At 12:29 PM -0800 1/19/09, Jon Spangler wrote:
>While I am not going to dispute anything that Jan said, I found that
>my 1975 peugeot PX-10LE handled very well around Eugene with loaded
>front panniers on a Blackburn Low-rider rack.
>As a point of comparison, I have used a lightly-loaded HB bag on my
>Eisentraut road bike (stage-racing/brevette design) during the
>SF-to- LA AIDS/LifeCycle rides, and it significantly decreases
>downhill stability/tracking at speeds above about 25-30 MPH. The
>bike is FAR more stable (and fun) without that high-mounted front
>load, even if it is only 5-10 pounds.
Your experience matches mine exactly. When you only have bikes that are _not_ designed to carry a load, a handlebar bag is a poor choice, and low-rider panniers are superior.
However, the question was whether a third type of bike, designed for a handlebar bag, would offer better handling than both of the examples above, and the answer is yes.
As a final point of reference, handlebar bags are intended only for light loads. I would consider 5-10 lbs. the ideal load. Anything heavier should go in panniers, but unless you are touring, I doubt you need to carry much more. (Commuting loads being the exception. For that, I suggest an urban bike with a porteur rack, and a geometry that is designed for a heavier load.)
Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com