Bikes and Bags

[All uphill]

Many of us have bags on our bikes. They obviously increase the things we can usefully do on our travels.

I recognise that I may have a bit of an addiction in this area ( but I can give up any time I like).

This is a thread to show off your bicycle luggage and share your findings.

My current favourite is an Atran Velo bag that clips in and out of a rack. It's capacious, sturdy and I like the look.

What's your favourite and why?

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Ortlieb bar bag for the win.

Surprisingly capacious, completely waterproof, convenient for access, quick removal and a shoulder strap to carry off the bike, pockets for bits and bobs inside, allows a map carrier to be added.

Seen here in it's natural habitat on Lake Lucerne, but equally at home on a commute.

Always amazed more people don't have bar bags.

 

[All uphill]

Ortlieb bar bag for the win.

Surprisingly capacious, completely waterproof, convenient for access, quick removal and a shoulder strap to carry off the bike, pockets for bits and bobs inside, allows a map carrier to be added.

View attachment 791064

Seen here in it's natural habitat on Lake Lucerne, but equally at home on a commute.

Always amazed more people don't have bar bags.

Wonderful picture.

I have a Carradice bar bag that is years old. The map carrier is very useful for maps or shopping lists. I've been asked if it doesn't affect the handling, and it doesn't in any way I can notice.

I like having my essential stuff where I can see it while on tour.

Here's my Spa in 2022 with bar bag and saddlebag.

 

[bluenotebob]

I'm a late arrival at the bag party. I prefer to do what I call 'day touring' (8/10 hours a day) as I simply can't get organised to go out for more than one day at a time.

Here's my gravel bike with a 17L saddle bag ... loads of room for food, camera, phone, wallet, keys, map etc - and some strapping on top to carry a lightweight fleece or waterproof.

Only downside is that it needs to be packed carefully or it bumps on the rear mudguard - otherwise it's brilliant.

 

[All uphill]

By 2023 I'd swapped the rack for a Carradice bagman, which supported the saddlebag without issue.

 

[All uphill]

I'm a late arrival at the bag party. I prefer to do what I call 'day touring' (8/10 hours a day) as I simply can't get organised to go out for more than one day at a time.

Here's my gravel bike with a 17L saddle bag ... loads of room for food, camera, phone, wallet, keys, map etc - and some strapping on top to carry a lightweight fleece or waterproof.

Only downside is that it needs to be packed carefully or it bumps on the rear mudguard - otherwise it's brilliant.

View attachment 791076

That looks good. Does your leg easily clear it when mounting and dismounting?

 

[chriswoody]

I've settled on a couple of manufacturers that I really like for my bags. I've got two bags from Restrap, a large 14L saddle bag for when I'm touring which has a holster attached to the saddle and a removable dry bag that's simple and practical to remove. I've also bought a smaller 5.5L bag for day rides that is fantastically well made and not only easy and practical to use, but swaps over to different bikes in a matter of minutes. I can use this for a gilet and waterproofs on shoulder season rides. Then I use a smattering of Apidura bags, a 5.5L frame bag which stays attached a lot of the time and two smaller fork bags for touring. Apidura make some really well thought out and constructed kit and also have excellent after sales service. Lastly I use Revelate designs, an American company, that make a small bag that sits on top of the top tube behind the stem. It has a magnetic lock closure and is really handy for snacks, suncream and a few other small bits and bobs. I can easily open and close it on the move if I need too and it has a non slip fabric underneath so it doesn't move on the top tube. Lastly I have two Revelate Designs feedbags, they sit next to the stem behind the handlebars. They are for my water bottles and also snacks. They have an ingenious one handed open/close loop so I can easily remove or secure stuff in there whilst cycling along.

Day ride set up

Touring Set Up

 

[a.twiddler]

My old Linear at Burton Marsh, Wirral with Altura rack bag and an ancient pair of Carradice cotton duck front panniers on the front lowrider. It's a useful setup fpr longer day rides. The Carradice bags are spare space for putting odds and sods in on a long ride. The Altura bag is fairly small. for tools and stuff. It has stiffeners so keeps its shape on top of the rack.

