Cycling UK Forum

GB do that sort of thing.

https://berthoudcycles.fr/fr/content/16 ... t-a-rouler

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2017/03/ ... -berthoud/

Maybe have a serious think of what you are taking.I had large ortliebs rear and small ones front,,plus camping gear,for me and Mrs!...Whatever the load, you cope.

HobbesOnTour wrote:For bag inspiration have you tried Googling porteur or decaleur images?

Thank you. The problem with Googling is that if you don't know the name of something, Google returns all sorts of rubbish. A porteur or decaleur bag is just what I'm after.

Alternatively, invest in more compact gear. I have no difficulty fitting everything for a three week European summer trip in a 33 litre pair of rear panniers, the tent on top of the rack, and a bar bag for valuables etc.

Graham O wrote:The problem with Googling is that if you don't know the name of something, Google returns all sorts of rubbish. A porteur or decaleur bag is just what I'm after.

It seems that the traditional way of carrying touring luggage in France is (or was) to put everything on the front, presumably for a more even weight distribution, and that the terms used for large front bags are therefore French (as, indeed, is "pannier").
A porteur is the large platform front rack, and a decaleur is the QR/stabilising mechanism, rather than any bag specifically.

P.S. Velo Orange's blog post on the subject, with clear pictures.
https://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2013/0 ... tures.html

Loading the bike at the front rather than the rear is indeed a French tradition, and there is something to be said in its favour. However, it also presupposes French style low trail geometry.