Road Cycling - Wedge Bag question

What size and contents do folks recommend? Also any specific bag purchase recommendations. I am trying to stuff a tube, mini-repair kit, money, keys, CO2 and cell phone into my current one and it ain't working. I see guys with the mini-wedge bags and wonder what's the use. I await word from the more experienced. Thanks in advance.

I ahve a mini wedge bag and all I carry in it is:

1. Patch kit
2. Tools
3. $5 emergency cash

I don't have a cell phone and my bike pump goes into my camelbak.

I have a little flat box that contains my (patch kit, tire irons, my fold up allen wrench set), I also have a spare tube and my c02, some money, keys and thats about all. All of the things are in the wedge as listed, box first, tube next and c02 , money and keys, just have to organize it where it will fit. I carry my cell phone on my wedge, I clip it on where it straps under the seat or sometimes I put it in my jersey pocket but not often..

In the seat bag I put tube, patch kit, tire lever, mini multi-tool, $20 and 2 cliff shot Gels. Cell phone in left back pocket, garage door opener in right back pocket and Barberi Carb One mini pump in center pocket.

What size and contents do folks recommend? Also any specific bag purchase recommendations. I am trying to stuff a tube, mini-repair kit, money, keys, CO2 and cell phone into my current one and it ain't working. I see guys with the mini-wedge bags and wonder what's the use. I await word from the more experienced. Thanks in advance.


The REI Micro Wedge Bag or Mini Wedge Bag might hold more than you have now.
I use a Jannd Mini Mountain Wedge I bought at Performance. I put a chain tool on the bottom, with a spare tube, small patch kit, 3 tire levers, Crank Bros Multi 17 tool, small plastic bottle of sun protection, pen, plastic pill holder with Advil, and a thread cutter(cleans out peoples Speedplay cleats if they step in mud). In the zipper pocket underneath I carry several Park Tire Boots.
The REI Mini Wedge would hold all I have and my cell phone too.

I have a mini wedge bag and all I carry in it is:
1. Patch kit
2. Tools
3. $5 emergency cash



Hmm....quite minimalist.




I don't have a cell phone and my bike pump goes into my camelbak.

Camelbak? Why not leave the wedge, cand just carry the camelbak?

Hmm....quite minimalist.
and just carry the camelbak?I wouldn't carry the camel back! If that camel walked out he can walk back!


:D

I use the smallest bag that trek makes. I put a crank bros. speed lever, a spare tube, a patch kit, a chain tool, a set of folding allens, and a $20 bill. In there. The gel goes in the jersey pocket, and so does the cell phone and other stuff that have to be accessed while riding.

I won't leave home without at least a cell phone, light nylon shell for rain or warmth if I get hurt and a first aid kit. I often ride on remote roads and I might have to fend for myself for a while. I also carry 3 liters of water laced with electrolytics (it's hot in N Florida); I don't like to refill water bottles (and mix elctrolytics) on the road. When the wife rides, we use GMRS radios to keep in touch. I use a small seat bag for the tool kit and a tube. Everything else goes into a CamelBak Blowfish. I've got four CamelBaks for different kinds of riding and hiking. The wife has three. Great product.

Al

I carry a tube, patch kit, tire levers, money, ID and a cell phone in a Trek Mini-Wedge.

Larry

I have a spare tube, tire levers and tools, and patch kit in my seatbag. Only thing I'll add is car keys if I drove to where I'm riding from, and that's about all the wedgie I have will hold easily.

I have a BentoBox mounted on my top tube - holds my cellphone, gel/snackbars, credit card and $20 I always carry with me on rides. This stuff is more easily accessible than what's in the seatbag - I can grab a gel while riding, etc.

Hmm....quite minimalist.





Camelbak? Why not leave the wedge, cand just carry the camelbak?

Having my tools/patch kit in the wedgie bag makes it so I don't have to move all the stuff from the camelback to the pack when I don't want to carry the camelbak.

