Keeping your bike well maintained before rides reduces the likelihood for mechanicals, and keeping well fed helps your clothing do it's job. Are there any things you just love to carry on brevets and would never leave home without? Any bike bags recommendation? Enjoy!
Tip - on many bikes such as yours it is worth buying a cheap relocation bracket to move the bottle on the seat tube lower in the frame. This costs a very small amount and frees up space for a larger frame bag, a larger bottle - or both. My maximising both storage space and fluid carrying ability inside the frame you reduce the amount of storage needed elsewhere which is a win all round. Also choose frame bags carefully to make sure they make the most of the available space you have. If necessary custom bags are not much more expensive and can really maximise the space you have.
Very good points. I have some of those brackets on a bike now and just this morning was shopping for a few more sets for my rando bike and for my wife's bike. Should allow 1 liter bottles under my current voluminous frame bag, which can be seen in my most recent video's thumbnail. Lucky the new bag fits my current bike like it is custom, but was only $20. It had enough space to do the recent 600k without a bikepacking saddle pack. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for tuning in! I'm always happy to hear that these have helped in some way. What kind of cycling are you into? Are there any topics that you would like to see addressed?
Im actually into the same kind of cycling as you are. I do a lot of bikepacking for travel but I have the most fun riding long distances thats why your content was very interesting and nearly every video has something interesting for me. Have you ever considered going with the Redshift Aeropost to improve your position? Thats what Im pondering about right now, if its worth the 250g in weight to really improve my tt position@@overbikedrandonneuring
@@I3ene1 Great to hear! I rode the redshift dual position seatpost for several years back when it first came out and moved it across multiple bikes. I sold it and won't be using it again though. The faff of switching positions constantly, high stiffness (stiffer feeling than even OEM alloy seatposts), and twitchy handling in the forward position were not worth the extra position. It also competes with suspension seatposts, which I find supremely valuable. The dual position post could be worthwhile if you can't find a position that works for you on both the aero bars and on the hoods/drops like I detailed in my aero bars video. It would also be useful if you can handle a more aggressive aero bar position for long periods. If that's the case, I would choose a bike frame with a long top tube/short stem and slack steering to get more stability. Lots of gravel bikes are like this these days. Sizing up the rear tire and running it softer would also be in the cards to mitigate the harshness. Hope this helps!
@@overbikedrandonneuring Thanks for the swift answer and also for the information on the dual position seatpost. The lack of comfort was also my suspicion and the reason why its not on my bike right now. Im with you, for long distances a supension seatpost is a must. Im using the ergon allroad seatpost with 35c conti 5000 AS and its actually a dream. I could go on day rides with 28mm tires but for epic days or multi day adventures I take the comfort that the 35mm gives me and they dont really feel slower. I tried without the Shockstop stem but I thats the next thing im gonna change. For your next videos, I think the documentation of longer rides is always interesting, even more because you live in such a beautiful country
How much water do you pack in volume ? As a big rider in an oceanic climate (i.e. close to the PBP starting line) I find that even 20-25 celsius makes me drink water at a rate of 1.5-2 liters per 100 km or more. Bakery refills (or worse, cemetary refills) are time consuming, but so is adding a 3rd bottle for a total of 2.6 liters. Also : TPU tubes. Not so much for the weight savings but for the space efficiency.
I'm a very heavy sweater and usually carry 1.5L water/sports drink. I've have moved to a 500ml bottle of concentrated carb/sodium mix instead of powder mix. Frequent fill ups are just a cost of doing business, and I'm sure my back and bum appreciate a few moments off-bike every 2 hours or so. Good time to clean sweat from the face and reapply chamois and sun creams. Agreed on TPU tubes. My little saddle pack can finally hold all my tools and tubes.
I've been researching bags the last several weeks, and have bought a mix for my upcoming brevet series, and then hopefully PBP. I was eyeballing the Tailfin Aero pack, but $450+ for a system that I realistically won't use much and is not quite waterproof (plus if your bike happens to fall over or someone crashes into it and cracks the carbon rack)......no. I have the large Apidura seat pack (17 liter) that I bought years ago, but not a fan as it rubs my legs.....so that's a no as well, not to mention those style bags are annoying to get stuff out of if what you need is buried; just wastes time to take everything out and repack. I settled on a few Carradice bags.....the Lowside Longflap (15 liters), and the Junior (9 liters). The Lowside would be for PBP and no bag drop - that would enable me to carry everything I need and have stuff easily accessible. The Junior is a great size at 9 liters for something like the 400k and 600k rides to carry extra food and a little extra clothing/emergency water, and it's narrow enough with the lack of side pockets to mostly fit behind you (using the bagman rack). Plus if there's bag drop support at PBP this year, I can use that instead of the bigger/wider Lowside. I also opted for the 3.5L Carradice bikepacking handlebar bag, that should be able to carry a lot of stroopwaffles (they're easy on my stomach) for PBP, and have them easily accessible while riding. Also using a Salsa top tube bag, which will have some nutrition and my battery bank for my Edge 1040. Since I'm short at 5'7", I had to figure out a frame bag and went with an Outer Shell small frame bag. Won't fit a ton in it, but ideal for smaller items that you need to access quickly. I have an Outer Shell mini handlebar bag as well, which at 1 liter isn't that big, but will fit my phone, batteries, wallet, brevet card, etc.....when I take my "fast/light" road bike on the shorter (200k/300k) rides.
