Ortlieb handlebar bag hack/bodge needed

[yoav]

Ok bear with me.
If you are familiar with the Ortlieb handlebar bag,
You'll know the bracket that attaches it to the bars uses a wire that wraps round the stem.
And you'll know that once fitted, the surplus wire is cut off
And you'll know that if you decide to remove the bag and attach it to another bike then the shortened wire will be too short to re-use so you'll need to buy a new one.
And when I had this problem recently, there seemed to be a shortage of these wires (in the UK at least, although that seems to have eased now)

So my questions are:
1. Is there an ingenious way to re-use the shortened wire?
2. Is there a way to install the handlebar bag without cutting the cable?

Thanks

[robgul]

Think laterally - I have encountered this issue several times with two options:

1  A short length of MTB brake cable will work as a replacment  (either superglue the cut ends to stop them fraying, or fit crimped end caps)

2  B&Q and such emporia sell thin cable at not much money - ditto comments above re ends.

. . . my touring bike has the MTB cable option with a short length of clear PVC pipe I found in the workshop coving the loop under the stem for protection.


PS : For the Ortleib equipped travellers I'm about to list a pair of brand new, unused, "rear pockets" for panniers . . .

[yoav]

I did think of this, but how do you tension the wire? The ortlieb cable has a threaded socket fixed to one end and you use the bolt to pull the wire tight? How do you replicate that with a brake or other cable?

[grams]

robgul is probably thinking of the Klickfix handlebar bracket, which just uses a length of bare cable and two cable clamps.

Though AFAICT, the Ortlieb bags are compatible with Klickfix brackets, so that may actually be your solution.

[Paul H]

You're not supposed to cut the wire short, it has a place specifically to thread the extra length above where it exits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGqkdJ6Qv2w

Sorry, that doesn't help you now, though useful if you do replace. 
If you want to remove with a short cable on a flat bar, slackening it slightly, removing grips and levers from one side of the bar will allow you to slide the bar out.  it's a bit of a faff, but I did this when the screws were seized. 
As grams says, the Ortlieb bags fit the Klickfix bracket, I'm using these as I have a choice of bags, IMO it's a better bracket anyway.

[vorsprung]

I've fitted this bar bag several times and agree that you aren't supposed to cut the cable

The schematic diagram spoke to me.  It said - tuck the extra cable in this hole

[yoav]

Thanks all.

I know about the KlikFix bracket. I have one of those too and I agree, it’s much easier to fit and remove

I also know about the hole in the Ortlieb bracket to take the end of the wire. However, the fitting instructions DO say to cut the wire leaving 50mm exposed which is placed in the hole. A new wire measures 104cm and the instructions also say that any less than 74cm then it won’t work. So according to Ortlieb anyway, the wire is a single use item. (Unless the instructions have recently changed*).

A new wire is only £10 so not a big deal and I now have a replacement. I shall try to fit the bracket without cutting the wire and see if the entire surplus length will fit into the hole in the bracket.

* Edit - No, they haven't, I've just checked.

[Dickyelsdon]

When i tried to remove my bar clamp the tension bolt stripped in the housing.

I contacted the UK distributor and they supplied a replacement and were generally very helpful.

Might be worth a shout to them if you cant find what you need in the stores.

Lyonequipment.com