touring bicycle-Keithonearth (Wikipedia) CC BY-SA 3.0
You can’t spare of them, cyclotourist bags are ab essential accessory for every bicycle traveler.
Then we learn everything we need to know to buy the most suitable handbags for out bike and our vacation.
Capacity
How much space do we need? Probably less then you think. The more bulky loads for a cyclists are tent, sleeping bag, mat and cooking utensils, but these items are only needed if you camp in the open air, and in any case it’s best to secure them on the luggage carrier with elastic strings. If you intend to rely on facilities such B&B or hotel, the bags should only contain clothing and perhaps the minimum equipment to repair small bike faults.
How many bags?
Usually 2 or 4 everything depends on the choice of how many luggage carrier mounts.
Only the back or even the front?
Important is to pay attention to weight distribution: more the load is divided equally, more the bicycle will be easy to handle and safe even when you turn.
Load distribution
Normally 60% of the load is placed in the front bags. Due to their small size, they are suitable for containing smaller and heavy objects such as tools. On the rear wheel, however, is mounted the remaining 40% of the load. The backpacks are suitable themselves to holding the most bulky and lightweight items as the clothes.
If you want, you can also use a small handlebar bag, ideal for holding items of immediate need: map, money, camera, snacks.
Impermeability
Very important characteristic of cycling bags: impermeability.
Those bags contain all your belongings and you certainly don’t want to ruin them with an unexpected downpour.
In order to keep your load dry, you can still divide it internally in several sealed plastic bags.
Attachment
The easiest system to fix the bags to the luggage carrier is that “tear”, but it also has some considerable disadvantages. In fact, the bags can fall off the bike or run forwards while driving hindering the pedal bow.
Another very used system is “snap”, definitely safer and more stable, but subject to breaks and not in all countries there are spare parts.