Thanks for sharing Dana. Small frames make packing much more difficult and frameless seatpost bags nearly impossible to use. They're my least favorite bag to use, but still likely my fastest option for mass storage. Only the bulky clothes get stored in it so it rarely gets opened at least. The tailfin is overpriced for it's functionality, but uniquely addresses the role of a light, aero, universal rear rack. For my wife's XXS bikes, we've historically used basic, cheap racks and a trunk bag for the same effect at about 1/8 the price. Efficiency is less a priority for the riding she does. The Junior bag looks more narrow than a typical Carradice. Hope you can use it at PBP .
@@overbikedrandonneuring Yeah, I guess here in the U.S., the travel agent that has been used in years past for bag drops is no longer being used....so as of now, there's no drop service being offered that I know of. Otherwise, that Junior bag would be perfect and compact. However, with the turbulence that my legs will be creating, the larger Carradice I'd be using shouldn't make a huge difference in regard to "aero", plus the overall moving speed will be much slower than if I was out on a training ride, so that'll impact aerodynamics a lot less as well. If someone was able to average 18-20 mph on PBP, then they'd want to look to something super aerodynamic. I was debating the rack/trunk bag route, but I forgot to specify rack mounts when I had my bike built (plus I wasn't planning on using it as a rando bike either back then) - could've gotten some Thule rack that'll mount to the frame, but haven't been that impressed with really any trunk bags I've come across.
@@drouleau Hopefully someone can step in to that role before August. I'm sure the hotels and services on the route are booked to capacity, so it would be difficult to arrange privately. Aero efficiency is a worthwhile goal even at cruising speeds, but satisfying basic requirements of equipment comes first. Lots of drafting available with such a crowded course anyway. Best of luck on the ride!
@@overbikedrandonneuring I actually just got the larger Carradice bag today, and it's really not as wide/big as I was expecting. I can fit basically everything I was planning on bringing in that particular bag (with the long flap extended) for the 84 hour group, including an inflatable pillow and lightweight liner to sleep in...and the bag and everything in it weighed in at 3 1/2 kg (minus toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap and sunscreen). I was half expecting the bag to stick way out on either side of my hip, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I wasn't saying that aero isn't important, but it's much less of an issue cruising around at Z1/2.
@@drouleau Nice! Not too heavy either. Peak aero is great to strive for normally, but PBP is a pretty unique circumstance. Crowded controls, uncertainty of supplies and lodging, not much climbing, and plenty of time in the draft of other riders should make your extra capacity well worthwhile. Will you post a ride report anywhere or make some videos about it?
I want to start using 'paunch' in my daily vocabulary, thanks! Recumbent riders call them aero-bellies. I believe various tests showed the bag is too far away to actually help. Even Jan Heine, the top advocate of the handlebar cube, has stated "Our wind tunnel testing showed that a bag or small fairing adds drag in [a standard] position, especially in a crosswind." Still, they are convenient and aesthetically lovely on a classic frame.
Hi 창욱, I first moved to Korea in 2010 and started cycling on the Han River paths. After some time in Canada, I moved back. Cycling in Korea is really nice!
Looks to be the small size on the Chainreaction website. When I bought it, I don't think the medium and large sizes were developed yet. May need to measure my new frame and pick up a larger one.
