wphamilton

Aero drop-bar handlebar rack bag! A few weeks ago I'd bent a steel rod that I could slide on the handlebars and use as a rack, just tying my commuting bag on top. It worked out pretty well, though the bag can be annoying there. I had in the back of my mind, why not integrate the rack with the bag, and make it aero? This is my first attempt:


It rode there pretty well, was easy to take off and carry and decent enough off the bike

but when I got to work it occurred to me that I could flip it over, and maybe it would have enough clearance to not foul with the front wheel. Sure enough it does fit


and it's a lot more out of the way there. So what do you think: top or bottom? It should be said that neither way actually improves the bike's aerodynamics. At best, either is better than a lumpy bag hanging there.

mcours2006

Interesting idea. How does this affect the bike's handling?

As for the aerodynamics, I think you could probably get on low enough on the drops to contact the top of the tote to make it more streamline.

wphamilton

I can't tell objectively much difference with handling, other than it "feels" slightly better with the bag hanging under.

DrIsotope

Neat. I actually think it looks better up high, but I can understand how the handling would feel better with it below the bars. Is it just coroplast or similar?

BobbyG

Slick! I like how it looks hanging under, but you may be able to access it while it's above. What about a double...one above, one below?

wphamilton

Just coroplast.

That's a drawback to hanging it down, you can't access it at all without taking it off. Up top no problem.

joeyduck

Looks good @wphamilton.

I like the look of it underneath the bars better. But I would worry about it bending the support over time and causing issues.

Keep up the good work.

CliffordK

I'd probably let it hang down.

The one caveat.

I wore a hole in my headtube decal/badge on the old Colnago by carrying my NightSun battery pack below the bars. Make sure that your load isn't rubbing the headtube. Or if it is, then protect the headtube with clear packing tape or something similar.

devianb

Aesthetically I think it looks good below the handlebars.

acidfast7

bar bags should be used on trekking bar and in order to display a map.

example:



shy not just mount bags to the fork if you're OK with the weight up front?

wphamilton

Because the goal is no permanent racks on the bike. And, aero.

It looks like below wins. That's what I'm going with.

Good point and I was thinking of adding support at the head tube. Fortunately, or unfortunately, my head tube is bunged up already from previous experiments.

Thanks. A bag there always ends up rubbing for me. I don't think the steel cross piece can bend enough to cause a problem but the plastic might eventually.

A lot of improvements are suggesting themselves. If I liked it enough I might make that shell out of carbon fiber

acidfast7

not permanent (Rixen Kaul Klickfix):

just get an adapter

Rixen Kaul Klickfix Handlebar Adapter Klick FIX Mount Basket Holder | eBay

and a decent bag then clicks on and off:

like this guy (or any of the bags listed above):

Rixen Kaul Klickfix Allrounder Touring Handlebar BAG Excellent Cond RRP£90 | eBay

sometimes, I swear that you guy make problems out of stuff that has been efficiently and cheaply solved for decades, for no apparent reason.

wphamilton

Having a hard time imagining using that for a fork mount. The mount and that bag won't work well on my low drop bars either IMO and ... aero.

The issue isn't how to hook a mount to the handlebar. Bending a steel rod for the mount, or thick plastic, takes a few minutes and works better, because you don't have to leave it there cluttering up the bar. The problem is when you don't want a bag there. I used a bag for several weeks first, and decided I didn't like it.

acidfast7

Like I said, I think you guys are using the wrong tools for the job and then trying to make the work (i.e., drop bars and handmade bags.) I'll go with the tried and true system and move to an ebike as the cost is rapidly coming down (now under €600 with a Bosch motor).

edit: interesting example for €700 (I can get them tax-free through the uni):

wphamilton

Changing the bike, or to a different bike, is out of scope of this particular project. It is a road bike, used for road bike stuff, and I like it that way. The objective is to avoid alterations of the bike, yet have convenient cargo that is somehow consistent with the bike's design and purpose.

Darth Lefty 

It needs a gigantic logo on it

alan s 

Revelate Designs and others have figured it out already with a harness and dry bag.

acidfast7

interesting ... can you post a link so that I can look at the tech specs?

alan s 

https://www.revelatedesigns.com/inde...arharnesssling

no motor?

I was thinking below for the looks and to mount a map, but with so many people using smartphones for navigation today you might want to mount your phone instead.

acidfast7

cool man. interesting idea.

wphamilton

Make it work with road caliper brakes ("Disk or V Brake only") and add an aero front and we'd be golden.

I might copy the stem mount. The quick release straps check off one of the boxes.

alan s 

Vertical "exposed" cable. Cable in housing would work fine.

wphamilton

Clear map pocket on top, good idea. I hadn't considered it since it's for commuting but why not be versatile.

Phone mount, maybe just a pocket or bracket on top, I'll have to mull that over.

wphamilton

Ah, they're just worried about it rubbing the rigid part then.

Imagining this for version 2, I can use something like their "spacer block" but descending from the stem itself and holding against the bottom of the rigid shape. Straps from the top to the handlebars, and maybe dispense with the steel cross piece. It might need some reinforcement on the bottom from the stem block.

I'm not giving up the aero shape. Revelated designs should have flipped their "rigid harness" over to be front facing, and moved the straps inside.