strapping stuff to handlebars

[sherpaxc]

I have a CDW handlebar bag but I have friends who are starting to get into bikepacking but aren't ready to drop the coin on a handlebar bag.  A lot of you guys strap your pad to your handlebars.  My question is...how?  It seems that just regular cinch straps would slide around.  are you putting it in a compression sack and using that?

[John G]

I like the two sided velcro straps with a buckle at one end that you can thread through and really cinch down, but you have to find a strong strap.

Last month I couldn't find my straps and used 2 regular 1" nylon straps to secure my sleeping system stuff sack to my bars.  No good photo but here is a side view:

[Pivvay]

For our Koko tour where I hauled almost all the gear and food for Marni, I put a compression sack up front surrounded by a blue pad. Then I took a couple nylon buckle straps and clipped those around the whole bundle.

This is probably the best picture I have on the blog of that setup. Oh yea I had the tent poles strapped in there too. And I had one of those handlebar map/food bags. I really don't like that much weight on the front but I didn't have my nifty Epic bags yet and I was hauling essentially for 2 people and breakfast and dinners for 3 days for 4!

[ScottM]

I've just used two regular old nylon compression straps with very good result.

My brake lines are long enough that I can put my sleeping pad (or, in one case, tent!) underneath them / through them.  That might prevent it a bit from sliding around.

I've strapped thermarest and big agnes sleeping pads, and also a Henry Shires tent:



Actually, in that pic I have both the tent and the big agnes pad on there!  I setup my bike in "road" mode (as much weight on the bike as possible) in that pic.  When on trail I had more stuff in the pack.

[Pivvay]

Hey Scott,

Links (like my "picture" reference) don't pop out very good with the stock preferences. Is that something you can change site wide? Like make them blue or something?

[ScottM]

I agree, I'll see if I can fix that.  Gotta ride right now, tho'. 

[sendoodoo]

I use a basic sleeping bag compression sack and put my Tarp tent, with Big Agnes bag and pad together inside that with home made nylon webbing and buckles.  Don't even notice it on the front in single track... ~jb

[ScottM]

Hey Scott,

Links (like my "picture" reference) don't pop out very good with the stock preferences. Is that something you can change site wide? Like make them blue or something?

Blue now.  Thanks for pointing that out.

[Goatrak]

After trying ever which way to attach a thermarest to the front, here was what I ended up with. It's nice and simple, but It does require "retro" type climbing bars (I'm a retro kind of guy) and compression type end plugs, but it worked great. I just replaced the screws in the plugs with an eye bolt and it gave me a solid out of the way place to thread straps through.  I also kept my rainjacket strapped in the middle, which was kind of handy. Hopefully the photo I'm trying to attach of the setup comes up.

[YuriB]

Hey Scott,

What are the bags next to the stem I've seen on your set-up? Kinda like chalk bags.

[goldenboy]

I use an old handle bar bag on my commuter.  It has a small steel bar system that keeps the bag away from the brakes and such.  It probably wouldn't stand up to a GDR without some re-vamping and although its not ultra light and its more in the rack category the potential is there.

[ScottM]

Hey Scott,

What are the bags next to the stem I've seen on your set-up? Kinda like chalk bags.

Yuri--

They are "mountain feed bags."  See:

http://www.bikepacking.net/2008/09/11/mountain-feed-bag/

I'm rather fond of them, and use 'em even on short rides.  For bikepacking, it's another good way to get some weight off the pack and onto the bike.

[YuriB]

Wow. Muy popular - only the left handed side ones available in one color.

[Twenty-niner]

I've got a Carousel bar bag that is bomber (save for the lack of waterproofing), but my expedition buddy just uses a dry bag.  I forget the brand name but it's a heavy duty one (the edges of your stem and brake levers make short work of destroying bags over the course of just a few days) that has a daisy chain sewed down the length of it on one side, which allows you to very securely attach it to the bars and stem.

For straps:  We tried a longer piece of shock cord (elastic cord) but found that buying the $1.99 nylon webbing/cinch from any outdoor store (or even in Wally World's camping section) worked much better. 

I'm sticking with my CDW bag... though it needs a Nik Wax treatment or three. 

[Slowerthensnot]

I've been enjoying a 2 1/2 gal bucket zipties to the front of my bike...

Useing it to carry tarp, quit, and some food

Quick to pack, cheap, and waterpoof, oh and not to heavy

I'll get a pic up one of thease days

[DaveC]

Quick to pack, cheap, and waterpoof, oh and not to heavy

Useful for collecting drinking water on rainy rides!  You could cut a hole in the bottom, which would drain, and then detach it in camp, and use it (inverted, of course) as a latrine to rest those tuckered legs.