Review: Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag

(2021) Give us a versatile handlebar bag and we will show you how much it can change commuter life. Ample versatility guaranteed, we decided to put the Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag to the test. What we didn’t account for is how much our commuter rides or adventure rides could improve by strapping this bag to our bars.

London-based Craft Cadence has targeted commuters for their Handlebar Bag, and this makes all the sense in the world. With a 3.5 liter capacity, the Handlebar Bag is perfectly designed for any small but important task. Have to snag a four-pack of cold brew coffee? This bag has you covered. Need to throw the library books off the front to return them on time? Craft Cadence has you - and the books - protected with a waterproofing satchel to ease concern. We easily attached the Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag to our bike and went exploring for things to stuff into it. 

The Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag supplies stout nylon straps that the company states can aid in the bag’s placement. A third Velcro strap stabilizes side-to-side movement.

From the get-go, the Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag is straightforward in its attachment approach. There are two buckled nylon straps and one velcro strap. The buckled straps go over the handlebars; the velcro strap goes around the head tube. Per the company’s suggestions, the tighter the handlebar straps, the higher the bag sits on the front of the bike. This we found to be true. In under two minutes we had the Handlebar Bag mounted and ready to stow cargo. This alone impressed us.

The supplied straps for the Handlebar Bag as well as the side loops for the provided shoulder strap for off-the-bike use.

Ask any year-round cyclist what irks them and many will say front wheel spray in wet conditions. While Craft Cadence designs a bag to sling over the bars, the front wheel’s spray is hardly a concern for the tarpaulin waterproof material. Think of it as a kayak dry bag for the front of the bike. Stowed items stay dry in the Handlebar Bag. For those lucky enough to ride to work, the construction of the Handlebar Bag will easily impress. All important devices and documents will remain dry through the commute.

At three liters (+) the commuter bag provides ample room for storage. We managed to wiggle a four-pack of twelve-ounce aluminum cans into the bag. For any coffee shop or craft beer pit stop, the Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag can serve as a runner from point A to point B. We even stuffed apples into the bag to gauge its capacity. This is the bag that can offer solutions to regular commuter struggles. 

Given that the bag sits predictably, the concern for any cyclist is whether the bag will affect the handling. On our trip to the coffee shop we honestly forgot its presence on the front of the bar. There were not detectable interferences when turning or for those out-of-the-saddle efforts. Once loaded, though, we had to cinch the straps as hard as we could. The head tube strap had to be relocated to the spacer stack under the stem in order to add clearance. The weight of the cargo had the bottom of the bag rubbing the tire. Whether it is our small frontal clearance or the bag being a centimeter too long, we couldn’t decide.

Backyard Beans coffee and cold brew safely hauled back in the Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag.

Accommodations are a-plenty with this bag. We could slip a 16-ounce four-pack of libations into the Handlebar Bag, but we could not close the lid to prevent moisture seepage. Cardboard boxes of coffee beans were kept dry. We had to choose our cargo wisely. One great feature is the easily converted handlebar bag to musette function. Easily remove the bag, click on the shoulder strap, and the bag can tag along for ease of stuffing. With an extra mounting location on the front of the bag, one could strap an exterior item. The Handlebar Bag comes with a singular internal pocket, perfectly sized for any smartphone to protect it from the elements. The reflective panels add a nice touch for low-light conditions.

What this isn’t is a duffel bag to flap from the handlebars. The dimensions are unique to the cargo cyclist. While it’s not wide like the bar bags out there, it offers more versatility. Rides can stop for more provisions, making exploring exciting and elongated. Duffel bags are for long fondos; the Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag is for item retrieval, commuter stowage, and even long distance storage space.

The Handlebar Bag when loaded with coffee, a can of cold brew, wallet, and a smartphone with a fall rain storm closing in.

The Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag was added to our riding experience in hopes of elongating rides in all conditions, and it appears to have succeeded. Though the bag demonstrates speciality sizing, this is an accessory commuters and adventure riders need. This might even be the bag required for quick jaunts around town such as to the beach or a spot to stow the work clothes. 

Our local area has seen an exciting build up in the past few months. The accessible places within the creakybottombracket.com offices include a pretzel restaurant, two breweries, waffle stop, and coffee roaster. Each of these locations offer optimal collection for a rider with the Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag. Should we decide to look northward for adventure rides, the first piece of equipment to prioritize will be this bag. To pack it full of versatile wares will certainly mean farther adventure rides beyond our home roads. With preparation and design, the Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag is the perfect addition to the adventure rider or workday commuter.