{"id":63864,"date":"2024-05-30T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/87ad4462-c372-4aec-a9f6-09d1996f9752"},"modified":"2024-05-30T12:25:28","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T10:25:28","slug":"what-are-top-tube-bags-and-should-you-use-one-for-your-riding","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/what-are-top-tube-bags-and-should-you-use-one-for-your-riding\/","title":{"rendered":"What are top tube bags and should you use one for your riding?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you need a little extra carrying capacity, a top tube bag is a handy addition to your setup <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 30 May 2024 at 10:00 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Of the many options to carry extras on your bike, a top tube bag is one of the smallest but most useful.\u00a0<\/p>

Perched on top of your top tube, usually at its front end, these bags are easy to access, although the available capacity is usually only between half a litre and two litres. <\/p>

Their position makes top tube bags a natural place for food, a phone and small items you need to access quickly when riding.\u00a0This leads to their other name, bento boxes, the Japanese term for a single-portion packed meal.<\/p>

Here, we\u2019ll look at why you might want to add a top tube bag to your bike and what to look for in a top tube bag, as well as how they can augment other bike bags<\/a> to provide a little extra storage on your rides.\u00a0<\/p>

Who uses top tube bags and why?<\/h2>
A top tube bag is handy for bikepacking, although they’re not limited to use by bikepackers. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

A top tube bag or box is handy to access while riding and you can easily see what\u2019s inside. That makes it a great place to store food, but you can just as easily use these bags for other items you want handy, such as a phone, tools <\/a>or a spare inner tube<\/a>.<\/p>

The additional storage helps free up or augment capacity in jersey pockets or enables a triathlete to wear a pocketless tri suit \u2013 or a time trialler to wear a skinsuit \u2013 while still carrying on-bike nutrition.\u00a0<\/p>

The ease of access makes a top tube bag a natural addition to a bikepacking setup, adding extra load-carrying capacity. Bolts for a top tube bag are pretty much standard issue on gravel bikes<\/a>.<\/p>

\"Close-up
Many bikes, including this Lauf, now come with top tube mounts. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Many endurance road bikes<\/a>, such as the BMC Roadmachine\u00a0and Cannondale Synapse, also come with mounting bolts for a top tube bag, enabling you to carry more on longer rides<\/a>, audaxes<\/a> or in races.<\/p>

What to look for in a top tube bag<\/h2>

Capacity<\/h3>
\"Man
Most top tube bags have between 0.5l and 2l capacity. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The key consideration with any top tube bag is how much capacity it will provide. While some top tube bags can swallow around two litres of gear, most are smaller. They typically have up to one litre of volume. <\/p>

Consider what you might want to use a top tube bag for and decide how large yours needs to be.<\/p>

Width<\/h3>
\"Man
Top tube bags tend to be narrow to avoid rubbing against your legs. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Top tube bags are usually narrow. This limits their capacity, but stops them from getting in the way. Nevertheless, a top tube bag may rub against your legs, possibly while riding seated.\u00a0<\/p>

You may rub against the bag when riding or climbing out of the saddle, so check that you\u2019re comfortable with your top tube bag fitted.<\/p>

Top tube bag straps and fixing<\/h3>
\"Hands
Top tube bags use a range of fittings, including rubber straps to protect paintwork. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Your top tube bag needs to be fixed to your frame so it can\u2019t move or flop around. If your bike frame includes bolts at the front of the top tube so you can screw your bag in place, then a bag designed to be screwed down is useful.<\/p>

If your bike doesn\u2019t have mounting points, try a top tube bag with straps that go around the tube. These may be made of Velcro, but make sure they\u2019re either rubber-backed or made of soft materials to avoid scratching your bike\u2019s paint. Rubber straps are a better solution. Even so, add frame protection strips to the top tube to avoid any scratching.<\/p>

There\u2019s usually a strap or bungee to fit around the bike\u2019s headset spacers, below the stem, to help stabilise the bag.\u00a0<\/p>

