Bags & Racks
Recommended bags and racks for your London to Paris bike rideWhether you are riding independently from London to Paris without support or as part of an organised bike ride, you will need suitable bags to store any essential items you choose to take with you.
There are a huge number of options available, including saddle bags, top bar bags, handlebar bags and of course pannier bags and racks. Which one is right for you will depend on how much you plan (or have) to take with you.
At the very least a small bag to store a puncture repair kit or spare tubes and some all-important snacks.
Pannier bags are great for those cycling London to Paris unsupported. They give you ample space for those essentials as well as anything else you will need for your journey (and time in Paris).
Here is a shortlist of bags and racks which come highly recommended from other London to Paris cyclists:
Saddle bags
Saddle bags are ideal for those cycling from London to Paris on an organised or supported bike ride.
They give you the all-important space to store essential bicycle repair items with minimal impact on your cycling. Aside from a little extra weight, there are no increases in air resistance.
The only drawbacks are that they can easily become dirty where no rear mudguards are in place, and they are not great for storing snacks as you need to stop to access these. If you are using pannier bags then saddle bags can get in the way. For many bags, you will have to choose one or the other.
Here’s a selection of some of the highest-rated saddle bags that other London to Paris cyclists use:
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Frame bags
Frame bags are ideal for those cycling from London to Paris on an organised or supported bike ride.
They give you the all-important space to store essential bicycle repair items with minimal impact on your cycling. Aside from a little extra weight, there are little to no increases in air resistance.
The only drawbacks are that they can easily become dirty where no mid-frame mud guards are in place, and they are not ideal for storing snacks as you likely need to stop to access these.
Be careful not to choose a frame bag that is too wide as you will find they can get in the way of your knees as you cycle.
Here’s a selection of some of the highest-rated frame bags that other London to Paris cyclists use:
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Top tube bags
Top tube bags are ideal for those cycling from London to Paris on a supported or unsupported bike ride.
While saddle bags are ideal for storing essential bicycle repair items, top tube bags are ideal for storing snacks to consume during your London to Paris bike ride, without the need to stop.
Be careful not to choose a top tube bag that is too big or wide as you will find they can get in the way of your knees as you cycle.
Here’s a selection of some of the highest-rated top tube bags that other London to Paris cyclists use:
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Handlebar bags
Handle bar bags can be a good option for those cycling from London to Paris on a supported or unsupported bike ride.
While saddle bags are ideal for storing essential bicycle repair items, top tube bags for storing snacks to consume during your London to Paris bike ride, handlebar bags provide not only additional storage space but due to their location on the bike, they can be ideal for mobile phones and portable external batteries.
Be careful not to choose a handlebar bag that is too big and avoid overfilling it as the heavier the load the more it can impede your turning abilities as you cycle.
Here’s a selection of some of the highest-rated handlebar bags that other London to Paris cyclists use:
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Pannier bags & racks
Pannier bags ad racks are ideal for those cycling from London to Paris on an unsupported bike ride.
Pannier bags provide large amounts of storage space, perfect for taking everything you need to cycle to Paris (and during your time in each place).
They work well alongside either top bar bags, frame bags or handlebar bags, but not saddle bags as they often utilise the same space on bicycles.
Due to their location on the rear of your bike, they can make turning feel lighter and less controlled, mainly when the weight is too high and/or the distribution of the weight isn’t properly considered. Plus the rear tyres are put under additional pressure which increases wear and tear and the chances of punctures.
When positioned well and not overloaded with weight, they are ideally located behind the rider where the negative aerodynamic impact is reduced.
Here’s a selection of some of the highest-rated pannier bags & racks that other London to Paris cyclists use:
Pannier bags
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Pannier Racks
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Essential L2P Kit
Here is a list of essential cycling equipment for any London to Paris bike ride (we assume you already have a bike):
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