Does anyone use a handle bar bag on their road bike. Or is that too Fred?

I've been thinking of using one for the commute days when I need to bring in a bunch of stuff like food or clothes. It's got to be better than popping a rack on and off. But each time I picture myself riding with one, I hear the wicked witch music from Wizard of Oz.

very common with the radonneurring (LONG distance riders) crowd and of course tourers as well. roadies probably laugh at them, since they don't ride long enough to really need one.

on long rides i use either an ortlieb handlebar bag (the "classic"), or a carradice "junior" saddlebag. but a handlebar bag is nice because you can get to it easier, even while riding.

and here's one for you: wind-tunnel tests (done by Bicycle Quarterly) showed that handlebar bags can increase your aero-ness, because it acts as a small fairing (wind shield). gotta find that link..

I have the small Arkel that use from time-to-time. They certainly have their uses, but the disdain is remarkable. DO check sizing with brifters as they can impede shifting.

Miss Amira Gulch is discussed on the foo thread Most famous movie bicycling scene?

The OP may protest that Miss Gulch's basket was on the rear fender, not the handlebars. However, if you check the video, you'll see that Miss Gulch, the matron saint of Freds, has a basket both on the rear fender and the handlebars.

just say no.

unless you've got a lot of distance to cover (say 400km+), with no support.

then say hell-to-the-yes! it may look like sh1t but who can see it when you're pedaling all through the night?

function over fashion, dammit.

btw, not all handlebar bags are huge - here's one i have, i forget the company though. it's nice if your jersey pockets are already full, and you don't use a backpack.

I was thinking about getting a bento box for a double century.
I doubt I could stand a handlebar bag.

https://www.onetri.com/product_info.php?products_id=2485

^^ Exactly. If you're going to spend all day in the saddle and want to pack your own provisions (or a picnic with the Missus), then a handlebar bag is indeed a great option.

A big saddle bag like a Carradice is a bit less fred...just a bit.
Personally, if I want to haul a bunch a crap, the road bike isn't my choice of rides for the day.
Right tool for the job and all that...

Good for long rides, carry eats, camera, arm warmers and whatever in there. Dorkage factor is rather high, though. :-\

you've got more serious issues than a bag on your bars.

Handlebar bags are a big problem is you like riding fast, since they block your view of your front tire.

Huh?

A good alternative from Moots with similar capacity:

indeed, and this is an "issue" that randonneurs deal with lots - just ask machka.

i've yet to ride straight through the night, but on the 600km (~375 mi) brevet i'm doing in june, i'll get my chance. over mtn passes no less!

I have the same problem with car hoods.

Seriously, if I'm riding fast, I'm looking where I'm going, not where I'm at.

Berthoud or nothing at all.

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/berthoud.asp

Bento Box has been my preferred method for distance rides. I used to have a handlebar bag but didn't like the way that it increased wheel flop on my old bike. You need to have a fork with pretty generous rake and a front rack to make the most use of a bar bag. Bags that just clamp to your handlebars promote wheel flop due to having the weight all cantilevered off the front of the bike.

A mapcase/pouch that sits on top of the handlebars isn't a bad option either, since it doesn't affect handling, but it's a little more tricky to retrieve items from that versus a bento.

For storing food that I'll need over 50 mile segments, bento box + jersey pockets have been perfectly fine. Everything else goes in the Carradice saddlebag.

I have one of those Riv banana bags, which I didn't like all that much as a seatbag but it makes a great occasional bar bag. Big enough for snax, camera, arm/legwarmers. It sux to have to stop everytime you want to get something to eat or snap a pic, but over-full jersey pockets also suck.

For 200km + rides I sometimes use a detachable side pocket from a backpack as a handlebar bag.

I use a handlebar bag on my Surly LHT. I find it to be perfect to carry lunch or a snack, my rain jacket and helmet cover, wallet, etc. The one I have is pretty big, but one advantage to that is that in colder weather I can ride with my hands on the tops of the bars and they're behind the bag and shielded from the wind.

I do find that I can't lean the bike against anything, as the weight of the bag causes the front wheel to flop to the side and the bike tends to fall over. I always have to lay it down - no kickstand, and I'm not sure the same thing wouldn't happen if I had one.

I don't worry about the aerodynamics, as I'm 6 - 2 and 260 LBS with 24" wide shoulders - I figure the bag has moot affect on my aerodynamic profile! (My triathlete neighbor says he want to ride with me....said something about drafting a bus.)

I hate my bento box, it leans right and tags my knee when I stand to climb. my first ride with it it shredded my brand new tights. feh

Same here, I don't like how it flops around especially when I'm climbing out of the saddle. Not sure I want to replace it with a handlebar bag, though.