Originally Posted by
CliftonGK1
Dude, as a randonneur I've spent long stretches of riding no-hands with a 12L front mounted Berthoud GB-28 bag. It's not way up on the bars; it sits on a platform rack just above the front fender, so the top is as level with the bars as you can get it. It attaches at the rack with a strap along the lower rear, and at the top with a mount that sticks out from the stem (called a decaleur). I'd keep food, sunscreen, a camera, my phone, my mp3 player, cue sheet, brevet card, endurolytes, NUUN, all sorts of crap in there; and I'd roll my way down the road with the bag open and holding a bottle of soda while I sat up and ate a sandwich.
If your bike is set up properly for it, a front bag helps the bike track stably.
OTOH, if the geometry is wrong, the front end is gonna flop like a fish on a dock if you put a pack of cheese 'n' crackers up front.
I concure. I tried a couple cheaper bags with quick fix style mounts and was very disappointed in how bad they bounced. I did manage to stiffen up a cheap Louis Garneau bag with some aluminum but by far I like my velo orange campagne bag the best. I have a racaleur I use on my vintage bikes with traditional stems with the same bag.
I also have a bag I picked up I really like with the wire frame support and bungy and its r ock steady.
It has a removable map pouch. I did stick my phones in them at one point but in the case of the iPhone I was unable to control it. I have a otter box defender for my 5 that has a very robust belt clip that I Velcro to the stem or bars. I am able to veiw and operate it that way.