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I'm looking for a light bag I can use on road/gravel spins where I'd like to stop for a swim. So it needs to carry a microfibre towel and togs but not much else - maybe some food but I'm used to carrying what I need for day rides in my jersey pockets.
Light and minimal is the goal so I don't notice it much for the rest of the ride. Do handlebar bags work ok with regular road bars? Do they impede riding on the tops at all? I'd find that irritating. Is another type of bag a better idea?
Thoughts and recommendations please!
Had a few over the years but always revert to a roll bag, my favourite ive owned has been a Jango roll made in Windsor.
They don't imped with your controls etc, unless you spend all your time on the tops...
I'd take a frame bag instead. I've got a Large one of these - https://wildcat.cc/products/ocelot-frame-bag Or smaller ones from Restrap are on sale at Merlin at the mo.
I use a carradice bar bag with foam spacers to move it away from the bars on one of my road bikes. Works very well and would hold the amount of kit you are looking at. Without the spacers you do notice it a bit when riding on the tops of the bars but not massively
Rapha and restrap bar bags might be a bit too small (mrs kilo and i have a lot of bikes, and bags etc)
Thanks, the wildcat frame bag looks interesting as I presume it would fit above water bottles. Does it go on and off easily? It would only be for occasional use.
Other options also good, thanks for the replies.
Any reason for not wanting a seat pack? If no dropper I think that’s be my preference
No reason really, except I'd heard they can sway about. Any recommendations?
Takes a lot more than what you’ve mentioned before swaying should be an issue. Unfortunately I’m used to bigger and smaller but not the sort of size you mention. Believe Alpkit would have something around that size though, probably loads of others too
Saddle bag would be my choice. Loads to choose from - Restrap / Apidura / Alpkit are popular choices.
I've never noticed any swaying, even off road. Provided it's packed properly and tightened down it'll be fine
Ok thanks, food for thought. I think 5L is the max I need. I suppose a bar bag has the advantage of being useable on any bike, regardless of dropper or rear suspension.
I have a 'klick-fix' mounted bar bag - it is ace, but you are left with a clamp on the bars permanently. Due to the clamp spacing the bag, you can get hands behind it.
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However, I am finding I am more and more using my Alpkit half frame bag - a touch more space and just feels nice to not have something on the bars.
https://alpkit.com/products/glider-2021
I also still use an undersaddle bag for my tools and bits - it never leaves the bike, leaving the bar or frame bag for 'stuff'.
Not sure what the best option is I suppose it depends on the individual. I have a big Restrap saddle bag. That would fit the bill, but it obscures my rear radar light. I then have a half frame bag (a Rapha waterproof one) but it means I have to use side pull water bottle cages and can’t ride with big bottles. Next option is the handlebar bags but they can get in the way of your front light mounts etc. then you have the option of the cockpit bags. Restrap and Apidura have nice long 2 litre ones. I have recently ordered a Tailfin one but it’s only 1.1 litre. Looks good though in the videos. So take your pick. It would be good if you could demo each type to see what works best for your style of riding.
Wizard Works bar bags are great. Keep their shape, plenty of room and come with a hood range of colour options (and custom too). Recommended.
Heavyweight drybag like an Alpkit Xtra (8 or 13L) strapped to your bars. Unless you’re carrying heavy loads, there isn’t really much need for much else IMO.
I use a carradice bar bag with foam spacers to move it away from the bars on one of my road bikes.
The zipped roll? I have one and it will take a change of cycling clothes plus a microfibre towel. It's designed for a Brooks saddle but works well on the bars.
The Ortlieb saddlebags with the plastic qr also work well, though the bigger one can buzz on the tyre when the rear suspension compresses.
Bikemonger have a massice range of Revelate bags, and Restrap too.
I've had a Revelate top tube bag, which really is massive, for a few years,but have just bought some Restrap bags and I'm impressed!
I went all out with the Ortlieb QR..it's the best bar bag you'll ever use.
Rode a 300k audax a couple of weeks ago in biblical downpours and the contents stayed dry. More impressive however is it's stays on your bars like iss bolted on not a single shift.
You can also ride the tops as there's a generous gap. That's the clincher for me.
Buy one they are excellent.
Restrap Cannister bag might be big enough.
Or jump up to their Handlebar Pack.
I find that anything bigger than a Cannister bag needs extra supports to stop it bouncing around and/or killing your headtube.
I just want to recommend CamelChops for bar bags… excellent quality and custom colours. Great communication and much much cheaper then wizard works, restrap etc.
Buy one they are excellent.
You can't run a bar mounted light with the one I have, which model is yours?
I have the carradice seatpack and its the best I've had to date. Lovely materials, great looking, internal drybag as well and also slides onto some rails that clamp onto your saddle so absolutely no movement.
