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Do you need a handlebar bag to be a racer?

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Do you need a handlebar bag to be a racer?

Old 01-27-21, 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Enthalpic
Are they going to bar bags because they have the garmin radar thing where a seat bag would be?
This brings up the other point... I don't have a seat bag. I have a Venge and I believe there's a religious problem there somehow with the aero gods. Second idiocy on my part, that means I carry my tools in my pockets like a good little roadie, in a Lezyne Caddy Sack. So 1/2 pocket is gone... which causes need for OCCASIONAL use of handlebar bag (Thing 3 has used it, but I haven't had to yet). Oh the webs we weave.

And I still run the legs in Wookie mode, which is also counter to my previous Laws of the Venge mention.
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Old 01-27-21, 02:48 PM
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Talking about the Venge reminds me... I am going to race again next time there's a crit or RR w/in 2 hours...

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Old 01-27-21, 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
This brings up the other point... I don't have a seat bag. I have a Venge and I believe there's a religious problem there somehow with the aero gods. Second idiocy on my part, that means I carry my tools in my pockets like a good little roadie, in a Lezyne Caddy Sack. So 1/2 pocket is gone... which causes need for OCCASIONAL use of handlebar bag (Thing 3 has used it, but I haven't had to yet). Oh the webs we weave.

And I still run the legs in Wookie mode, which is also counter to my previous Laws of the Venge mention.
I am also rocking the full Borat. Haven't shaved my legs since uh, like May? Truly majestic. Let the wookie win, etc.

Oh right, bags.

I use an under seat micro bag for flat kit. I am not nearly pro enough for a handlebar bag.
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Old 01-28-21, 09:51 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Doge
Fast riders. The one that gets paid (for cycling) has the bag.
He and his pals came to beat up on us in a local race last year but I've got a podium pic and he's not on it, must have run out of food? Should had the bag on I guess!

I'm just joking around. Seemed like a nice kid. I see lots of bags around these days and I'm sure they can be useful but I agree with the fashion statement thing...grow a mustache, get a bar bag, and wear a t-shirt over your bibs instead of a jersey. You're now cool.
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Old 01-28-21, 10:10 AM
  #30  
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This thread has me wanting to get a bar bag. What is the coolest brand?
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Old 01-28-21, 10:27 AM
  #31  
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Fashion statements on bikes? You shave your fricken legs but aren’t paid to. You want to shove a bunch of pokey things in your pockets so your thumper kewl arrow bike thtayth kewl looking when you’re not on it? Are you somehow still stuck in 5th grade? What a bunch of judgemental lunch noodles you guys are.

How many of these “I was certain that I was so cool. I still do, but maybe now I’m less sure about how cool I look while riding a bicycle.” threads need to be created?

I will I’ll pay $10.000 to the first one of you who can find someone who daily drives a Pontiac Grand Prix and thinks that any of your racey bikey outfits look cool with or without things stuffed into the back pocket and that they can come to a 100% determination that a Venge looks cooler with or without any type of bar bag- little burrito type or a big ol Rando sack.

How disconnected from reality are you guys?
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Old 01-28-21, 11:54 AM
  #32  
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^ Jeez man you sound like you're super in to gravel grinding.
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Old 01-28-21, 11:55 AM
  #33  
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As a guy who has hit the deck a time or two, shaving legs isn't a fashion statement. If you think it is you might not know as much about playing bikes as you think you do.
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Old 01-28-21, 11:57 AM
  #34  
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Pontiac Grand Prix?
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Old 01-28-21, 12:18 PM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by caloso
Pontiac Grand Prix?
I mean, they did stop selling them in like 02 or 03. Not sure any of them were made well enough to still be surviving. Though, there are many classic Grand Prix, but those tend to be weekend/Cars and Coffee vehicles. Not daily drivers.
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Old 01-28-21, 12:58 PM
  #36  
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Well, a Grand Prix is nothing compared to my *****in' Camaro.
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Old 01-28-21, 01:16 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by gsteinb
As a guy who has hit the deck a time or two, shaving legs isn't a fashion statement. If you think it is you might not know as much about playing bikes as you think you do.
I've worn a beard for a LONG time. But do the leg thing. My hospital visit crash had me wishing I shaved the face also. Nasty cut in the beard made cleaning/healing a PIA. The shaved legs.......no problemo at all.

Also, oddly enough.......I keep them shaved cleaner more often when gravel and cyclocross riding. Why? You get nasty. When you hose off the bike and yourself, the nasty just flows away without a bunch of Chewbacca hair.

