I am looking to treat myself to a new front bar bag/roll to house bivi bag/mat/ doss bag, i currently use the large Apidura one which is fine on mountain bike, but when i use it on gravel bike a wore a hole in the bottom last year on T-N rally as even packing carefully, the contents tended to move on long descents. i am down to ride again this year and the frame is only a medium and with 46cm flared bars, so looking ideally for a bag that will fit well between the flared drops, allow me to place hands on the tops of the bars and holds contents tight so they don't shift around?

Looked at the Salsa system with cradle and the Revelate ones, any others to add to list or personal recommendations?

Cheers,
Paul

Looks to me like you could do with that harness (Salsa EXP) which on sale in the classifieds. Can then thicken up the dry bags in there vertically* than width ways like reported here https://bikepacking.com/gear/salsa-exp- ... king-bags/

*I'm no expert but also on the lookout for a barbag but slightly different ceiteria as you as I'll be mainly using on the mtb

Also short of stature here...

I use a Revelate Harness and an Alpkit 13l Airlock Xtra drybag with Woodchippers on my Amazon. Packed "cleverly", the bag can be held in the harness so that it holds an oval shape with less drop to the tyre than is sticking out the front.

These photos might illustrate what I mean.

P1010496 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

DSC_0143 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

P1050610 by Colin Cadden, on Flickr

The drybag holds well in that position. Probably helped by me feeding one of the harness straps through a loop on it.

Thanks will have a look at the Salsa, only concern with that was that the arms that hold the cradle seemed overly long, placing load really out front?

Thanks Scotroutes, there is actually a Revelate harness and dry bag on ebay, so checking that out.

I suffered last year on TNR with bar bag rub with the stem pointing up, consciously being doing some core work and in gym, so can actually ride longer hours in drops with the stem horizontal now, so better for me, but reduces space even further!

You need a front pizza rack mate - you know it makes sense...

Seriously, very pleased with my Revelate front harness. Does stop the bag rotating forward towards the front tyre. I use a 20L Alpkit bag and then compress it, so similar idea to Scotroutes. With less headtube you might need a 13l bag, but could compensate with a larger front bag.

I’ve used a rixen kaul click fix handle bar fixing for a while. You can buy a fixing plate which you can attach to any bag. I’ve used the alpkit double ended bag, a little bit of coraplast to stiffen it and Robert’s yer dads brother. As light and much cheaper than the anything thing. My setup has been through about 3000 kilometres without out issue. You also could use any clickfix compatible bag or even a basket

Have you considered the Blackburn clamp plus harness thing? Can be picked up quite cheap at the minute. My Mrs uses one and beyond it being a touchy on the heavy side, it's spot on.