Best way to carry personal effects when touring?

[inwolves]

I would be grateful for your advice on the best way to carry personal effects on a bike based upon your own experience. For day trips I have always used a back pack for mainly security reasons. I normally strap this to a carrier. For local shopping I use an ATB with Halford standard pannier bags on a fixed frame; very sturdy buy not easy to detatch. Please advise for a touring holiday in France.

[reohn2]

The best way I've found is a bar bag, that way you can take it off every time you stop,I/we keep cash, passports, camera,etc in it.Buy a good quality one with a quick release sysem.ie Caradice,Karrimor,Altura,Ortilieb etc.

[Jac]

I agree with R2 - We have toured all over Europe and found a easily removeable bar bag by far the best way to carry valuables. We have Ortlieb bags with shoulder straps and always carry them with us when we stop.

[jb]

I agree with the bar bag.

Make sure its a good un as valuables like phone camera wallet paperwork etc tend to be the heavy stuff. Its also useful to be able to fit a waterproof in then if you do come back to 'gone luggage' you still have enough protection to get to the nearest place to sort things out. I think the narrow deep bags are better than the square ones as they have an annoying habit of flipping over when carrying them.

Anything valuable that has to be left on the bike should be put at the bottom of the pannier & the dirty laundry put on top. Panniers aren’t often removed from bikes in touring type areas especially if they have a fancy clipping on device that would cause delay in removal. The main thing is to be sensible about where its left as you are certainly more vulnerable than most travellers.

[daveawood]

I'd certainly agree with a bar bag but do you have sti shifters? If so some bar bags will foul the cables and may be unuseable. Wide bars and a small bar bag can work with sti's but check before buying!

[epa611]

I'd certainly agree with a bar bag but do you have sti shifters? If so some bar bags will foul the cables and may be unuseable. Wide bars and a small bar bag can work with sti's but check before buying!

Only if you use Shimano STI's - Campag Ergos are ok - this is there is the Shimergo solution.

I run this with an Ortleib Ultimate 4plus barbag and it's really good.

[Tallis the Tortoise]

On the bike and not on you basically.

I used to use either a rack pack, front panniers on the rear rack (for travelling light) or full size rear panniers for camping, adding a barbag for more than a couple of days.

There is a difficult balance: too big a baga nd you fill it with junk, too small and you end up with "essentials" strapped on all over the place. I once thought I was doing very well managing a 2 day trip on only a small rackpack, until I stopped and needed a carrier bag to carry all the odd bits in!

Andy

[Si]

I too would vote for a bar bag.

If you do have STI then all is not lost, in some cases they will still fit, and in those that don't then you can replace the gear cable with that flexi silver stuff (like what TMobile used) or a slightly modified rollijigtravel agent doodar.

[andrew_s]

On bar bag security:
I've known more people who have ridden off leaving the bar bag in a cafe than I have who've had stuff pilfered from panniers.

I use a largish bum bag than lives in the top of a pannier when riding

[jayclock]

I have a"Vaude Road I" (as shown here http://www.awcycles.co.uk/products.php? ... lebar_Bags )

They also do bigger one called a II but mine is perfect for keys wallet, camera and just the basic odds and sods. The size is about the size of 2 UHT milk cartons. It fits fine on my touring bike with STI levers and cables.

The map holder is a superb advantage over having to stop and get the map out every few metres

[bikepacker]

I dislike bar bags so I use an Ortlieb In Put. http://www.ortlieb.com/_prod.php?lang=en&produkt=input
It clips in my pannier, keeps documents together and has a neck cork for when not on bike.

[Andrew Mills]

Hi I keep my passport, insurance and emergancy money in a neck purse available from camping shops. Then I have a waist pack for the other valuebles ie wallet camera medicines and such like that can be strapped on top of the panniers and taken with me every time I leave the bike.
have a good trip

[squeaker]

I use a bum bag back to front. Sits on my tum when touring so I can get stuff out as needed - but that's another recumbent advantage

[Pinky]

IMHO -- for camping/touring a bar bag is essential. It carries all the essentials in one place so I only have to worry about one bag! Plus gathering junk. -- also a repositary for my "brotchen" and sticky bun for 11's's. I also keep safety pins, insulating tape, clothes pegs, string, diary, pen, mini camera in there. It is however necessary to clear it out every 3 or 4 days!

My essentials -- like passport and insurance details live deep in my permantent luggage in my trailer and normally never move from there from beginning to end of the journey!

My money/creditcards etc never leave my body -- except in a shower -- and I worry about them then!

[mac10]

I agree with Andrew. I know some very experienced tourists who absent mindedly left bag on bar, and bag was stolen. In the bag were their passports, and this was in South America …..

Hard to forget bum bags. Berghaus make one which expands into a small back pack: useful for carrying temporary possession e.g. lunch
Malcolm
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