Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Rando Bag with Shimano STI shifters?

I've been looking at front racks and randonneur bags for my touring bicycle. However, I have Shimano STI shifters and I noticed that the cables cables swing out in front of the handlebars. All the racks and rando bags that I've seen on bikes are bikes that have bar-con shifters.

Is it possible to have this type of setup? Even if the cables press against the bag, is there any effect on shifting? Does anyone have a picture? Does it look goofy?

This is the rack I'm looking at:

http://velo-orange.com/nimfrra.html

This is one of the bags that I like:

http://www.wallbike.com/berthoud/handlebarbagbasic.html

Will it work?

I just started using a handle bar bag with that kind of shifting set up. I was concerned with how it would change the handling of the bike and shifting. But after a 200km permanent yesturday I did not notice any difference.

In fact it made for a great cue sheet holder and easy access to food and other thing's like a camera.

Several threads in the touring forum address this in depth. Or, PM Cyccommute

There are some narrow bags, which are OK with STI shifters, like these: http://www.rei.com/product/765950

For small stuff, one option is a Bento bag. They're good for quick access to a couple of energy bars: http://www.topeak.com/products/Bags/TriBag

If you don't like the way the cables run with the bag, it is not too expensive to
replace the cables and housing with a little longer housing (3-4") so the cables move
'out of the way' without much objection. Unless the bag is huge it is usually a
non problem. Shimano brifter cables make good helmet holders and reasonable
size handle bar bags fit as well.

If I were to run a handlebar bag on my Marinonis, I wouldn't have the problem w/ Campag Ergo.

Some people use 90 degree brake noodles (http://www.bikeman.com/Linear_Pull_Brake_Noodles.html) to direct their STI cables south. I'm led to understand this works well.

See this page (http://tinyurl.com/ajsonk) for example.

I'm not really looking for a "handlebar" bag. I'm looking for a bag that would sit on a small rack in the front right above the front fender. This setup allows for the bag to be lower than the handlebar. I currently have an Ortlieb handlebar bag. I don't care for it because the top sits above the bar and if I use my front light it shines into the back of the bag instead of the road. If it gets much weight in it, the handling of the bike is affected.

Using longer cables and housings seems like it would work. It might look strange, but I already think the Shimano set up looks strange compared to Campagnolo or SRAM.

I'm not really looking for a "handlebar" bag. I'm looking for a bag that would sit on a small rack in the front right above the front fender. This setup allows for the bag to be lower than the handlebar. I currently have an Ortlieb handlebar bag. I don't care for it because the top sits above the bar and if I use my front light it shines into the back of the bag instead of the road. If it gets much weight in it, the handling of the bike is affected.

Using longer cables and housings seems like it would work. It might look strange, but I already think the Shimano set up looks strange compared to Campagnolo or SRAM.

I understood what you were asking. I presume you have cantilever brakes? How are you going to stabilize the Berthoud bag -- decaleur?

Unless you have specific low trail front end geometry, you still won't be able to use more than the smallest bag without seriously compromising handling.

I still recommend the brake noodles. They will stop cable housing kinking.

Here's some VeloWeb pages that might help:

Racks (http://www.veloweb.ca/garagepages/vo_rackinstall.html)
Bags (http://www.veloweb.ca/tourpages/bikebags.html)
My bike w/ Berthoud bag (http://www.veloweb.ca/mybikepages/blerioso.html).

Unless you have specific low trail front end geometry, you still won't be able to use more than the smallest bag without seriously compromising handling.

What sort of numbers are we talking about for low-trail front end geometry? I'll have to calculate it on my Cross Check, but I use a reasonably large platform mounted front bag (490cu.in.) and don't notice any handling issues, even when riding no-hands.


Is there a quick calculation based on HT angle and fork rake to calculate fork trail? My 8th grade geometry is a bit foggy, and in a quick calc I came up with 254mm of trail and sort of doubt that's right.

Is there a quick calculation based on HT angle and fork rake to calculate fork trail?

Kogswell Trail Calc (http://kogswell.com/geoSLIDE.php)

Kogswell Trail Calc (http://kogswell.com/geoSLIDE.php)

Thanx!

59mm of trail according to that calculator.

