Anyone Using a Bar Bag with a Cannondale Lefty?

[d45yth]

Hi,
I might be putting a lefty fork (strut?) on a new bike I'm building. I'm wondering if the fork gets in the way of a bar bag though. On the other hand it might even help, keeping it away from the headtube?
Has anyone any experience with this setup?
Cheers.

[pedalhead]

yup I have, no problems at all. Couple of pics on this thread... http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... ?f=7&t=525

[d45yth]

Thanks for that. I should have remembered that I'd seen some pics on here before.
I hadn't considered a Lefty, the frame I've got coming had one on though (s/h frame, non-Cannondale). I've managed to track a new one down at a fairly reasonable price too.

[pedalhead]

Lefty's are great (when they work). Paticularly good for long endurance rides as the small bump performance is the best I've ever ridden so it takes away all that small chatter that can contribute to tiredness over time. Unfortunately mine has terrible bearing migration, which means I need to fork (hoho) out a chunk of money to get new ones. Bearing migration combined with the Lefty's tendancy to dive under breaking means lots of over-the-bar incidents and complete hopelessness on anything remotely steep/techy downhill. When it works though, and forgetting about the cost/hassle of buying into the Lefty system, it's definitely the best suspension I've ever had.

[Blackhound]

I was talking to a guy last summer who had one (with bar bags fitted). His only complaint is that it was not so easy to eat/drink one handed as the bike was weighted to one side.

Any views on this Mark?

[d45yth]

Pedalhead - The next time you get your fork (strut?) serviced, see if they can pop an air volume reducer in there. It will make the travel more progressive, ramping up more towards the end of the stroke.

Blackhound - The whole thing about a bike feeling unevenly weighted with a Lefty is a complete myth. It seems strange at first but that's because you end up looking at it. Once the novelty has worn off and you're looking straight ahead, it feels the same as any other fork. I have had on in the past but it was 6-7 years ago.
(Edit...I'd misread your post and thought you were meaning when riding with no hands. With one hand though, definitely not!).

[pedalhead]

yep I installed a reducer myself and it did help a lot with the fork blowing through it's travel, making it a lot more progressive...essential in particular when spacing the fork out for 29er use.

In actual fact, I did find it hard to ride no-handed. Could just have been me of course, but I've never had a problem with any other fork.