bike bags?

I am not a fan of either a front bag or a large seat bag. We call the big seat bags "utter bags". They can interfere with leg and pedal stoke motion and it looks really weird from behind.

Do you really need to carry all that stuff? On my road bike I carry 2 tubes, irons, some med. supplies in my seat bag. It's fairly small and tucks up underneath the saddle. I also use a Bento Bag. I can place in it either my digital camera, my keys and cell phone, goodies/snacks. I also have an advantage in that I like to use a Camelbak for water. Even though my road Camelbak is small, I can still out in it a pump, keys, Gu/bars, lip gloss, money, ID etc.

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Originally Posted by bcipam

Do you really need to carry all that stuff? On my road bike I carry 2 tubes, irons, some med. supplies in my seat bag. It's fairly small and tucks up underneath the saddle. I also use a Bento Bag. I can place in it either my digital camera, my keys and cell phone, goodies/snacks. I also have an advantage in that I like to use a Camelbak for water. Even though my road Camelbak is small, I can still out in it a pump, keys, Gu/bars, lip gloss, money, ID etc.

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That's a good question...what all are you folks carrying? Do you carry all that stuff when you just go out for a training ride? Around here the most you'll see is a Bento Bag and a seat bag. Alot of people don't even use Camelbaks - just water bottles.

In my case, I'm a new, overweight, out-of-shape cyclist who isn't doing road trips yet or training for anything.

But I'd like to do my part for the environment (and my health) but making this 1/2-mile to 1-mile errands bike-able. That would mean having a basket large enough to carry mail or a small package in, and or a couple of grocery bags. You wouldn't believe how often I go to the supermarket and pick up small items. The supermarket is closer to me than a convenience store!

So what I like about those baskets is how easily they come off. I wouldn't use them all the time -- just on quick errands.

As for the larger bar bags, because my husband and I will be "Sunday cruisers" and aren't looking to compete, I'd assume they would be for cameras (mine is Digital SLR and my husband has several different ones to choose from, or to carry more than one), snacks, I don't know what. I do eventually foresee us picnicking from our bikes, though.

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Originally Posted by bcipam

Do you really need to carry all that stuff?

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Depends on the kind of ride you're doing and what kind of rider you are. On a fast training ride, a seat bag is sufficient, but not every ride is either fast or a training ride, and for some people, no ride is a fast ride. We've all just gotta do our homework--as you're doing, Pooks--and figure out what works best for us.

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Originally Posted by pooks

But I'd like to do my part for the environment (and my health) but making this 1/2-mile to 1-mile errands bike-able. That would mean having a basket large enough to carry mail or a small package in, and or a couple of grocery bags. You wouldn't believe how often I go to the supermarket and pick up small items. The supermarket is closer to me than a convenience store!

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If you are bringing back two grocery bags, and they are packed fairly full -- not like the baggers around here who seem to think you can't put more than a pound of things into a plastic bag, sheesh -- well, I'd want to carry that on the back where it won't interfere with handling. When I go to the farmer's market, the bags go into cheap panniers that clip onto the rear rack. There's also a teeny under-seat bag that replaces my purse -- ID, tire repair kit, tire levers, phone, insurance cards, cash, keys, inhaler, first aid kit. A purse loose in the bottom of the panniers seems an invitation to trouble -- or a MasterCard commercial (bike: $x00, seat bag: $x, having $2 for a bottle of water: priceless). A trunk bag is on order for my daily commute to hold lunch, shoes, lock, jacket.

One advantage of a rear rack is that it doubles as a rear fender. Although you couldn't put a golden retreiver on the rack either. ;)

I meant to add that I agree that you might not be happy with that large basket on your handlebars. But there are one or two companies that make removable grocery-shopping bags/baskets that attach to a rear rack--you might want to look into that. Regardless of what you end up with, you'll want to limit the weight you carry in any sort of handlebar carrier because, as Denise pointed out, that weight affects the way your bike handles--and that can be dangerous. That's why if you want something on the handlebars, I'd keep it fairly small if I were you--just to be safe. We want to fall in love with cycling and be out there riding your bike for years to come. :)

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Originally Posted by bcipam

I am not a fan of either a front bag or a large seat bag. We call the big seat bags "utter bags". They can interfere with leg and pedal stoke motion and it looks really weird from behind.

Do you really need to carry all that stuff? On my road bike I carry 2 tubes, irons, some med. supplies in my seat bag. It's fairly small and tucks up underneath the saddle. I also use a Bento Bag. I can place in it either my digital camera, my keys and cell phone, goodies/snacks. I also have an advantage in that I like to use a Camelbak for water. Even though my road Camelbak is small, I can still out in it a pump, keys, Gu/bars, lip gloss, money, ID etc.

