We recently showed you Restrap‘s new bottles and cages that we’ll be using on our early season gravel events (review coming soon), but they also just dropped a new size in their Race Top Tube Bag. The new size adds a short version to a line that includes a mid-length and full length bags. The Short keeps all of the features riders love about the other sizes, but adds the ability to bolt the bag to bosses that are commonly found on modern gravel bikes.
The new size comes from feedback from brand ambassadors and a very passionate customer base. It’s great to handle long distance rides where you want to store small items on your frame instead of in your pockets. With the ability to run it with straps or bolting onto your frame, it makes a great bag for road, gravel, and even triathlon, depending on your frame design.
The Race range is designed to perform in the worst conditions, while remaining lightweight. The line uses an X21 technical waterproof outer material and adds a waterproof 6oz nylon inner lining and YKK Aquaguard zips. Except for the dry bags, they are not completely waterproof, but they will protect what you are carrying in all but the absolute worst conditions. Reflective accents are added for lower light visibility when riding.
Underneath, the Race Top Tube Bag Short uses an adjustable MOLLE Hypalon fitting that uses Restrap’s Fast Straps to hold the bag in place without damaging your frames surface (make sure your frame is clean before attaching any bags). They are designed to integrate with other Restrap frame packs so all straps fit in place with each other. On the other hand, if you have bosses on the top tube, the strap can be completely removed for a sleek installation. There are two sets of holes for the bosses to use to provide adjustability in mounting. With either method, it uses a universal headset fitting that wraps a stretchy cord around even the lowest of stack heights to lock it in place. Inside, the Short bag uses a plastic structure to keep it stable and provide structure and a foam base to prevent rattling when riding.
On the outside, a stretch mesh side pocket on either side is perfect for gels, wrappers, and other small items you want to keep handy. Inside, you get 1.2L of cargo space (versus 1.5 and 2L for the larger sizes) that is accessible from a single zipper pull. The larger sizes offer zipper pulls from either end of the bag, though the Short has a small loop on the back to attach something like a carabiner. Inside, there is a stretch strap to hold you phone, battery, wallet, or any other flat, larger items.
The Race Top Tube Bag Short comes in at a scant 115g in bolt on configuration, or 120g with the strap. Besides the 5g in weight savings, there are also slight aero benefits of integrating the bags versus straps on a smooth tube. The Short bag comes in at £59.99 / €71.99 / $83.99, saving you $14 and $21 on the larger sizes.
The new Race Top Tube Bag Short is available now on Restrap’s website. We will have a sample coming in to add to the new cages and bottles for our upcoming Spring gravel events, Monkey Knife Fight, and the Lu Lacka Wyco Hundo. Keep an eye out for the review coming soon.
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
~Veggie Powered Athlete~
Location – Lancaster, PA
Current Testing Rigs – 2024 Van Dessel Arch65, 2019 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie, 2018 Van Dessel Motivus Maximus LTD, 2016 Van Dessel Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, 2015 Bianchi Sempre Pro, 1978 Trek TX900
Dream Bike – I’ll tell you when they make it
Discipline – Cyclocross, gravel, road and duathlons (ride/run)
Favorite Rides – Quiet country roads of Amish Country, some of the best roads around.
Food of Choice – Sweet potato roll
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