If you’re planning a big day on the bike, you’ll want to keep those small but important extras close at hand, from snacks and energy gels to your smartphone. And while road cyclists can stick that stuff in the pockets of a jersey, bikepackers and tourers tend to want more comfortable and convenient storage options. The solution is Ortlieb’s awesome Accessory Pack. This handy volume expander for your Handlebar Pack keeps your essentials secure and accessible at all times, whilst still guaranteeing full protection from the elements. Fitted with sturdy metal hooks, it can be securely attached to the four lashing points on the Ortlieb Handlebar Pack. It can also be used as standalone storage, attaching directly to your bike frame via pre-mounted Velcro straps. You can even use the carrying strap to transform it into a shoulder or hip bag.
Life in the great outdoors is unpredictable, which is why it’s wise to be prepared. Basically, if your adventure goes from dry to downpour, you want your kit to stay safe and protected. Ortlieb’s durable, waterproof bike bags and backpacks are the ideal solution.
The first Ortlieb bag was invented in Germany in 1981, after founder Hartmut Ortlieb got back from a very wet bikepacking adventure in (you guessed it) Southern England. Inspired by tarpaulins he’d seen lashed on the truck beds of lorries, he fashioned a pair of bike panniers from red truck tarp, which he stitched at home on his mother’s sewing machine.
A year later he founded his own company, buoyed by early success and positive feedback from friends. In the following years, young Hartmut came up with a series of innovations that would define the modern drybag, using high frequency welded seams and roll-top closures. He even developed the first self-locking mounting system to attach panniers to bike frames.
Today, Ortlieb remains the first and most trusted choice for adventures and expeditions on land or sea – a brand name synonymous with waterproof protection and super-tough, outdoor-ready gear.
