The logistics of what to carry on a long ride and how to carry it are, for this scribe at least, one of the many attractions of randonneur riding. You have to keep the old boy scout motto, "Be prepared," in mind. You probably need to carry a variety of clothing to cope with the vagaries of weather in varied terrain over the space of several days, route sheets and/or maps to find one's way along the required route, lights for riding at night, tools and spares to cope with possible mechanical problems and some medications to deal with physical problems. At the same time, it is also desireable to carry the least amount possible in an attempt to maximise efficiency.

This article will focus on the `how to' aspect of carrying gear on a bike. It is targeted principally at riders taking part in randonees (a.k.a. brevets) on a self-supported basis and aims to outline some of the options available to them for carrying various necessities on the likes of Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP).

At an international event like PBP, it's interesting to observe the different approaches to carrying gear that riders from around the globe take. If you see a rider with a large handlebar bag, the chances are that they are French. Similarly, a rider with a large transverse saddlebag will probably be British and one with a rack top bag might be from the U.S. Oh, and riders with just a spare tubular lashed to their saddle probably have support!

A few general remarks
Before examining any of these approaches in detail, let's discuss some general points to bear in mind when choosing bike baggage. First and foremost, the bags used shouldn't affect the handling of the bike excessively. They should carry their load in a stable, non-swaying fashion so that their effect on handling is predictable. It is also useful if the bags can be fitted and removed quickly and easily. This allows you to bring everything indoors that you might need at a checkpoint, for example.

At the same time, the bags should also be completely secure, with no risk of them coming off when riding over rough roads.

Waterproof qualities are also very desirable. If something is worth carrying, it's usually worth having it dry.

Reliability is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of bike baggage, but if you can't open or close your bag or get it on or off your bike, it quickly defeats the purpose of having it in the first place. With that in mind, try to avoid zippers where possible. When used frequently, especially in the presence of dust and dirt, they have a habit of sticking or failing completely. If you can't avoid them, look for double zippers or the `self-repairing' style.

Handlebar Bags
Handlebar bags are often overlooked when it comes to riding brevets. However, they are very convenient for keeping light items, like brevet cards, money, maps and cameras easy to hand. Also, as anyone who has read Harriet Fell's inspiring account of riding the 1975 PBP will be aware, they are also make a great `nose bag' for eating on the move - in Harriet's case, her 'bar bag contained a roast chicken!

If lightly laden they don't affect the handling too much. However, they do block your sight of the front wheel, which may be a disadvantage when riding in a group. Also, they cause the front wheel to flop around when stopped, which can cause a parked bike to fall. They are also difficult to fit if you use STI levers or very narrow handlebars. Millions of French riders can't be too far wrong though!

The waterproof Ortlieb 'bar bag is highly recommendable. It has a very sturdy mounting system which allows the bag to detach easily when desired. It also comes with a waterproof map case which is convenient for carrying route sheets in an easily read position.

Some riders like to mount a 'bar bag behind their saddle. This can be done using a tandem stoker stem and a length cut from an old handlebar, transforming the 'bar bag into a small transverse-style saddlebag.

Wedge-type saddlebags
These are the most common type of bag that you will see on a bike ride. They come in an array of designs and sizes and utilise several different ways of attaching to the saddle and seatpost. Choose one that mounts securely to your favourite saddle and that doesn't chafe the insides of your legs.

If you intend to use a bag of this type as your sole means of carrying gear on a ride as long as PBP, you will need a larger one, such as those made by Kirtland, Jandd, Blackburn and Ortlieb, amongst others. The Ortlieb is, again, fully waterproof and doesn't use zippers but check that the mounting clip will fit on your saddle before buying.

Wedge type saddlebags can usually be fitted to most bikes without too much hassle and they are usually quite secure. However, they tend to have just the one main compartment, which means that you need to remove everything in order to get to that critical item that has burrowed its way to the bottom. They also make widespread use of zippers, which, in the long term, have a tendency to fail.

Rack top bags
For the rider who likes to carry more than can fit in most wedge-type bags, this is probably the most common choice in the U.S. Rack top or trunk bags come in a variety of sizes, from those which just have the one rectangular compartment, to those with additional pockets on the top, back and sides, and expandable sections.

In general, they usually mount securely, while also being easy to take on and off, and the rectangular shape makes maximum use of the space available. Avoid those with padded sides; however, if volume is a concern, as they waste valuable space.

On the downside, these bags have to be used in combination with some kind of rear rack. This can take the form or a traditional rear rack which, depending on your frame, may or may not be easy to fit. Reputable and reliable models include those made by Bruce Gordon or Blackburn.

Another alternative are the newer `beam racks' which mount on the seatpost and provide a platform on which to mount a rack top bag. These, however, tend to have a low weight capacity and to be relatively heavy. If you're interested in this style, Topeak have a neat integrated rack and truck bag.

Because the stability of the load carried depends, to some extent, on the stiffness of the bag itself, rack top bags can, when heavily loaded, affect the handling in a detrimental fashion. They also tend to make heavy use of zippers.

Rack top bags worthy of mention include those made by Jandd, as well as the Topeak.

These are the large Carradice saddlebags that you will see British riders using during PBP. They attach to the saddle and seatpost and sit crossways behind the rider.

You may think that they would have a bad effect on handling. However, they attach to the point on the bike that is designed to carry the majority of the bike's load - the saddle - and all the weight is within the wheelbase, so their effect on handling is less than if the same amount of weight were carried in any other way. They are voluminous and can also carry more weight in relation to the weight of the bag itself than other baggage, but you probably won't want to test this theory on PBP!

On the downside, they don't attach easily to many modern saddles, having been designed in the days when leather saddles with saddlebag loops were standard equipment. Fitting one to a small framed bike can also be difficult, as the distance between the saddle and the top of the rear wheel must be large enough to accommodate the bag. Both of these issues can be addressed using a similar approach to that used to mount a handlebar bag behind the saddle, using a tandem stoker stem.

Panniers
Panniers are the solution for those who like to carry plenty of gear. They make it easier to organise your belongings, which, after two or three nights with minimal sleep, might do no harm!

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There are a plethora of different styles available, some with one big compartment and others with numerous pockets and dividers. Pick one to suit your need to organise and compartmentalise!

Panniers can be fitted to the front or rear of the bike, when used with a suitable rack. For randonneuring, front panniers might be best avoided as they increase the frontal area of the bike, and hence, the wind resistance. On the other hand, in that position, they do a nice job of dampening road shock.

Pay particular attention to the pannier mounting system, which should be secure. Avoid those panniers which use springs as part of the mounting hardware - these have a tendency to stretch or break. Check the combination of rack and pannier carefully, making sure that the pannier cannot swing into the spokes. Also check that you have sufficient heel clearance.

At the risk of sounding like an Ortlieb snob, I would again recommend their panniers. The mounting system is excellent, secure but easy to fit and remove, and the bags themselves are waterproof, albeit expensive.

Oh, and having mentioned recognising riders at PBP, I'll be on a tandem with an Ortlieb handlebar bag and panniers !

Contacts
If you can't get some of these items at your local bike shop, you might want to contact the following manufacturers or distributors.

Blackburn
Bruce Gordon (707) 762-5601
Carradice Rivendell Bicycle Works, (510) 933-7305
Ortlieb
Topeak