Bike bag recommendation?

[zauhar]

Anyone willing to recommend a bike bag?

Dream preferences:

1) Handlebar mounted

2) Easy to detach

3) Shoulder strap

4) Won't fly off in a wreck

5) Waterproof

6) Room for two RF cameras + spare lens (e.g. IIIf + M3 or Canon 7)

Joe has not used one, but surely someone out there has opinions.

Thanks in advance,

Randy

 

[dave lackey]

Oh, my...another bag thread, Randy...this could be a long one! But, maybe us cyclists are a bit more cohesive and less excitable!😀

There are soooo many choices, let me see if I can find those links.

 

[zauhar]

Oh, my...another bag thread, Randy...this could be a long one! But, maybe us cyclists are a bit more cohesive and less excitable!😀

There are soooo many choices, let me see if I can find those links.

Dave, sorry to be responsible for yet another one of these!

So far I have seen interesting examples from Ortleib and Ibera, but I have no feel for the relative merits.

Thanks!

Randy

 

[Matus]

Thinktank has just introduced the new series called 'mover' and I think it is interesting. Design looks practical, it is light and very reasonable price (at least for a think tank). Have a look at it (Steve Huff made a video overview).

I personally would get whatever bag I like to use (should not be too large but padded) and put it inside a good quality (Ortlieb or such) water-resistant bicycle-bag that mounts on the side of the rear wheel. This way you would eliminate a most of the vibration.

I do not have a very good experience driving with cross-weared shoulder bag as it tends to slide in front of you.

 

[Highway 61]

Have a look here (> For handlebar > Handlebar bags > For handlebar adapter).

Excellent system.

😉

 

[dave lackey]

Dave, sorry to be responsible for yet another one of these!

So far I have seen interesting examples from Ortleib and Ibera, but I have no feel for the relative merits.

Thanks!

Randy

Ha, ha...glad you started this thread as I am needing a nice bag for the bike myself. Can't wait to work through the recommendations you are sure to get!:angel:

 

[Al Patterson]

I have a rack on my mountain bike that can hold a bag into which one could put a camera bag.

No idea who are the bag though.

 

[02Pilot]

I've got a Racktime Barit bag on my pseudo-touring bike that seems like it could pretty easily meet your requirements. Solid lockable mount, built-in rain cover, shoulder strap; it would just need some sort of insert if you were planning on two cameras plus a lens.

 

[Al Patterson]

Thinktank has just introduced the new series called 'mover' and I think it is interesting. Design looks practical, it is light and very reasonable price (at least for a think tank). Have a look at it (Steve Huff made a video overview).

I personally would get whatever bag I like to use (should not be too large but padded) and put it inside a good quality (Ortlieb or such) water-resistant bicycle-bag that mounts on the side of the rear wheel. This way you would eliminate a most of the vibration.

I do not have a very good experience driving with cross-weared shoulder bag as it tends to slide in front of you.

The larger "mirrorless mover" bag has belt lopps and an iPad sized tablet pouch, so it might be decent for day biking. May put that ahead of the Retrospective 7 I've been looking at.

 

[zauhar]

Guys, thanks for the suggestions. I have looked at these, the Rixen Kaul bag (and similar Ortleib) look closest to what I want.

Why is the bike hard to handle with handlebar bag? Just weight, or does the bag get in the way somehow?

(Happy to say I have been wreck-free since my last trip to the hospital, trying to keep it that way!)

Randy

 

[alienmeatsack]

I am confused. I see references to bicycling bags and motorcycling bags here.

Is it the former or the latter the OP is seeking out?