For a bar bag, I've got a Fablebag which is an unusual brand from ukraine! Top quality, totally waterproof and loads of great features. No website, instead you order through messaging them on instagram or emails but the quality is top notch and they are cheap (compared to to others). think miners a medium but they also do a large that would easily swallow a towel and shorts.
I quite dislike bar bags, having tried various set-ups. Just don't like the interference with cables, and the steering being affected. I'm another that keeps a frame bag on the bike all the time, and it's great. Enough room to stuff some clothes or food in, and is quiet and you don't feel it. Doesn't get in the way of bottles or anything. Alpkit, Restrap, Camel Chops all good suggestions for reasonable sixed bags. Wizard works seem really bloody expensive, as nice as they are.
I've got a CamelChops blimp (i think it is) for my gravel bike.
Nice bit of kit, easy fit and good size to cram stuff into.
I have a frame bag which swallows everything I need and so rarely use it. Stealth FS ad if it's of any interest.
Camo colour. Think it was about £50 new, very little use
I use one of these. It is a click-fix type mount that is super robust and easy to use, with no straps or rubbing. A great size too. My light is mounted on the fork crown so out the way.
The Rapha bar bag is very nice. It can also be mounted within the frame.
But you do know that they're incredible not aerodynamic? But very handy for longer rides for carrying food.
I don’t mount my light on the bars, I put it here.
That is a great bit of parts drawer engineering.
I prefer a small frame bag for day to day stuff, then add bar bag and seat pack for more capacity. My road/audax bike has a Carradice zipped roll on the bar partly because the bike just feels more relaxed handling with a bit of weight on the bar.
One thing to be aware of is that some smaller roll/canister bags don't open very widely for easy access once you have a jacket and things stuffed in there.
I don’t mount my light on the bars, I put it here.
Cheers. The mounting point is lower on my bike but looks like a good option for you.
I'm still running an Old Karrimor Bardale on one bike. It's on a Klickfix mount and when it retires soon, I'll get an Ortileb or Rixen & Kaul. The great advantage of traditional bar bags over the newer bikepacking style bags is access. You just unzip or unclip the lid and there's a square bag with all your stuff to hand. Cameras, gloves and snacks can be accessed while still riding and the whole thing can be unclipped in a second, the convenience is unbeatable. The downside is they do rattle more offroad but I find it a worthwhile trade off.
Are there any bar bags that do not interfere with cables?
My cables run under the bar tape and come out just next to the stem. I also have a bell, light and GPS fitting in that region too so it makes choosing one more difficult
Bump
Are there any bar bags that do not interfere with cables?
Yes.
The Klickfix ones.
They 'space' the bag out from the bars a touch, allowing 3-5cm for cables to run easily.
My cables run under the bar tape and come out just next to the stem. I also have a bell, light and GPS fitting in that region too so it makes choosing one more difficult
Carradice zipped roll is find on my bike with bell, gps and light bracket. I use the foam spacers so I can grip the bar tops.
thanks
I have been known to ride to the beach and find that a good frame bag will take the microfibre beach towel and budgie smugglers.
(I’ve got a few apidura like frame bags just noticed that my slightly bigger one needs another bit in the middle) I’m planning on getting a more versatile bottle holder to hold bigger water bottles as I tend to grab water from the petrol stations out of the fridge as tbh once the temp goes up yo can never carry enough.
Also got my chase vest to hold my wallet /paperwork and extra water.
It’s woho ,this is the slightly smaller one which will take the towel but it’s a tighter fit and nowhere for the suntan oil.
I also use their bottle bags to hold nibbles and er water bottles
If you need that top frame bag for beach activities you're doing a lot more than smuggling budgies
I did a bar bag groupset
https://ukgravelco.com/2022/10/16/bar-bag-grouptest/
I don't like seatpost bags as I find the hinder getting your arse back over the saddle when descending.
Frame bags are good but you need one that fits your frame to allow bottles too etc.
If you don't want it on the bike all the time or will be switching between bikes then a bar bag is best
I'd say if the bag comes with velcro straps swap them for voile straps, much easier to fit and remove and don't catch on gloves/clothing etc
If you need that top frame bag for beach activities you’re doing a lot more than smuggling budgies
Its the suntan oil,sandwiches and coke(hookers sourced locally) and probably a bike lock and power bank and maybe a kindle 🙂
TBH the decathlon Xlarge microfibre towels aren't crazy small but way more compact than a real beach towel.
(I like riding bikes and chillin on the beach but they don't really work well together, you either need to avoid sandy beaches or make sure they have a shower , that sand in your orfices doesn't help the riding experience.)
I reckon a smaller Microfibre towel would go in a your back pocket or in a bottle bag on the handle bar thou.
If your just wiping your bits you can probably get away with a small one.
(Anyone remember those old school blue ones or the shammy like ones 🙂 )
i use one of these. i dont like fashion so it is perfect.
https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/fwe/handle-bar-bag-with-integrated-waterproof-cover-917503
sand in your orfices doesn’t help the riding experience
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