As for that dude's other issues......I guess we shouldn't own Corvettes because we don't race them at VIR or in the pro sports car series. I use the rear pockets because I'm always on the clock for training time. So, stopping road side to unload and reload a bag on my bike to eat is just a non-starter. I always just reach back and eat on the move. Has nothing to do with looking cool or keeping the bike looking clean. I use a saddle back and Garmin Varia. If daylight is remotely questionable, front light also. In races, they're short enough for a single bottle and I just squirt my gel into that instead of carrying one. So nothing in the jersey at all.

Just typical "yell from my boring front porch" bickering nonsense.
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Old 01-28-21, 01:18 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by cmh
This thread has me wanting to get a bar bag. What is the coolest brand?
You have lots of choice in the US; Swift Industries, Road Runner, etc.
In Canada, it's Farsik Supply.
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Old 01-28-21, 03:11 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by cmh
This thread has me wanting to get a bar bag. What is the coolest brand?
Coolest would be cheap and good, in my world. It's not staying on the bike -- just for occasional temp swings or if I'm riding over 100 miles and not planning to fuel at convenience stores. So.... this is what I got, and the quality is great -- no surprises, and worth way more than the $12 it cost. They have other sizes -- this one can hold maybe two pairs of warmers, or one pair of full tights, or one pair of Bar Mitts. It's pretty small, but perfect for me. I may go buy a bigger one so Thing 3 and I can choose a bit, or both carry if we're going out for a full day. Might be cool to get one big enough for my Fuji X-T20, maybe lens off...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bushwhacker...72.m2749.l2649

Originally Posted by gsteinb
As a guy who has hit the deck a time or two, shaving legs isn't a fashion statement. If you think it is you might not know as much about playing bikes as you think you do.
True, but as a guy who has hit the deck a time or too, I've had zero complications for road rash plus hair. If it's a huge area, I just scrub and shave the wound. Generally the scrub and dressing keep it all fluid enough not to cause problems.

I would buy a massage argument though

Originally Posted by hsuBM
Fashion statements on bikes? You shave your fricken legs but aren’t paid to. You want to shove a bunch of pokey things in your pockets so your thumper kewl arrow bike thtayth kewl looking when you’re not on it? Are you somehow still stuck in 5th grade? What a bunch of judgemental lunch noodles you guys are.

How many of these “I was certain that I was so cool. I still do, but maybe now I’m less sure about how cool I look while riding a bicycle.” threads need to be created?

I will I’ll pay $10.000 to the first one of you who can find someone who daily drives a Pontiac Grand Prix and thinks that any of your racey bikey outfits look cool with or without things stuffed into the back pocket and that they can come to a 100% determination that a Venge looks cooler with or without any type of bar bag- little burrito type or a big ol Rando sack.

How disconnected from reality are you guys?
You're new here, right? I'm not judgmental. Well, I wasn't until I read that drivel. Just because all your sh*t is too ugly to groom isn't our fault.

Where's botto anyway?
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Old 01-28-21, 04:02 PM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by hsuBM
Fashion statements on bikes? You shave your fricken legs but aren’t paid to. You want to shove a bunch of pokey things in your pockets so your thumper kewl arrow bike thtayth kewl looking when you’re not on it? Are you somehow still stuck in 5th grade? What a bunch of judgemental lunch noodles you guys are.

How many of these “I was certain that I was so cool. I still do, but maybe now I’m less sure about how cool I look while riding a bicycle.” threads need to be created?

I will I’ll pay $10.000 to the first one of you who can find someone who daily drives a Pontiac Grand Prix and thinks that any of your racey bikey outfits look cool with or without things stuffed into the back pocket and that they can come to a 100% determination that a Venge looks cooler with or without any type of bar bag- little burrito type or a big ol Rando sack.

How disconnected from reality are you guys?
hi
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Old 01-28-21, 04:03 PM
  #41  
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<-- over here, shaved legs, rim brakes, no bar bag, no gravel bike, tubeless MTB only...

