Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

Handlebar Bag with mini brakes?

Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

Handlebar Bag with mini brakes?

Old 05-24-09, 12:19 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 226
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 3 Posts
Handlebar Bag with mini brakes?

Hi,

I have a Specialized Sequoia Comp with little 'cheater' brake levers on
the handle bar... See the attached picture. The smaller brake levers are
angled down a bit...

Is it possible to fit a front bag to my bike?

My under seat bag is filled with repair stuff...

I don't plan on 'Touring' as much as 'Day Tripping', probably no more
than 30 miles round trip.

Thanks,

Jerry
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_0118.jpg (97.4 KB, 82 views)
yrrej is offline  
Old 05-24-09, 12:47 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 58
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have an Ortlieb Handlebar bag (great bag) that Would Not fit your bars the way you have the mini brakes attached. You would need to move the mini brake clamps out (each) about another inch away from the stem for the bag attachment to fit. You know, I have those same brakes on my bike- which I had added on when I purchased my bike two months ago- and have not used them a single time!
lifeguardsteve is offline  
Old 05-24-09, 01:00 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: N. California
Posts: 1,410
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I have the same kind of "Cross Levers" on my touring bike. I have put my (Ortleib) handbar bag on a second stem mounted below the main stem.
The Smokester is offline  
Old 05-25-09, 08:54 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
BigBlueToe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,392

Bikes: Surly LHT, Specialized Rockhopper, Nashbar Touring (old), Specialized Stumpjumper (older), Nishiki Tourer (model unknown)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
I also put a second stem on my LHT for my Ortleib handlebar bag. It worked great, but it doesn't look as if you have enough room on your steerer tube for two stems. I could be wrong; I can't exactly tell from the picture.

I've recently bought an extender for the Ortlieb mounting system. I'm thinking it will save some weight. More importantly, it will lift the bag away from the front rack, which is a Jandd with a platform. With the double stem setup the bag hangs down and crowds whatever I strap to the front rack platform.

I haven't made the switch yet, so I don't have any firsthand experience with the extender. However, it's from Ortlieb. They seem to have their act together, so I'm assuming it will work fine.

I bought the extender directly from Ortlieb.
BigBlueToe is offline  
Old 05-25-09, 10:45 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
bktourer1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Western Ma.
Posts: 958

Bikes: Diamondback "parkway" Spec. "expedition

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times in 33 Posts
Look at the small bar bag from Topeak. It has a small footprint
bktourer1 is offline  
Old 05-25-09, 11:13 AM
  #6  
Bike touring webrarian
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,071

Bikes: I tour on a Waterford Adventurecycle. It is a fabulous touring bike.

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 120 Post(s)
Liked 94 Times in 53 Posts
I have the in-line brake levers you show in your photo. I also have a handlebar bag. To deal with the problem you describe, I bought a front rack with a platform and bungee the bag to the platform.

You can sorta see my set-up here:



Ray
raybo is offline  
Old 05-25-09, 05:28 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 472
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have the same problem, and I just got a 'Bell' handlebar bag from wal-mart. It fits over the interrupters easily. It isn't waterproof, so just make sure anything important is in ziplocks...
hnsq is offline  
Old 05-25-09, 06:14 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,570
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts
Jandd handle bar bag on my 'cross bike.
mijome07 is offline  
Old 05-25-09, 06:52 PM
  #9  
Every day a winding road
 
spinnaker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 6,538

Bikes: 2005 Cannondale SR500, 2008 Trek 7.3 FX, Jamis Aurora

Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3394 Post(s)
Liked 63 Times in 46 Posts
Originally Posted by lifeguardsteve
I have an Ortlieb Handlebar bag (great bag) that Would Not fit your bars the way you have the mini brakes attached. You would need to move the mini brake clamps out (each) about another inch away from the stem for the bag attachment to fit. You know, I have those same brakes on my bike- which I had added on when I purchased my bike two months ago- and have not used them a single time!
I also had the Ortlieb on my bike with B-Levers. I could not easily get my hands between the bag an the levers. I first tilted them so they were under the handlebar. That was still uncomfortable. Wayne at the Touring Store sent me an extension and that solved the problem.

I have since mounted a second stem (see below).
spinnaker is offline  
Old 05-25-09, 06:54 PM
  #10  
Every day a winding road
 
spinnaker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 6,538

Bikes: 2005 Cannondale SR500, 2008 Trek 7.3 FX, Jamis Aurora

Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3394 Post(s)
Liked 63 Times in 46 Posts
Originally Posted by BigBlueToe
I also put a second stem on my LHT for my Ortleib handlebar bag. It worked great, but it doesn't look as if you have enough room on your steerer tube for two stems. I could be wrong; I can't exactly tell from the picture.
I did not have room for a second stem. A friend of mine that does auto body, cut the part that mounts to the stem in half. I now have only one screw to hold the second stem but it works fine.
spinnaker is offline  
Old 05-25-09, 09:31 PM
  #11  
ah.... sure.
 
kayakdiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Whidbey Island WA
Posts: 4,107

Bikes: Specialized.... schwinn..... enough to fill my needs..

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
My problem was solved by removing them. Never used them. All they did was get in my way and take up real estate for light and computer and bar bag.
kayakdiver is offline  
Old 05-25-09, 10:11 PM
  #12  
Surf Bum
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Pacifica, CA
Posts: 2,184

Bikes: Lapierre Pulsium 500 FdJ, Ritchey breakaway cyclocross, vintage trek mtb.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
I have a handlebar bag that I had to give up using when I put the interupter levers on my cross bike. I didn't really like using it anyway since I have shimano brifters and the shift cables had to be moved from their natural position when the bag was in place (though it still seemed to shift ok anyway).

Originally Posted by mijome07
Jandd handle bar bag on my 'cross bike.
Curious: would you still have room to use them if you had the levers out at the typical angle instead of the more vertical angle you have them at? I think the wrist rotation required by your set up would kill me.
pacificaslim is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 05:29 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,570
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by pacificaslim
Curious: would you still have room to use them if you had the levers out at the typical angle instead of the more vertical angle you have them at? I think the wrist rotation required by your set up would kill me.
I don't think it'll work. Even if I tried to angle the bag upward. The angle of the levers doesn't put any stress on my wrists.
mijome07 is offline  
Old 05-26-09, 05:34 PM
  #14  
Twincities MN
 
kuan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,536

Bikes: Fat Caad Lefty, Foundry Overland.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Really, get the extender or use a second stem. Or if you're filthy rich get one of those guu watanabe front bags.
__________________
www.marrow.org
kuan is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.