from Rookie’s keyboard
Hello, friends
Today, I will discuss handlebar bags and front racks. I’ve used both (a bag on the hardtail and a front rack on the road bike).
My personal preference for a commuter without any doubt is the rack.
Why?
- Insane capacity
A solid front rack such as the one I made myself can haul some serious weight – more than you can comfortably steer with.
If you intend to carry heavy packages, a front rack is a much better choice than a handlebar bag.
- Odd Objects
Front racks aren’t as limited in space as handlebar bags. You can carry very large objects such as paintings, massive boxes, bike wheels, TVs…etc.
- A Base for Bags and Baskets
A front rack will allow you to install a large bag or a basket on it. If you choose that route, you will benefit from the high weight capacity of the rack in conjunction with the bag or the basket’s convenience.
- An Option for Mounting Panniers
Some front racks have side rails designed specifically for panniers (mine doesn’t).
If you carry a lot of cargo, those models will greatly expand the bike’s transport capabilities.
Of course, nothing is perfect, and front racks have their downsides (not gonna lie).
Those would be:
- A Basket or a Bag Is Often Needed
By itself, a rack is only capable of transporting packaged items. And even then, you will need a bungee cord or straps to prevent the cargo from falling.
You can’t just throw items (e.g., keys, phone…etc.) on a rack and ride away.
If you want additional convenience, you will have to invest in a bag or a basket.
- Heavy
Heavy-duty front racks are at least 1.5 lbs – a lot heavier than some bags.
The rack affects the handling even when it’s not loaded.
The table below compares the weight of a bag vs. that of a rack.
I’ve used only larger bags to make the comparison more even.
| Bags | Weight | Racks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lezyne Bar Caddy | 263g | Surly Front Nice Rack 2.0 | 1382g |
| Norco Dunbury Handlebar Bag | 740g | Thule Pack ‘n Pedal Tour Rack | 990g |
| Revelate Designs Egress | 284g | Topeak TetraRack M | 910g |
| AGU Venture | 420g | Specialized Pizza Front Wheel Rack | 836g |
| Zeitgeist Pack | 589g | Blackburn Local Basket | 1143g |
| Catalyst Pack | 424g | NITTO Campee Front Rack | 1185g |
| Ortlieb Handlebar-Pack Bag – 2021 | 420g | Velo Orange Porteur Rack | 1079g |
| Ortlieb Handlebar-Pack QR | 530g | Origin8 Front Rack | 950g |
| Topeak BarLoader | 276g | Mash Front Rack | 770g |
| Ortlieb Ultimate Six Classic | 590g | BLB Frontier Rack Front Rack | 1000g |
| Average: | 453.6g | Average: | 1024.5g |
Conclusion: Front racks are about 2 times heavier.
- Larger profile
Racks, especially the pizza style, make the front of the bike wider. The extra size makes storage and locking a bit more complicated.
- Easily Damaged
During a fall, a bike rack can be bent or broken.
For me those downsides are not an issue. I even got used to the heavier front end so much so that getting on a bike without a front rack feels weird now.
But a handlebar bag is also a good choice in some situations.
The pros are:
- All-in-One Solution
The strongest property of a handlebar bag is that it offers a safe storage compartment without requiring additional accessories.
All you have to do is attach the bag via Velcro loops or straps, and you’re good to go.
A handlebar bag therefore combines a rack, a bag, and a basket in one package.
- Convenience
You can just throw stuff in the bag and ride away.
For example, I used to toss my wallet and keys in a small handlebar bag because carrying them in my pockets feels uncomfortable, especially when pedaling hard.
- Weatherproof
You need a waterproof bag. Sooner or later, a rainy day will catch you unprepared. Having a safe, dry place where you can put your most important belongings is essential.
The bag doesn’t protect items only from water and moisture. It offers protection from UV rays and dust too.
- Slick appearance
A bag with a nice design looks neat and compliments the bike.
- Easy to install and remove
Most handlebar bags can be removed from the bike in less than a minute and without the need for specialized tools.
This makes bags practical for commuting purposes. If you leave your bike outside for hours while working in an office, you can easily take the bag with you and eliminate the chances of losing it.
And of course, this property allows you to switch between “race” and “commuter” mode quickly too.
- Compatible with most bikes
You can find a handlebar bag for every bike type – road bikes, MTBs, folding bikes…etc. And if a model doesn’t quite match your bike, it can be modified to offer a better fit.
Meanwhile, apart from a few exceptions (e.g., Old Man Mountain rack, Thule Pack ‘n Pedal…etc.) most front racks are designed for bicycles with rigid forks and cannot be installed on MTBs with suspension.
- Interchangeable
If you have multiple bicycles, you can easily move the bag from one bike to another. The procedure will be faster if both bicycles use the same type of handlebars.
- Harder To Damage
If you fall or drop your bike accidentally, the bag is unlikely to be catastrophically damaged because it’s soft and changes shape. It may be torn a little, but the chances of it being completely unusable are small. You may be able to patch it with duct tape.
- Changeable Dimensions
If you’re carrying something small in a bag, you can roll down the top to minimize the bag’s size. Or in other words, the dimensions of the bag could change with the cargo. This is a nice feature allowing an otherwise voluminous bag to be small when its full capacity isn’t needed.
- Price
It’s easier to find a relatively cheap handlebar bag of decent quality than a front rack.
- Quick access
A handlebar bag provides quick access to food, water and essential tools such as a map.
And now the downsides…
- Limited capacity
Bags are small and have a very limited cargo capacity. If you plan on transporting bulky, odd objects (e.g., a bike frame), a handlebar bag won’t cut it.
- Take “cockpit real estate”
A bag takes a lot of space on the handlebars and changes the looks of the bike.
The bag clashes against the gear and brake cables too.
Thus, technical adjustments involving the area are more inconvenient.
- Could Be Unfriendly To Drop bars and Brake-shifters
The drops on most road handlebars are only 43-45cm apart, and brake-shifter levers have to go inward during shifting. If you put a larger bag, its sides will prevent the levers from operating freely.
Hence larger handlebar bags are better suited for other types of handlebars such as flat and comfort bars.
- Non-aero dynamic
Even a small handlebar bag creates drag by acting as a sail. The larger models are even worse. If speed is your ultimate priority, use a saddlebag.
The saddlebag sits behind the rider and thus creates little to no drag.
- Interference With Cantilever Brakes
Front cantilever brakes have a piece of “naked” cable going from the stem to the brake. A handlebar bag will interfere with it. The cable may also tear the bag.
Until next time,
Rookie
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