Last winter bikepacking bag specialist Apidura added new, more compact waterproof packs for fast-paced endurance Racing. Now, just in time to start off on this year’s Transcontinental, Apidura adds a Racing Top Tube Pack with a quick, one-handed access magnetic flap closure to get to sensitive electronics and all-important ride snacks.
Apidura easy-access, waterproof Racing Top Tube Pack
When gear is pared down to the minimum the smaller, lower profile Racing packs offer a great place to securely carry the essentials securely, without the added bulk. In fact, these were developed for the ultralight packing of riders racing ultra-endurance races like the Transcontinental – starting at the end of the month from Burgas, Bulgaria across the Alps to Brest, France 3600km later. But the more compact packs are actually a more appropriate size than many giant bikepacking bags for most of our more normal weekend warrior adventure rides.
In any case, while riding it can be tough to access tightly packed frame bags, and bar bags & saddle bags are almost always only accessible when stopped. So, the toptube bag is a perfect place to store those quick-access snacks to stay fueled while riding. And it also provides a secure place to carry a wallet, compact camera or smart phone, as well as a backup battery pack to charge electronics.
Tech details
The new Racing Top Tube Pack does all that with a boxy 1L bag that straps just behind your stem (or in front of your seatpost). The bag uses a sculpted fold-over flap top that locks in place with a multi-position magnetic closure. It is easy to open & close one-handed and the overlapping shape is said to keep water out while riding.
The 105g pack is made of the same lightweight, seam-welded Heaxlon waterproof fabric as the rest of the Racing line, with soft-touch foam liner for structure & protection of whatever you pack. On the outside, an electronics port lets you run a charging cable out without sacrificing waterproofing, and three adjustable velcro straps secure it to your bike. The £50 / $65 / 56.50€ pack is all black with silver & yellow reflective logos.
Medium volume 7L Racing Saddle Pack & 4L Racing Frame Pack
In addition to new Top Tube Pack, the Racing line also recently added two new medium-volume saddle & frame packs as well. The larger 4L Racing Frame Pack offers almost double the storage capacity as the original Racing pack, by extending up to 42cm long under the toptube. The £98 / $130 / 110€ fully waterproof frame pack is the same height as the smaller 2.4L version meaning there should still usually be room for two bottles in many frames, with a right-side main body pocket & a thin left-side pocket.
The larger 7L Racing Saddle Pack does the same thing, extending about 6.5cm further back and a few cm across to stuff an extra two liters of gear inside. Otherwise the £132 / $175 / 142€ waterproof, roll-top saddle bag has all of the same features as the original, now offering an intermediate size that lets you choose a 5L, 7L, 9L, 11L, 14L, or 17L saddle pack from Apidura for any length adventure.
All of the new Racing series packs are available now, direct from Apidura.
