The perfect handlebar bag?
03-20-11, 08:10 AM
#1
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
The perfect handlebar bag?
Years ago I picked up a pannier and handlebar bag set from a company named Tough Traveler. The handlebar bag attached with Velcro to the bar and the brake levers. The brake lever straps keep it from flopping down and the entire bag is very stable.
I'd like to find something similar but no one seems to make anything like that. The bags I see now are of two types - either they require a clunky heavy piece of hardware or they attach to the bar and stem and so flop down onto the brake cable. They also seem to come with extra stiff industrial-grade leather straps and buckles, stylish and old-fashioned-like but seemingly not so user-friendly. Have bag makers lost sight of how people actually have to use them?
Can any of you recommend a bag you really like, one that you think works well without being excessively heavy or elaborate or clunky?
Thanks.
I'd like to find something similar but no one seems to make anything like that. The bags I see now are of two types - either they require a clunky heavy piece of hardware or they attach to the bar and stem and so flop down onto the brake cable. They also seem to come with extra stiff industrial-grade leather straps and buckles, stylish and old-fashioned-like but seemingly not so user-friendly. Have bag makers lost sight of how people actually have to use them?
Can any of you recommend a bag you really like, one that you think works well without being excessively heavy or elaborate or clunky?
Thanks.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
03-20-11, 08:29 AM
#2
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,868
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 194 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2938 Post(s)
Liked 2,934 Times
in
1,497 Posts
I always loved my Cannondale bag with the metal bracket for the handlebar/stem and shock cords that went to hooks on the fork. I'll try and post some pics soon
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
03-20-11, 08:34 AM
#3
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
I just found the Tough Traveler website! It appears they still make a big similar to the one I have, with a few improvements. Yow! (I shoulda' looked first before asking, now shouldn't I?)
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
03-20-11, 08:41 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York Metro Area
Posts: 3,863
Bikes: '02 Litespeed, '99 Bianchi Alfana. '91 Fuji Saratoga, '84 Peugeot Canyon Express, '82 Moto GR, '81 Fuji America, '81 Fuji Royale; '78 Bridgestone Diamond Touring, '76 Fuji America, plus many more!
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 181 Post(s)
Liked 224 Times
in
127 Posts
03-20-11, 08:45 AM
#5
Photographer
Join Date: May 2006
Location: The other Cape, Cape Ann
Posts: 3,116
Mentioned: 27 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 105 Post(s)
Liked 98 Times
in
53 Posts
I have quite a few Cannondale front bags, pretty much my favorite. I've often toyed with the idea of modifying/redesigning the metal bracket so the bag sits a little lower in the front. Maybe I'll send a sketch to FTWelder and see what he can come up with.
Scott
Scott
__________________
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
03-20-11, 09:01 AM
#6
Senior Member
How do you guys store those old Cannondale bags? Mine seem to pick up a musty odor, although they look fine. I'm not sure why, maybe the leather they used?
__________________
your ticket is at will call
your ticket is at will call
03-20-11, 09:02 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Liberty, Missouri
Posts: 3,120
Bikes: 1966 Paramount | 1971 Raleigh International | ca. 1970 Bernard Carre | 1989 Waterford Paramount | 2012 Boulder Brevet | 2019 Specialized Diverge
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 129 Post(s)
Liked 77 Times
in
40 Posts
I use a Carradice Super C handlebar bag with a KLICKfix quick release system.
It's super stable, roomy, waterproof, has a map holder, etc. I wish it "looked" a little more C&V,
but for pure functionality it is very tough to beat. The Carradice folks are a breeze to deal with too.
It's super stable, roomy, waterproof, has a map holder, etc. I wish it "looked" a little more C&V,
but for pure functionality it is very tough to beat. The Carradice folks are a breeze to deal with too.
03-20-11, 11:37 AM
#8
Senior Member
You mean like this one? https://www.rivbike.com/products/show...bar-bag/20-198
I have it - works great.
Otherwise, if you want a large, rando-type bag, I'd give a thumbs-up to the Carradice Super C.
I have it - works great.
Otherwise, if you want a large, rando-type bag, I'd give a thumbs-up to the Carradice Super C.
__________________
Knows the weight of my bike to the nearest 10 pounds.
Knows the weight of my bike to the nearest 10 pounds.
03-20-11, 11:52 AM
#9
Full Member
I have a Sunlite bag, very similar to the Carradice shown above.
One nice feature that mine and the Carradice are missing that a Topeak model has is a horizontal tube above the center of the handlebar which gives additional real estate to mount a computer, light or GPS.
One nice feature that mine and the Carradice are missing that a Topeak model has is a horizontal tube above the center of the handlebar which gives additional real estate to mount a computer, light or GPS.
03-20-11, 12:08 PM
#10
Senior Member
Actually, there's an accessory for the Klick-Fix used on the Carradice bags that does the same thing ( for an extra $10 )
__________________
Knows the weight of my bike to the nearest 10 pounds.
Knows the weight of my bike to the nearest 10 pounds.
03-21-11, 11:56 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jamaica Plain, MA
Posts: 186
Bikes: Boulder AllRoad67cm; 1990 Nobilette 65cm;Fuji S12-S LTD 63cm; xtracycle; panasonic gran tourer 68cm
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You mean like this one? https://www.rivbike.com/products/show...bar-bag/20-198
03-21-11, 12:21 PM
#12
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
I've been running my Tough traveler bag w/Velcro straps over the brake hoods on my Raleigh for a long time. The straps run to the top of the bag, not to the bottom as on the Rivendell. While riding I don't notice the straps at all. Visually the only down side is that they cover the rather cool "Carlton" embossed in the sides of the hoods.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
03-21-11, 01:57 PM
#13
Senior Member
I have an old Novara version of this. it work well with the standard quill stem, but not with the riser stem. I didn't think mine looked all the classy, but it was cheap.
I had never really looked at that, and it looks pretty great. do the straps on the hoods bug you at all? (either appearance or feeling?)
I had never really looked at that, and it looks pretty great. do the straps on the hoods bug you at all? (either appearance or feeling?)
I always use gloves, and I don't notice the straps at all. If I ride bare-handed, it might get annoying.
I honestly couldn't care less about the appearance. ;-)
__________________
Knows the weight of my bike to the nearest 10 pounds.
Knows the weight of my bike to the nearest 10 pounds.
03-21-11, 04:05 PM
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wow! Thats' a great color! my G/F has one in blue the only problem is that all the paint chipped off when bending it to fit her thread-less handle bars and now leaves rust marks on any thing that touches it. But it worked great for our last 1500 mile trip through Asia.
