Hi all,
I recently purchased a Topeak TourGuide handlebar bag to carry my D-SLR when touring. Thanks to the folks on this forum who recommended it for me.

I like it so much that I'm using it instead of my Lowepro gadget bag. Just had to add a flap to roll down and cover up the mount when I'm carrying it. But, although padded, the Topeak still isn't the ideal camera bag. It isn't big enough to carry a spare lens or one of the bigger DSLR models.

Now my question... I showed my Topeak handlebar bag to the Lowepro sales rep today at a photo trade show and suggested that there may be a market for Lowepro to design a camera case for cycling. I've noticed that many cyclists on this forum mention their Lowepro bags. I'll see the reps again on Friday so, would there be enough interest in the cycling community for a specialty camera bag (such as Lowepro) for cyclists? Or, are their sufficient choices already on the market? Any comments or suggestions that I could pass along?

Thanks.

A lowepro handlebar bag would be nice. but with a large arkel handlebar bag you have enough room for a Nikon D3 and spare lens. That's a whopper of a camera. If given the choice I probally would buy a generic arkel type bag instead of a dedicated camera bag.

Just my 2c! Thanks,

monkd

As good as the idea sounds, I have to admit that I would not buy one. I don't carry my Rebel on the bike but prefer the lightness of my point-and-shoot camera instead which I can stash almost anywhere. Perhaps if I bring the bigger camera some day...

B

would buy one

Hi,

I don't know Lowepro bags at all. But if they are waterproof and have capacity more than 12 liters I would by it. There also be 3 additional small bags. A smaller net (e.g. for tools), a waterproof bag for wallet and a similar one for the cell phone.

I have currently the Ultimate large from Ortlieb. I carry a 1 DSLR Body, 3 Zoom lenses, some filters, spare battery and a guide book in the bag. It's too full...

I would put additionally the wallet, passport, some more filters and the external flash into the bag.

Thomas

I would be interested in one

I would consider one if it was well designed for touring, but I am reasonably satisfied with the Nashbar Elite Handlebar Bag. It requires a bit of additional stiffening after a few thousand miles (It had sagged after a 4200 mile tour). The quick release has been known to release at an inappropriate times so I always tie a piece of cord as a safety. In thousands of miles it only released once when I hit a huge pothole. It held well over many miles of normal riding on rough roads.

As far as what I want to see in a bag...

1. It needs to allow quick access.
2. It needs to be waterproof.
3. It needs to be easy to detatch and take with you.
4. It needs to be able to handle rough roads.
5. It needs to be able to carry a DSLR, a couple lenses, and misc. stuff like filters, snacks, cell phone, eyeglasses and other general stuff.
6. A shoulder strap that stows out of the way when on the bike, but is easy to quickly use when off.

I'm too paranoid of a spill to bring my dSLR on a bike ride... PnS for me, but a handlebar bag for that I'd consider

They will take a pretty good slam when in the bag, and on tour is when I want a good camera. Then again they are way heavier than the point and shoot models and that is a disadvantage on tour.

I now use a Lowepro bag because it is NOT a handlebar bag. It's a Orion Trekker backpack resting on a front rack with platform. I love it because the heavy photo gear sits lower than in a bar bag while being at hand and I still have lots of room in the top compartment for snacks, maps, etc. Off the bike, the backpack is much more practical than a bar bag. I use to have a bar bag and carried the Orion on the rear rack for hikes. Whenever I needed the backpack, I had to transfer the gaer from the bar bag to the backpack. Now, I just use the backpack.

Attaching the bag so it wouldn't move, keeping the straps out of the wheel and making it reasonably quick to attach/detach was difficult. I doubt Lowepro could make better attachment system than what already exist for bar bags but a better system to attach a backpack like the Orion Trekker would be great. This is my best setup so far (I'll post a better pic later):



A few points:

- The front panniers are keeping the bag front sliding right and left.
- The clip that close the bag without the need of the zipper keeps the bag attached to the rack. I've had a couple accidents with earlier setup that resulted dropping a lens on asphalt. My current setup is much safer but it could be better. I think velcro straps like trunk bags would do the trick.
- The photo compartment needs to be rainproof. Not dunkable with a bulky watertight zipper, just waterproof fabric with a good flap over a normal zipper.
- The bottom needs to be hard with generous padding. I've added a layer of closed-cell padding inside the bag.

Just a divergent question: will the Topeak Tourguide handlebar bag fit on the LHT drops?