Looking for the right cycling saddle bags for a bike tour. Bike touring can be pretty demanding on you, your bike and your gear. Therefore choosing the right cycling saddle bags is important and it includes getting the right bike rack, the right cycling saddle bags and more. This short video from a guy at Expert Village and YouTube do a really nice job of giving you a lot of information packed into a short video.
He goes into nice detail about the racks and the types of features you want form the rack and also from your bike. For example, he rightly talks about the low rider front rack for stability. This is for sure hitting on the cycling saddle bags and needs for touring. This goes along well with my short article on Cycling Saddle Bags also.
These are cute bike panniers for around town and feminine
Have you been thinking about purchasing a set of bike panniers but not really sure what to get. I know I have been in that same boat myself. I was looking on Amazon, REI and other bicycle accessories sites and just could not make the decision to pull the trigger on any one set. You see for me I use my bike for multiple purposes and that is what made it so hard. Unfortunately and strangely fortunately at the same time before I could finally pull the trigger and buy any one set of bike panniers my wife got a set for my birthday and that was a done deal. Did it all work out in the end sure. Yet in this post I will detail the three main functions for bike panniers and what those three functions might mean for you and your search for the ideal bike pannier for your situation.
Around Town Shopping Bike Panniers
With gas prices sky rocketing and the green house effect happening with the earth more and more people are turning to riding their bikes. Of course I am kind of preaching to the choir right if you are here you probably already ride a fair amount. One way that people log a good number of miles and house on their bike is just running their errands around town. The bike pannier they will need of course is a lot different than someone going touring in a foreign country. That is just kind of common sense isn’t it. For a around town bike pannier that will carry groceries and other assorted items you want something with a good deal of room. You will also want something most likely with an open top and it doesn’t really need to have any closure or weather proofing features. The two big saddle bags in the back that are open and easy to access is probably best for your situation. One alternative you might want to consider is looking for a convertible bike pannier that can be a saddle bag while you are riding but then comes off from the pannier rack and turns into a backpack or messenger bag.
The Bike Commuter: Bike Panniers
Now the bike commuter is typically making a bit more serious commitment to the number of hours they will be riding and also the amount of stuff they will be caring in their bike panniers. In this case they might need a closure on the top and some light weather proofing for those mornings with fog or a slight drizzle out there. In this case they don’t need the biggest saddle bags for the bike ever but something in the mid range size that does have some closure. Often they are looking for something that can carry the contents of a briefcase in other words some papers and books etc and then also maybe a place to store a jacket and even a change of clothes. In this case for the commuter the pannier should be medium size, with light weatherproofing and a closure on top so things don’t fall out.
The Touring Bicyclist
The touring bicycle rider probably needs a medium to very large capacity saddle bag with at least light weather proofing if not full bombproof water tight saddle bags and bike panniers. It really depends on the conditions of the ride but most likely if you are looking at this level or riding you are pretty serious and spending a good deal of time on your bike so it pays to spend a little extra money and go for the bike bike panniers that are bombproof and water tight. That way on your back road trip through China you don’t have to worry about a little mud or rain running your sleeping bag.
So What?
Well, you might be asking so what is the best solution and which ones should I buy. Essentially it comes down to projecting how you will use the bike panniers and finding the best option for your intended use that you can afford. Of course more expensive is better and many, (myself included) think bigger is better as you have room to grow. In the end you are likely to get bitten by the cycling bug once you start and inevitable you will end up with two or three sets of bike panniers depending on the situation. So how does the story end? What did I get? As I mentioned they were bought for me as a gift so I didn’t have much choice. With that being said my wife bought a nice mid range with light weather proofing and moderate size. It is a middle of the road set of bike of bike panniers but it works perfectly for me. I might have gotten something more expensive and bigger if I purchased them myself but the fact of the matter is I have not needed anything more and I have done all three of the activities listed above with the bike panniers
I have.
You might be wondering what the deal is with bicycle handlebar bag and do you really need one or not. Honestly it is a matter of opinion and experience and even more importantly what you will be doing. If you are a casual rider, a daily commuter or a long distance bicycle touring freak your needs are different. In this video bicycle tourist Darren Alff responds to a question sent to him by a reader or follower of his videos. In it he gives some good suggestions about who would benefit from a bike handlebar bag. He has a great deal of experience with touring and his comments are more slanted towards the bicycle tourist and not the commuter. However, many of the same thoughts on bike handlebar bag would fit even for the commuting bicyclist.
And now with no further adieu
Bike Handlebar Bag
www.bicycletouringpro.com In this video Darren Alff chimes in with his thoughts on bicycle handlebar bags. In the video he describes what he believes to be the two major benefits of using a bike handlebar bag.
Bike Handlebar Bag For The Commuter And Cycle Touring
In the end a bike handlebar bag is a nice feature to have. It is great for keeping your essentials up front with you where they can easily be accessed. Things like a digital camera for taking pictures a cell phone for emergencies and even a small mp3 player or ipod for music. Also maps and a journal are super nice to have up and front for quick usage. If you are a bike commuter you will want a smaller version and it will mainly keep things like the cell phone and your mp3 player.
One issue that gets brought up in the comments on this video is what to do about a handlebar light? Often a the handlebar bags will block the light from working. The light can either be mounted to the bag itself or a helmet light can also work. If you choose the helmet option you might want to keep the light in your bike handlebar bag when not in use.
If you are planning on taking a long touring bicycle trip then you will definitely want a set of good bicycle saddle bags. There are several things you will need to know to make sure you purchase the right ones for you and your situation. How and where you are planning to travel. How long your trip is and how much weight you will be carrying.
Bicycle Saddle Bags For Shorter Rides
For a shorter ride you really don’t need a whole lot of extra space. For the easy trips that can be completed in one day and average around 70 miles or so you can get away with a simple bicycle saddle bags that goes under or behind the seat. In it you will only carry a few essentials like a cell phone, bike tire, multi tool and maybe a small pump. You can always add a pack to your back if needed and carry a few extra food items in your bicycle jersey. So you honestly do not need a huge over stuffed bag that just adds weight. Think light and fast.
A good behind the seat bag will sit right behind the seat and just attach the seat itself. A good handlebar bag can also work.
Under The Top Tube Bag
These are a great option for day trips also. It will carry essential items detailed in the paragraph above. The benefit of a under the top tube bag if it also functions as a shoulder padding or strap when carrying your bike.
Bicycle Saddle Bags For Longer Tours
You will be carrying much more gear and weight. Trying to carry all of the things you will need in a behind the seat or handle bar bag will often end in disaster if they are over stuffed. Therefore you will really want to look into a good set of bicycle saddle bags or panniers. These attach to the back of the bike on a small frame and also can go on the front fork again on a frame. They help distribute the weight evenly across the bike for a balanced ride. These allow you to carry the weight much more safely.
In the end deciding which bicycle saddle bags you need is really a question of how much weight you will be carrying.
http:www.BicycleSaddleBags.net In this video we talk about how to choose the right bicycle saddle bags to fit your unique needs.
So what bicycle saddle bags will you choose and what is right for your situation?