Similar to the ‘paunch’ comment, are traditional saddlebags really such an aero disadvantage? My (Sir) Chris Hoy style thighs (and fat arse) certainly blot the eyeball aero test 😁 Sir Chris was knighted for his services to aerodynamics, I believe 😉
Good question! There aren't many tests done on the topic, but what has been tested and generally accepted principles suggest they will be draggy for most people. Bicycle Quarterly's wind tunnel test found a traditional Carradice bag increased aero drag more than the handlebar cube (2 May 2012). They didn't share specific data openly online, but even small modern handlebar bags have been tested elsewhere as a poor aero choice. The Cade Media RUclips channel (10 March 2020) found the slim Tailfin seat bag system to reduce drag a bit by comparison. There are 2 mechanisms I think are worth considering. One is that an ideal aero shape will smoothly taper towards the rear and be elongated, but a traditional Carradice bag is often the widest part of a bike/rider system (even for us big fellas), flat faced, short in depth, and the furthest rearward object in the system. A Longflap is 48cm wide with pockets, while at 90kg (potato shaped), I'm 40cm wide at my hips' widest point. Somewhat opposite of ideal. The second is that lacking a smooth, tapered shape like rear fairings seen on some track/velodrome recumbent bikes, our storage solution could fill in the giant low pressure void behind our backs/bums. Alternative choices like the Tailfin or modern bikepacking saddle packs do this to some degree because they are long, slim, and high rather than shallow, wide, and low. In that way, even if you are wider than a Longpflap, these alternatives should function more aerodynamically, in theory. Still, I think this is an area we should see improvement in the future. Recumbent bikes have had aero shaped behind-the-seat packs and hardshell storage boxes for decades. Rear bulk storage like what Rob English over at English Cycles commisioned would be a good start (Rob’s TransAm race bike, May 2017). I should start saving my pennies...
@@overbikedrandonneuringthank you for your considered reply. All good points. For commuting I use a rear rack and my holdall/sports bag I have on the rack is an odd design, which slopes down at one end, teardrop aero style! (It was marketed for welders, why that design IDK). However, I have it with the ‘tail’ at the front tucked in under the saddle. A very neat fit. Now you mention it, the Cyclingabout channel, which is strictly touring, did some aero comparisons between panniers and framebags.
@@themoodyteam Cheers! I love CyclingAbout's website and channel. I don't do heavy bike touring like Alee does, but his work was a muse for me to start this channel focused on randonneuring. His opinion and perspective are always reliable, unbiased, and well researched, which is rare in the cycling media landscape.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Keeping your bike well maintained before rides reduces the likelihood for mechanicals, and keeping well fed helps your clothing do it's job. Are there any things you just love to carry on brevets and would never leave home without? Any bike bags recommendation? Enjoy!
Good stuff. As they say aero is everything. I appreciate your packing list to travel light and efficient for the brevet.
Tip - on many bikes such as yours it is worth buying a cheap relocation bracket to move the bottle on the seat tube lower in the frame. This costs a very small amount and frees up space for a larger frame bag, a larger bottle - or both. My maximising both storage space and fluid carrying ability inside the frame you reduce the amount of storage needed elsewhere which is a win all round.
Also choose frame bags carefully to make sure they make the most of the available space you have. If necessary custom bags are not much more expensive and can really maximise the space you have.
Very good points. I have some of those brackets on a bike now and just this morning was shopping for a few more sets for my rando bike and for my wife's bike. Should allow 1 liter bottles under my current voluminous frame bag, which can be seen in my most recent video's thumbnail. Lucky the new bag fits my current bike like it is custom, but was only $20. It had enough space to do the recent 600k without a bikepacking saddle pack. Thanks for the tips!
I watched now most of your videos and I have to say thank you. Nice to see someone make helpful videos for the regular cyclist!
Thanks for tuning in! I'm always happy to hear that these have helped in some way. What kind of cycling are you into? Are there any topics that you would like to see addressed?
Im actually into the same kind of cycling as you are. I do a lot of bikepacking for travel but I have the most fun riding long distances thats why your content was very interesting and nearly every video has something interesting for me. Have you ever considered going with the Redshift Aeropost to improve your position? Thats what Im pondering about right now, if its worth the 250g in weight to really improve my tt position@@overbikedrandonneuring
@@I3ene1 Great to hear! I rode the redshift dual position seatpost for several years back when it first came out and moved it across multiple bikes. I sold it and won't be using it again though. The faff of switching positions constantly, high stiffness (stiffer feeling than even OEM alloy seatposts), and twitchy handling in the forward position were not worth the extra position. It also competes with suspension seatposts, which I find supremely valuable.
The dual position post could be worthwhile if you can't find a position that works for you on both the aero bars and on the hoods/drops like I detailed in my aero bars video. It would also be useful if you can handle a more aggressive aero bar position for long periods. If that's the case, I would choose a bike frame with a long top tube/short stem and slack steering to get more stability. Lots of gravel bikes are like this these days. Sizing up the rear tire and running it softer would also be in the cards to mitigate the harshness. Hope this helps!
