains with a narrower q-factor (the distance between the pedals). The narrowest section is 5cm at the rear, where your knees will track when pedalling normally in the saddle, then widens to 7cm near the front.

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The bag has one big compartment, reached by a single large zip on the drive side, which is smooth and easy to open. A large zip garage hides the zip puller when closed and prevents it from rubbing the legs while you're pedalling.

2021 Miss Grape Internode Road 3 - zip.jpg

The fabric used is water-resistant, rated to 10,000mm with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating. Riding in rain during the testing period, the contents stayed dry, but when sprayed with a hosepipe a small amount of water came through the zip area and seams, which aren't sealed, so for anything that might be damaged by water I'd suggest double-bagging for safety.

2021 Miss Grape Internode Road 3 - open.jpg

One feature the bag doesn't have is some form of cable or hydration hose port. Not every bag has one – the Pro Discover Team bag that Iwein tested recently didn't – but most of those I've come across do, and it is something I would have expected.

Attachment

The bag has three attachment loops for the top tube section, which use removable strips of Velcro, but the loops are fixed in place, so the straps could potentially interfere with cable stops or cables.

2021 Miss Grape Internode Road 3 Kinesis.jpg

Another two fixed camlock straps attach to the down tube and are long enough to fit the widest, most oversized tubes, although it didn't fit around a Fazua e-bike I've also been testing. For smaller tubing, the fabric ends can be folded back to tidy them up, looping through the o-rings to hold them in place.

The Internode Road 3 is designed to be fitted at the front of the frame, and unlike some frame bags there is no attachment point at the rear. For larger frame sizes it wouldn't be needed, but if you were using it with a smaller frame, where the bag is close to the seat tube, an extra strap to provide a little more security could be useful.

2021 Miss Grape Internode Road 3 - rear.jpg

Shape and versatility

Although the bag will fit some frames perfectly, its triangular shape and depth of 16cm mean it's not as versatile as some designs and you'd be wise to use the template on Miss Grape's website to check whether it'll work with your setup. 

2021 Miss Grape on Kinesis.jpg

For example, it fitted perfectly on an XL/60cm Kinesis G2, allowing access to both bottles (if fitted), but when I attached it to my small size Ritchey Outback I wasn't able to use a bottle on the down tube. I also fitted it to a 56cm Kinesis Aithein and had some issues.

2021 Miss Grape Internode Road 3 - front.jpg

Miss Grape does make a smaller 2-litre version, the Internode Road 2, which is shorter in length but almost the same depth, at 15cm.

For smaller frames you might be better off looking at the Internode 40.6, which offers the same 3 litres of space but with a shallower (10cm) depth, although it's wider at 8.5cm – and another £5.

Weight

The single large compartment keeps the bag to a competitive 179g. That compares well with other frame bags – the Wildcat Ocelot (full review to come) is 195g, though it is also a little larger with a 3.5-litre capacity, and Restrap's Race Frame Bag is 199g for the 4-litre version – but the 5.5-litre Pro Discover Team bag mentioned above is just 135g (and an extra £10).

Value

With an rrp of £90, the Internode Road 3 is not a cheap option, but you can pay more. The Pro Discover Team bag is £99.99 and not without its flaws, though it is fully waterproof, while the Ortlieb Frame Pack is £109.99 (but again, fully waterproof).

> Buyer’s Guide: 26 of the best bikepacking bags

Restrap's Race Frame Bag is cheaper, though, now £79.99, as is the 3.5-litre Alpkit Possum at £72.99, which is also slimmer and more versatile in terms of where it'll fit.

Conclusion

If you have a larger road or gravel frame and want a simple single-pocket bag, the Internode Road 3 is a good option. It's light, it fits (some bikes) securely, and is very weatherproof. You can buy cheaper bags, though, and with limited adjustability in the attachments and no cable port, it could do more to justify the price.

Verdict

Quality bag that works well in larger frames, but I'd like full waterproofing and a cable port for my money

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Miss Grape Internode Road 3L

Size tested: 3 Litre

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Miss Grape says:

Frame bag for racing, gravel and race bikes.

Stable, ultra light.

Designed not to get in the way of legs (Q factor) and water bottles.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Miss Grape lists:

Nylon 420 polyester 300 dotted fabric with water-repellent polyurethane resin coating 10,000 water columns, tear-proof with very high mechanical resistance.

Custom polypropylene ribbons, black/green and black colour.

Nylon plastic accessories.

The Internode 3 bag is produced in Italy and certified according to Reach CE n. 1097/2006. 1097/2006.

Dimensions:

Length - 41 cm

Height - 16 cm

Min. width - 5 cm

Max width - 7 cm

Volume - 3 litres

Claimed weight - 179g

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The fabrics used are good, the zip works well and it fits securely (and well, in larger frames).

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Good fabrics used, and the tapered sizing means most riders should be able to pedal without any interference.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Leaving aside the fact that the shape isn't ideal for my bike, the fixed point attachments don't make for the most versatile of fits.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's at the more expensive end – Restrap's Race Frame bag is £79.99 and Alpkit's Possum is £72.99 – but Pro's Discover Team Bag is £99.99 and Ortlieb's Frame Pack is £109.99, though both are fully waterproof.

Did you enjoy using the product? Not really.

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Maybe

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a good frame bag – provided it fits your frame. It's very weatherproof and made with good fabrics, but if the seams were sealed and it had a cable port it would be better.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 168  Weight: 62

I usually ride:   My best bike is: Cannondale SystemSix

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo cross, sportives, mtb, Lots of gravel style riding

Matt is an endurance nut who loves big rides and big events. He's a former full-time racer and 24hr event specialist, but now is also happy riding off-road on gravel bikes or XC mountain bikes and exploring the mountains and hills of Mid Wales.

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