 Baggage
for randonneurs
The logistics of what to carry on a long ride and how
to carry it are, for this scribe at least, one of the many attractions
of randonneur riding. You have to keep the old boy scout motto, "Be
prepared," in mind. You probably need to carry a variety of clothing
to cope with the vagaries of weather in varied terrain over the space
of several days, route sheets and/or maps to find one's way along
the required route, lights for riding at night, tools and spares to
cope with possible mechanical problems and some medications to deal
with physical problems. At the same time, it is also desireable to
carry the least amount possible in an attempt to maximise efficiency.
This article will focus on the `how to' aspect of carrying gear on
a bike. It is targeted principally at riders taking part in randonees
(a.k.a. brevets) on a self-supported basis and aims to outline some
of the options available to them for carrying various necessities
on the likes of Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP).
Speaking of an international event like PBP, it's interesting to
observe the different approaches to carrying gear that riders from
around the globe take. If, for example, you see a rider with a large
handlebar bag, the chances are that they are French. Similarly, a
rider with a large transverse saddlebag will probably be British and
one with a rack top bag might be from the U.S. Oh, and riders with
just a spare tubular lashed to their saddle probably have support
!
A few general remarks
However, before examining any of these approaches in detail, let's
first discuss some general points to bear in mind when choosing bike
baggage. First and foremost, the bags used shouldn't affect the handling
of the bike excessively. To that end, they should carry their load
in a stable, non-swaying fashion so that their effect on handling
is predictable.
It is also useful if the bags used can be fitted and removed quickly
and easily. This allows you to bring everything indoors that you might
need at a checkpoint, for example.
At the same time, the bags used should also be completely secure,
with no risk of them coming off when riding over rough roads.
Waterproof qualities are also very desirable. If something is worth
carrying, it's usually worth having it dry.
Reliability is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when
you think of bike baggage, but if you can't open or close your bag
or get it on or off your bike, it quickly defeats the purpose of having
it in the first place. With that in mind, try to avoid zippers where
possible. When used frequently, especially in the presence of dust
and dirt, they have a habit of sticking or failing completely. If
you can't avoid them, look for double zippers or the `self-repairing'
style.
Handlebar Bags
Handlebar bags are often overlooked when it comes to riding brevets.
However, they are very convenient for keeping light items, like brevet
cards, money, maps and cameras easy to hand. Also, as anyone who has
read Harriet Fell's inspiring account of riding the 1975 PBP will
be aware, they are also make a great `nose bag' for eating on the
move - in Harriet's case, her 'bar bag contained a roast chicken !
If lightly laden they don't affect the handling too much. However,
they do block your sight of the front wheel, which may be a disadvantage
when riding in a group. Also, they cause the front wheel to flop around
when stopped, which can cause a parked bike to fall. They are also
difficult to fit if you use STI levers or very narrow handlebars.
Millions of French riders can't be too far wrong though !
Getting specific, the waterproof Ortlieb
'bar bag is highly recommendable. It has a very sturdy mounting system
which allows the bag to detach easily when desired. It also comes with
a waterproof map case which is convenient for carrying route sheets
in an easily read position.
It should be noted that some riders like to mount a 'bar bag behind
their saddle. This can be done using a tandem stoker stem and a length
cut from an old handlebar, transforming the 'bar bag into a small
transverse-style saddlebag.
Wedge-type saddlebags
These are probably the most common type of bag that you will see
on a bike ride. They come in a vast array of designs and sizes and
utilise several different ways of attaching to the saddle and seatpost.
Choose one that mounts securely to your favourite saddle and that
doesn't chafe the insides of your legs.
If you intend to use a bag of this type as your sole means of carrying
gear on a ride as long as PBP, you will almost certainly need the
larger ones of the genre, such as those made by Kirtland, Jandd, Blackburn
and Ortlieb,
amongst others. The Ortlieb is, again, fully waterproof and doesn't
use zippers but check to see that the mounting clip will fit on your
saddle before buying.
