Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

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Firmo
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Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by Firmo »

Does anybody else have any issues with keeping the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or any top tube mounted bag) stable?

When I'm riding, either on the trails or on the road, I find that the Fuel Pod will sag or topple to one side, even after a relatively short time. I've had similar top tube bags in the past and I've always had the same issue.

FYI, my Fuel Pod is the Medium size. I always pull the Velcro straps tight and tend to place them around the top tube at the furthest point apart, and wrap the Velcro tight around the head tube.

Advice much appreciated. This is one of those things that drives me crazy on long rides.
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paul78
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by paul78 »

I don't think I have ever seen one that didn't topple.

I have made a suggestion to Alpkit as to how stability can be improved when using a fuel pod in conjunction with one of their frame bags hopefully its a change that will be made.
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

I was having a chat with Beth from Wildcat the other day, I mentioned this very thing. My solution was to make the TT bag an intergrated part of the frame bag ... imagine the top velcro strap on the frame bag with a TT bag sewn / attached directly to it. It would work (and look neater) with the Wildcat 'full wrap' strapping set up.

Something that might help ... maybe a length of velcro clued to the TT and another on the base of the bag?

EDIT: Ooh, I wonder of Paul and me have been thinking along similar lines?
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Dan_K
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by Dan_K »

Or have an extra long bag made that secures at the seatpost too.
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whitestone
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by whitestone »

Somewhat bizarrely I was having this problem with my fuel pod and was thinking along the same lines. You need something on the other side of the top tube to attach to so that it doesn't twist about. A couple of velcro patches on either side of the frame bag should be enough.
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benp1
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by benp1 »

I don't think I've ever really noticed a problem with my two top tube bags, sometimes they need a minor adjustment mid ride but not to the extent it annoys me

I've got the large Fuelpod on my MTB and a Topeak Tri Bag on my road bike
chris n
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by chris n »

A couple of beads of silicone sealant down the underside of the webbing strap (where it touches the top tube) should sort it.
u02sgb
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by u02sgb »

I've got one from nologo Bikepacking and it has two straps on the face that touches the steerer tube/stem. One goes below the stem and one goes above (granted I've left just over a centimetre above the stem for "future faffing"). Don't have any problems with stability.
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Ray Young
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by Ray Young »

I removed the top tube straps on mine and replaced them with Velcro which attach to Velcro sewn to my frame bag.
Worked better but still some slippage. I rarely use it now as I invested in some Alpkit stem cells which I think are great.
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Scattamah
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by Scattamah »

I use the Revelate fuel tank which is rock solid...the strap that goes around the top tube has dimpled rubber on the inside for friction/help keep it in place. Perhaps experiment with some old inner tube affixed to the inside of the TT strap to get the same effect.

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Joshvegas
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by Joshvegas »

Those velcro straps they supply are garbage.

Thats a lie, they're quite handy but not fot their intended pupose.

I replaced mine with more traditional rectangilar ring at enf of thd strap then doubling back the velcro to secure.

That way you can actually tighten them.

Stripes of silicone on the base might work?
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voodoo_simon
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by voodoo_simon »

Old inner tube on the frame to add a bit more friction?
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mountainbaker
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by mountainbaker »

+1 for the revelate one, it doesn't move.
jBay
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by jBay »

No slippage with a tight cable tie
paul78
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by paul78 »

s8tannorm wrote:I was having a chat with Beth from Wildcat the other day, I mentioned this very thing. My solution was to make the TT bag an intergrated part of the frame bag ... imagine the top velcro strap on the frame bag with a TT bag sewn / attached directly to it. It would work (and look neater) with the Wildcat 'full wrap' strapping set up.

Something that might help ... maybe a length of velcro clued to the TT and another on the base of the bag?

EDIT: Ooh, I wonder of Paul and me have been thinking along similar lines?
Similar train of thought Stu but I was thinking a slightly differing approach.

I think better to view all bikepacking bags as interacting items that can work together to offer more stability
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Mike
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by Mike »

My alpkit one does the same so decided to buy a revelate. It doesn't move at all. I use a cable tie on my alpkit one at the tapered end and that stops most of the sag :-D
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johnnystorm
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by johnnystorm »

My Bikepack.eu one is very annoying as it flaps about on the Fargo. My XL AK Fuelpod on the Fatty stays put. The ladder stitched straps as opposed to the BP fixed velcro helps. The fatty is also helpful in that the double TT with plating gives a nice flat surface to mount to.
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jay91
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by jay91 »

My fuel pod is fine just keep a light load inside :-bd
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ScotRoutes
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by ScotRoutes »

Another Revelate user and no - I never have a problem.
ianfitz
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by ianfitz »

ScotRoutes wrote:Another Revelate user and no - I never have a problem.
And another.

There's a theme emerging here...

Wilcat for bar and saddle harnesses though :-bd
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Hoojum
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by Hoojum »

I've a bikepack.eu fuel tank which has the ladder stitch arrangement and work great. For stability, I think the velcro that goes round the stem just needs to be as high as possible. That said, I've had the same idea as Stu/Beth of velcro'ing it to the frame bag but this would mean I could only use them both together.
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danielgroves
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by danielgroves »

I used a cable tie last time from the upright edge looped over the top space on my head tube. Will try and find time to grab picture to show it tomorrow, it did help a bit.
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ZeroDarkBivi
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by ZeroDarkBivi »

Had a large Alpkit Fuelpod, and tried all sorts of fiddling to stabilise it, including a bungee from the rear of the bag to the seat tube. This tension helped a bit, but ultimately it just isn't rigid enough of its size. The Topeak that temporarily replaced it was much more stable due the rigid design, but the zip bust in no time, so another fail.

I don't want a frame bag to fill with kit I don't need, and make H-A-B more difficult, so I expect I'll get a Revelate next, although the Nuclear Sunrise looks good...

So, anybody want to buy a Large Fuelpod?
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Alpinum
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by Alpinum »

Velcro + sawing machine...
for reference see some pictures:
http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... =10&t=4862
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Mart
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Re: Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

Post by Mart »

ZeroDarkBivi wrote:The Topeak that temporarily replaced it was much more stable due the rigid design, but the zip bust in no time
Thats how mine died - nice capacity, bit the zip design lets it down
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