chefisaac

Three quick questions....

1) where do you stash your tools at as far as panniers go?
2) in the handlebar bag, do you keep any tools like to fix a flat?
3) what others things are important to you to keep in your handlebar bag?

chasm54

I don't use a bar bag. I use Vaude panniers with an external pocket, and keep the tools in one of the external pockets for easy access. The lack of external pockets is the main reason I don't like Ortlieb panniers.

antokelly

Barbag,camera/ snacks /ipod/phone/ map/walett/notebook pen pencil/elastic bands.basally anything ight and small you might need in a hurry.
the tool case goes at bottom on one of my rear panniers ,dont usually have front panniets.
my tool case opens up like a book all i need is packed in there spare money as well just in case.

Machka 

1. Tools go in the Carradice on the rack.

2. No.

3. Camera, documents, inhaler, tissues ... it's my "handbag" and my "night table" all in one place.

Papa Tom

When I know I'm not going to need the space, I often remove my pannier, leaving only a small saddle bag (the equivalent of your handlebar bag) on my bike. I don't want to forget to transfer anything (and risk getting stuck without tools), so I leave all my tools and flat-fixing gear in the saddle bag, all the time.

BigAura

I use a small seat-bag for my tools and spares. I tell myself that I can't carry more than will fit as way to force myself to keep the tool count down.

bikemig 

I like to keep enough tools around to fix anything that might go wrong on the bike. I also like to use a small saddle bag for the things that tend to go wrong.

andrewclaus

I don't have a handlebar bag. Flat repair stuff, one spare and a small multitool always live in a saddle wedge. Touring tools and spares go in one of my two panniers. Spokes are taped to the frame. All my valuables stay in a zipped clothing pocket (I don't have many valuables).

SuperTrouper

+1

I usually break my own rule, though, especially if I'm going for a longer tour. In that case the additional tools -- which are ones I wouldn't use very much, if at all, go in a sturdy plastic zip-pouch, usually kept at the top of one of my panniers.

staehpj1

+1

staehpj1

I typically carry no tools in my panniers.

I typically carry no tools in my handlebar bag.

Camera, phone, wallet stuff, sunscreen, bug dope, Kindle, spare batteries, charger, light, compass, map, and things like that. I do not always have all of those along, but if I do that is where I carry them.

fietsbob

I have a zippered bag for the tools, another for mending the punctures.


the Beckman Needleworks bags have dividers, you juse have 1 big bag + the flat pocket
by the stiffener.

though there is still the add-on pocket potential for Ortliebs..

MarkvW

Ordinary tire repair stuff remains in the seat bag. Handlebar bags suck--they are a necessary evil and should be tiny enough to hold little more a camera and a couple hours' snack food. I devoutly believe in keeping the weight low on the front wheel. But this is just my own dogma.

Doug64

+ 5 or 6

Less needed tools go in the right front pannier, along with stove, fuel canisters and folding spare tire (if I'm carrying one).

Another thought on organization:
I use Ortlieb Roller Classic panniers which are symmetrical making it hard to quickly distinguish the left from the right when they are off the bike. I identify my left and right panniers with red zip ties on the port side panniers and green ties on the starboard side panniers.



It helps when the panniers are off the bike, allowing me to quickly identify the right and left side pannier when looking at the front or the back of the bags. This is especially nice when you are in a busy place trying to load up in a hurry.

Steve0000

I carry the tools in my rear pannier but puncture repair kit in a seat bag so it is handy. In my handlebar bag go the valuables such as wallet, passport and camera. Snacks for the day and sunscreen also go into the bag. If the forecast is iffy, I will carry a raincoat and perhaps armwarmer and legwarmers in there so they are handy.

10 Wheels

Keep mine in the trunk bag.

Western Flyer 

Like others, all my tools save flat repair items to in a tool roll stored at the bottom of my right pannier (I only have two panniers.). Flat repair kit, tire levers, one spare tube, 5mm Allen wrench and pressure gauge go in a small saddle bag. A second tube and alternate tires (dirt) also go at the bottom of the same pannier.