Wedge type saddlebags can usually be fitted to most bikes without
too much hassle, so are convenient in that respect, and they are usually
also quite secure. However, they tend to have just the one main compartment,
which can mean that you need to remove everything in order to get
to that critical item that has burrowed its way to the bottom. They
also tend to make widespread use of zippers, which, in the long term,
have a tendency to fail.
Rack top bags
For the rider who likes to carry more than can fit in most wedge-type
bags, this is probably the most common choice in the U.S. Rack top
or trunk bags come in a reasonable variety of sizes, from those which
just have the one rectangular compartment, to those with additional
pockets on the top, back and sides, and expandable sections.
In general, they usually mount securely, while also being easy to
take on and off, and the rectagular shape makes maximum use of the
space available. Avoid those with padded sides, however, if volume
is a concern, as they waste valuable space in an effort to add stiffness
to the bag.
On the downside, they have to be used in combination with some kind
of rear rack. This can take the form or a traditional rear rack which,
depending on your frame, may or may not be easy to fit. Reputable
and reliable models include those made by Tubus,
Bruce Gordon or Blackburn.
Another alternative are the newer `beam racks' which mount on the
seatpost and provide a platform on which to mount a rack top bag.
These, however, tend to have a low weight capacity and to be relatively
heavy. If you're interested in this style, Topeak
have a neat integrated rack and truck bag.
Rack top bags can, when heavily loaded, affect the handling in a
detrimental fashion because the stability of the load carried depends,
to some extent, on the stiffness of the bag itself. They also tend
to make heavy use of zippers.
Rack top bags worthy of mention include those made by Jandd, as well
as the Topeak mentioned above.
Transverse-style saddlebags
These are the large Carradice
saddlebags that you will typically see British riders using during
PBP. They attach to the saddle and seatpost and sit crossways behind
the rider.
At first sight, you may think that they would have a bad effect on
handling. However, they attach to the point on the bike that is designed
to carry the majority of the bike's load - the saddle - and all the
weight is within the wheelbase, so their effect on handling is less
than if the same amount of weight were carried in any other way. They
are quite voluminous and can also carry more weight in relation to
the weight of the bag itself than other baggage, but you probably
won't want to test this theory on PBP !
On the downside, they don't attach easily to many modern saddles,
having been designed in the days when leather saddles with saddlebag
loops were standard equipment. Fitting one to a small framed bike
can also be difficult, as the distance between the saddle and the
top of the rear wheel must be large enough to accomodate the bag.
Carradice now make a quick release support for their bags. The design
is such that it might not work well on smaller frames, or those where
there isn't much distance between the tire and the saddle.
Bagman
have produced a lightweight support to aid in keeping the bag off
the rear wheel and back of the riders legs. The Bagman design is very
stable, but not quick release. It does work well on small frames.
Panniers
Panniers are the solution for those who like to carry plenty of gear.
They make it easier to organise your belongings, which, after two
or three nights with minimal sleep, might do no harm !
There are a plethora of different styles available, some with one
big compartment and others with numerous pockets and dividers. Pick
one to suit your need to organise and compartmentalise !
Panniers can be fitted to the front or rear of the bike, when used
with a suitable rack. For the purposes of randonneuring, front panniers
might be best avoided as they increase the frontal area of the bike,
and hence, the wind resistance. On the other hand, in that position,
they do a nice job of dampening road shock.
Pay particular attention to the pannier mounting system, which should
be secure. Avoid those panniers which use springs as part of the mounting
hardware - these have a tendency to stretch or break. Check the combination
of rack and pannier carefully, making sure that the pannier cannot
swing into the spokes. Also check that you have sufficient heel clearance.
At the risk of sounding like an Ortlieb
snob, I would again recommend their panniers. The mounting system
is excellent, secure but easy to fit and remove, and the bags themselves
are waterproof, albeit expensive.
For PBP in 1999, Pamela and I rode tandem with an Ortlieb handlebar
bag and panniers on a Tubus Cargo rack.
Contacts
If you can't get some of these items at your local bike shop, you
might want to contact the following distributors.
Harris Cyclery
Rivendell
Wallingford Bicycle Parts
|
