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Has anyone bought the bento fuel box that sits on the top bar of the bike? I've been looking at it on TE and it looks pretty neat. Looks like the larger size is big enough to store several items plus I need something to keep the cell phone protected from the rain while out riding....
I only use one for very long rides, but I know others who use them regularly. I'd consider them to be very popular and practical.
I have one from Bontrager that I bought at my LBS last month. I like it a lot. I got it as a handy place to hold my camera when I bring it on rides, and when I don't have the camera (which is most of the time) I use it for other things that I am likely to reach for during a ride, like my cell phone and a pocket pack of tissues.
Mine has a mesh cover so I keep the cell phone in a ziploc sandwich bag to protect it from rain, dirt etc.
I'm about to get a Louis Garneau one from my LBS (on order). I hope it proves useful. DH and I have a long-standing battle over who gets to carry the truck keys when we go out for a long ride with the club.
He: "I got 5 pounds of cr*p in my back pockets!!!"
Me: "Sorry, hon. Someone decided women's jerseys (particurlary the summer ones) need only 2 back pockets! And small ones at that. So, I'm all filled up!"
This will allow me to carry the truck keys (not sure if that's a good thing or not, however) and drive back to the shop afterwards when we get back a different times.
I've got the soma fabrications munch box - I can fit my cell phone & camera in there, and it's pretty handy.
Another good option is the Mountain Feedbag: http://epicrideresearch.com/index.php
I originally bought it for my mountain bike so that I didn't have to keep taking my Camelbak on and off. But it's spending more time on my commuter for keys, phone, and work keycard- nice to not have that stuff in my pockets. It only goes on the road bike for 50+ mile rides, but it's worked well there too, and seems pretty water resistant.
I have an LG one on my bike. It holds, at varying times, the key to my car or house, my cell phone, my camera, and some beans. :-) oh, and sometimes chapstick. I love it and would be lost without it!
I have a small one on my road bike. It fits my iPhone, a HammerGel or two, a small thing of tylenol, $20.00, and, if I squish it, a granola bar.
It won't fit on the MTB frame.
I could not live without mine! :) Don't know which brand, but it has BENTO on the side. I keep chapstick, one bar, phone, and keys in it. I squeeze a camera in when we are on long rides, or state rides. I move it from bike to bike if I go for a MTB ride.
I think mine is from Profile Design. I use it pretty much whenever I want to carry snacks on a ride. It will fit 3 bags of Shot Bloks/Sport Beans, a Clif Bar, and a chapstick. If I carry less snacks I can get a small camera in there.
I had one on my bike and noticed it left a mark on my top tube.
Me too (top tube mark) : ( Tokie
Well....Quote:
Originally Posted by 7rider
I did my first ride today with my new LG frame bag.
What a PIA. :mad:
Well, first, in it's defense, I probably didn't NEED to bring it. I wasn't carrying much - it was a supported ride, and so I didn't bring lots of food or gear. I put 2 CO2 cartridges and my cleat covers in it. The bag kept heeling over to the right, like a drunk. And every time I stood up to climb, I'd hit it with my legs. Good grief. I suppose if I never stood to climb, it would have been okay. But that was really the biggest pain about the thing. Does anyone else have the problem?
One of the guys at the shop recommended I put a piece of innertube on the frame to keep the bag from heeling over. I guess that didn't work! :rolleyes: I may glue a second piece of tube to the bottom of the bag and see if the rubber on rubber keeps it from moving.
But again...the standing climb thing is a major downer.
My soma one fits pretty well on the litespeed & doesn't flop around. If I stick it on my other bike, I don't have enough exposed fork above the top tube and cant use both velcro straps and it flops around, so I don't use it on that bike. I stuck some egg crate foam on the bottom of mine to cushion my camera:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/Sh...2/IMGP4179.JPG
I just got one of the large Fuel Belt ones, and it's going back.
I was figuring I'd have to protect my frame and head tube spacers with some of that plastic luggage protector stuff, so marking isn't my concern, but I think you'd definitely want to protect any parts that the box came in contact with.
Maybe it's because my head tube angle is too shallow, but there's a large differential in how close (or far away) the bottom velcro strap hugs the head tube, vs. how close the top velcro strap hugs the head tube. And it seems like the stem clamps would catch on the zipper and either interfere with steering, or pull the box side to side.
Are there any of them that are made with an angle in the front, so they fit uniformly?