Bar bag or rack pack?

[coffeejo]

I have decided that in order to aid both my weight loss and the health of my bank manager, I'm going to start taking packed lunches on the longer group and club rides, which is fine if I take my Marin as that has a rack and pack, but once I've put my tools, tubes, phone etc in the road bike's saddle bag, all I'll have room for is a Wiggle-sixed pack of Haribo. Yummy ... but not quite the diet solution I'm after.

So my question is this: do I put a rack on the road bike (a teeny weeny Orbea Aqua Dama) so I can switch the rack pack between the two bikes or do I get a handlebar bag? I don't really want to get a bigger saddle bag as I've already got one and for short rides, it does the job perfectly. Besides, switching the contents of the two would be a PITA and I'd probably forget something crucial, like tyre levers.

Any thoughts?

 

[Mark Grant]

I use one of these
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Altura-Arran-Expanding-Post-Pack_15711.htm

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I have 2 handlebar bags both topeak:

This one for short rides:

and this one for long rides:

they both use the same mounting so I can just swap them about.

I use a saddle bag for spare tubes and tools etc.

 

[Dayvo]

For lunch, you say!

 

[potsy]

I have the same one as Phil, the smaller one.
Just the right size for an average persons lunch, so you might want to go for the larger one

It also converts to a bumbag which is handy, again it's for the average size bum so...

 

[NormanD]

I have the Altura Arran too and you can buy spare QR Rixen-Kaul seatpost mount to fit to another bike, switching the bag takes a few seconds then.

 

[dellzeqq]

cheapo bar bag from Decathlon. On and off in seconds.

 

[col]

I use a trainer or football zip bag, thats if you go the rack way. It fits perfectly with a bungee strap, holds all the tools I want, plus room for a snack too. Iv even got a crank tightener that I just cant leave behind, bad experience long time ago.

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

I use my rack bag when my basket is too twee and panniers too much.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/altura/arran-transit-rackpack-ec008439

 

[Falwheeler]

I also use the Arran seat post bag, great bags.

 

[coffeejo]

I use a trainer or football...

That's as far as my eyes read before my brain started boggling

Still undecided between the merits of the two, going to take the bike into the LBS soon and see which, you know, looks better

 

[NormanD]

Buy the Altura Arran CJ .. you'll not be disappointed ... great bag and it'll carry everything you'll ever need

 

[coffeejo]

Is that to fit onto a pannier rack or does it have a seatpost attachment?

 

[MacB]

I didn't like a bar bag and got a rack top bag instead however, as we're talking lunch transportation here, it's not on a return ticket. I sometimes use my normal saddle pack, a top tube Tri bag and one of those drawstring backpack things, the sort kids use for PE bags these days. Consumables can go in the backpack and, when finished, the backpack can be folded and put in the Tri bag or saddlepack.

I suppose it rules out tupperware unless you use those cheapo disposable cartons.

 

[MacB]

Another thought, though not from personal experience, would be one of those hydration backpacks. I think you can get them non, or minimal, sweaty back, keep your lunch cool and get a bit more of a workout at the same time. Also allow you to leave off the water bottles.

As I say I've never tried one but there certainly seem to be enough around.