How to choose your bike bags?

The bike is synonymous with freedom. It becomes even more so when it lets you carry your belongings!
Whether you are an urban cyclist, an MTB enthusiast or a long-distance traveller, manufacturers offer you a whole range of highly practical bags in various shapes, volumes and attachment systems that will allow you to combine practicality with the pleasure of cycling.

The characteristics of bike bags

• The types of bags: handlebar bag or drop bar bag, frame bag, saddle bag, seatpost bag, rack bag
• The materials: polyester, tarpaulin, Nylon, Cordura

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BIKE BAGS

The types of bags

Handlebar bag

With a volume that is most often small so as not to make handling uncertain, the handlebar bag offers direct and practical access. It is well suited for carrying small items such as a wallet, phone, keys or a few basic tools or a compact windbreaker. Manufacturers usually include a shoulder strap: during breaks, you simply take the bag with you to protect against any risk of theft!

Frame bag

It simply attaches to the frame tubes using adjustable straps fastened with Velcro. Frame bags allow you to supplement and optimise your load: the weight is here at the centre of the bike and does not raise the centre of gravity too much. They come in all sizes and shapes: don't forget to take into account the space taken up by water bottles when making your choice!

Saddle bag

It attaches directly to the saddle rails using clips or straps. The saddle bag is generally quite small, although expandable models exist and allow you to increase carrying capacity. This type of bag lets you carry an inner tube, a tyre lever, a multi-tool…

Seatpost bag

Some models attach directly to the seatpost using collars or straps. They allow for quite a generous load! Other models attach to a rack that is itself fitted to the seatpost, for a solid overall setup.

Rack bag

At the front or rear, these bags allow you to carry the heaviest part of your load. Some bags can be attached to rail racks using specific hooks and feature a rigid frame. They are then positioned low down: the centre of gravity remains close to the ground and the luggage does not unbalance the bike. At the rear, the carrying capacity of a bag can reach 35 litres or more!

The materials

Polyester

This technical material provides good protection for your belongings while being easy to care for. A polyester bag with an additional polyurethane protective coating is also water-repellent.

Tarpaulin

Bags made from PVC or equivalent material offer the greatest durability and the best resistance to splashes and other bad weather, but at the cost of considerable weight!

Nylon

This type of coating provides good protection against the elements, especially when combined with a polyurethane lining. The advantage over tarpaulin-type materials is the flexibility of Nylon and the finish, which gives a more urban look.

Cordura

Flexibility, durability, waterproofing, ease of care and washing… Cordura allows manufacturers to design bags that are both high-performing, reliable and lightweight. A material particularly well suited to urban use.

Which bike bag should you choose?

Check that your bike's components, such as the handlebars, are compatible with the bag's attachment system.

For urban cycling, a small handlebar bag that can be used as a shoulder bag means you never have to take your eyes off your precious belongings. For cycle touring, a handlebar bag, possibly supplemented by a small saddle bag and a rear rack bag, proves very practical.

In MTB as in road cycling, the attachment points provided on the bike are often… absent! However, the development of bikepacking represents an interesting opportunity with frame bags, saddle bags and seatpost bags of generous volume, attached directly to the bike via straps. Make sure the installation is secure to prevent the bag from swaying in all directions due to vibrations. Don't forget that riding a loaded MTB requires an adjustment period on technical trails!

In general, even if your chosen bags have a large volume, avoid overloading them and, above all, distribute the weight well, from front to back and laterally, always trying to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible. A bike that is too heavily and poorly loaded will lose its dynamism, stability and traction on climbs… Travelling with your belongings is a pleasure, whether in the city on a daily basis or on a long-distance trip, but only if careful thought has been given beforehand to which luggage to prioritise!

Beyond the load itself, pay attention to the small details, such as the attachment systems: Velcro is practical but comes undone more easily than hook systems, due to dust or vibrations, among other things.

If you like to organise your luggage precisely, check for interior pockets and mesh storage compartments so you can place each item in a specific spot.

Check the waterproofing of your chosen bags: the materials play an important role, but so does the quality of the stitching and the closure system! Standards exist to help you make your choice. The IP64 rating, the most common, means the bag is dustproof and resistant to water splashed from any direction. Other bags go further and remain waterproof when fully submerged.

Finally, bike luggage is also a way to increase your visibility. Go for models that feature reflective strips or even fluorescent colours visible from a distance.