 

[bluenotebob]

Does your leg easily clear it when mounting and dismounting?

Yes - no problems and I'm still reasonably agile. It might become more difficult in the years ahead - but I might not be up for cycling for 8 hours by then anyway.

The brand is Zefal and the model is 'Adventure R17'.

I'm pretty sure someone else on the forum has one of these - she posted a photo back in the summer. Perhaps she'll see this thread and add a comment.

 

[All uphill]

I've settled on a couple of manufacturers that I really like for my bags. I've got two bags from Restrap, a large 14L saddle bag for when I'm touring which has a holster attached to the saddle and a removable dry bag that's simple and practical to remove. I've also bought a smaller 5.5L bag for day rides that is fantastically well made and not only easy and practical to use, but swaps over to different bikes in a matter of minutes. I can use this for a gilet and waterproofs on shoulder season rides. Then I use a smattering of Apidura bags, a 5.5L frame bag which stays attached a lot of the time and two smaller fork bags for touring. Apidura make some really well thought out and constructed kit and also have excellent after sales service. Lastly I use Revelate designs, an American company, that make a small bag that sits on top of the top tube behind the stem. It has a magnetic lock closure and is really handy for snacks, suncream and a few other small bits and bobs. I can easily open and close it on the move if I need too and it has a non slip fabric underneath so it doesn't move on the top tube. Lastly I have two Revelate Designs feedbags, they sit next to the stem behind the handlebars. They are for my water bottles and also snacks. They have an ingenious one handed open/close loop so I can easily remove or secure stuff in there whilst cycling along.

Day ride set up

View attachment 791080
Touring Set Up

View attachment 791081

I hear good things about Restrap.

 

[Baldy]

Ortlieb bar bag for the win.

Surprisingly capacious, completely waterproof, convenient for access, quick removal and a shoulder strap to carry off the bike, pockets for bits and bobs inside, allows a map carrier to be added.

View attachment 791064

Seen here in it's natural habitat on Lake Lucerne, but equally at home on a commute.

Always amazed more people don't have bar bags.

Just goes to show what suits one person doesn't necessarily suit another. I tried one of those and hated it, just didn't find it useful at all.

 

[chriswoody]

I hear good things about Restrap.

I've been really impressed with the quality as well as the thought that's gone into their design. The're quite a young company based out of Yorkshire and still hand make all of their bags there. They actually started out repurposing old seatbelt's into toe straps, hence the name Restrap. There's a nice little insight into the company here: https://bikepacking.com/plog/inside-restrap/

 

[rivers]

My go to bags are mostly Tailfin, with a smattering of Restrap (more on the way), and currently some Planet X (which are going when the new restrap bags arrive).

 

[roubaixtuesday]

I hear good things about Restrap.

The small bar bag on the stoker's bars is from restrap.

 

[figbat]

I have two ‘set ups’:

For some 4 day MTB rides I have this:

Made up of a mix of whatever was quick and cheap to get. A Blackburn tailpack I got used on eBay (it was unmarked and spotless), an Altura Vortex handlebar bag (was on special offer direct from Altura), and two cheap ‘top tube’ type bags from Decathlon. Plus a Kriega Trail9 hydration backpack (this was NOT cheap!).

It has worked OK but the shape of the tailpack limits the size and shape of anything rigid. It comprises a cradle and removable roll down bag though, so is easy to remove and refit. Next time I go I might splash out on a Tailfin rack or the Ortleib Quick Rack though.

Utility bike:

This bike was built to commute or shop. The UPSO panniers are substantial as they are made out of old truck side curtains. They use the Carradice mounting hardware and are utterly devoid of gimmicks - no liner, no pockets, nothing but a large, waterproof chasm with a roll top. Perfect for the job. There’s a small handlebar bag from them on there too that carries tools and spares.