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Someone explain to me these handlebar bags that I keep seeing

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Someone explain to me these handlebar bags that I keep seeing

Old 09-19-20, 06:42 AM
  #76  
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Originally Posted by mstateglfr
Its perhaps overkill, but calling it stupid is pretty lame.
There are a ton of different ways to skin this cat, just be OK with that.
Line in the sand, man. The road to flappy jerseys and Camelbacks is paved with good intentions.
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Old 09-19-20, 06:47 AM
  #77  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
Me???

Don't care, just wonder why they do it.

Now the explanation of whats in the large rear rack bags makes sense so I learned something thing new.
Nahhhh the OP. I am also curious as to what ppl carry in their bags hahaha

This bothers him but seeing race oriented bikes on bike paths in the city seems to be perfectly normal?
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Old 09-19-20, 07:15 AM
  #78  
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Originally Posted by crazyravr
This bothers him but seeing race oriented bikes on bike paths in the city seems to be perfectly normal?
I've seen riders on expensive TT bike wearing sweat shirts, shorts and sneakers. I figure their skin suit is in the laundry.

Hey.. doesn't matter, they're getting fresh air.
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Old 09-19-20, 08:06 AM
  #79  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
That why you have 3 pockets in the back of your jersey.
Pocket 1: tools
Pocket 2: CO2 inflator and cartridges
Pocket 3: cell phone
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Old 09-19-20, 08:14 AM
  #80  
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
Pocket 1: tools
Pocket 2: CO2 inflator and cartridges
Pocket 3: cell phone
My jersey pocket loadout:

Left: keys, cue sheets when needed, and sometimes a snack.
Center: credit card and cash
Right: phone
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Old 09-19-20, 08:16 AM
  #81  
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
Pocket 1: tools
Pocket 2: CO2 inflator and cartridges
Pocket 3: cell phone
Tools and co2 in saddle bag. That leaves 2 pockets for leg and arm warmers.

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Old 09-19-20, 08:23 AM
  #82  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
Tools and co2 in saddle bag. That leaves 2 pockets for leg and arm warmers.
That would work if I had a place for the saddle bag. Under the saddle is where the spare tubular tire lives:
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Old 09-19-20, 08:26 AM
  #83  
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
That would work if I had a place for the saddle bag. Under the saddle is where the spare tubular tire lives:
That's not exactly the kind of incongruous bike that the OP is talking about.
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Old 09-19-20, 08:27 AM
  #84  
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
That would work if I had a place for the saddle bag. Under the saddle is where the spare tubular tire lives:
Isn't the spare tubular under the saddle, where it's exposed to UV radiation and urban ozone, a recipe for disappointment?
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Old 09-19-20, 08:28 AM
  #85  
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
That's not exactly the kind of incongruous bike that the OP is talking about.
Some of those fancy NYC Venge-riding guys might run sewups glued to 80mm rims
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Old 09-19-20, 08:38 AM
  #86  
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I do flat repair stuff and other tools in the saddle bag. Pockets, wallet, keys and phone. For long rides, I'll squeeze my CC and Driver's license and single house key in the saddle bag so I can stuff food and/or clothes in my pockets along with the phone.
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Old 09-19-20, 11:16 AM
  #87  
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
That's not exactly the kind of incongruous bike that the OP is talking about.
Having a small bag on the bars of an aero bike is no more incongruous than going for an easy ride on the bike. Not everyone has multiple bikes and not everyone is riding flat out in the drops every time they're on a bike. I've done a few 4 hr rides this summer with two bottles of water because I didn't want to stop to refill so I can understand wanting to take a few extra supplies on the bike for solo rides.
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Old 09-19-20, 11:42 AM
  #88  
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Originally Posted by gregf83
Having a small bag on the bars of an aero bike is no more incongruous than going for an easy ride on the bike.
Sure it is. Aero frame, aero wheels, aero helmet, parachute bar bag, aero skinsuit - that's incongruous. Varying intensity is normal. Feel free to disagree, though.
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Old 09-19-20, 11:58 AM
  #89  
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
Sure it is. Aero frame, aero wheels, aero helmet, parachute bar bag, aero skinsuit - that's incongruous. Varying intensity is normal. Feel free to disagree, though.
I can't imagine wearing a skinsuit and not having a bar bag.
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Old 09-19-20, 12:01 PM
  #90  
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
I can't imagine wearing a skinsuit and not having a bar bag.
You're thinking of "birthday suit."
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Old 09-19-20, 12:03 PM
  #91  
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
I can't imagine wearing a skinsuit and not having a bar bag.
I can't imagine doing anything in a skinsuit other than racing.
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Old 09-19-20, 12:11 PM
  #92  
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
Line in the sand, man. The road to flappy jerseys and Camelbacks is paved with good intentions.
This.

