Commuting - wallet, keys, phone? bag?

Ok, so I'm just curious how/where everyone keeps their wallets and keys (and cell phones if you carry them) when you're riding?

I don't like keeping them in my pockets unless they're exterior cargo pockets - in the winter its easy with the winter coat - but now that I don't wear that anymore I've been putting them in my pannier. This works, but makes me feel very uneasy as I can't see them. I imagine I'd have the same neurotic problem with a saddlebag and I don't think most common handlebar bags would fit since I have cross levers, a computer and a spacegrip mounted... thinking about trying to build my own small "stem" bag to either mount under the stem or drape over it like a very very small pannier. Thoughts?

I carry all of mine in the pannier. I actually feel more "secure" that way because I know for sure that my wallet and keys wouldn't accidentally fall off while riding. I always feel uneasy about carrying them in my pocket, especially the back pocket of my cycling jersey.

My wallet and keys are always in my pockets, whether I am riding or not. My cell phonw is on my belt.

Paul

When commuting, they're in my backpack. Haven't bought panniers yet, but once I do I'll happily keep them in there. I can't imagine someone being able to steal them out of backpack/panniers while I'm on the bike, and with zippered closures they can't really fall out. If I leave the bike, valuables leave with me.

When just out leisure riding, it all goes in my Camelbak if I use it, or if using bottles I put cell phone, ID + medical card in a jersey pocket, and keys and cash in my saddlebag. I've never had anything fall out of a jersey pocket... yet! Can't see it happening, though - all my jerseys have deep pockets and are reasonably fitted so it'd be hard for something as heavy as a cell phone to 'jump' out.

If I'm on a training ride, I have a small saddle bag with glueless patches, 2 tire levers, a $20 bill, and my keys. My mp3 player and cellphone along with an energy go in my jersey pocket.

If I'm commuting, I usually have my shoulderbag anyway.
I have a large saddle bag on my mtb that's expandable where I'd usually keep a patch kit, levers, keys, cell phone, energy bar, and if I fully expand it, there's enough room to put in a scrunched up wind breaker when it gets chilly.

When commuting, wallet, change, Leatherman are in pants pockets, keys are in jacket pocket or bag on bike (seat, rack-top, pannier, varies with the bike). When rec-riding in cycling clothes, it all goes into back-facing jersey pockets. I don't have a cell phone.

Panniers or jersey pockets. If I'm on my MTB I have a cheap handle bar bag or jersey pockets.

Crumpler

I carry my work keys in a small bag on my stem. It was meant to attach to backpack straps. I carry my wallet & cell phone in a ziplock bag in a grocery bag with my spare socks and lunch, which is in my pannier or rack trunk. Only problem (??) is that I can't hear my cell phone ring.

Depends on the bike but usually a bar bag or saddle bag & I wear cargo shorts a lot in warmer weather. Biggest problem: as I age, I seem to acquire more & more keys! Cargo shorts solve the problem of where to put the rings but they make for some ugly bruises if you fall. Don

On the road bike, keys and wallet go in seat bag, cell phone in jersey pocket. On the commuter, everything goes in the rack bag.

Keys and walkman go in a zippered jersey pocket. Everything else goes i the pannier. You'll know if your pannier falls off. I lost a saddle bag recently. Fortunately it only ever contains a few tools..

I keep my wallet and keys in my backpack when commuting so they don't accidently fall out, along with my lunch and shoes. Otherwise all my repair tools and spare parts go in the saddlebag.

Keys in my jersey pocket, along with the spanky hanky. Wallet (when I actually take it, I don't always) goes in my pannier.

I have a rack trunk for commuting and medical work. I carry each morning:
Full first aid kit (compression bandages,ambulance dressings, minor trauma kit, ice packs, saline, wipes, resus masks, body fluid kit, scissors, trauma shears, tweezers, sterilisation gel).
Wallet, palm pilot, minidisk player, cell phone and a fresh shirt.

Used to be that I shifted all the med gear out of it for commuting to work, but it was too much hassle and the shirt actually fits better laid flat over the top of it all rather than squished into one of the pockets inside. Also, I've had too many occasions when I've stopped to help someone on the street and not had a proper kit with me. Feel fairly content that I'd notice the weight of it falling off, and since *I* have problems getting into it sometimes, I'd be impressed if someone else could get in while I was riding.

So, I'm well prepared for awful things to happen. Just wish I could lose this belly!
I am Kal, thighs of STEEL, calves of MILDER STEEL, ass of GONE SINCE STARTED CYCLING SIX MONTHS AGO, belly of.. ooh, we won't talk about that yet....

Kalshassn, its funny you mention the medical supplies. Our fire dept. has 4 bikes setup with a trunk bag that the E.M.T.s use to "patrol" our local bike path on the weekends. I thought it was pretty cool.

Keys and walkman go in a zippered jersey pocket. Everything else goes i the pannier. You'll know if your pannier falls off. I lost a saddle bag recently. Fortunately it only ever contains a few tools..

Yeah, will know when it falls off - problem I had is that one side of my Diamond Back panniers developed a seam tear and I didn't realize for a while... then suddenly I looked for some tools I'd kept in there and poof, they were gone, I did a quick check of my route - but I had no idea when the tear occured... so now I'm always a little weary of placing things where I can't see them.

Kalshassn, its funny you mention the medical supplies. Our fire dept. has 4 bikes setup with a trunk bag that the E.M.T.s use to "patrol" our local bike path on the weekends. I thought it was pretty cool.


Exactly what my trunk's for! I'm a volunteer emergency first-aider with the Red Cross and frequently run bike patrols at large public events. Was a long hard slog to convince some members that it was a good idea until I was at an event and using my bike for personal transport, rather than responding, this exchange was heard over the radio.

Control: "Red 47, Red 47 from Control, respond to a child fallen down stairs, north of Royal Yacht Britannia, no other details, over."
Red 47 (a walking patrol, not me!): "Received Red Control, ETA 7 minutes,over."
Me: "Red Control, Red Control, from Red 34, I am mobile within the area, on a meal break, available to respond, ETA 30 seconds. Orders? Over."

I trust you can imagine control's response =0)

Since then I've used the bike at a number of events, it never fails to cut response times down and can cut through crowds faster than an ambulance, even without sirens and lights. Public response is always good too, people are interested in the scheme and come and chat to me about it, something about being on the bike seems to make you more approachable. Who knows, as long as it continues to improve the service and works, I don't care *how* it works!

Ok, so I'm just curious how/where everyone keeps their wallets and keys (and cell phones if you carry them) when you're riding?

I've got my PDA, Wallet, pump, USB Stick, Newspaper, Keys, cheepo Cell/Natel - emergency use only, spare bulb for my Bisy light in my fanny pack. That way, I can port a granola package/yogurt etc. or clothing as needed. Every now and then I take motorized transport for ironed clothing.

If I take my laptop home, I use a backpack.

Take care,
Tom