General Cycling Discussion - Jersey Rear Pockets

I'm wondering if people trust the rear pockets on cycling jerseys with their valuables? I ride a road bike and try as I might I can't bring myself to trust these pockets with my smartphone, keys or wallet. So I end up with a pair of MTB baggy shorts with zippered pockets over top my cycling shorts. None of my jerseys have zippers and while I've never lost anything like gloves or hats and what no, those things are cheap compared to loosing those other items.

So do you trust them? Any tips or tricks you can pass along that would get a person over the fear using them for valuables?

Thanks,
fasthair

I have never had anything fall out of a jersey pocket. I generally have my phone, wallet and iPod in them when riding.

Been using them for years for my wallet and cell phone with zero problems.

I trust my jersey pockets more than shorts pockets(even zippered). I have never lost anything even when taking the shirt off. Any amount of weight keeps the pocket pointed down. I feel the phone would bounce around more in the shorts. I like my phone too much. I also put the phone in a plastic bag before I use the jersey pockets.

No worries about the back pocket. I take my driver's license and a debit card and clip it to some cash and put that and my cell phone in a ziplock bag to keep the sweat off it. I've never seen anyone lose anything out of them and I always see the outline of cell phones in the pockets of the person in front of me.

I have no zippers on my jeans pockets, either...

And, if you look enough, you'll find some jerseys with a zippered pocket, usually in the center. You could put your keys in there and pretty much guarantee that you'll get back home no matter what.

Keys, phone in seat bag. I'd rather carry a Clif Bar in the pocket than chance something valuable. :D

Keys, phone in seat bag. I'd rather carry a Clif Bar in the pocket than chance something valuable. :D

+1. I use my jersey pockets for things I'll need while riding. Food, map/cue sheet, alternate glasses, a place to stash warmers, and so on. Stuff I'll need only while stopped--wallet, keys and other crap--go in the seat bag.

I wear race cut jerseys. No matter how much crap I have stuffed into it not a single thing ever falls out.

I have been wearing jerseys since 1985 and have never lost anything. That includes all the off road and cross races I've done since I still keep my car keys and I.D's with insurance info in my jersey pockets.

I've lost a few tools out of a seat bag when I forgot to zip it up after fixing a flat, but that's where I keep keys. These days, I usually ride with a bar bag, and it's easier to get wallet, phone, and sun glasses out of that

But I wouldn't worry about losing things out of a jersey pocket. If it's electronic, it'll go in a plastic bag to keep my corrosive sweat off it. I'd trust the jersey long before I'd commit anything important to pants pockets.

I've lost more things out of an unzippered saddle bag than my jersey pockets. Then again, I've never lost anything out of my jersey pockets. Sometimes while commuting (only 3.5 miles) I stick the keys in my pants pocket, but I'm always worried they'll fall out and keep feeling that they're still there.

Keys, phone in seat bag. I'd rather carry a Clif Bar in the pocket than chance something valuable. :D

Yes but you have to hold court on the boardwalk in Huntington and buldges on your jersey pockets would detract from you Adonis figure. Those of us that live a normal less regal life than the King of SART don't worry about such things.:lol:

Speaking about the cycling jerseys I own, all three of the rear pockets have garters at the lip which seals the opening and prevents the contents from bouncing out. I occasionally check the pockets before I wear them for any holes or tears that might compromise its purpose. So far I have none on all of them.

I would say I pretty much trust these pockets more than my saddle bag just like the others here. At least if there is a problem there's a chance I could feel it rather than the bag which is out of my sight and away from my body.

I generally don't trust the jersey pockets, but I carry stuff like that on bag(s) on the bike, not on me.

+1. I use my jersey pockets for things I'll need while riding. Food, map/cue sheet, alternate glasses, a place to stash warmers, and so on. Stuff I'll need only while stopped--wallet, keys and other crap--go in the seat bag.

^^^ This. I never put my phone, keys, etc. in my jersey pocket. Those go in my saddle bag although I do tend to keep checking to make sure the bag is there and zipped shut. :rolleyes:

+1. I use my jersey pockets for things I'll need while riding. Food, map/cue sheet, alternate glasses, a place to stash warmers, and so on. Stuff I'll need only while stopped--wallet, keys and other crap--go in the seat bag.

