Specialized/fjällräven bar bag and rack £90 (bag) £90 (rack)

The Specialized/fjällräven handlebar bag works in conjunction with the brand’s handlebar rack to provide a sturdy platform that can carry nine litres worth of gear.

It has an easy-to-open lid held in place with a press-stud button.

The bag itself is made of a semi-rigid

Weight 703kg (bag)

Vinylon F, which is weather resistant. The interior is made of recycled nylon and is waterproof to protect the contents of the bag. Webbing pockets on the sides and top offer extra storage spaces for equipment. There are also several interior pockets. As for the aluminium rack, it attaches onto the handlebars and requires a 4mm hex key to adjust. The bag can then easily clip around the rack and the lid cover can be secured without the button onto the rack itself. Both are easy to fit. Because of the size of the bag, you can’t have an out-front mount for your computer, so it’ll have to be stem mounted. A bigger issue, however, was that there was no way of fitting a decent front light onto the handlebars or the bag.

Weight 331kg (rack)

The size, however, means it’s very roomy: I managed a few cans of drink, a mini pump and some bike tools, inner tubes and energy bars. And there was still plenty of room for a larger non-packable jacket, as well as leg and arm-warmers. None of the side pockets were even used at this point. However, I found that you need to pack the bag full, because otherwise the items rattle around quite a lot. Some optional dividers would be a good idea, perhaps. Overall, the Specialized/fjällräven handlebar bag and rack is a stylish system and provides easy access. The high price, though, is a limiting factor.