It's basically for the sake of convenience.

Having my tools/patch kit in the wedgie bag makes it so I don't have to move all the stuff from the camelback to the pack when I don't want to carry the camelbak.

It's basically for the sake of convenience.


?

And after you've used your tools and patches to fix the flat, how do you pump it up, when you've left your camelbak avec pump at home?

I wouldn't carry the camel back! If that camel walked out he can walk back!


:D

HARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Anyhow, I just carry the necessary gear in my backpack for the time being. Ever since the Camelback came onto the scene, though, wedge bags and the like have seemed a lot less logical to me. You'll have water for hydration on a ride, right? You'll have tools and small gear for emergency stuff on a ride, right? Why not kill two birds with one stone and get something like the Camelback M.U.L.E.? Just makes a lot more sense to me.

HARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Anyhow, I just carry the necessary gear in my backpack for the time being. Ever since the Camelback came onto the scene, though, wedge bags and the like have seemed a lot less logical to me. You'll have water for hydration on a ride, right? You'll have tools and small gear for emergency stuff on a ride, right? Why not kill two birds with one stone and get something like the Camelback M.U.L.E.? Just makes a lot more sense to me.


For longer rides, yeah, that's true, but for my short circuits of local streets at night, I take a bit of water into my belly before leaving, and shove phone/cash/tool/tube into a wedgie. Pump is under the top tube.

If I want a little water, I've got a bottle. Sorted. Camelbaks are great, but not all time time.

Quite true.

Mini-wedge contents: 1 tube, 2 tire levers, 1 CO2 injector, 1 Crank Bros. multi-tool.
Jersey pockets: cell phone, clif bar, armwarmers, dinero.

why do people carry a tube *and* patch kit? in case you get 2 flats on the same ride? which one is your primary flat fixer and which is the backup?

why do people carry a tube *and* patch kit? in case you get 2 flats on the same ride? which one is your primary flat fixer and which is the backup?

Your tube could have aged or developed a hole while in your bag.

You could forget to pull out whatever caused the flat in the first place.

You could pinch or tear the tube during installation.

Basically, there are lots of reasons to have a patch kit, just in case. I always use the spare tube first.

-murray

why even carry a wedge-bag or whatever it is called? i sometimes carry 2 tubes, patch-kit, inflator,
3-4 CO2 cannisters, phone, mini-tool, food, and arm warmers.......and that all easily fits in my jersey
pockets which are not abnormally large.

why even carry a wedge-bag or whatever it is called? i sometimes carry 2 tubes, patch-kit, inflator, 3-4 CO2 cannisters, phone, mini-tool, food, and arm warmers.......and that all easily fits in my jersey pockets which are not abnormally large.

That stuff will leave a nice imprint in your back if you ever happen to land on it :eek:

-murray

I carry a Perdos Hatchback seat bag. It is 50 cu in. I carry 2 tubes, a patch kit (yes I have had 3 flats in one ride before) CO2 system, 2 cartridges, 2 tire levers and a minitool (allen wrenches and screwdrivers).

I carry a minipump on the bike frame. I carry id, cash, food and keys in jersey pockets. I can carry up to 4 bottles of water/gatorade. I live in Arizona.

At least that set-up works well for me.

i got a diamondback wedge bag. it's pretty long and deep. plus if i need more space.. u can unzip it to extend it downwards for storage space.

i forgot.. with my wedge bag, i carry cell phone, digicam, spare tube, wrench tools, led rear lights, bell emergency patch repair kit, keys, neosporin, and bandaids. i think that's about it..

That stuff will leave a nice imprint in your back if you ever happen to land on it :eek:

-murray

i don't see much difference between the impact of road + tube/gel-packets and simply road.

it is a good point that mini-tools, cell-phones, etc. could get broken or brake you in a bad fall.

i don't see much difference between the impact of road + tube/gel-packets and simply road.



I think he was definitely referring more to the inflator, 4 CO2 cannisters, phone and mini-tool.

