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frame bag and wind

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frame bag and wind

Old 05-25-22, 10:48 PM
  #1  
Symox
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frame bag and wind

I've been using a full frame bag (Apidura Expedition 6L - GREAT product). I hadn't noticed it before, but on windy days I'm finding the bike gets pushed around in cross winds. This was really pronounced when I loaded the bike down with a rear rack and panniers and 30lbs of gear (NOT a touring bike so stability got worse with more weight).

My question is, is it normal for a road bike with a full frame bag to be sensitive to crosswinds? Seems like a silly question but I really didn't notice this when I loaded down the bike with only the frame bag and not panniers.

I suspect geometry and center of balance are factors

I'm using a Specialized Roubaix btw
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Old 05-25-22, 11:04 PM
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HTupolev
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Originally Posted by Symox
(NOT a touring bike so stability got worse with more weight).
Even touring bikes can lose stability when rear-heavy. They're usually better at dealing with it than non-touring bikes with otherwise-similar construction, but it's a poor situation to begin with. When I put large loads on my Campeur, I try to put the heavy stuff onto the front low-riders. So for instance, this...



...handles far better than this...



...even though the bicycle is carrying far more weight in the first photo.
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Old 05-25-22, 11:04 PM
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Polaris OBark
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Yes.

I don't like frame bags for this reason, and they don't hold much. Bikepackers like them because they don't stick out.

In my experience, the most stable configuration is two panniers mounted on low riders on the front. It looks like it would be unstable, but it isn't.

Jan Heine provides an extreme example:



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Old 05-26-22, 12:42 AM
  #4  
Camilo
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Why would you be surprised that a frame pack would be susceptible to winds? It's like a sail!
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Old 05-26-22, 04:29 AM
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Originally Posted by HTupolev
Even touring bikes can lose stability when rear-heavy. They're usually better at dealing with it than non-touring bikes with otherwise-similar construction, but it's a poor situation to begin with. When I put large loads on my Campeur, I try to put the heavy stuff onto the front low-riders. So for instance, this...



...handles far better than this...



...even though the bicycle is carrying far more weight in the first photo.
A man after my own heart.


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Old 06-27-22, 12:54 AM
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Thanks for the comprehensive detail.
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Old 06-28-22, 08:08 AM
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Anyone who drove an early VW Beetle can easily realize how much rear heavy weight balance can affect handling in cross winds
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Old 06-29-22, 07:32 PM
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I have a frame bag on my 2022 Checkpoint SL5. Haven's noticed any wind problems but it's tough to get large sized water bottles into the cages.
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Old 06-30-22, 02:09 PM
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On my long tours I only use rear panniers but have experienced problems with cross winds or tractor trailer rigs passing by me on the road. There is a section on Hwy 1 in Big Sur known as Hurricane Point and going south from this area I had a gust come down a ravine that moved me and my bicycle a couple feet to the right. It happened so fast I did not have time to worry about crashing.

Windiest in the afternoon hours so better to ride in the morning or at night (if practical).
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Old 09-05-22, 07:15 PM
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Symox
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Update

Originally Posted by pintvideodownlo;[url=tel:22637432
22637432[/url]]Any latest updates?
I’ve slimmed down my packing so I can get away with a rear rack and two small Ortlieb panniers for 25L of storage (lots of room). I’m selling the frame bag as I tested this setup on my bike and it does better. Plus I have the main triangle for water bottles
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Old 09-12-22, 05:37 PM
  #11  
Calsun
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I do not use front panniers as I do not want the wind to affect the steering of the bike. Even with only rear panniers and my body I was at a place on Hwy 1 in California that is aptly called Hurricane Point and I had the bike lifted up and set down about 2 feet closer to the center of the highway. A lot less wind during the morning than the afternoon hours so it helps to plan accordingly.
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Old 09-12-22, 06:05 PM
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Polaris OBark
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I live about 3 miles up the hill from Hwy 1, and have lots of crosswinds to contend with. Front panniers centered on the front axle won't negatively affect the steering on the bike in a crosswind -- in fact they will help to stabilize it. Panniers up higher on a rear rack can wag the tail of the bike to some extent. If I need only two panniers, I put them on the front only. If I need four, I load them 60/40 front/rear.
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