Tandem Cycling - Handlebar bag and STI

How much we like the STI brifters on our C'dale Road Tandem, they have one drawback: finding a handlebar bag that will fit. I like to have a few things close at hand, like a (digital) camera, money and some small snacks. When travelling, we also keep our ID or passports in the handlebar bag. When you go into a restaurant or shop you "click off" the bag and the most valuable items are coming along safely.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a (small) handlebar bag that will fit in/over/between the STI cables? I already got tipped about using Nokon cables or switching to Campagnolo, but I'd prefer not to tamper with the present setup since it works very nicely.

Goeden dag Marten!

While not per se a handlebar bag, what seems to have become popular in the US is what is called a Bento Box.
Attaches with 4 velcro straps to pilot top tube and pilot stem; possibly could be used in stoker position also. Ideal for carrying digital camera, snacks, etc. Have not tried one, but seems to be a bit of a buzz about them on T@H
www.tandemseast.com apparently has them for sale. Small Bento @ $15, large @ $18.
Might be worth checking out.

Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Goeden dag Marten!

While not per se a handlebar bag, what seems to have become popular in the US is what is called a Bento Box.
Attaches with 4 velcro straps to pilot top tube and pilot stem; possibly could be used in stoker position also. Ideal for carrying digital camera, snacks, etc. Have not tried one, but seems to be a bit of a buzz about them on T@H
www.tandemseast.com apparently has them for sale. Small Bento @ $15, large @ $18.
Might be worth checking out.

Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
Indeed, this "Bento Box" came up in another discussion too. Upon trying to find this in Google, I found out this is the name for a classic "lunch box" :)
Anyway, Tandemeast's Bento Boxes look pretty nice. Anyone have any experience with sizes and watertightness? A Canon A620 camera (in its own pouch) and a wallet plus some crunchy bars should fit inside.

I have neither a tandem or this bag yet but you might find this site helpful http://www.arkel-od.com . They have a chart of what size bag will and won't work for different size of handlebars.

Love my Topeak click-on bar bag. It has an over the shoulder strap that converts to a waist strap so it can be used as a fanny pack, too. We also have a Cannondale (road) tandem. Topeak makes 3 sizes, I use the small one on both tandem and half bike. The quality is second to none and the price is right. Wiffie uses middle size. You know women, never enough "purse" room.

Marten:
Having spent some time in the Orient, a Bento Box is basially a small 'lunch box' in Japan.
So it is sort of an appropriate naming for the small boxlike bag that carries 'goodies' and fits on a bicycle.
Mel and Barb Kornbluh, the folks that operate TandemsEast are also fellow tandemists that just celebrated 140,000 miles of tandeming 2-gether.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Arkel has posted some information here (http://www.arkel-od.com/technical/shiftersBB.asp) on the problem.

Basically, you could use a noodle to bend the cables in the proper direction. Alternately, creative cabling could do the trick.

Love my Topeak click-on bar bag. It has an over the shoulder strap that converts to a waist strap so it can be used as a fanny pack, too. We also have a Cannondale (road) tandem. Topeak makes 3 sizes, I use the small one on both tandem and half bike. The quality is second to none and the price is right. Wiffie uses middle size. You know women, never enough "purse" room.
Wife's bag has already been cared for: the small Cannondale handlebar bag fits nicely under the stoker's handlebar. The Topeak you mentioned, is that this one (http://www.topeak.com/products/bag_017.html)? I had seen Topeaks bags but assumed they would get just as low as the Ortlieb Ultimate. Obviously, they stay clear of the cables.

Arkel has posted some information here (http://www.arkel-od.com/technical/shiftersBB.asp) on the problem.

Basically, you could use a noodle to bend the cables in the proper direction. Alternately, creative cabling could do the trick.
Thanks for giving this link (Cminter too). I never realized one could so easily give the cables another route with Rollamajigs or simple noodles. On the other hand, Arkel claim their bag will fit a 46 cm. bar with no modifications. And these bags look really good - love the aluminum bracket :rolleyes:

Wife's bag has already been cared for: the small Cannondale handlebar bag fits nicely under the stoker's handlebar. The Topeak you mentioned, is that this one (http://www.topeak.com/products/bag_017.html)? I had seen Topeaks bags but assumed they would get just as low as the Ortlieb Ultimate. Obviously, they stay clear of the cables.

That's the one! It fits just fine without having to do a thing with the cables. They tuck nicely to the side/front without any interference. I usually carry the following in it:

1. Digital camera (Casio EX-Z120)
2. Billfold
3. Cell phone
4. Two to four gu packets
5. Two to four granola bars or Rice Crispy treats.
6. Handlebar light
7. Small bottle of meds (aspirine, etc.)
8. Lip baulm.
9. Sun screen.
10. Small container of dry Gatoraid.

And probably more stuff I can't remember. It snaps off easily, and as I said has a shoulder strap or waist belt strap (same strap, just a different way to use it). I don't use the strap very often, however. It also comes with a yellow rain cover, but it's quite weather proof without it. It also comes with a light bar thingie that attaches to the quick-release clamp. Actually, I have mounted my Flight Deck to this cross bar. At times Nashbar has it on sale for $19, and then a 10% discount. I actually have two of them rather than switching back and forth between tandem and half bike. I'm sure it's just what you're looking for. OHB

We use a water proof Ortlieb stardard handle bar bag with the bracket extension that moves it well out off the way of the cables.
Chhers Brian & Sue

belt pack

We use the Cannondale Toot handlebar bag. You can see it here.... http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=16948&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=It's fairly small, with a quick release so it's pretty handy for carrying wallets, phones, cameras, snacks, etc. It slides right under the STI cables.

Only thing I had to deal with was the larger bars we have on the tandem as opposed to the single that I used the bag on prior. I had to do some grinding on the plastic mount with my Dremel to make trim away some of the plastic arms so it would fit.

Like old Hammer boy I have the topeak, I recommend it.