Note: The Blue Ridge V2 I tested here was unpainted. The production version will be black!

The original Rogue Panda Blue Ridge Handlebar Harness launched in 2024 and hasn’t changed much since. It’s based on a pair of CNC-machined aluminum clamps that secure two carbon rods, and the entire system bolts directly to your handlebar on either side of the stem. The production version Neil tested weighed just 240 grams (with webbing straps, but no dry bag), making it one of the lightest, most stable handlebar-mounted cradle systems we’ve seen. It took a top spot in our 2024 Gear of the Year Awards, and it remains a favorite for many of us here at BIKEPACKING.com.

Last year, Rogue Panda announced a small update to the Blue Ridge, replacing the webbing straps with Voile-style Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) straps and adding in TPU bridges that slide onto the carbon rods to hold your straps in place. They also added the option to purchase the Blue Ridge with Hypalon straps with Austere cam-lock buckles, but Rogue Panda says most buyers have been opting for the TPU straps.

The newly released Blue Ridge Handlebar Harness V2 looks and functions nearly exactly like the original. The clamps are still CNC-machined from aluminum in Rogue Panda’s hometown of Flagstaff, Arizona, and the rods are still made of carbon, but they now borrow the China-made pull-braided version (instead of hand-rolled) from the Kaibab cradle. According to founder Nick Smolinske, the pull-braided rods better withstand the compression of the aluminum brackets. They tried to source a US supplier, but most US production is either hand-rolled or pultruded, which aren’t ideal for this application (or US brands are just sourcing them from China anyway). Plastic shims for 31.8mm and 35mm bars are included with each cradle, and 22.2mm and other sizes are available upon request.

Where the Blue Ridge V2 really differs is the shape of the aluminum brackets. The original Blue Ridge was symmetrical, so there wasn’t a true top or bottom beyond the straps’ orientation. The Blue Ridge V2 brackets are asymmetric, so the system can be mounted in two orientations depending on which carbon rod is at the top.

The High Position brings the dry bag closer to the handlebars and farther from the tire, so folks on smaller bikes can clear the front tire without tilting the load too far from the steering axis. The Low Position does the opposite, bringing the dry bag down and closer to the head tube. For folks on tall bikes and most riders without suspension forks, this allows a lower carrying position for the dry bag.

The asymmetric profile of the Blue Ridge V2 is small but noticeable during installation, giving the cradle a slightly more sophisticated look. While riding, the new Blue Ridge is just as stable as the original version, leaving plenty of space for cables and housing, more handlebar real estate, and it still works with Rogue Panda’s drop-bar cable shims and optional accessory bar to mount a GPS or light.

The unpainted Blue Ridge V2 I’ve been using weighs just 209 grams with the strap keepers but no straps. Adding Rogue Panda’s optional TPU straps increases the total weight to 266 grams. There aren’t many handlebar-mounted cradles that can compete with the Blue Ridge’s weight, and it certainly sets the bar for any using machined brackets. The Tailfin Bar Cage offers more adjustability and a similar load rating, but it weighs 277 grams without straps. You can compare all the handlebar cradles in our Gear Index here.

As a side note, something I’m really starting to appreciate is that the brackets can slide horizontally along the carbon rods, allowing the user to accommodate stems of different widths. The adjustment still allows me to run my Aceoffix Alloy GPS Mount without mounting it outside the cradle. The cradle sits far enough away from the bar that I have enough clearance to run my Coros Dura neatly tucked on top of my stem. It’s nice when the bags and accessories you like all work together.

The Blue Ridge V2 is available now for $175 USD. Each cradle comes with the TPU strap keepers for folks who already have straps, but you can add on Rogue Panda’s TPU straps for an additional $20. They also offer a dry bag add-on for $60, an accessory bar for $50, and non-standard shims for $15 each.

• Load Limit (Off-Road): 10 pounds (3.5 kilograms)
• Material: Aluminum, Carbon, TPU
• Weight: 266 grams (with TPU straps and strap keepers, no dry bag)
• Place of Manufacture: Arizona, USA
• Price: $175 USD (just cradle, no straps)
• Manufacturer’s Details: RoguePanda.com

Further Reading

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