A few weeks ago a female friend of mine was looking for a top tube bag she could use at RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). She wanted to be able to reach her carbohydrate bars and gels as she was riding and it seemed like every top tube bag she could find got in the way when she got off the saddle. I happened to find the Axiom Double Power Bag 2 Top Tube Bag at the local bike shop and thought it would be perfect for her—and it turns out I was right for a change! If you have a short-frame bike (most women do), or a bike with strange geometry (I have one), then you need to look at this bag.

Axiom Double Power Bag 2 Top Tube Bag

The Axiom Double Power Bag 2 looks like a mini set of panniers—it slips over the top tube and is held in place by two Velcro straps (one goes around the top tube, and the other around the stem). This is actually three bags in one—it has two outer bags (6″ long, 2″ wide and 4″ tall each) and they are held together by a 2″ wide strap and on top of the strap is another compartment (only 4″ deep). The small compartment is really only big enough for a multitool, a set of keys or a couple of CO2 cartridges. The two main bags are large enough to carry a couple of Clif Bars or six Honey Stinger Waffles each.

Axiom Double Power Bag Has Two Main Pockets

Even though I am a big guy, I have one bike with weird geometry and I just can’t use a regular top tube bag with it. Fortunately, the Axiom Double Power Bag 2 works perfect for me. I only use this bag on rides of four hours or more—that way I don’t have to carry all of my food in my jersey pockets.

Center Pouch On The Axiom Double Power Bag 2

This bag does have a couple of drawbacks, but no major problems. First, while the bag is made of high quality 600D water-resistant polyester it is not waterproof. The mesh cover over the left bag will obviously let rain into the bag, and the bag on the right has small openings on both ends. If you are going out on a rainy day you need to use Ziploc bags to keep everything dry. Second, it is possible that the bag could rub your legs if you have an extremely short-frame bike (I had no trouble at all). Third, this bag is not very aerodynamic—but then again, if you are in a race this is not the bag you want anyway.

The Axiom Double Power Bag 2 retails for around $20. If your local bike shop does not have this bag in stock they can easily get it for you (they can order it through Quality Bicycle Products). Axiom backs this bag with a “lifetime guarantee for the quality of fabrication and craftsmanship.”