When I used to drive a car everywhere, I carried a small handbag and used my vehicle as a portable closet. The glovebox was full of supplies: lip balm, sunscreen, bandaids, Swiss Army knife, etc. After I ditched the car, I had to adapt my travel closet to more svelte transportation.
I found out pretty quickly what doesn't work. Messenger bags or anything that you sling over one shoulder is an obstacle. The weight of the bag causes it to slide forward when you lean toward the handlebars. Nothing is more unsettling that a loose pack dangling haphazardly off your neck. It's like having a dog in your lap when you drive. You can't predict which way it will turn.
I tried a couple of times to hang a bag off the handlebars. Not only does this make the bike all squirreley, it throws dirt up onto your bag. I learned this the hard way.
A better solution for carrying stuff on a bicycle is a basket. A small one in front of the handlebars is like an open-air glove-compartment. It can hold the small stuff - tissues, MP3 player, small bags. A rear rack with large basket(s) attached is perfect for heavy loads and big handbags or packs. I've carried everything from a handbag, to two bags of groceries, to a small vacuum cleaner on my bicycle – and have never resorted to hanging trash bags!
You can buy baskets with mounts from a bike shop but you can also adapt just about any sturdy container. Attach it to the rear rack with zip ties to hold it firmly in place. Buy special mounts from your local bike shop to attach a small basket to the handlebars.
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