My cell phone case has a belt clip on it that removes. I have an extra one I cable tied to the stem, all I have to do is clip my phone to my bike! That frees up space in my wedge.

I posted this in another thread so I'm just simply going to cut&paste an excerpt...

Things I carry with me when roadbiking:

One or two (depending on length of ride) 24oz. water bottles
SKS Airgun (http://www.sks-germany.com/en/stage.php?mod=detail&cid=1&id=4&zg=1&seite=2&start=3) - CO2 inflation system with spare cartridge
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/2001-aegis-aro_svelte/PICT0021.jpg
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/2001-aegis-aro_svelte/PICT0018.jpg
Spare tube strapped under saddlepack
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/2001-aegis-aro_svelte/saddle.jpg
Spare spokes shoved into seatpost
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/carrying_spokes/PICT0001.jpg
Topeak Micro Wedge (http://www.topeak.com/2004/products/bag_003.html) Saddlepack with

Park VP-1 (http://www.parktool.com/tools/VP_1.shtml) patchkit
http://www.parktool.com/images/cat_index/VP_1.jpg
Presta-Schrader valve adapter
Spare links including spare removable ConneX-Link (http://www.connexchain.com/) for my chain
http://www.ullmann.hr/WIPPERMANN/CONNEX_LINK_AUF.jpg
Small bottle of DuMonde Tech Lite
http://www.tri-specialties.com/images/xt_pics/dumonde.jpg
Topeak Alien minitool (http://www.topeak.com/2004/products/tool_004.html)
http://www.topeak.com/2004/images/images_products/tools/tool_004.jpg
Special Mavic spoke tools because I have non-standard spokes
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/mavic-ksyrium-tools/PICT0004.jpg

In my bike jersey pockets

mini-wallet with ID, credit card, debit card and small amount of cash
FA-112 First-Aid Kit (http://www.lsikits.com/Product.asp?ProductID=41&CategoryID=114)
http://www.lsikits.com/Images/ProductImages/FA-112.gif
Kryptonite Gear Gripper (http://www.kryptonitelock.com/inetisscripts/abtinetis.exe/PublicArticleDetails@public?artid=3081&atf=products_item&pgrp=20) lightweight retractable cord lock
http://www.kryptonitelock.com/articles/3081/994480_200.gif
Minolta DiMage X (http://konicaminolta.com/products/consumer/digital_camera/dimage/dimage-x/index.html) digital camera with spare battery
http://konicaminolta.com/products/consumer/digital_camera/dimage/archive/img/index_pict008.jpg
Speedplay Coffee Shop Caps (http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.merchandise&promoid=Coffee%20Shop%20Caps) cleat covers for my clipless pedal cleats on my shoes
http://www.speedplay.com/swagimages/caps.jpg
A couple of plastic Ziploc bags to seal things against rain
Small bottle of sunscreen (SPF48)
Contact case
Rewetting drops for eyes
Rx insert (in microfiber sleeve for wiping off lens) for sunglasses in case I need to ditch my contacts
Clear lenses for sunglasses in case lighting conditions change
Arm warmers/leg warmers or lightweight Tyvek jacket (folded in on itself so it's very compact) depending on weather conditions
small mobile phone (Nokia 8260)
A couple of energy bars
compact map (if I don't know the area well) or route-map (organised ride)



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.

But on really long unsupported road rides (>100mi) and on all mountain bike rides, I'll use a CamelBak MULE which will contain the following additions to the above list:

100 oz. hydration bladder
Topeak minipump (with patchkit in handle)
additional spare tubes
two spare 9V batteries for my shocks (K2 SmartShocks - MTB only)
mini-tripod for digital camera
replacement/spare derailleur hanger
spare seatpost clamp
a couple of zip-ties
small roll of electrical tape
small roll of toilet paper in plastic ziploc bag


And of course if I think I'll be riding into the night, I'll have the lights and blinkers along too.