My handle bar bag holds only the must have essentials, ID, finances, camera, monocular, phone, small note book, pen & pencil, SPF cream/lip balm, four day supply of heart meds, electrolyte capsules, Imodium AD tabs (just in case), hair comb for bad helmet hair days, and important travel documents. It never holds food of any sort -- never! If I get off my bike the handle bar bag goes with me, always. If I get on my bike the bag is always clipped back on. This is a religious practice for me. I can be out in the middle of the desert with not a soul in sight and I still follow this practice. When I camp the bag is right next to me in my tent and this is why no food ever goes in it. In a restaurant it is slung over my head with a shoulder strap.

Western Flyer 

The Ortlieb Bike-Packer Plus panniers have external pockets with a very well designed zipperless rain flaps. Quite generous in size -- too generous for me, I sewed them flat so I can just squeeze a couple of folded maps inside.

imi

Fairly accessible in a stash bag

No, flats are pretty rare.
Allum keys for V-brake adjustment, and tightening everything daily.

Wind jacket and long bike pants
Camera
Suncream
Swiss army knife
Trailmix
Wallet

djyak

Same here. I don't use a bar bag, even on tour. I have some external pockets on my panniers if needed, and I prefer to wear my Camel Bak.

Rowan

My tools and tube repair stuff go in a one-litre S2S drybag; the bag is rolled down and the buckles are threaded over the back of the seat rails. The tools are always there and ready with or without panniers, the bag fills what is normally a void, even with a tent, Bagman frame, or trunk bag; and most importantly, the tools and repair stuff are kept dry. I got sick of good tools going rusty, and retrieving a tool bag from the bottom of a pannier by having to get out all the gear on top.

I am using a yellow drybag now (red previously) and the colour helps to keep an eye on tools, valve caps, and other small items.

The main item inside the bag normally is a Topeak Survival Gear Box. Other bits include a tube and a cassette ring tool. A Park Tools spoke key also goes in the Gear Box.

Machka 

You can see Rowan's yellow one-litre S2S drybag in this photo (at Toulouse, France) ...

Doug64

Bar bag contents:
Sunglasses, wallet, paperback book, handkerchief/bandana , pen/pencil, Small Swiss Army knife, notebook, cell phone, extra cards and battery for camera, GPS, tickets, passport, and camera (goes in orange case). Sometimes I carry a harmonica, and my arm warmers often end up there when they are taken off. Maps go in map case on top of the bag.

onbike 1939

In my many years of touring I've used every possible combination of luggage in order to maximise stability, ease of use and the ability to find objects quickly.

I eventually came to the conclusion, that for a camping tour the ideal set-up for me was four small Ortlieb panniers in place of the usual two large rear or two large rear plus two small front. This, as when colour coded, the arrangement allowed me to find things quickly as each pannier held a category of objects. The weight distribution of back and front gave better bike handling characteristics too and with a Bar-bag and the tent on the rear carrier I was ready to go.

Medic Zero

1) I don't like them in the panniers, I want to be able to get to them without unloading a bunch of stuff. So far my short tours have been with two bucket panniers in the rear and two Ortliebs up front. I'd prefer more organization than the Ortliebs, but I inherited them from a friend and can't see spending for different panniers yet. The buckets are even harder to access, especially since I strap my pillow, sleeping bag, tent, and sleeping pad across the top of the nice flat surface created by the tops of the bucket panniers and the rear rack. So my tools are in a round saddle bag that is strapped down with the rest of these cylindrical objects on the back deck as it were. There it is easily slipped out from under the two bungees that are holding everything down if I need to access it. All my tools are here, including two or three spare tubes. I thought three was overkill, but after the first goathead on my last mini-tour and the first replacement tube blew on me, I was happy I bought three and happy that I stopped in the next town to replace the tube that blew considering the bike shop owner said that years goat head season was unusually bad. Luckily, I didn't have another flat that trip, but he made me paranoid every time I pulled over to the shoulder that I was going to get one!

2) I don't use a handlebar bag, partially because I'm on an old converted MTB with rather upright handlebars. I do use a "top tube pannier" that has three pockets, one on each side of the TT and one on top. I keep my bike lock key, my phone, and my wallet, as well as a power bar or two here.

3) See #2. I do keep my first aid kit, more layers/rain clothes, and a few snacks at the top of the panniers where I can access them first.