@@overbikedrandonneuring Thanks for the swift answer and also for the information on the dual position seatpost. The lack of comfort was also my suspicion and the reason why its not on my bike right now. Im with you, for long distances a supension seatpost is a must. Im using the ergon allroad seatpost with 35c conti 5000 AS and its actually a dream. I could go on day rides with 28mm tires but for epic days or multi day adventures I take the comfort that the 35mm gives me and they dont really feel slower. I tried without the Shockstop stem but I thats the next thing im gonna change. For your next videos, I think the documentation of longer rides is always interesting, even more because you live in such a beautiful country
How much water do you pack in volume ? As a big rider in an oceanic climate (i.e. close to the PBP starting line) I find that even 20-25 celsius makes me drink water at a rate of 1.5-2 liters per 100 km or more. Bakery refills (or worse, cemetary refills) are time consuming, but so is adding a 3rd bottle for a total of 2.6 liters.
Also : TPU tubes. Not so much for the weight savings but for the space efficiency.
I'm a very heavy sweater and usually carry 1.5L water/sports drink. I've have moved to a 500ml bottle of concentrated carb/sodium mix instead of powder mix. Frequent fill ups are just a cost of doing business, and I'm sure my back and bum appreciate a few moments off-bike every 2 hours or so. Good time to clean sweat from the face and reapply chamois and sun creams.
Agreed on TPU tubes. My little saddle pack can finally hold all my tools and tubes.
Thank you for the info. That helps me a lot. 캄솨합니다. ^^
I've been researching bags the last several weeks, and have bought a mix for my upcoming brevet series, and then hopefully PBP. I was eyeballing the Tailfin Aero pack, but $450+ for a system that I realistically won't use much and is not quite waterproof (plus if your bike happens to fall over or someone crashes into it and cracks the carbon rack)......no. I have the large Apidura seat pack (17 liter) that I bought years ago, but not a fan as it rubs my legs.....so that's a no as well, not to mention those style bags are annoying to get stuff out of if what you need is buried; just wastes time to take everything out and repack. I settled on a few Carradice bags.....the Lowside Longflap (15 liters), and the Junior (9 liters). The Lowside would be for PBP and no bag drop - that would enable me to carry everything I need and have stuff easily accessible. The Junior is a great size at 9 liters for something like the 400k and 600k rides to carry extra food and a little extra clothing/emergency water, and it's narrow enough with the lack of side pockets to mostly fit behind you (using the bagman rack). Plus if there's bag drop support at PBP this year, I can use that instead of the bigger/wider Lowside. I also opted for the 3.5L Carradice bikepacking handlebar bag, that should be able to carry a lot of stroopwaffles (they're easy on my stomach) for PBP, and have them easily accessible while riding. Also using a Salsa top tube bag, which will have some nutrition and my battery bank for my Edge 1040. Since I'm short at 5'7", I had to figure out a frame bag and went with an Outer Shell small frame bag. Won't fit a ton in it, but ideal for smaller items that you need to access quickly. I have an Outer Shell mini handlebar bag as well, which at 1 liter isn't that big, but will fit my phone, batteries, wallet, brevet card, etc.....when I take my "fast/light" road bike on the shorter (200k/300k) rides.
Thanks for sharing Dana. Small frames make packing much more difficult and frameless seatpost bags nearly impossible to use. They're my least favorite bag to use, but still likely my fastest option for mass storage. Only the bulky clothes get stored in it so it rarely gets opened at least. The tailfin is overpriced for it's functionality, but uniquely addresses the role of a light, aero, universal rear rack. For my wife's XXS bikes, we've historically used basic, cheap racks and a trunk bag for the same effect at about 1/8 the price. Efficiency is less a priority for the riding she does. The Junior bag looks more narrow than a typical Carradice. Hope you can use it at PBP .
@@overbikedrandonneuring Yeah, I guess here in the U.S., the travel agent that has been used in years past for bag drops is no longer being used....so as of now, there's no drop service being offered that I know of. Otherwise, that Junior bag would be perfect and compact. However, with the turbulence that my legs will be creating, the larger Carradice I'd be using shouldn't make a huge difference in regard to "aero", plus the overall moving speed will be much slower than if I was out on a training ride, so that'll impact aerodynamics a lot less as well. If someone was able to average 18-20 mph on PBP, then they'd want to look to something super aerodynamic. I was debating the rack/trunk bag route, but I forgot to specify rack mounts when I had my bike built (plus I wasn't planning on using it as a rando bike either back then) - could've gotten some Thule rack that'll mount to the frame, but haven't been that impressed with really any trunk bags I've come across.
