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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 09-20-20, 05:43 AM
  #101  
WhyFi
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Originally Posted by gregf83
I think the point is ...
Justify it for yourself however you'd like, I really don't care, but it's still, by definition, incongruous.
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Old 09-20-20, 05:48 AM
  #102  
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
Justify it for yourself however you'd like, I really don't care, but it's still, by definition, incongruous.
Agreed. As are most things recreational cyclists do.
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Old 09-20-20, 07:06 AM
  #103  
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I'm sure the bag is useful; fanny packs worn with the bag facing the front are pretty useful too.

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Old 09-20-20, 08:03 AM
  #104  
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Originally Posted by Elvo
Typically you would put some of your heavier stuff in the handlebar bag like a tent, poles, food, cooking system, etc
No. Heavy stuff in handlebar bags make the bike handle very poorly. Heavy stuff goes as low as possible and certainly not attached to the front wheel.
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Old 09-20-20, 09:36 AM
  #105  
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Originally Posted by roadiejorge
I'm sure the bag is useful; fanny packs worn with the bag facing the front are pretty useful too.

I've been accused of having a fanny pack under my jersey. But in all honesty it's just my gut.

And aren't "fanny" packs need to be on your fanny?
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Old 09-20-20, 09:51 AM
  #106  
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AFAS style goes, it's a better look than a top tube bag, or a (shudder) frame bag.
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Old 09-20-20, 10:05 AM
  #107  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
I've been accused of having a fanny pack under my jersey. But in all honesty it's just my gut.

And aren't "fanny" packs need to be on your fanny?
British fanny or American fanny?
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Old 09-20-20, 10:51 AM
  #108  
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Originally Posted by GlennR
I've been accused of having a fanny pack under my jersey. But in all honesty it's just my gut.


And aren't "fanny" packs need to be on your fanny?
Yep, but those who can't be bothered to reach around to access the bag wear it with the bag facing forward.
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Old 09-20-20, 11:31 PM
  #109  
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Originally Posted by roadiejorge
Yep, but those who can't be bothered to reach around to access the bag wear it with the bag facing forward.
If someone cant be bothered with a reacharound, then he doesnt deserve any respect.
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Old 09-21-20, 01:23 AM
  #110  
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Originally Posted by guadzilla
If someone cant be bothered with a reacharound, then he doesnt deserve any respect.
It's common courtesy!
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Old 09-21-20, 11:34 AM
  #111  
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Originally Posted by Jeff Neese
No. Heavy stuff in handlebar bags make the bike handle very poorly. Heavy stuff goes as low as possible and certainly not attached to the front wheel.
Low-rider type racks that put weight close to the hub of the front wheel can actually improve handling and stability.
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Old 09-21-20, 11:40 AM
  #112  
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Originally Posted by Bostonwheeler
Low-rider type racks that put weight close to the hub of the front wheel can actually improve handling and stability.
If you balance the load!
The rear seems to care less about balance.
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Old 09-21-20, 12:11 PM
  #113  
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I imagine something to repair a flat, first aid kit, and phone? Maybe pain pills. Or necessary items. I mean if your going out for many miles and your alone don't you take some necessary items along? At the least you need chapstick. Or a power bar?
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Old 09-21-20, 01:03 PM
  #114  
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Originally Posted by Bostonwheeler
Low-rider type racks that put weight close to the hub of the front wheel can actually improve handling and stability.
Again, as low as possible. And the only reason to use front panniers is if you've got the rear loaded up - the front lowriders will help balance front-to-back weight. There's no circumstance where adding weight to the front wheel by itself improves handling. And handlebar bags are the worst.
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Old 09-21-20, 01:10 PM
  #115  
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Originally Posted by kimconyc
Where did this stupidity originate?
In addition to it possibly being more carbon-bar-friendly (I have my doubts, but this is what I was told), there is a valid concern that conventional handlebar bags won't stay mounted correctly when bouncing around on very rough off-pavement trails. The stuff sack mounting mechanism is a bit more robust in that sense.
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Old 09-21-20, 01:11 PM
  #116  
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Originally Posted by Jeff Neese
There's no circumstance where adding weight to the front wheel by itself improves handling. And handlebar bags are the worst.
Somebody tell Jan:

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Old 09-21-20, 01:13 PM
  #117  
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Guilty as charged!

I have a Specialized Roubaix endurance bike and I bought a small Arkel handlebar bag to hold my rain gear and a few nut bars. It beats stuffing your jersey pockets, at the expense of looking less aerodynamic.
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Old 09-21-20, 01:15 PM
  #118  
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I'm sure there's lots of great information about all sorts of bags over in the Touring Forum - might be worth checking out if you like the loaded up look.
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Old 09-21-20, 01:43 PM
  #119  
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Originally Posted by wgscott
Somebody tell Jan:

That bike would handle much better if that weight were evenly distributed, and without the handlebar bag. Nobody who has done any significant amount of bicycle touring, me included, would suggest setting up your load that way. I'm not sure it's even safe. Can you imagine needing to do a full-on panic stop, especially on a downhill? Weight distribution is everything when it comes to loading a bike.
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Old 09-21-20, 01:46 PM
  #120  
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
I'm sure there's lots of great information about all sorts of bags over in the Touring Forum - might be worth checking out if you like the loaded up look.
How do I put those fork bags on my Madone? I don't see any bosses, so I assume that I should get my drill ready.
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Old 09-21-20, 01:51 PM
  #121  
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Originally Posted by Jeff Neese
That bike would handle much better if that weight were evenly distributed, and without the handlebar bag. Nobody who has done any significant amount of bicycle touring, me included, would suggest setting up your load that way. I'm not sure it's even safe. Can you imagine needing to do a full-on panic stop, especially on a downhill? Weight distribution is everything when it comes to loading a bike.
I think he is going for even distribution. What's a normal bike + rider distribution? 30 front, 70 rear?

I personally don't think 50/50 is ideal for a bicycle, but...
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Old 09-21-20, 02:00 PM
  #122  
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
I think he is going for even distribution. What's a normal bike + rider distribution? 30 front, 70 rear?

I personally don't think 50/50 is ideal for a bicycle, but...
Well I'll be damned, it's actually not that bad on my Lemond using the cheap and dirty bathroom scale method has it at 45 front/55 rear. Probably not that accurate, however.
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Old 09-21-20, 02:17 PM
  #123  
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
Well I'll be damned, it's actually not that bad on my Lemond using the cheap and dirty bathroom scale method has it at 45 front/55 rear. Probably not that accurate, however.
Silca's ideal tire pressure guesser uses 48/52 that distribution for road frames, with the 50/50 being used on Tri/TT frames, and 46.5/53.5 for mountain frames. Did you use two scales?
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Old 09-21-20, 02:20 PM
  #124  
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Originally Posted by Unca_Sam
Silca's ideal tire pressure guesser uses 48/52 that distribution for road frames, with the 50/50 being used on Tri/TT frames, and 46.5/53.5 for mountain frames. Did you use two scales?
Nope, only the one scale. Front wheel on scale, get hands on the hoods, take reading. Rear wheel on scale, get hands on the hoods take reading. Thus my suspicion of innacuracy.

If I wasn't so cheap and dirty, I'd run out and get a couple of matching scales, attempt to calibrate with a bag of concrete and then collect the data again.
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Old 09-21-20, 02:48 PM
  #125  
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Originally Posted by kimconyc
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?
maybe they are storing an extra set of casual clothes used for work?
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