handlebar bags
 

Anyone here use handlebar bags? Any pro's and cons to using these? I am considering this because they seem to be able to carry a decent amount of necessities and it would seem to be convenient to get to things I need while riding. Also, any recomendations on a good handlebar bag is also welcome.

When I bought my wife her new 20 lb. Fuji road bike earlier this year, she want me to put a rack on it. To avoid that while still keeping her happy, I bought her this handlebar bag:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=2312
and she has been very happy. It is light, carries all the stuff she needs and keeps it all right there for her.

I have a Surly Cross Check. On it, I use a Carradice Junior for the handlebar bag. Works very well for this purpose.

If I'm going out for more than a hour, I take my bar bag with me. Holds bananas/sandwiches/whatever, spare tubes, patch kit, keys, phone and just about anything else I could need short of full-day ride foods. I'd like to upgrade to a Ortlieb, the Axiom bag I have now has a bunch of issues and isn't really waterproof enough.

Probably will get one for the roadbike I'm dreaming of too ;-)

If you can wait, I'd recommend Acorn Bags. These bags are made by another bike forums member, and while I don't have their handlebar bag, I do have their medium saddlebag. The attention to detail and the workmanship on their bags is top notch. The downside is that you have to wait until they start accepting orders again (oct. 1st according to their website), and you need to get in que quick before they stop accepting orders to prevent a huge backlog of orders.