coquearaujo

Hi guys,

I'm a long time lurker who often doesn't have anything new to add to you knowledge, so i have few posts.

I'm starting this thread because i often have my hands on the hoods (specially in city traffic) so i use a lot the cyclocross "in-line" brake levers i have installed on my bike, but now i'm thinking about installing a handlebar bag to keep my camera closer to me and easily accesible, but i think the cross levers might be incompatible with a handlebar bag.

Any of you guys found a solution for this???

Thanks in advance.
Coque.

PS: By the way, my apologies for my poor english.

Hot Potato

I have used both cross levers and a handlebar bag. I chose a simple, round, duffle bag type handlebar bag that just straps around the handlebar. It worked best on bikes where the cross levers were further out from the stem, since I could route the straps to the inside of the cross levers. I would let it dangle down a bit between the head tube and the brake/shifter cables. It was a good solution for light weight items like a camera, gloves, phone and such.

CliftonGK1

If it's just for a camera, check out a Bento bag: They attach behind the stem, on the top tube. They were originally designed for quick access to things like gels and snacks, but they're big enough to fit a point and shoot camera.

coquearaujo

Thank you guys.

The thing is i would like to carry more things than the camela, so i'm thinking about a 5/7 L. capacity bag. By the way, my camera is not a "point and shoot" one.

I've been checking the Arkel mounting system and looks like there should be enought room for cross levers between the bag and the handlebar, don't know about Topeak's.

Coque.

cyccommute 

Angle the cross levers down more. Most of them are set up too flat to begin with. This picture from Sheldon Brown shows a typical set up



Notice that the lever is almost parallel to the ground. It would certainly interfere with a handlebar bag. It's also a rather unnatural bend to the wrist to use it. Take a tip from the mountain bike world and angle them much more steeply like this



When riding, these levers are at a much more natural position for your hands. My fingers, wrist and forearm are all nice and straight. I don't have to reach upward to actuate the brakes. And, as you can see, there's lots of room in front of the bars.

MichaelW

Rixen and Kaul Klickfix make an extended reach bracket that places the bar bag further away. Ortleib and Carradice should fit.

dogontour

This is my answer to that problem (copied from someone else). A 2-handlebar system. The lower stem holds a sawed off mountain bar. Leaves plenty of room for using the levers and the bag carries a good amount of stuff. I love this set up.

coquearaujo

Cyccommute, thanks for the tip but truth is that my frame is longer than "what i should use" becase i like it that way, so my position regardles the bar is not as vertical as on a MTB, so the levers can't be so angled... they're angled anyway, but not that much as for being pointing the ground.

Dogontour, thats a good setup, for sure, but it doesn't work for me: i don't like my stem so high and i don't even have spacers under mine, so a double stem setup isn't an option for me.

I think all this is leading me to a front rack and trunkbag... a setup that wont allow me to store my GPS inside the map holder to check it while cycling and it wont easy access to the stuff inside the bag.

Thank you guys.
Coque.

Wanderer

Consider a super deluxe dashboard from BDop cycling..... just might give you enuf room for everything.

coquearaujo

Now that could be a great solution (an expensive one also at $40):




Peter White has also similar options on his site and even a Nitto version that looks like the strongest (and heaviest... and the most expensive):



But he stil doesn't recomend using it for mounting a handlebar bag..? I don't really get why since it looks as strong as a handlebar.

I think this might be the best solution allowing me to mount the bag just below my cross levers.

Thanks!
Coque.

MulliganAl

Hands down best camera bag I've found, and also own, for the handlebars is the Ortlieb.

https://www.uscoles.com/bikepix/ortliebbagl.jpg

I can carry my D300 with a telephoto lens easily.

Grim

At the risk of ruining you forever have you looked at Velo Orange? Or Rivbike at some of their Randeur style bags?

They have a couple bags that sit low on a front rack giving plenty of clearance for the in lines but still have the map pouch. Wish I had the money for the set up on their current cover bike set up. https://www.velo-orange.com/
https://www.rivbike.com/ may also have some interesting front bags. Their stock is ever changing as is Velo Orange.

cyccommute 

I don't think you can get enough clamping force on the bars for the adapter to hold a handlebar bag. It will probably slip and allow the bar to rotate downward.

MichaelW's link is a good place to start for Rixen Kaul bags that are just the ticket.

coquearaujo

I often check Rivbike and Velo Orange (i love their stuff) but i wonder if they customize their bags to adapt them to your new custom handlebar since you'd probably have to give and arm and a leg or two to buy one of those bags... ;-) Now add to that price the shipping cost to Europe (where i live) and gass prices will start to make sense.

On a serious note, i think i might found what i'm looking for: the click-fix system has an extender that you can use on Carradice Super C handlebar bags, Ortilebs and others, so you can use the bags with standard MTB levers. Here's a pic:



Now i'm wondering if that system can handle the rotation force a 5/7 Litre bag will put on it as Cyccommute sais... I already own a Carradice Bureau (that i love) so i think i'll write Carradice to ask about it.

Coque.

availpunk9

I have on Ortlieb Med size with cross tops. No issues at all.

cyccommute 

If your clamp system is like the one pictured above, the cable going over the stem will keep it from rotating. You can carry a very heavy camera with that kind of clamp. This is a German system...Rixen Kaul...so you should be able to find it in Europe easier than you can find it in the US.

MichaelW

The anti-rotation cable on R&K brackets is very effective. I can load up my 7l Carradice bar bag.
Ive done major off-road descents on bumpy tracks that put a lot of stress on the mount and never had an issue with the cable slipping.