Rene Herse Ultralight Handlebar Bag

Taking the classic handlebar bag to new heights: The Rene Herse Ultralight bag combines a large interior volume, easy access, light weight, superior aerodynamics and excellent durability. Made from waxed cotton fabric, the bag is truly waterproof. High-quality leather edging adds unmatched durability. These materials develop a beautiful patina over time and become more beautiful the more you use them. The stiffness of the fabric and leather eliminates the need for separate stiffeners, which makes this bag lighter than bags made from synthetic fabrics.

Without external pockets and with a minimum of leather trim, the Ultralight bags weigh 25% less than similar-sized Berthoud models. By filling the cavity between the rider’s arms and under their chest, the aerodynamically optimized shape of the Rene Herse handlebar bag actually reduces wind resistance. (The boxy shape works better than more rounded shapes that we also tested in the wind tunnel.) The elastic closure is easy to operate with one hand. It also allows overstuffing the big main compartment. The top flap opens toward the rider, making the contents accessible while riding. The clear map case is a great place to keep your map, cue sheet, GPS tracker, or a photo that inspires you.

The Ultralight handlebar bag is designed to be supported by a small front rack and attached to the handlebars with a decaleur. In addition, we recommend using the Rene Herse Handlebar Bag Stabilizer. A sleeve on the rear of the bag slides over the rack’s backstop, creating a more secure connection and eliminating the rattles you get with straps and buckles. A leather sleeve at the bottom can be used for a strap to attach the bag securely to the rack. This is useful when riding on rough terrain, where the bag otherwise bounces up and down.

Choose your bag size based on the distance from your handlebars to the front rack. There is no penalty for having a larger bag — the weight is in the leather edging and map case, not in the lightweight fabric that determines the size of the bag.

Pro Tip: For riding on rough terrain, use a shortened Voilé Rack Strap for attaching the bag securely to the rack. That way, it won’t bounce, yet remains easy to remove.