? Handlebar Bag/Compartments

[Denise223]

Hi Everyone!

I'm not sure whether to have an extra cage (for water) put on my handlebar, OR, get a nice handlebar bag which can hold lots of my stuff -- (water/ gatorade, my inhalor, eye drops, camera, tissues, etc., etc....)

Yesterday, at mile 14, I'd finished my water & went to a little mini-mart & got a bottle of gatorade - $2.20. (usually $1.00 where I normally shop).

It really would have been nice if we brought our camera during yesterdays 20 mile ride -- I saw a beautiful honey colored deer . (Ben didn't see it as he was looking in his mirror to see where I was....... )

Right now, my husband takes along a backpack & that's where 'we' carry all the extra stuff.....
But, I really feel as if I'm ruining his ride, when I'm stopping all the time because "I need something".

And, I really want my stuff with ME.

I guess I could use our other backpack -- that's easy enough -- But, I'm thinking of a handlebar bag.
I really don't want to use a "camelback".

I know there's a great thread here on bike bags, (which I'm suscribed to), and now know a lot more about bike bags than I ever did before. I'm learning a lot!

Initially, I was thinking about an Arkel tailrider (to go in the rear).

www.arkel-od.com/panniers/tailrider

I saw the tailrider at my lbs and think it's probably too big for what I need.

Then, I saw this Arkel small bar bag at my lbs.

www.arkel-od.com/panniers/sm_hb_bag

It would be nice to have something that has compartments -- keep some things cold, but then, keep some things dry too. (I could use waterproof bags....)

I really do not have lots of money, so I'd like to know the most inexpensive way to go.

Thanks so much ladies !

Have a wonderful evening!

Denise

[pooks]

I've been looking at bags, too, and have looked at the Arkel. One think I loved about Rivendell's Banana Bag is that it buckles onto your seat and post with leather straps instead of needing some sort of rack installation. I'm pretty sure that's what I'm going to get.

[Surlygirl]

Hi Denise,
I love my Arkel tailrider but I only use it on my Surly since my Orbea won't take a rack. Its a great bag but yes it is a little large. Hubby has the Delta post haste rack and bag and the bag has small panniers that unzip and hang down the side if you want more room. It attaches to your seatpost. I also have the piggy pack that I got from Adventure Cycling on my Orbea. It has a map case and is big enough for my small camera, inhalor, a Luna bar and my cell phone. An LBS can also add cage mounts for a second and even third bottle to your bike.
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=
http://www.adventurecycling.org/stor...fm?Category=28

The Delta is on sale at Nashbar right now for 49.00

[DeniseGoldberg]

Denise -
I bought an Arkel Tailrider as a good way to carry (and protect) my camera. I carry my little point & shoot camera in a fanny pack, and my SLR in the Tailrider. The Tailrider is an awesome bag, and it has a lot of space in it. You can see my thought process in deciding on this bag on this page of my Panniers, a trailer, both? article.

I stopped using a handlebar bag many years ago - I don't like the change it makes to the handling of my bike. Some people love them, guess I'm just one of the people who doesn't. I do use a Camelbak for extra water though - I keep Gatorade in my water bottles and water in my Camelbak. On hot days that's absolutely the right answer for me. Why are you ruling out a Camelbak? The one I use is the Rogue, which is pretty basic. That is, it's really meant for water and is not a full-blown backpack. There is room to stash a few things (like my car keys and some energy bars). And it's pretty narrow, so I find it quite comfortable.

--- Denise

[Bicyclette]

I just put a handlebar bag on my bike - wasn't sure if I would like it so I didn't want to spend a lot of money on one. I got a Nashbar bag ( on sale now for $9.9) and I really like it! I also got an extra water bottle cage (also from Nashbar) that will mount anywhere on your bike (Twofish Quick Cage Water Bottle Cage) - I have 2 like that now because the only spot that I could actually attach a cage to I use for a tire pump. I usually go for the most inexpensive solution until I'm sure it's what I want - later on, I'll upgrade!

Pat

[KnottedYet]

I have my pannier, which I've posted about before. Nashbar makes the best cheap bags I've ever used. www.nashbar.com

I just joined the handlebar bag contingent: $2 at the LBS for a one-pocket with a map-flap tiny bar bag. Less than the price for a latte, how can you go wrong? I put it facing me so I can dig out goodies while I'm riding. (the way most folks use a Bento Box)

[pooks]

Why are you ruling out a Camelbak? The one I use is the Rogue, which is pretty basic. That is, it's really meant for water and is not a full-blown backpack. There is room to stash a few things (like my car keys and some energy bars). And it's pretty narrow, so I find it quite comfortable.

--- Denise

Denise, as I read all the descriptions of camelbaks, some of them mention mesh that's supposed to make them cooler on your back. Is the Rogue comfortable from a temp point of view? When you put ice in it, does it cool down your back?

