Touring - Handlebar Bag

I'm going to be on the road some this summer and my bike is a hybrid, thus a MTB style straight handlebar. My question is what if any handlebar bag anyone can recommend. My concern is putting any weight on top of the cables coming from the brakes and shifters. I'm looking for a handy place to put the map and snacks, where they can be easily accessed while riding. Any suggestions? :confused:

My Carradice bar bag uses a Rixen and Kraul Klick-Fit attatchment, so it doesnt interfere with any cables.
Ortleib do a similar fitting for their excellent one.
Both are highly recomended.

I use a Karrimor bag with a clever mounting system called Klick-fix, you mount a holder on the handlebar and then just click the bag onto it. It has worked flawlessly for more than 8000 k, and the piece mounted on the handlebar hasn't moved at all despite often being heavily loaded. Apparently, Karrimor has stopped making bicycle accessories (can't find anything on their homepage, www.karrimor.com ?), but a friend of mine has used a bag (that uses the same system) from Vaude (http://www.vaude.com/cycling/cycling_main.cfm?subcatagory=Handlebar%20Bags) with similar experience. There are probably other brands that uses this, or similar, systems.

The bag doesn't put any weight on the cables, and another benefit is that the top of the bag will lean towards you giving a better view of the map.

/Csson

I have a Cannondale quick release handlebar bag. It comes with a shoulder strap and doesn't interfere with my cables. I can't imagine riding without it.

I use one of those on my roadbike (no STI levers), and it works really well.

Thanks everyone!

I hads a Cannondale handle bar bag for 3 or 4 years over time and exposure it finially disintragrated. I couldnt find a cannondale to replace it so i ended up with a topek. Now most things made by topek are good in my opinion. This handle bar bag wasnt. IT was sturdy enough even too sturdy. Because of that it was heavy even when empty. The mounting system was similar to the c dale. but a little cheezy the brackets were cheep plastic the heavy bag kept sliping under the weight i wasallways adjusting it and retightining the screws . Being made of plastic the mounts gave way and failed (broke) about 700 miles into a long tour so i ended up using the bikers friend DUCT TAPE to hold it on for the rest of the trip.

ILL take the cannondale.

I had one misfortune with my Klick-Fix fitting. One morning I mounted the bar bag, but failed to click it home. After 1/2mile it bounced out of the mounting onto the front wheel, balanced there for a moment, then headed under the front wheel. I was so intruiged by the freak event that I failed to apply my brakes, but the bag acted as a giant brake block, skidding down the road under my wheel. Eventually I took a fall at low speed, with most damage to my pride.
The Caradice bag suffered some minor surface damage from the friction, but nothing too serious. I should get 5 more years use out of it at least.

I use a cannondale with the Klickfix quick release attachment on a flatbar mtb. Works great, with no slippage. IMO, only drawback is leaving the mounting bracket attached to the bar when not using the bag - not visually appealing.

Catfish, I'm glad you shared about the Topeak and Cdale. I went to my LBS yesterday and all they had was a Topeak DX, which looked pretty good to me, (not having see a Cdale bag yet.) Your experience shared just saved me some grief.

ALpha
Most things made by topek are great the topek handle bar bag is a great bag, but in my opinion over built it is just too heavy and gave me lots of grief on a tour.

I looked at a c dale last night. they are lighter but the one i saw is made different than my last one. it has no zipper closure justa strap so i m still in the hunt for a handle bar bag.
catfish