@@drouleau Hopefully someone can step in to that role before August. I'm sure the hotels and services on the route are booked to capacity, so it would be difficult to arrange privately. Aero efficiency is a worthwhile goal even at cruising speeds, but satisfying basic requirements of equipment comes first. Lots of drafting available with such a crowded course anyway. Best of luck on the ride!
@@overbikedrandonneuring I actually just got the larger Carradice bag today, and it's really not as wide/big as I was expecting. I can fit basically everything I was planning on bringing in that particular bag (with the long flap extended) for the 84 hour group, including an inflatable pillow and lightweight liner to sleep in...and the bag and everything in it weighed in at 3 1/2 kg (minus toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap and sunscreen). I was half expecting the bag to stick way out on either side of my hip, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I wasn't saying that aero isn't important, but it's much less of an issue cruising around at Z1/2.
@@drouleau Nice! Not too heavy either. Peak aero is great to strive for normally, but PBP is a pretty unique circumstance. Crowded controls, uncertainty of supplies and lodging, not much climbing, and plenty of time in the draft of other riders should make your extra capacity well worthwhile. Will you post a ride report anywhere or make some videos about it?
I like to think my paunch is drafting my cube. When viewed from the front, they pass the eyeball aero test.
I want to start using 'paunch' in my daily vocabulary, thanks! Recumbent riders call them aero-bellies. I believe various tests showed the bag is too far away to actually help. Even Jan Heine, the top advocate of the handlebar cube, has stated "Our wind tunnel testing showed that a bag or small fairing adds drag in [a standard] position, especially in a crosswind." Still, they are convenient and aesthetically lovely on a classic frame.
Top comment! 😂
korean cash!!! didn't see that coming!! how come you end up riding in korea?
Hi 창욱, I first moved to Korea in 2010 and started cycling on the Han River paths. After some time in Canada, I moved back. Cycling in Korea is really nice!
What size is that life line frame bag?
Looks to be the small size on the Chainreaction website. When I bought it, I don't think the medium and large sizes were developed yet. May need to measure my new frame and pick up a larger one.
Similar to the ‘paunch’ comment, are traditional saddlebags really such an aero disadvantage? My (Sir) Chris Hoy style thighs (and fat arse) certainly blot the eyeball aero test 😁
Sir Chris was knighted for his services to aerodynamics, I believe 😉
Good question! There aren't many tests done on the topic, but what has been tested and generally accepted principles suggest they will be draggy for most people. Bicycle Quarterly's wind tunnel test found a traditional Carradice bag increased aero drag more than the handlebar cube (2 May 2012). They didn't share specific data openly online, but even small modern handlebar bags have been tested elsewhere as a poor aero choice. The Cade Media RUclips channel (10 March 2020) found the slim Tailfin seat bag system to reduce drag a bit by comparison.
There are 2 mechanisms I think are worth considering. One is that an ideal aero shape will smoothly taper towards the rear and be elongated, but a traditional Carradice bag is often the widest part of a bike/rider system (even for us big fellas), flat faced, short in depth, and the furthest rearward object in the system. A Longflap is 48cm wide with pockets, while at 90kg (potato shaped), I'm 40cm wide at my hips' widest point. Somewhat opposite of ideal. The second is that lacking a smooth, tapered shape like rear fairings seen on some track/velodrome recumbent bikes, our storage solution could fill in the giant low pressure void behind our backs/bums. Alternative choices like the Tailfin or modern bikepacking saddle packs do this to some degree because they are long, slim, and high rather than shallow, wide, and low. In that way, even if you are wider than a Longpflap, these alternatives should function more aerodynamically, in theory.
Still, I think this is an area we should see improvement in the future. Recumbent bikes have had aero shaped behind-the-seat packs and hardshell storage boxes for decades. Rear bulk storage like what Rob English over at English Cycles commisioned would be a good start (Rob’s TransAm race bike, May 2017). I should start saving my pennies...
@@overbikedrandonneuringthank you for your considered reply. All good points.
For commuting I use a rear rack and my holdall/sports bag I have on the rack is an odd design, which slopes down at one end, teardrop aero style! (It was marketed for welders, why that design IDK). However, I have it with the ‘tail’ at the front tucked in under the saddle. A very neat fit.
Now you mention it, the Cyclingabout channel, which is strictly touring, did some aero comparisons between panniers and framebags.
@@themoodyteam Cheers! I love CyclingAbout's website and channel. I don't do heavy bike touring like Alee does, but his work was a muse for me to start this channel focused on randonneuring. His opinion and perspective are always reliable, unbiased, and well researched, which is rare in the cycling media landscape.