Fork bags

The best place to carry weight

The fork is the lowest mounting point on the bike, and the closest to the wheel axle. A load shared between both fork legs lowers the centre of gravity rather than raising it, and leaves the saddle and handlebars free for bulky items. On a heavily loaded bike, two fork bags do more for stability than saving a litre of space elsewhere.

Two systems not to confuse

• The bag with its mount, which bolts onto the three mounting bosses found on most recent gravel and bikepacking forks. It’s a complete set, ready to fit.
• The cargo cage bag, which is just a bag designed to strap into a cage you already own. It costs less, but is no use without the cage.
• The fitting kits are also sold separately, so you can replace a mounting plate or switch between setups.

Check the fork before anything else

A neat installation requires the three threaded bosses on the side of the fork leg, at the standard spacing. Without them, strap-on mounting is still an option, with one important caveat: on a suspension fork, never strap anything to the stanchions — the surface is polished, the dust seal runs over it, and a strap can leave scratches that cause the fork to leak. Straps should only go around the lower fork legs, and only on a rigid fork.

Load limit and left-to-right balance

Every fork specifies a maximum load per fork leg, often around 3 kg, and that limit is structural: the fork is what holds the front wheel. You’ll find it in the fork manual, not the bag manual. Finally, load the two sides equally : a bike with an uneven load up front constantly pulls to one side, and you’ll feel it on the first descent.

To find out more: How to plan your cycling route

See also: Bikepacking bags · Handlebar bags · Bike bottle cages