oban_kobi

I plan on doing several long solo rides, up to 400k (not many official events up here ), and was wondering how to carry stuff. I've used a pannier in the past, but I really notice drag on descents and in strong winds. I'm not sure if a handlebar bag would be enough, or if I should get a trunk bag. It would have to hold food for whole the ride, some tools, a couple tubes, lights, wallet, phone, a cable lock, and a bit of warm clothing. I'd find places along the way for water, but I don't want to rely on those places to have food that I'm used to on the bike, just in case.

drmweaver2

I've found a nice compromise between a "full-sized rear rack with a pannier" and my requirements to carry things satisfied with a seat post rack similar to this https://bike.com/aztec-delta-aztec-de...n=PriceGrabber I picked up a trunk bag on eBay for darn near nothing and it can carry all you've listed an more.

I used to have a handlebar bag mounted but am now riding without it though I miss some of its "convenience".

StephenH

Most of the local randonneurs carry a minimum of stuff. I carry a trunk bag and small handlebar bag, myself, and that's more than most of them carry.

On the other hand, when you list "food for the whole trip" as something you need to carry, it automatically means you're carrying more than the normal rando, so you're likely to be carrying larger bags of whatever kind, which is going to mean some wind drag.

Barrettscv 

I have two non-conformist solutions;

The frame bag provides space for supplies without creating wind resistance, only $7: https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...7_10000_200352



During the winter months in Chicago, I'll travel with extra layers, gloves and other items and need a rain-proof case for bulkier items. I use this lightweight and aero case is from Otivia https://www.otivia.com/cargocache.html ;

oban_kobi

I'm starting to think I may just get both. I'm going to need the handlebar bag for a tour this summer, but I'm having a hard time imagining everything fitting in there comfortably. Arkel does seem to make some rather large ones though, 10 liters, that's nearly as large as most trunk bags I've seen. But it's $160! :O Any ideas on a somewhat cheaper one that doesn't sacrifice space or quality? And do you think 10 liters is enough? I can carry the lock wrapped around my rack, but all the other stuff would have to fit.

10 Wheels

oban_kobi

^ A thousand words right there.

drmweaver2

I took a multi-week tour this past summer with this handlebar bag: https://www.bicyclebuys.com/bagsracks...dlebar/0151014 Far cheaper than the Arkel and more than large enough for me whether I was using dual rear panniers or a single-wheel trailer (and I used both during different parts of the trip).

If you're going to use aerobars on tour, the Arkel is probably a bit large even if mounted on a second/auxiliary handlebar. Otoh, the Avenir could be used though actually opening it while riding with aerobars might be tricky. It's a balancing act.

Marcello

Another option is using one of the trunk bags that have expandable side panniers. I have used the Topeak MTX DXP on several long rides, including a 1200k, and I like the flexibility of having panniers that I can unfold if I need to carry extra stuff in the middle of a long ride. It also has a pocket for an extra water bottle. I have seen one of our strong/fast riders with a similar bag made by REI (https://www.rei.com/product/780461) on a 600k ride.

SBinNYC

You will have to worry about lighting for the 400K. Both front and rear bags interfere with the mounts that are supplied with most lamps. Make sure how to mount your lights is one of the criteria you use in deciding which bags to use.

10 Wheels

StephenH

I've got my rear lights mounted under my rack.

oban_kobi

:O That's amazing! I had no idea such magical things existed!

I like to think I'm pretty clever, I'll probably find a way. It would be nice to find one with a strap or something though. Thanks for the reminder.

SharpT

I started with a rear trunk bag since that was how I was commuting, but soon switched to an 11 Liter sized handlebar bag. Having access to all my goodies (arm warmers, rain jacket, gloves, medicine, food, sun glasses, extra batteries, brevet card, camera, etc. all at an easy reach, even after stopping if necessary was enjoyable.

I still have a small/medium sized saddle bag, it holds stuff I would only need on a required full dismount. Extra tubes, pocket tools, some spare parts, spoke wrench etc. wind breaker.

--
SharpT

MTBMaven

Adding to the list of recommendations - JandD Frame Bag. I use it from time to time when the ride dictates. Great little piece of gear.

Mark W

I use this bag, which includes a quick-release mount:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/carradice...6ltr-prod3693/

It's fairly light, carries lots of stuff (16 l), and stays securely in place. I typically shed and then put back on clothes during our winter rides so it gives lots of space to stuff things. I started out with a beam rack plus trunk and found that it shifted occasionally and was heavier than the Carradice.

If you don't carry very much there are minimal-frame or no-frame alternatives like this one:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/carradice...pack-prod6312/

It's 8 l, and I've seen several people who seemed satisfied with it. Can't carry the kitchen sink, of course.

FWIW, St Johns Street Cycles seems to be as quick with shipments as most internet sources in the states, and they have lots of interesting bike trinkets.

A couple of our most experienced randonneurs here use racks plus plastic bags, if you prefer a minimalist approach that doesn't weigh much at all.

Mark W

oban_kobi

Hm, 16 liters is actually what I calculated to be the minimum size I'd be comfortable with. Thanks!

StephenH

The trunk bag I use is actually a small cloth tool box sold by Northern Tool. I sewed buckles onto it so it latches to the rack. Two drawbacks: It has no stiffeners, so if not crammed full, it tends to lean to one side; and it's not waterproof.