 

[steamer]

If you have a rear rack this banjo bros pannier is good . It folds up when you're not using it and is detachable, so you can take it with you if you stop for coffee or whatever. The minus side is this model is not rainproof and if you stop for coffee and don't take it with you, it's easy to steal.
http://www.westernbikeworks.com/product/banjo-brothers-folding-grocery-pannier?utm_campaign=products&utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&adl=1&gclid=CJ77lJnEibcCFSdgMgodvV0AuQ

 

[drewbarb]

If you aren't opposed to front racks and decaleurs, the options are endless. I use a VO handlebar bag with a regular camera bag padded insert to carry gear on my random/commuter bike. There's a good entry on carrying camera gear on a bike on the Lovely Bicycle blog: http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2013/04/modified-vo-hbar-camera-bag-setup.html ;
Velo Orange sells good racks and decaleurs here: http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/racks-decaleurs.html

EDIT-Ok, I'm no HTML genius, but why didn't this work? Just trying to link some useful info to the OP... Whatever- here's a rewrite removing the failed HTML

 

[zauhar]

Good question!! I have never seen a handlebar bag on a motorcycle so it never occurred to me. Tank bags yes... But the mention of wreck?

Randy are you on a Harley or Schwinn?

For a motobecane!

That's with pedals , not cylinders.

Thanks for your remarks re: the handlebar bag, I will consider those and check your links .

Randy

 

[alienmeatsack]

Good to know. Pedal bike it is. 😀

So I guess the next question would be if your bike has the usual cables and lights and such in the handlebar area. I know mine does or I'd love to have a camera bag there for easy access when I ride. I tend to wear a messenger or backpack and have to stop to get the camera out to snap shots.

I like the look of the one that drewbarb posted, it looks like a comfy place for your gear to sit while on the ride. 😀

 

[froyd]

I like the bags from Velo-Orange http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/bags-panniers.html

and Rivendel http://www.rivbike.com/Bike-Bags-s/37.htm

Front-mounted bags will be OK for small loads (e.g. cameras) and should not give you too much trouble handling. You might need a double kickstand though, which are a nice add-on but HEAVY!

Here are some bags that look pretty spiffy:

Handle bars

Saddle and rear rack

 

[drewbarb]

Yes that bag is well mounted using a front rack. It will only work well however with Sram or Campagnolo shifters on a road bike, because their cables are under the bar tape.

Not so; this only refers to older Shimano brifters; the higher end modern Shimano brifters have both cables routed under the tape (if they have cables at all! DI2...) While we are at it, if one is using bar ends or down tube shifters (I currently have and regularly ride bikes with both) a handlebar bag is no problem.

 

[SteveM]

I’ve done a lot of bike touring with cameras and have a strong preference for a small shoulder bag. Rigid padded bags do tend to creep around from your back to the front and are a nuisance, but soft bags stay put fairly well. I use a Lowepro Terrraclime, which I don’t think is waterproof, but I’ve used it in moderate downpours and it’s kept my gear dry. I agree about bar mounted bags and would avoid them. Any bag mounted on the bike will have more vibration than one you carry.
Depending on how you are going to ride, either by yourself or with others, accessibility is a big factor in how you carry your gear. If you are with a group, don’t expect them to wait while you take photos, so quick access is essential, hence my preference for a light shoulder bag. It’s also right there if you get of your bike to take the shot.

Steve

 

[zauhar]

Thinktank has just introduced the new series called 'mover' and I think it is interesting. Design looks practical, it is light and very reasonable price (at least for a think tank). Have a look at it (Steve Huff made a video overview).

I personally would get whatever bag I like to use (should not be too large but padded) and put it inside a good quality (Ortlieb or such) water-resistant bicycle-bag that mounts on the side of the rear wheel. This way you would eliminate a most of the vibration.

I do not have a very good experience driving with cross-weared shoulder bag as it tends to slide in front of you.

Aaaah, I had not thought about vibration! Every time I hit a hole I am going to think about my gear being rattled.

I need to go back over the suggestions here and contemplate some more. Too busy right now, I don't want to make a rash decision.

Thanks to everyone for the input so far.

Randy

 

[02Pilot]

Personally, I'd prefer to keep my camera equipment (and any other fragile/expensive things) in a bar bag rather than a pannier or rear rack bag, simply because the position of the bag between the bars provides significantly more protection in the event of any sort of undesirable bike/ground interface. This is, of course, assuming drop bars rather than a flat bar.