BNB

What is your favorite top tube bike bag, if you use one? I'm going to be in the saddle for 10+ hours (140 mile road/dirt combo) and I want to bring along my own tortilla wrap sandwiches (about 5 of them) plus a bunch of fig newtons or similar. I've been using a cheap handlebar bag for training rides and would prefer the weight to be off my handlebars.

RR3

Revelate Gas tank and ECOGear are my two favorites but no way 5 burritos will fit.

BNB

they're pretty skinny burritos - just a little cream cheese and turkey rolled up. thanks for the suggestions.

Steamer

When I tried using a top tube bag my knees kept hitting it when riding out of the saddle and I had to stop using it.

My advice is to mock something up (can be fake; not an actual bag) and see if you can live with an object there.

BNB

Good idea 'cause knees hitting the bag will make me crazy ... Looks like REI has the Revelate Gas Tank and their return policy is great so might try that.

Any other suggestions on other bike bags would be appreciated. I really don't want to go the handlebar route. Could consider a bigger rear seat bag but don't want too big. That's way less convenient for food. This is a timed event so panniers and stuff won't really work for speed.

hueyhoolihan

i've used the Jandd for a number of tours. it's made for frames made with round tubes. i've got the one that goes under the toptube.

here's one that goes above the toptube.

and here's one that goes under the toptube.

winethinker

I just bought the EOGear to ride the Solvang Double. Very good workmanship but not really big enough. Have a look at Ibera or Topeak top bags if you want up to about 1L.

I don't spend a lot of time out of the saddle so don't worry about hitting my legs but the EOGear doesn't hit them.

bmike

Revelate gas tank (add a jerry can if you want, and or add a Tangle bag or full frame bag.

Gas Tank, Jerry Can (at seat post) and full frame bag...
revelate bags by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Tangle:
Revelate Tangle on the IF. by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Chris_W

I've tried many top tube bags. Some were not stable/rigid enough and so didn't stay in place well. Others were a bit too wide and so caused knee interference when standing on the pedals (e.g., a Porcelain Rocket model). My favourite, that ticks all the boxes for me is the Topeak Fuel Tank, Large.

oxymoroncyclist

Since my bike frame is pretty tiny (to fit it's small passenger), I'm not a fan of top tube bags that dangle below the tube. They restrict me from reaching for my bidons. I use one similar to the topeak tri dribag which double up to carry my power bank on long brevets.

BNB

I just ordered the Topeak. REI has both the Revelate ($55) and the Topeak (on sale $21.73 - the website says $29.73 but I was charged $21.73 ??). The Topeak is a medium but it might work. The medium is ~7" long; the Revelate is ~9".

chriskmurray

Not the best pic but I had this bag custom made by Tupper Becker (Becker Bike bags and custom gear!) and really love it. My knees will occasionally brush the bag but I got used to that very quickly. I really like how I can carry a ton of food that is very easy to reach, it is not quite big enough for clothing other than arm warmers but it does exactly what I wanted.

FrenchFit 

Eleven81 tri bag. You can face it to the stem or seatpost, or double them up I guess. I like how narrow and easy access they are,Eleven81 Frame Top Triangle Bag Black Bikewagon,

BNB

Topeak medium is definitely too small. large is on order. nice construction, though, and medium would be perfect for phone, wallet and snacks - just not space for food for an all day ride.

anotherbrian

Revelate bags are nice. Good for the guy having REI sell them, though I suppose he isn't stitching every single one personally. I bought mine ~8 years ago and had to wait weeks to get them.

The Gas Tank is as narrow as my steel top tube, and as a result doesn't hold a whole lot. OTOH, I've had no leg interference with it. I like it a lot, it's just limited on space.

The Tangle bag makes my water bottles (on a 58mm frame) too much of a PITA to use. My generation of the bag also doesn't have any support on the sides to keep it thin (and don't know if the design changed), and depending what's put in it can balloon out and be far worse than a too large top tube bag.

DXchulo

I just bought a Vaude Cruiser, but I haven't tested it out yet. I know it fits a shirt and a pair of shorts, but I'm not sure if it will hit my legs. I might give it a test later this week.

I do know that it interferes with my 2nd water bottle, but I have one of those ugly small frames with a sloping top tube.

Rowan

One of the issues I have found in puddling around with these tri-type bags is that if you don't sufficient "stack height" with spacers under the stem, you might have issues keeping the bag straight because the strap doesn't really work that well.

Honestly, I am not quite sure that the issue is with a handlebar bag that is properly attached and supported. My favourite has been the older, now defunct MEC bar bag, then the Ortleib which was acquired with the Bike Friday. Topeak also made a modular one, the Dynapak that is quite small, but I like it a lot; unfortunately, Topeak doesn't seem to list it on its website anymore.