PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
I’ve been playing around with cheap handlebar bags for a while. All of them have some pretty significant downsides. So I was planning to buy a pukka one. I was tempted by this one – until I read the review and EBC’s response.
Maybe I’m just an “awkward sod” but to claim that one’s product is good value just because it’s cheaper than the competitor products tested really gets my goat. I’m damn sure there are several really humongous profit margins in that price.
I’m convinced it should be possible to design, and have made in reasonably saleable quantities, a really good quality, functional, small handlebar bag to sell at around £20.
I’m putting a bit of time & effort into researching possible manufacturers, but I’d be very interested in CycleChatters opinions of what works or would work for them.
Here is what I’ve decided upon so far:
Size: 3 to 4 litres
Just enough for tubes, PRK, multitool, rain jacket, arm & legwarmers or spare jersey, camera, phone, keys, wallet, sunglasses & food for a long day ride. There are plenty of larger handlebar bags around, but they all look so bulky that IMO, if you want 6 or 7 litres capacity a saddlebag like a Carradice Barley is a better bet.
Attachment: Rixen Kaul KlickFix
I have seen some utterly POS quick-release systems out there, so why re-invent the wheel? Just use the market-leading system, which already has adapters for standard & O/S bars.
Here are some other features which might be desirable:
Waterproof ? or separate rain cover (which could be hi-viz yellow) ?
Streamlined shape?
(Must also be shaped so as not to get in way of drop-bar STI gear cables.)
Map-holder.
Means the top of the bag must be flat(ish). If built-in to the top, it ends up being too small for a folded Landranger. Is a larger map-holder velcro’d/strapped to the top of the bag a better system?
Side Pockets.
Small mesh pockets for gels/packets of jelly-babies seem ideal to me?
Detachable Shoulder strap
All bar bags seem to come with these. Do people really use them?
Separate pockets / or internal dividers?
Any other features you would like to see ?
Any thoughts on the above?
Why would you help me design a product that is going to make me rich?
Well, I have a number of prototypes, based on a good quality bag (which was let down by a crappy Q/R system), to which I’ve bolted on a Rixen-Kaul mounting plate.
The most useful comments that input to improving the design – you can have one of the prototypes (pictured below) for free.
Maybe I’m just an “awkward sod” but to claim that one’s product is good value just because it’s cheaper than the competitor products tested really gets my goat. I’m damn sure there are several really humongous profit margins in that price.
I’m convinced it should be possible to design, and have made in reasonably saleable quantities, a really good quality, functional, small handlebar bag to sell at around £20.
I’m putting a bit of time & effort into researching possible manufacturers, but I’d be very interested in CycleChatters opinions of what works or would work for them.
Here is what I’ve decided upon so far:
Size: 3 to 4 litres
Just enough for tubes, PRK, multitool, rain jacket, arm & legwarmers or spare jersey, camera, phone, keys, wallet, sunglasses & food for a long day ride. There are plenty of larger handlebar bags around, but they all look so bulky that IMO, if you want 6 or 7 litres capacity a saddlebag like a Carradice Barley is a better bet.
Attachment: Rixen Kaul KlickFix
I have seen some utterly POS quick-release systems out there, so why re-invent the wheel? Just use the market-leading system, which already has adapters for standard & O/S bars.
Here are some other features which might be desirable:
Waterproof ? or separate rain cover (which could be hi-viz yellow) ?
Streamlined shape?
(Must also be shaped so as not to get in way of drop-bar STI gear cables.)
Map-holder.
Means the top of the bag must be flat(ish). If built-in to the top, it ends up being too small for a folded Landranger. Is a larger map-holder velcro’d/strapped to the top of the bag a better system?
Side Pockets.
Small mesh pockets for gels/packets of jelly-babies seem ideal to me?
Detachable Shoulder strap
All bar bags seem to come with these. Do people really use them?
Separate pockets / or internal dividers?
Any other features you would like to see ?
Any thoughts on the above?
Why would you help me design a product that is going to make me rich?
Well, I have a number of prototypes, based on a good quality bag (which was let down by a crappy Q/R system), to which I’ve bolted on a Rixen-Kaul mounting plate.
The most useful comments that input to improving the design – you can have one of the prototypes (pictured below) for free.