Road Cycling - Pockets or Saddlebag?

Ok after many years of road riding i finally had my first wreck and it was a dozzy. At 25mph running over the chick in front of me that went down and then endoing DIRECTLY on the multitool in by back jersey pocket and being laid up for several weeks now i'm just wondering, Pockets or Saddlebag for your gear?

Saddlebag makes the most sense to me. Why not?

I hate saddlebags. I just don't like putting stuff on my bike. It's either jersey pockets or a cool low-profile fanny pack for me.

Small saddlebag for tools and tube and stuff that stay on the bike. Jersey pockets for wallet, food and a bandanna.

I use both every time I ride, so I didn't get to vote in your poll- no option given for both. :(

Heal soon, dude.


Koffee

Originally posted by Koffee Brown
I use both every time I ride, so I didn't get to vote in your poll- no option given for both. :(

Heal soon, dude.

Koffee
thanks i'm a little dissapointed cuz mtb race season starts up at the end of the month and now i'm going to be a little off but that's the breaks right? bad joke.

what do you put in what?

I use both. A small saddle bag under the seat is where I keep all the hard stuff. Tools, spare tube, etc...

Jersey pockets for wallet, food and other "soft goods". For the reason(s) you just gave. If I fall, I don't want to land on anything hard. Unless its the bike. I guess that can't be avoided sometimes. :D

I also use both.
Small under seat bag for multi tool, keys etc.
use pockets of jersey for soft stuff which if I land
on will only create a mess in the pocket (gel, bananas, fig
newtons etc.)

Marty

Well, if the term "gear" means tools etc, the saddlebag ... food, etc of course will go in jersey pockets - where you can reach it while riding!

Food goes in the jersey pockets. I also put my first aid kit in there.

The saddle bag has money, wallet, ID, patch kit, wrenches, allen wrenches, Topeak alien, 2 inner tubes, duct tape, pen, surgical gloves, wet wipes, credit card... I think that's about it...

Koffee

I also use both. My philosophy is generally "stuff for my bike's mechanicals (minimultitool, spare tube, small bottle of lube) go in the saddlebag... stuff that needs to stay with me (cleat covers, first aid kit, mobile phone, camera, food, contact case, etc...) goes in my jersey". Lately, I've been pretty good with packing compactly and densely. I have a pretty small saddlebag (Topeak Small Wedge Seatpack) but I'm able to cram my bike essentials in there. My typical loadout:

Bike
-----
- 2 x 24oz. water bottles
- CO2 inflator in holder attached to downtube waterbottle mount
- 2 x CO2 catridges (one with inflator and other on opposite side of holder)


Saddlebag
-------------

- spare tube (external bungee straps)
- Topeak minitool (inside)
- two spare links (inside)
- small bottle of lube (inside)
- small tire patch kit with 4 patches, glue, sandpaper, etc. (inside)


Jersey Pockets
-------------------

- Nokia 8260 mobile phone (left)
- Speedplay Zero cleat covers (left)
- two energy bars (left)
- route map if applicable (left or center)

- insert from wallet containing ID, two credit cards, bank card, necessary keys, and small amount of cash in plastic sandwich bag with two extra bags (center)
- Minolta DiMageX slim/compact digital camera (center)
- small bottle of sunscreen (center)

- compact/slim first-aid kit (right)
- contact case (right)
- Rx lens inserts (right)
- second set of sunglass lens to swap out for different light conditions (right)
- If weather looks like it might turn sour or I'm going far and long enough that the conditions could change then I also take along a Tyvek jersey-like STP longsleeve jacket compactly folded into its own pockets (right)


Curiously enough, even with all this stuff crammed into my pockets, I still have quite a bit of room for other small things. If I think I'll really be far away from civilisation or riding where water stops aren't plentiful then I'll drag along a CamelBak Lobo and reapportion everything appropriately. I've however been able to get away with 100-120 miles without one so far.

Saddlebags all the way.

Both:

In the wedge, I have two spare tubes, three CO2 cartridges, a CO2 inflator, a multitool, tire levers and some electrical tape.

In my pockets I carry food, keys, my wallet and, on long solo rides, my cell phone.

Sounds like I'm consistent with most. I use both.

Saddlebag for: multi-tool, spare tube, patch kit, emergency money ($20 bill), ID & emergency contact info., tire levers. Sometimes carry backup other items like pre-moistened lens cloths, and GU-Gels.

Pockets for: PowerBars, GU gels, spare water bottle (for long and very hot rides), that's it. Basically the pockets get anything I need to get to while I'm riding, not stopped.

Another vote for both.

Saddlebag, of course. No pockets here!

:D

Both

I use a wedgie for spare tube, tools, patch kit, etc. Jersey pockets for things I want to get to on the fly, especially food!:rolleyes:

I have a small under-seat pack for a multitool, spare tube, patch kit, money, and folding eyeglasses.
The jersey pockets are for energy bars, gel, and other "soft" items.