[DeniseGoldberg]

Denise, as I read all the descriptions of camelbaks, some of them mention mesh that's supposed to make them cooler on your back. Is the Rogue comfortable from a temp point of view? When you put ice in it, does it cool down your back?

Sorry, I don't put ice in mine so I don't know.

On a really hot day, I suppose you could say it's an extra layer. But it's really not bad. You get used to it, and since you should be drinking all of the time, the weight gets less as you ride...

--- Denise

[pooks]

Thanks for the info!

[Denise223]

Hi Everyone!

Thank you all for your input. I appreciate it very much!

When I spoke with a guy at the lbs yesterday, because my frame is 13", the only other place to put a cage would be on the handlebar OR somewhere behind my saddle. He said that that would change my position on the saddle, so....I don't want that.

Originally posted by Denise -- Why are you ruling out a Camelbak? The one I use is the Rogue, which is pretty basic. That is, it's really meant for water and is not a full-blown backpack. There is room to stash a few things (like my car keys and some energy bars).

The reason I ruled it out was because I thought that the Camelbak's just carried liquids and nothing else. I didn't know that in addition to hydration, there's also some cargo space ! Thanks so much for letting me know otherwise, Denise !

http://www.camelbak.com/

I checked the Camelbak site and there are three that interest me. One would be the Rogue, which is the one that you have. The others would be either the Magic or the Lobo. I would definitely want one that can hold at least 70 oz. of water.

They do come with everything included for $50 - $75, don't they? Or, did you have to purchase the reservoir, tube, mouthpiece, etc...separately? (I'm assuming everything is included -- but, I shouldn't assume anything).

I would think that purchasing the cleaning kit & reservoir dryer would be very important -- is that right?

I am pretty excited about this --- it would mean (in my case), no more fumbling around in getting my polar bottle out of the cage, not to mention fumbling to put it back in the cage when I'm done!
And, I'd be able to carry all of my stuff with me !

I've always loved to drink water -- that's always been my 'beverage of choice'. And now, given the weather that we've been having out here, I'm constantly drinking when riding.
Getting my bottle in and out of the cage every < 10 minutes IS a pain, so, this would make riding even MORE enjoyable .

Thanks Denise -- I'm SOLD on one of these for sure .

I hope everyone is enjoying their day!

Denise

[DeniseGoldberg]

I checked the Camelbak site and there are three that interest me. One would be the Rogue, which is the one that you have. The others would be either the Magic or the Lobo. I would definitely want one that can hold at least 70 oz. of water.

They do come with everything included for $50 - $75, don't they? Or, did you have to purchase the reservoir, tube, mouthpiece, etc...separately? (I'm assuming everything is included -- but, I shouldn't assume anything).

I would think that purchasing the cleaning kit & reservoir dryer would be very important -- is that right?
Denise

Everything you need (reservoir, tube, mouthpiece) comes with the Camelbak - but all of those pieces are replaceable. And I do occasionally decide I need fresh pieces!

I don't have a cleaning kit - since I just use mine for water I figure that rinsing it out is enough but I do have a reservoir dryer. You just need something to hold it sort of open while it's drying.

I'd suggest going to your LBS (REI usually has a good selection too) and trying these on. Make sure that what you get feels ok and has the amount of extra room that will make you happy.

--- Denise

[Bikingmomof3]

Hi Everyone!

I would think that purchasing the cleaning kit & reservoir dryer would be very important -- is that right?

Nashbar has free cleaning kits with most of their camelBaks.

[withm]

I have the Rogue model, 70oz. I don't think I have ever consumed the entire contents in one outing, but I have come close. The bladder comes out pretty easily, and like others, I only use water, so not too hard to rinse it out and dry. But normally I just refil it halfway, blow air into it, and keep it in the freezer (LEVEL!) til I need it next. Then just have to thaw out the opening by running it under hot water for a bit. Fill it up with cold water from the fridge and load 'er up. I do take a second to completely dry the bladder on the outside before I insert it back into the carrier. If the bladder wasn't level, it might not sit so well on my back, but it conforms soon enough and iw well insulated, so after a 4 hour ride in 90oF temps, I still had ice and nice COLD water to drink which was good cause I had poured most of what was left in my water bottle on my head (way before Floyd did it! )

The weight is not bothersome to me. I have a friend who has a smaller capacity model, and she often drinks it all and has to refil it at the rest stop. So even though I may not need the full 70 oz, I'd rather have it, and not need it, than need it and not have it.

The Rogue has a chest strap which to me is very important so it won't slide around. Also it's blue.

My only complaint is that its ability to carry much else is very limited. There is a little pouch that could carry a tube or two, or a camera, or small items, and couple of tools but is not large enough to stash my rain jacket, and all those other things I can fit in a fanny pack or my small handlebar bag. Tubes and tools live in the seat pack.