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On a double century I start riding somewhere between 4:30 and 5:30 in the morning and it's generally kind of cold. I'm going to want a place for my arm warmers and leg warmers when I take them off. I'm carrying all the stuff you listed, plus enough food to get me through 15 hours of ride time. Yes, these are supported rides, but certain foods work for me. I also bring some extra clothes as well, since most of these rides are not flat, a balaclava, long fingered gloves and a jacket are often neccessary for the descents. I don't like to have anything on my back for such a long ride. I don't even like to have things in my pockets. Personal preference is to put it all on the bike. I don't notice a significant change in the handling.

So it looks funny to you - oh well. I prefer to have what I need. BTW I have a gignatic bag for commuting to carry textbooks. It doesn't interefere with my pedal stroke.

Veronica

Okay, it sounds like the basket, though romantic, is impractical!

I'll check out panniers.

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Originally Posted by Veronica

On a double century I start riding somewhere between 4:30 and 5:30 in the morning and it's generally kind of cold. I'm going to want a place for my arm warmers and leg warmers when I take them off. I'm carrying all the stuff you listed, plus enough food to get me through 15 hours of ride time. Yes, these are supported rides, but certain foods work for me. I also bring some extra clothes as well, since most of these rides are not flat, a balaclava, long fingered gloves and a jacket are often neccessary for the descents. I don't like to have anything on my back for such a long ride. I don't even like to have things in my pockets. Personal preference is to put it all on the bike. I don't notice a significant change in the handling.

So it looks funny to you - oh well. I prefer to have what I need. BTW I have a gignatic bag for commuting to carry textbooks. It doesn't interefere with my pedal stroke.

Veronica

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OK for a double century you do need to carry much more than normal. I assumed the poster was referring to normal, training rides.

Although good thing about a Camelbak, I can attach my vest, arm warmers etc to the tie backs if need be. I've also been known to tie my arm warmers around my handlebar. Works great. I've done long week end tours and have then used a temporary seat rack and seat bag. If one is prong to carrying all that much stuff, a seat rack seems to work so much better than a under saddle bag or front bag. Or better yet touring panniers.

This is what I've decided to try for quick supermarket runs, securing the bags with bungees:

http://planetpooks.wordpress.com/fil...00bteody01.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ance&n=3375251

It fits on the bike rack in back.

That's a pretty good review and it's not expensive.

Now, back to the small bar bags...!

Thanks for all this feedback. It's very helpful.

That's a really cute rear basket.

I'm primarily a utility cyclist who rides to work daily and doesn't own a car. Anyone own a briefcase pannier? I've seen ones by Arkel, Ortleib, and Carrradice. I'm leaning towards the carradice, but am definitely looking to hear about other people's experiences. I need it to look more professional and less sporty, because I ride to other offices for meetings and such. I've got to get something that I can organize myself with, as I have been forgetting stuff at home and work because I no longer use my excellent organizing bag with a pocket for everything. My grocery pannier isn't cutting it and I do not want to be carrying anything on my back. Fortunately, I do not have to lug a laptop around. Anyone have something nifty they use for work?

I like to carry stuff with me - it is my personal preference. And I ride with a large saddlebag on my road bike to carry the stuff I want to bring with me.

The large saddlebag does not interfere with my pedal stroke.

I ride for my own enjoyment, not to live up to others' expectations of what one should or should not be doing. If a large saddlebag full of stuff offends some sensibilies, well, so be it.

If you want to be able to run errands and carry stuff and just not have to think about it, forget dainty baskets :-) You're probably not ready for this level of plunge into making the bike painlessly useful for all kinds of nonsense, but I LOVE my Free Radical... it just doesn't notice weight. You can't even see the 1.5 gallon detergent and 3 jugs of punch on the other side...
http://xtracycle.com/albums/real_loa...dplusmay29.jpg

(Full disclosure: only rode 1/2 mile with this much stuff!)

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Originally Posted by Geonz

If you want to be able to run errands and carry stuff and just not have to think about it, forget dainty baskets :-) You're probably not ready for this level of plunge into making the bike painlessly useful for all kinds of nonsense, but I LOVE my Free Radical... it just doesn't notice weight. You can't even see the 1.5 gallon detergent and 3 jugs of punch on the other side...(Full disclosure: only rode 1/2 mile with this much stuff!)

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Oooh - jobob - you've got some competition here.......;)

How about that !!!

Maybe we can form Team Looks Weird From Behind :D

But I don't need a saddlebag to look weird from behind, alas...