Unless you have specific low trail front end geometry, you still won't be able to use more than the smallest bag without seriously compromising handling.


not really true. i think you need to consider rider weight, actual fork geometry combined with bike geometry, tire pressure + width and size, weight of load, etc. etc.

do a web search on 'kogswell' and shimmy. there's a blog out there with a very unhappy kogswell owner that can't get rid of the shimmy and handling issues on a bike supposedly designed for a large front load.

that all said, if you are using the ortlieb without serious handling issues, my guess is that a rack mounted front bag would work well - the rack takes the load to the fork, and the center of gravity is lower. i've used the ortlieb mounted on the bars and on second stem on my IF club racer - it was fine, and when i added a nitto mark's rack and a front load depending on weight i only encountered issues of shimmy upwards of 26 mph. (shimmy is easily solved by pedaling or rolling your knee against the top tube).

i'm waiting on an acorn bag... hopefully by the end of the month.

59mm of trail according to that calculator.

How much trail is "Low Trail"?

My old Trek 520 has about 51mm of trail (I've never actually MEASURED the tire diameter, only calculated it) when I'm running my 700Cx28 tires...

not really true. i think you need to consider rider weight, actual fork geometry combined with bike geometry, tire pressure + width and size, weight of load, etc. etc.

do a web search on 'kogswell' and shimmy. there's a blog out there with a very unhappy kogswell owner that can't get ride of the shimmy and handling issues on a bike supposedly designed for a large front load.

that all said, if you are using the ortlieb without serious handling issues, my guess is that a rack mounted front bag would work well - the rack takes the load to the fork, and the center of gravity is lower. i've used the ortlieb mounted on the bars and on second stem on my IF club racer - it was fine, and when i added a nitto mark's rack and a front load depending on weight i only encountered issues of shimmy upwards of 26 mph. (shimmy is easily solved by pedaling or rolling your knee against the top tube).

i'm waiting on an acorn bag... hopefully by the end of the month.

So am I.....I should have ordered a tan one, but black it is.
P.S. my friend just got his' 2 weeks ago. He placed an order on February 1st.

So am I.....I should have ordered a tan one, but black it is.
P.S. my friend just got his' 2 weeks ago. He placed an order on February 1st.

black for me too... but its going on this rig, so i think it will all work.
i also ordered a small / medium saddlebag.

http://littlecirclesvt.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/photo_030809_001-400x286.jpg

RandoChap

Saw your pictures of the Bleriot,very nice. Questions:
How is the top of the H-Bar attached to the stem or headtube? I see a decallauer but can not see how it is supported.
The bar end shifter cable ssems to exit the H-Bar higher than normal and then goes down along the side tof the bag. Does the cable interfer with your hands in the drops?

TIA

John Hawrylak
Woodstown NJ

black for me too... but its going on this rig, so i think it will all work.
i also ordered a small / medium saddlebag.

http://littlecirclesvt.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/photo_030809_001-400x286.jpg

Nice bike! Are those VeloOrange fenders? What rack are you going to use for the front bag? Looks like a carbon fork. I will be getting a large saddlebag later in the spring(getting ready for 2011 PBP) and later in the season I may get a small/medium one( to ride local brevets).

RandoChap

Questions:
How is the top of the H-Bar attached to the stem or headtube? I see a decallauer but can not see how it is supported.
The bar end shifter cable ssems to exit the H-Bar higher than normal and then goes down along the side tof the bag. Does the cable interfer with your hands in the drops?

Because my bars are relatively high, it makes more sense to run shifter cables over the bag. This is only a minor inconvenience -- to make sure they are flipped aside and onto the top of the top flap when closed -- though this is not strictly necessary. Actually, if I don't use the elastic "strap" on the top of the bag, the cables secure it.

The cables don't interfere with my hands at all.

The decaleur is a traditional stem mount. The whole installation procedure is illustrated at the rack link (http://www.veloweb.ca/garagepages/vo_rackinstall.html) I posted.

Nice bike! Are those VeloOrange fenders? What rack are you going to use for the front bag? Looks like a carbon fork. I will be getting a large saddlebag later in the spring(getting ready for 2011 PBP) and later in the season I may get a small/medium one( to ride local brevets).

indy fab steel fork. nitto marks rack from riv.
honjo fenders - the vo fenders use a different alloy or something - a friend has them and wasn't impressed compared with his honjo's.

more bike pics here. (http://picasaweb.google.com/mike.beganyi/IndependentFabricationsTiClubRacer#)