What type of seat bag do you guys use during a race? Right now I have a medium Topeak Aero wedge, but I'm wondering if I need to go more minimalist. I carry a spare tube, 1 spare co2, a microflate, and levers. Any suggestions?

Race?

Nothing at all. If you get a flat you've lost already - and it's lots less aero.

(when training our out on road rides, I've got a lovely little snug Specialized affair that is quite slim behind the seat tube - fits a multi-tool, tube, and patch kit - then the pump goes in jersey pocket - it's the older version of this one (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=25161), which was slightly smaller - if you pull that vertical strap tight, it pulls the bag up between the seat rails a bit)

I just use a Bento box type device. Its actually the one made by profile designs. See it here.

http://www.profile-design.com/2006_product_pages/hydration/epack.html

I raced this morning, I had a tube, 2 16g CO2 cartridges, some pre-glued patches, an airchuck microinflator thing, and 2 Gu gels. Fit everything fine. I'll probably be sticking with this for training rides too. I can get tires off and on without levers so I leave them home.

I carry a little pearl izumi bag, 2 tire irons, co2 w/ nozzle, tube, patch kit.

http://www.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&product_id=520&type_id=2&sport_id=5&category_id=11&color_code=068

I carry one always, no matter what. Racing or training, you get places faster riding, rather than walking.

Race?

Nothing at all. If you get a flat you've lost already -

The point at that point isn't to win, its to get back without having to walk.

and it's lots less aero.

Lots? Really? How so?

-Joel

Lots? Really? How so?

-Joel

It's a big lump of nylon obstructing air flow. How much obviously varies, but it would certainly defeat the point of an aero seat post.

Then again, it'd be interesting to see someone design a very slim (like 1" - and foil shaped) vertically-oriented bag to fit perfectly behind one's seat post and act as a fairing whilst having just enough room for a tube, levers, and micro pump...

Unless you're doing 40km+ bike legs (e.g. Oly and up), a saddle bag is not going to have any significant drag effect.

That said, I use the XLab FlatWing. (http://www.airointernational.com/flatwing.html)

I carry a spare tube, 2 CO2, wrenches and 2 cages depending on distance and hydration needs.

I use the FlatWing only for races. A lot of people have nightmare stories about it coming off or failing in some fashion, though.

I don't use it for training, just racing, and it's never given me any problems.