Materials<\/h3>
\"Top
Top tube bags can have rigid sides to prevent bulging. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Top tube bags usually have quite rigid sides to help stop them from bulging and the fabric is usually weatherproof. They may be made of abrasion-resistant fabrics to avoid wear from knee rub. Some are rigid-sided to ensure they remain tucked away behind the headset out of the wind.<\/p>

There may be padding inside to stop items rattling against your frame.<\/p>

Weatherproofing<\/h3>
\"Hands
Features such as waterproof zips will keep your possessions dry. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

As with any bike bags, keeping out water and muck is important. Most top tube bags will have waterproof zips and be made of weather-resistant fabrics.<\/p>

Some bags have a cable port, so you can carry a USB powerpack and link it to bike lights<\/a> or a cycling computer<\/a>.<\/p>

Internal organisation<\/h3>
\"Hand
These bags may feature internal dividers for organisation, or only have one space. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Top tube bags often feature internal organisation. This can be handy to keep food away from tools. <\/p>

Internal dividers can make it awkward to carry some items, so check they don’t interfere with what you intend to carry. <\/p>

Some internal dividers are removable.<\/p>

Location<\/h3>
\"Hands
Top tube bags typically attach around the stem spacers. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Top tube bags are typically designed to mount at the front of the top tube. But you can also buy top tube bags that mount at the rear of the tube, with a strap to hold them in place on the seat tube.\u00a0You can often fit a front bag with strap mounts at the back, too.<\/p>

While a rear bag can add some handy extra capacity, check you\u2019ve got enough seatpost extension for the bag to fit \u2013 and there\u2019s even more potential for rubbing than with a front top tube bag.<\/p>

Other ways to carry your belongings while cycling\u00a0<\/h2>
\"Lauf
A frame bag (pictured) is one alternative to a top tube bag, and they often provide greater capacity. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Top tube bags are among the suite of bikepacking bags<\/a> you can use to carry your load when going on a gravel riding<\/a> or road touring expedition. Pair your top tube bag with a large-capacity saddle bag<\/a>, a bar bag<\/a> and a frame bag<\/a>, or a selection of these, and you can tailor the carrying capacity you need to the length of trip you\u2019re planning.\u00a0<\/p>

Alternatives for carrying include a rack and either panniers <\/a>or a rack bag. They\u2019re classic solutions for carrying stuff on a touring bike<\/a>, but while these provide plenty of stowage room, they lack the easy access of a top tube bag.\u00a0<\/p>

A backpack <\/a>is another solution for carrying things. Popular with commuters<\/a> and urban riders, a backpack provides a decent amount of capacity and has the advantage that you can carry it with you when you stop riding. On the downside, it puts weight on your back and shoulders, raises your centre of gravity, may hinder your rearward vision and is difficult or impossible to access when riding.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

\"Cover
Internal storage is increasingly common on bike frames.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Triathletes typically have additional stowage in a frame box or behind their seatpost, both of which are usually designed to improve the aerodynamics of their tri bike \u2013 although such solutions are often banned from time trial bikes<\/a>.<\/p>

Endurance and gravel bikes, such as the Trek Domane<\/a>, higher-spec Canyon Endurace<\/a> models and the ENVE Fray<\/a>, now often incorporate in-frame storage. It\u2019s commonly used for tools, freeing up capacity in pockets for more food for your ride, although it can be a handy place for an emergency energy gel<\/a>, too.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you need a little extra carrying capacity, a top tube bag is a handy addition to your setup <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":63865,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"7"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/what-are-top-tube-bags-and-should-you-use-one-for-your-riding.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/what-are-top-tube-bags-and-should-you-use-one-for-your-riding-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/what-are-top-tube-bags-and-should-you-use-one-for-your-riding-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/what-are-top-tube-bags-and-should-you-use-one-for-your-riding-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/what-are-top-tube-bags-and-should-you-use-one-for-your-riding-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/what-are-top-tube-bags-and-should-you-use-one-for-your-riding-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/what-are-top-tube-bags-and-should-you-use-one-for-your-riding-2048x1366.jpg",2048,1366,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"If you need a little extra carrying capacity, a top tube bag is a handy addition to your setup","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/63864"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}