I have looked at the trunk bags that expand to panniers, and at other commercial trunk bags. The standard trunk bags are stiffened so they don't sag when empty, but that stiffening is actually padding that wastes a good bit of the space in the trunk bag. And the ones that fold out into panniers, those panniers really eat into the trunk room when they're closed. I think there's room for improvements in the product lines with these things. Some of them also have heavy clunky rack attachment systems that could be improved upon.

Vireo

The pictures below are from Trans Iowa 2009 (320 mile gravel race unsupported). It was the one and only time I have used a trunk bag in a brevet or unsupported long distance event. In my opinion, if you are carrying any type of bag other than your flat repair kit you're carrying too much stuff. I really like the Detours bags.

shorthanded

gads.. my VO front bag is PLENTY big enough for fitting all of those things. i can throw all that in mine for sure if packed with an eye for efficiency. compress your clothes as much as you can. i can't really imagine needing panniers, to be honest, unless i was camping. between my front bag and a baguette (which i really NEVER seem to use), i feel like i have way too much storage! of course YMMV- but i almost never seem to fill what bags i have up.

oban_kobi

Do you ever have any stability issues? I looked up there bags and one was a wopping 11 liters. :O

thebulls

11 liters is not a problem in front, in general. That's what my handlebar bag holds. Most of the time, if it is at all jam-packed full, then it is because as the day has warmed up, I've shed clothes and stuffed them in the bag. So it isn't necessarily all that heavy. Possibly getting the bag lower than what I have (see below) would improve handling substantially and at some time I may end up getting a nitto front rack. But for now, handling with my handlebar-mounted bag on either Gunnar Sport or Rivendell Rambouillet has been acceptable.

Anyway, when I was searching for what bags to buy and carry, I made a spreadsheet where I kept track of how much the bag (or bag + rack, if requred) weighs and its volume and then I looked at trying to minimize grams per liter while maximizing usefulness. What I settled on is a Lone Peak H-100 handlebar bag and a Carradice Lowsaddle Longflap mounted directly to the saddle loops. Combined carrying capacity is 26 liters, which is enough to carry what I need on a 1200Km where weather conditions can potentially be expected to vary between near-freezing at night to the mid-80's in the daytime, likely with torrential rain at times. Total weight of the bags + handlebar mount is just under 1.5Kg. Relative to a rack-bag with rack, the Carradice is not only lower grams per liter, but it also works much better because the center of balance is close to your body, so it has little effect on bike handling. By contrast, with the load on a rack, you can really feel the change in balance when you're standing up to climb. Anyway, here's a photo:

Following is a list of bags in order of grams per liter. The list looks ugly, but if you paste it into a spreadsheet and tell it to convert text to columns with spaces delimiting then it will format nicely:

weight volume grams / l
Carradice_Super_C_Saddlebag 880 23 38
Carradice_Camper_Longflap 920 24 38
Carradice_Nelson_Longflap 850 18 47
Carradice_Lowsaddle_longflap_on_saddle 778 15 52
Carradice_Lowsaddle_longflap_on_saddle_according_to_Carradice 830 15 55
Carradice_Lowsaddle_longflap_w/clamp 883 15 59
JandD_Touring_II 981 16 60
Nigel_Bar_Tube 283 5 60
Detours_Cruiser 595 10 61
Lone_Peak_H-100 709 11 66
JandD_Touring_I 910 14 67
Carradice_Zipped_Roll 310 5 67
Ortlieb_Ultimate_5_Plus_Large 700 9 78
Carradice_Barley 550 7 79
Carradice_Lowsaddle_longflap_on_Bagman 1233 15 82
Nigel_Smythe_Day_Bag 680 8 86
Carradice_Prima_Top_Bag 1070 12 89
Lone_Peak_H-075 595 7 91
Carradice_Super_C_Rackbag 1200 13 92
Tailrider_+_Arkel_rando_rack 1053 11 96
Ortlieb_4_Plus_Large 850 9 100
Velo_Orange_Campagne_Handlebar_Bag 1077 10 104
Ortlieb_Classic 630 6 105
Novara_Deluxe 624 6 109
Tailrider_+_Blackburn_rack 1208 11 110
JandD_frame_pack 175 2 117
JandD_Mountain_IV 650 6 118
Ortlieb_4M_Plus 750 6 125
Acorn_handlebar_bag 595 5 127
Arkel_small 950 8 127
Velo_Orange_Baguette_bag 269 2 129
Detours_Shuttle 425 3 130
Berthoud_2886 1571 12 131
Berthoud_850 1125 9 132
Carradice_Super_C 700 5 140
Arkel_big 1400 10 140
Carradice_Barley_on_Bagman 1005 7 144
Vaude_Road_II 900 6 150

robertkat

FWIW, I love my Carradice Barley. I know it's one of the smallest bags they offer. I use mine primarily for commuting, but it's been very good to me on everything else. I can fit a change of clothes, lunch, and tools it it, plus d-rings on the bag allow me to strap on a jacket that was only needed for the morning rain. I know the bag can sway sometimes, especially during out of the saddle efforts, but after 3 years of use, I've had no problems and most of the time I forget the thing is even there. It's been subject to horrible rain and keeps my stuff dry. Plus, the side pockets are actually quite easy to get into while riding. I use Brooks saddles so it's an easy mount, but one of those Bagman racks would be pretty nice too.

oban_kobi

Wow thank you a bunch! I had not considered a carradice. Great list!

EDIT: Both of you, you post ninja.

AZORCH

Wow, you just saved me a whole lot of homework! Thanks!