Aborted Handlebar Bag Project
I bought this (baby bottle?) bag a year or more ago at a thrift store thinking I might be able to convert it to a handlebar bag. I just now got around to doing it.
So without much thought or a plan I started poking holes in the bag. I bolted on a piece of web strap that I had found on the road.
To keep the bolts from pulling through I put washers on the back side and a thin strip of metal covered in black duct tape on the inside. I would need to somehow cover the nuts and bolts so they wouldn’t rub on or rip anything.
Using velcro straps I had, I attached the bag to the handlebars which worked really well.
Now I needed to come up with a way to attach something to the back bottom side of the bag so it could be strapped to the headtube to keep the bag from bouncing around. I really didn’t want to put any holes in the lower part of the bag should I decide to ever use it as a cooler.
Next problem I didn’t think through was that with the bag strapped directly to the handlebars in this manner there was little room left for my hands on the flat part of the bars. I could try and space the bag out to make room but it was at this point I decided I didn’t want to put anymore effort in to it and have aborted this project.
Yeah, that be the major problem with this style handlebar bag and drop bars. On my drop bar bike I use a rando-style bag on rack with decaleur.
I suppose this was mostly an excuse to do some tinkering. If I find I really need to carry anything up front on this bike I’ll probably go the route you mention or rack with basket. Thanks for the comment.
Randy, great that you tried… Not all of my projects work out either!
If it was something I thought I’d use on a regular bases I might have followed through and made it work. Where a lot of my riding is errands to the store etc… I wouldn’t want to leave anything of value in the bag when i’m away from the bike and wouldn’t want to have to remove and reattach all the time. That’s why I like the messenger bag I always carry. The handle bar bag might be good for added storage on a bike camping ride. Who knows I may revisit the project it later. Thanks for the comment.
Randy, you always strike me with your resourcefulness! I thought about something to help cover your nuts and screw ends inside your bag. Gorilla Tape is very tough. I’ve used it on bikes to protect against any bits that might rub.
Hey thanks. I should get a roll of that. I bet I could find many uses for it.