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I transport my gravel bikes on a towbar rack. I normally remove my small daily use saddlebag, water bottles etc, I guess for security and maybe windage, given bike is side on to up to 70 mph wind load.
just got a lovely new Tailfin toptube bag, a 1.1l version, which can be bolt on or strap fitted. My logic says use the straps so I can remove it for transport, but the bolt on option is a bit neater. Will a 3 hr drive at motorway speeds result in a bag that no longer sits upright, or at worse loosened the bolt mounts into my carbon frame ?Â
I may be overthinking this..Â
Kept my bolted on TT bag on the bike (on towbar rack) when travelling 5 hours each way to lakes last weekend and there was no issue with it. The tailfin gear is very robust and weatherproof.
It might depend on the vehicle. I've had bags attached to bikes on the rack behind my van without issue but the aerodynamics would be different if it was a low-slung sports car. A 1.1 litre top tube bag isn't that big though, so I imagine it would be just fine.
Thanks, car is pretty low/aero - BMW i4, so I can imagine there could be a heap of slippery air hitting that area of the bike. Might bolt it on but take all the contents out ?Â
FWIW, I've driven many thousands of miles with my bike on a tow bar mounted rack and never once felt like I needed to remove the saddle bag (and it's never moved). Sometimes I also had my frame bag on as well. Again, it's never been a problem...
thanks for the input, will bolt it on methinks