Is your top tube bag all floppy?

In the past I've found top tube bags are floppy when they are normally strapped up loose to avoid problems with the stem fixing bolts and with front the strap fixed below the stem.


Today the post man brought me 2 of these (for 2 bikes)
The are DrJ0n DeWidget's available from Back Country Scotland



When fixed in place they fit like this and here's a little film of one of them in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i5q0m3ZgGk

It's a problem that you didn't know you had until today and here's the solution....

John, I've found that the Alpkit top tube bag is sensitive to the profile of the top tube and doesn't like round tubes. I think it's a combination of the tape for the ladder attachment along the base that isn't "sticky" enough and the fact that unlike profiled tubes there isn't an "edge" for the Velcro to key against.

My top tube bag is fine on the profiled tubing of my Solaris but not on the round tubing of my On-One.

I got one of the first iterations of this and use it with an Alpkit top tube bag like yours. I modded it by cutting a small groove in one side of the loop then sliding it into the ladder loop on the bag rather than using the velcro strap. I then drilled 2 small holes either side of the groove, glued and zip tied it back together. It's much more stable and doesn't flop from side to side. Time really flies here

Been contemplating this for a while. I think youve finally sold it to me... are they still only peanuts to buy...

My Mk 1 Revelate bag stays put fine without any gadgets, but that's because the stem strap is low and I have enough spacers under the stem for it to fit. I think the "rubberised" base on the Revelate bag helps too.

Here's the 'official' BearBones forum thread in it John, from the man himself.

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... =13&t=9946

And in the classifieds:

http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... hp?t=10617

May be good for organisation purposes to merge these threads, although I guess this one links to them now!

thanks JohnClimber - its been cool to see some of these things get out there and be of use to folk! the idea initially came about because of bike packing in the Cairngorm - get some of the fine sandy stuff under a strap and it quickly wears away at whatever is underneath. the DeWidget allowed mounting a top tube bag with much less wear and tear and it also made it super stable!

the Feedbag 'double dangler' plate replaces one of the top hat parts and then allows feedbag use a wee bit further out on the bars and without any straps around the stem - good if you use 'modern' short stems or mount a Garmin there or whatever...

link to video of how it goes together -

https://www.flickr.com/photos/drj0n/450 ... ateposted/



always thinking of things - this is a new version that is kind of proto at the moment that mounts instead of a steerer cap - at the moment its pretty expensive as im turning the (alu) parts down on a lathe - but we'll see!







here is a link to a wee video to show it in more detail...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/drj0n/464 ... ateposted/

That 3 way loopy thing looks like a great idea
I guess you could cut one yourself from some suitable plastic and just add it under theh steerer cap, but apropelry made one would be nicererer

Moder-dye thanks! I might be misunderstanding but just in case! - the point of the top tube bag loop is that it rotates, so when you steer, the bag stays inline with the frame! so needs to be 3+ pieces!

I had the alpkit one for a bit and it definitely needed something like this. I have revelate one and it's much better designed

I have lathe envy!

Zippy - this one is a Warco super mini - its pretty good all in all for a starter lathe....I had zero experience with machine tools until I bought it and its been a steep learning curve with youtube and help from friends who know what they are doing...id recommend if you are teetering! so much fun!

drjon wrote:Moder-dye thanks! I might be misunderstanding but just in case! - the point of the top tube bag loop is that it rotates, so when you steer, the bag stays inline with the frame! so needs to be 3+ pieces!

Haha! It's me misunderstanding, or rather having a brain failure! Yeh, steering is useful.

Oooh - lathes....

I must say at first when I saw the contraption (all them many months or has it been almost 2 years now!!) I did think I dont need... But on the mtb where I've got only 10mm spacer below the stem and its an awkward angle, I can see how it would come in nice and useful.

When I seen them in OutdoorScot online I still didnt realise I needed but after checking the bike and state of the strap connecting bags front to steerer, it appears its something I could probs do with ordering... Well done DrJon

redefined_cycles thanks dude!

I like the double ender for feed bags so going to combine both and give them a try, Loving the lathe action

thanks dude! https://www.instagram.com/drj0n_bagworks/ generally has my lathe messing around (and MYOG) if you;'re interested ~

OK, so my mate did a 3d model in Rhino and I sent it to another mate with a 3d printer...

The 'Headset Hooker' as he called it

On the Vapour its under the stem cap as the steerer was cut short by Mr Headset-hooker

Sits under the stem on the MCX as there's plenty of steerer there. There space under the stem bolts even if it doesn't look it.

Figured under normal riding the bars don't turn more than 45deg each way so there should be slack in the slot for some movement whilst still holding the TT bag up. I guess time will tell if it actually works...

Here's a silicone off the shelf one that could also work...

I guess time will tell if it actually works...

well the bottle bAG mount turns [ I have this] with the bars and the head tube bag mount does not turn with the bars so I assume it will only do one of these depending on whether it spins. .