...and I now feel like a luddite! Or old, maybe that's it. Not compared to some of you guys, but at 34 and with 14 years of roadie racing I'm feeling out of touch!
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Old 01-28-21, 04:18 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by mack_turtle
Not a racer and I don't shave my legs. I have a handlebar bag because it's a convenient place to put my snacks, phone, extra clothes that go off/on with the weather.
I'm also not a racer, but I do shave my legs (for multiple reasons, none of which are for aerodynamics, like ease of sunscreen application, preparedness for bandage application after falling and getting road rash on the side of the calf which happens during mtb on EVERY ride, or the ease of pulling up winter legs warmers without me or the warmer pulling on my leg hair). And I place all of the items you mentioned behind me either in jersey pockets or an expandable saddle bag if clothing changes are needed. I'm already fat, old, and beat up enough that i don't need something directly in front of me causing me to needlessly work harder than I have to on a long ride.
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Old 01-28-21, 04:39 PM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by Riveting
I'm also not a racer, but I do shave my legs (for multiple reasons, none of which are for aerodynamics, like ease of sunscreen application, preparedness for bandage application after falling and getting road rash on the side of the calf which happens during mtb on EVERY ride, or the ease of pulling up winter legs warmers without me or the warmer pulling on my leg hair). And I place all of the items you mentioned behind me either in jersey pockets or an expandable saddle bag if clothing changes are needed. I'm already fat, old, and beat up enough that i don't need something directly in front of me causing me to needlessly work harder than I have to on a long ride.
Is there any info that overstuffed pockets are more aero than bar bags? Seems negligible. I'll give you the 2oz weight difference. At any rate I am actually to the point that my 29F kit will not de-layer into my pockets. I get that feeling of inefficiency

[The Bar Mitts have been discovered, and are now required below 43F for me unless the temp is already climbing -- they are freaking brilliant and I can wear summer fingerless gloves down to 25F with no issues. Bar Mitts are ridiculous in a pocket, and probably would void a jersey warranty]
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Old 01-28-21, 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
Is there any info that overstuffed pockets are more aero than bar bags? Seems negligible. I'll give you the 2oz weight difference. At any rate I am actually to the point that my 29F kit will not de-layer into my pockets. I get that feeling of inefficiency

[The Bar Mitts have been discovered, and are now required below 43F for me unless the temp is already climbing -- they are freaking brilliant and I can wear summer fingerless gloves down to 25F with no issues. Bar Mitts are ridiculous in a pocket, and probably would void a jersey warranty]
I'm talking regular stuff in pockets, not over stuffed. But either way, those pockets and bigger saddle bag are behind me, in my aero wake, creating zero extra aero drag, and in fact the saddle bag may be helping break up the vortex behind me, much like those tapered apparatuses behind 18 wheelers to reduce their vortex to conserve fuel. An up-front bar bag, traditionally flat-fronted like the one in the pic, is 100% extra drag, to the tune of what? 54 square inches (9"x6" give or take) of frontage. That's huuuge. "They" say just going from a vented helmet to an unvented time-trial type helm is one of the biggest and most significant aero gains an avid cyclist on a road bike can make, and the gains from those turbulent holes and extra surface area must be less than the 54 square inches of a bar bag.

But if bar mitts and and an upfront bag works for you, then go with it. I'm just bringing up the aero downsides to not using them. I have lots of heavier-than-necessary items I ride with, and accept the weight penalty because they're valuable to me. But I don't dispute that the weight penalty exists.
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Old 01-28-21, 06:21 PM
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So for the record, I'm in the no bar bag camp, but the aero argument won't hold in this sub forum since the bag is used in training. Like I don't care how fast I'm going in training, I ride a TCR with box rims, butyl tubes and a lightweight non aero helmet. Training is for building fitness. When I race I care about aero - speed/skinsuit, Venge, aero road helmet, fast wheels/tires etc
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Old 01-28-21, 06:42 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by cmh
This thread has me wanting to get a bar bag. What is the coolest brand?
Never heard of them - till now. See if I can get on (couln't list the stock chat site) and make them go...
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Old 01-28-21, 06:43 PM
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Oh yea!
https://leadoutgear.com/
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Old 01-28-21, 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
Originally Posted by Riveting
I'm also not a racer... an expandable saddle bag
Seatbags are clearly not for racers.
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Old 01-28-21, 07:27 PM
  #49  
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Two of the guys involved with Lead Out! gear are on the SDBC Men's Racing team. They haven't been so involved (how could they) since COVID hit and racing stopped last March. Neither are continuing with the men's elite team in 2021 (sadface). They're good guys. Strong too. Their products seem to be popular in SoCal and if I was looking for a bag I would buy from them.

They're also a lot younger and more hip then me, but I'm beginning to learn that that doesn't say much. At least I can race Master's now.
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Old 01-28-21, 07:28 PM
  #50  
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I'll take a nice aero tope tube bag for supplies
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