fitting a Revelate design handlebar harness

[annoying crack]

I received some stuff from Revelate Designs a while ago that I've been really happy with it. I've got one little problem though, I've got some problems fitting the handlebar system to the handlebars. I don't really manage to get a good fit without something getting in the way. Cables/shifters/brakelevers allways seen to be in the way somehow. I've been looking at a lot of pictures of bikes fitted with them but can't really figure it out. Can someone post some detailed pictures of how I do it? Can't be that complicated but I don't see it...  
Also, most people seem to carry their stuff under the handlebars while I can only seem to get the stuff in front of the handlebars, which looks less stable.
Anyone got any pictures laying around? maybe with info on handlebar width, shifters used?
All help is appreciated.

 

[paxton coyote]

 I believe I saw some little foam blocks on Eric's site that are used as spacers between the bars & harness to maybe help route the cables between, not positive as I've never had any of his stuff, hope to someday though.

[bradh]

Here's my setup.  The  closeups only show the harness, but I put the bag on there too, under the brake lines.  I couldn't (& didn't want to) pack the bag full).  I had to rotate my brakes a little to give more clearance.

[annoying crack]

Here's my setup.  The  closeups only show the harness, but I put the bag on there too, under the brake lines.  I couldn't (& didn't want to) pack the bag full).  I had to rotate my brakes a little to give more clearance.

Thank you for the pictures, that's exactly what I'm looking for. 
But... they also sort of illustrate some of my problems. On the front shot, the rear brake lever hits the bag, it must be hard to get your fingers in there and use the brake, no? You are using twister shifters but I'm using shimano shifters and so they have the little push lever on the bottom which also hit the bag, or does not want to move at all. Also, my cables don't want to move out of the way as yours do, maybe too short.
I'll give it another shot this weekend and try to make some picks. Anyone else has some ideas?

[bradh]

You're using the foam blocks aren't you?  I don't recall the gear ever getting in the way of the brake levers, I probably readjusted a little after the picture.  Keep at it, I struggled w/ it at 1st too, but once I got it figured out it worked really well.   

[timroz]

See the brake cable that goes above the bag?  All my cables do that.  That way I can put a huge stuff sack on there if needed and the cables don't need to go around it.  I think I left them a little long so that they would have some routing slack.

[Damnitman]

Run longer cables and housing...allows more flexibility...

[Singlespeedpunk]

I have found that on my set up (Titec J-Bars) that I need longer outers (fitted and working fine) a narrow but long dry bag (LOMO brand ATM.) and some foam pipe lagging and gaffer tape. The position on the brake levers keeps them well clear of the drybag but does prevent the "cables behind" routing.

I gaffer tape the pipe lagging around the bars next to the stem, mount up the harness then add another strip of tape to keep the straps in place and stop the foam creeping from out under the straps and it all going saggy!

This method was perfected after a rocky DH in Nepal kept leaving the 2Kg bag of clothes wagging in the breeze and knocking me off line!

Alex

[Eric]

yep longer cable housing usually solves the problem, if you have some leeway and can rotate the shifters upward that helps too.

[annoying crack]

First of all, thank you all for the input. Eric offered to help (appreciated) but I mostly wanted to see/hear what other people do who are not 'professionals'.
So, I've tried some more. I almost have it figured out, I managed to get the bag underneed the handlebar with the brakelevers in an operational state. Only the shifters rub against the bag, making it hard to shift. The spacers that came with the harness are not sufficient to get the bag low enough under the handlebars. 
What I did was take all the cables and strap them to the stem to get them out of harms way, fit the harness with the bag inside and then unstrap the cables. I can see why longer cables would help. Fortunately, I have mechanical disk brakes so that can easily be done but as I only changed all cables recently, I'm a little reluctant to redo that job right now.
So, the setup is in a semi workable state right now. 

Things I'll try next:
- find something to add more space between bar and bag so I can make the shifters move more freely. More spacers in the vain of what came with the harness.
- possibly a wider handlebar. My singlespeed with wider handlebar (and no shifters of course) is an easier fit! I have no problems fitting the harness to that bike.

I'll keep you updated. Keep the info/pictures coming. I'm mostly interested in shimano shifter/harness interference (or lack of)!

[Damnitman]

...oh, and switch to thumbshifters...