Someone explain to me these handlebar bags that I keep seeing
 

Hi all,

So I've been out of the scene for years and decided to come back to the source known as BF for the answers. This is not a troll post, very serious here.

Background: Used to ride a lot, still ride a lot but not as much. Working from home the last 6 months has allowed me to ride my bike in the morning whereas I was riding to work before.

The disc brake trend I knew about and that's a can of worms for another thread but what's up with all these people running aero bikes and 50mm+ deep carbon rims running this cylindrical handlebar bag?

Is this a thing now? Is this from IG? Where did this stupidity originate?

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7c299e9734.jpg
This is the sort of thing I'm talking about. What are people storing in there for their road bikes? Bitcoins?

I can see for bikepacking, or some type of commuter.

As you can see from my profile, I don't live in the Swiss Alps.

Many roadies in NYC with aero setups wearing full-on speed suits on a morning ride but with this monstrosity. What's this trend about?

Big City folk trying to jump on the gravel bandwagon any way they can? :foo:

Dunno, seems kind of dumb, though, and can't say that I've seen it here, outside of gravel rides or utility cycling. Now that I think about it, though, I'm pretty sure that I've seen Gaimon with a little bar bag on his IG/Strava/Youtube.

It's probable that such a bag is the least invasive way to carry stuff on their wunder-aero bike. I'm not sure they even come with fender mounts at the drop outs anymore.
Rather than wear a pack, or find a way to bolt a rack onto a frame unwilling to accept one (which they'd have to unbolt for more aero later), they strap that onto the bars. 5 minutes later or less, the bike can be fully aero again, no tools involved.

They keep their business suit and shoes in it for work.

To sort of hijack this, I see many casual cyclists on the MUP with with a rear rack and a rather large bag on the back. I wonder how much stuff they have in there. It's too big just for your lunch and water. These people are just riding the path.
https://li0.rightinthebox.com/images...g?fmt=webp&v=1

I usually just ride with a shoulder bag or backpack if I need to carry stuff, but I can see how a handlebar bag like this would be a useful alternative to that, especially on a road bike that doesn't have mounts.

I'm not sure I'd ever wear a skinsuit while riding with a bag. That seems pretty weird. I also don't think I'd ever ride with a skinsuit in any situation outside of a competitive race.

What kinds of "stuff"? Seriously, if you're just riding and not commuting, what do you need to carry other than a spare tube and some tools?


I do 50+ miles rides and this is all i carry.
https://i.imgur.com/G1XUcN8.jpg

I'm not sure if it is true, but I was told it is the only safe handlebar bag for carbon bars. I have one, but have only used it for bike-packing, and found it to be a PITA.

New York, apparently?

I resemble that remark. ;)

Typically you would put some of your heavier stuff in the handlebar bag like a tent, poles, food, cooking system, etc

Out here where it can be over 100 degrees some of us are using bags or packs to carry extra water and food and even extra tubes. Earlier this year when all club rides were cancelled and many of our food and water sources were closed or we didn't feel like going into a store, especially when alone, we went with bags or Camelbaks.

Personally, I don't like having extra weight on the bar and if I'm going out and need a gallon of water I use 2 bottles and a Camelbak. I tried a bar bag with 2 extra bottles in there but didn't like it.
When I've toured I put the heavy stuff low in the rear panniers.

If this is such a big issue for some of you , just consider asking folks that have them on the trail . Is communication that out of style???
Now I have the back rack bag along on most every ride. I carry stuff in it. Often there is an old VCR plastic box with my tackle to go along with the 4 pc. UL spinning rod bungied on the top. I also usually have a cotton T shirt and cotton cargo shorts to change into if I find a place to eat or enjoy a cold one. I also usually have a tube, pump and pre-glued patches. I carry 2 metal tire irons that I had shipped from the exotic far east. China lol I'm sure that other stuff would surface if I stired the bag a bit. I've also gotten fond of the Food bag/water bottle bag that attaches to the bar and stem. At 78 yrs old I like to keep a water bottle there to avoid bending over. . If I need to get some weight off I'll leave the bag and skip a couple pizzas. lol Enjoy your ride.

OK this makes the most sense. This has so be some sort of IG "influencer" thing.

I hope for all of your sakes that this trend doesn't catch on.

These are not commuters. They are newer riders with disc brake high end bikes, Rapha or some other high-end IG-kit, wearing skin suits or race clothing yet having this wonky bag in the front.

I've seen several of these riders taking selfies while riding in said above kit. I'm not on social media so trying to find out about this and what the deal is...

Serious stuff...
I don't carry anything other than a flat kit/multi-tool if I'm "just riding", but I also sometimes ride my bike to do things other than just riding, and like to be able to carry things. I don't actually carry much of anything when commuting to the office (back when we did that), because my commute is short and I just ride in street clothes, but on weekends and evenings I use my bikes for lots of reasons. Sometimes I'm going shopping, visiting friends, going to a park, going to a museum, stopping to get a drink or a meal, running errands, etc. Sometimes I'm combining those activities with longer rides.

Here is some of the "stuff", beyond keys, wallet and phone which usually just fit into my pockets:

• Anything bought at a retail store
• Food or drinks or other things, either to stop and eat along the way, or maybe to visit a friend for a meal, or to buy and bring home, etc.
• Street clothes, a pair of street shoes - useful if I'm planning on doing things with friends/family, and later "take the long way home".
• Bike locks - in the city this is two U-locks
• Camera equipment so I can visit interesting places and take photos of interesting things
• A book so that I can stop and read under a tree in a park
• A bluetooth speaker so I can listen to music while I read my book
• A laptop or tablet so I can log into BF and justify my use of a bag on my road bike, or do other things that I might do on a laptop or tablet

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8b21936c2.jpeg
This is what I'm talking about that. But instead of a gravel bike, imagine an S works venge with 80mm aero Enve wheels.

Does this make sense? Who started this stupidity?

Makes sense. So you're not just going out for a ride.

If it wasn't Covid, i'd stop someone and ask to see inside. Yes, I am that creepy guy.

It makes sense if you own that bike and want to carry stuff while riding it.

Your presumption that it's all about appearances is interesting though. I would tend to think the opposite, that someone using a handlebar bag, particularly on a bike like that, probably doesn't care what others think and finds this to be the most convenient way to carry something. Or maybe they're doing it to just to piss people off.

Is the sight of the handlebar bag so hideous that it's causing you to crash?

Who cares?

Though now I have a new way to annoy people, so thanks for that! :thumb:

Isn't that just a boom box on a recently stolen bicycle?

If you have a diet coke with your snickers bar, it's still 150 calories less than a coke and snickers.