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Old 09-19-20, 12:20 PM
  #93  
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
I can't imagine doing anything in a skinsuit other than racing.
A couple years ago an XC/CX racer decided to race XC in a skinsuit, rolled through the feedzone, grabbed a couple of gels and tried stuffing them into his nonexistent pockets for half a minute before realizing what he was wearing
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Old 09-19-20, 01:29 PM
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
A couple years ago an XC/CX racer decided to race XC in a skinsuit, rolled through the feedzone, grabbed a couple of gels and tried stuffing them into his nonexistent pockets for half a minute before realizing what he was wearing

Yeah. We started putting a center pocket into the Cross skinsuits we had for the team. Problem was that most of those skinsuits were also thermal. The one time of the year everyone wanted a pocket in their skinsuit was early season cross when it was hot so they could put a water bottle in their pocket. Hot and thermal didn't mix.

That was before USA Cycling/UCI officials seemed to back up from the no feeding stance and allowed a bike with a bottle on it to go out from the pits.

Ahhhh... the good ol days when no one would be caught dead with a bottle cage on their cross racing bike. ...and now we're discussing fanny packs for the bars.
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Old 09-19-20, 03:44 PM
  #95  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
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.

If that bag is on a high end aero bike with expensive aero wheels, it doesn’t make much sense to carry your stuff there. Without wind tunnel,testing, I’d bet you dollars to donuts it’s way more efficient to carry your stuff in an appropriately sized set bag, which can be anywhere from a micro wedge to an ortlieb bag that carries 15 liters.

Heck, a decent sized Bag on top of the top tube behind the steerer tube,, or a even a frame bag would be more aero.
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Old 09-19-20, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
If that bag is on a high end aero bike with expensive aero wheels, it doesn’t make much sense to carry your stuff there. Without wind tunnel,testing, I’d bet you dollars to donuts it’s way more efficient to carry your stuff in an appropriately sized set bag, which can be anywhere from a micro wedge to an ortlieb bag that carries 15 liters.

Heck, a decent sized Bag on top of the top tube behind the steerer tube,, or a even a frame bag would be more aero.
It's all still pointless speculation until we know who these riders are and what they're doing. I'd absolutely ride an aero bike with full gear for commuting, and then a big bag for a change of clothes.
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Old 09-19-20, 11:13 PM
  #97  
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
Sure it is. Aero frame, aero wheels, aero helmet, parachute bar bag, aero skinsuit - that's incongruous. Varying intensity is normal. Feel free to disagree, though.
I think the point is that aero doesn't matter when you're training solo. That doesn't mean you can't use aero gear when training if one doesn't have an option. It does mean the aero penalty from a bar bag is irrelevant.
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Old 09-19-20, 11:38 PM
  #98  
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Unless you're racing the only time aero matters is when you're late for work. So can we please start calling these aero bikes commuters?
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Old 09-20-20, 12:52 AM
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I see some vloggers have them to carry cameras and what not. I am thinking people have seen them on social media and now its a trend..
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Old 09-20-20, 02:34 AM
  #100  
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Forget bar bags. I am still coming to terms with the widespread acceptance of the Fredly saddle bag over the past few years.
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