Map holders on handlebar bags

[SuperGalactian]

My wife and I are gadually gearing up for cycle touring, after a lifetime of not quite finding time for it. Being old-fashioned types, we want to use paper OS maps rather than the ubiquitous smartphone. So I have a couple of questions regarding map cases on handlebar bags. Please help if you have experience with these.

(1) Do they fit folded OS maps? In researching handlebar bags, I realised that the map pockets on those from European manufacturers (ege KlikFix) are not sized for folded OS maps, even if you take the cardboard cover off the map. Can anyone name a type of handlebar bag whose map pocket definitely accommodates a standard OS 1:50,000 scale Landranger map?

(2) Are map pockets inherently losable? Those I have seen so far appear to be fastened to the bag only on the front edge. I realise that as you cycle the airstream will tend to blow it back towards you, but what happens in a strong side-wind, or when you stop?

Currently Carradice Super-C and a discontinued but still available model by Altura are my front-runners, so any comments specifically about those would be especially welcome.

 

[Oldhippy]

You can't beat Carridice in my opinion. They do everything they advertise.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Off topic but aren't Landrangers a bit big for touring? You might need quite a lot of them. And you might need to be refolding them several times a day as you move. In my touring-with-a-paper-map days (which admittedly was a long time ago) I used a smaller scale map. I don't remember exactly what. I also used to rip pages out of old road atlases.

 

[SuperGalactian]

Off topic but aren't Landrangers a bit big for touring? You might need quite a lot of them. And you might need to be refolding them several times a day as you move. In my touring-with-a-paper-map days (which admittedly was a long time ago) I used a smaller scale map. I don't remember exactly what. I also used to rip pages out of old road atlases.

That’s a valid point, thanks. I suppose it depends what sort of mileage one expects to do per day, and how many days. We were thinking of a max 30 miles per day, to allow plenty of time for poking about. Of course it’s the interesting little byroads and place names that are missing from smaller scale maps.

 

[blackrat]

That’s a valid point, thanks. I suppose it depends what sort of mileage one expects to do per day, and how many days. We were thinking of a max 30 miles per day, to allow plenty of time for poking about. Of course it’s the interesting little byroads and place names that are missing from smaller scale maps.

30 miles a day? That's like going to the shops and back, isn't it?

 

[SuperGalactian]

30 miles a day? That's like going to the shops and back, isn't it?

Funnily enough, it’s exactly like going to our nearest shops and back. But don’t you go touring to explore the places you pass through?

 

[blackrat]

Funnily enough, it’s exactly like going to our nearest shops and back. But don’t you go touring to explore the places you pass through?

Does your signature name mean you are from Galacia?

 

[SuperGalactian]

Does your signature name mean you are from Galacia?

Sure. Now back to map cases…

 

[Poacher]

Have you considered a separate transparent map case, as sold for hiking rather than biking, adapted with some velcro strips?

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

One consideration for OP is map scale and how often they'll be stopping to move to a new section of map. "Ordnance Survey at a 1:50,000 scale, where 1 cm on the map equals 500 metres on the ground." - when cycling how long will it take you to cover 500m? so how large a map area on you bars which will give you how long before stopping to refold map?

 

[SuperGalactian]

One consideration for OP is map scale and how often they'll be stopping to move to a new section of map. "Ordnance Survey at a 1:50,000 scale, where 1 cm on the map equals 500 metres on the ground." - when cycling how long will it take you to cover 500m? so how large a map area on you bars which will give you how long before stopping to refold map?

At 1:50,000 scale, the area visible in a double fold is 12x12 km. One could pass through that in 20min, or spend the whole day exploring.

But is this really relevant? AFAIK, all OS maps are folded to the same size, whatever the scale (with the exception of the nightmarish double-sided things that cover specific beauty areas like Dartmoor or the New Forest).

Have you considered a separate transparent map case, as sold for hiking rather than biking, adapted with some velcro strips?

Actually, no. Good thought. But before I get into DIY, I was hoping for thoughts about currently available bar bags?

 

[oxoman]

I used to use mapping software and print out my route for walking and biking in a suitable size and put in plastic sleeve or laminate it, usually double sided. From memory it was memory map software. I now use strava, google etc loaded onto gps unit. Doing what your doing id probably fo with the Caradice, ive used the sqr super c slim for years and its bombproof

 

[Gwylan]

I use the phone and Komoot or whatever suits for actual travel.
My love hate with the Beeline Velo2 continues. The chaos over updates earlier this week did lead me to ask for my money back. But we seem to be back in love for now.

Anyway, I do find the paper Sustrans tucked away for more strategic planning.

 

[MichaelW2]

I put my OS map in a commercial map case, fold it and stuff it under the Carradice straps on top.

 

[fossyant]

Funnily enough, it’s exactly like going to our nearest shops and back. But don’t you go touring to explore the places you pass through?

This is something me and a few of my mates need to programme into our heads. Done some bike packing, and we set what we think is a reasonable distance each day, and we find out it's full on all day, with little or no time to look at stuff.