Saddlebags (aka panniers) are on the rear rack of my commuter bike. ;)

Saddle bag (guess I should say seat pack??). I can't stand to have anything on my back when I'm doing any kind of physical activity, and so far none of the tops I've liked and bought have pockets anyway. I keep tire tools, pressure gauge, food, keys, phone, money, Epinephrine shot, ID, med insurance card, chapstick, spare tube, baby wipes, and I think that's it in there.

both, the bag for tube, and all the tool jazz, and pockets for food, cell phone and ID.

Saddlebag. I hate having things in my pockets when I ride.

Experts say dont carry stuff on your person except snacks.Use saddle bag.

Originally posted by shokhead
Experts say dont carry stuff on your person except snacks.Use saddle bag.
Ummm.....so who are these "experts"?

I prefer a medium size saddlebag, that you can fit a cell phone if needed, and keys/spare tube and etc. If I need to carry more stuff, than I take my camel bak. Personally I really don't like to carry anything in the pockets this time of year. That camel bak, a 2003 rocket, has the aerodynamic design, and doesn't seem to bother me.

Originally posted by George
Ummm.....so who are these "experts"?
I've read it more then once in bike mags and i'm pretty sure,at least i didnt see anybody in the tdf pulling crap out of there jerseys,except a fake nipple.I've read it affects your riding position.

I use both as well.

Bag: spare tube, 2xCO2 and small attachment, tire levers, patch kit, $5-$10 in cash, small card with personal info, and if i'm not using a camelback i put my cell phone and car key in there.

Pockets: food, maybe a map if i need one

Things I really need to have but don't: first aid kit, multi-tool

I also have a bento box that I can use for food instead of pockets if I want to.

Originally posted by shokhead
at least i didnt see anybody in the tdf pulling crap out of there jerseys,except a fake nipple.I've read it affects your riding position.

Ummm......I also didn't see them with saddlebags! :D

So you didnt and i didnt either.LOLI did read that carrying stuff does affect your riding position.I dont want stuff hanging around my sides.I got enough fat there.

Originally posted by shokhead
So you didnt and i didnt either.LOLI did read that carrying stuff does affect your riding position.I dont want stuff hanging around my sides.I got enough fat there.

Think of it as... err... lumbar support. Wait... nevermind. :D

Maybe if I had a support car, I wouldn't have to put things in my pockets.

I carry a couple of tubes with the stems rolled inside them, couple of snack bars, and my wallet in my jersey pockets. Anything hard goes into the saddle bag. I don't want anything next to my kidneys or spine if I crash.

Under seat bag for everything for me.

Originally posted by shokhead
I dont want stuff hanging around my sides.I got enough fat there.
Filling your pockets with bars and gel hides the "bulges". Keeps everyone wondering why you're well stocked. Going on a l-o-n-g ride? :D

Looks like everyone is packing food, I must not ride far enough. My normal ride is 30 miles. If I ride further it is normally a supported route.
Oh ya I keep everything in the pack nothing in the jersey.

Originally posted by peloton
Maybe if I had a support car, I wouldn't have to put things in my pockets.
maybe the should be the 4th option.... SUPPORT CAR!

Originally posted by SinGate
Looks like everyone is packing food, I must not ride far enough. My normal ride is 30 miles. If I ride further it is normally a supported route.
Oh ya I keep everything in the pack nothing in the jersey.

i usually ride no more than 40 miles with the occasional 62 miles ride. i dont eat on either of these. I only use road training as at tool to make me a better mtber.

It probably makes me an "unreal cyclist"... I always ride with a handlebar bag. I don't train or anything so I don't care for perfomance. I ride with a tourer. Sometimes I only carry tools, spare tubes, wallet and keys. On cold day, I might add a jacket and on hot, a small towel (I sweat like a pig). I may also carry food... well, just about anything, I guess. I'm so used to it that I feel unbalanced without it and I freak out looking at my front wheel! :eek:

For the poll here, I'd go saddlebag. I can't stand carrying stuff on me.

Saddle bag : two inflators, inflator head, allen wrenches, tube, patch kit, chain tool and links.
Jersey pockets: bag of salted peanuts, energy bar, money, I D, and a mase gun just in case !

Where can I find an old, retro looking, small, under saddle bag made out of leather or canvas?

I'm a saddlebag girl myself. It's mid-size and expandable for long rides or holding my co-riders stuff (they don't have big enough bags for extra tubes)... what I do need to get is a CO2 thing.

Sure I would use the pockets if I needed to.

:crash: Want to get out of work.

Stacie

Originally posted by spazzerina
what I do need to get is a CO2 thing.

If you're looking for something compact and slim, you might want to check out the SKS Airgun. It can be tucked away cleanly against one side of a bottle cage and the other side holds a spare cartridge.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/cycling/bikes/Aegis/2001-Aro_Svelte/images/PICT0020.JPG
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/cycling/bikes/Aegis/2001-Aro_Svelte/images/PICT0018.JPG

If you're really paranoid and feel that two cartridges won't be enough, you can also get a Minoura double-cartridge holder and mount in on another bottle cage location.

http://www.minoura.co.jp/boh200.gif

The downside of course is that you need to use threaded cartridges which are slightly more expensive.