Sort of the same. I otften keep my wallet in the pockets for short rides or ones with multiple stops.

I dislike keys in the pocket as they casue wear, the heavy canvas of a seatbag seems better for that.

I like to keep some money in the seatbag, e.g. money that stays in the seatbag, not for fear of losing a wallet from the pockets, rather for fear of leaving the wallet at home or in hte car.

On Bike tour I wore a money belt Under my clothing, for the valuables,
a small fanny pack, outside, for convenience,
so i reserved the partial disrobe for inside the Bank ,
when I needed to get more Cash.

Handle-bar bag or a pannier, locally, for that stuff.

I have no problem trusting the jersey pockets for valuables. I keep my cell phone and keys there, along with snacks or occasionally arm warmers. That being said, I do find myself sometimes feeling around back there just to make sure everything is still where it's supposed to be.

In my saddle bag, I keep things like tools, spare tube, etc... things which have no use outside of cycling and I don't plan on using unless there is a problem. So the bag stays shut most of the time. It helps me keep track of where things are.

Prioritize! Items you fear falling out of jersey pockets go in the seat bag. You lose more items out of jersey pockets while taking things out of them. They tend to stay in otherwise.

There's a very recent thread where a guy's cellphone popped out of his jersey pocket and got jammed between the spokes of his rear wheel and seat stay breaking the seat stay on his carbon bike. That's certainly a freak accident. I've never lost anything out of a jersey pocket, but like others here, mainly use them for stuff needed while riding like gels, bananas, arm warmers, etc.. Cellphone, ID, money, CC (AKA wallet) go in a small seat bag with tube, levers, minitool, etc.

I did forget to zip closed my seat bag once and lost everything out of it but my wallet, which I had temporarily put in my jersey pocket when I went into a convenience store to get some drinks. I went back over my route and found my spare tube and tire levers but not my mini tool or phone.

Edit: Here's that thread where the phone broke the seat stay: http://forums.roadbikereview.com/bikes-frames-forks/my-brand-new-cervelo-r3-spyder-composites-thanksgiving-266877.html

and buldges on your jersey pockets would detract from you Adonis figure. Those of us that live a normal less regal life than the King of SART don't worry about such things.:lol:

I've got plenty of other buldges in my jersey to worry about at this time of the year.:D

Thanks everyone for the responses. I do have a seat bag but it is pretty small and full of flat tire kit and a few spare AAA batteries. Oh and chain lube and now that I think about that why in the world do I carry chain lube with me? Duh I have a bottle at home and at work in the shop so that can go.

The phone still don't fit in there since it is a Droid X, will have to play more and see. With the chain lube out of there though my wallet, more like a debit card/ID sized wallet than a "wallet", my money clip and keys fit in there just fine. Thanks everyone I never thought about using the seat bag.

Got to admit though the stories of the phones falling out of jersey pockets didn't do much to cure my fears even though many of you use them and have no problems. The reason for my fear was I had my phone fall out of button down shirt pocket once. As I looked back in horror and seen my phone laying face down on the concrete with the battery ejected all I could think of dang I just totaled my phone. Much to my amazement when I picked it up to find it OK and working after I put the battery back in I told myself from now on only zippered pockets for it. So I guess it's time to look for only jerseys with zippers.

I will also admit that hearing many of you use them and have no problems I am tempted to give them a shot with the phone. I have slipped it in the pockets from time to time while standing around and it feels OK, I'm just nervous. Maybe that will go away as I use them more and get more confident. Time will tell.

Again thanks for relaying your experiences.

fasthair

I always put my keys, phone, and wallet (if I bring it) in jersey pockets, unless I am not wearing a jersey. Never lost anything, and that includes during a recent crash, where I lost conciousness and awoke in the hospital. My phone and keys were still in my jersey pocket. Even though the jersey was cut off of me. They didn't notice either when trying to identify me.

The ambulance brought my bike with me to the hospital, but I would have hated to have my house keys and id in the seat bag if they hadn't done that! At least if they fall out of the pockets the same person is unlikely to find both!

myridin: Wow, I hope you are healing or healed up! You bring up a good point about having both in the same place. You were lucky they did bring the bike along for the ride too. I can see it now. They leave the bike behind and someone steals it and finds all of your stuff. That is a nightmare that has many long reaching ramifications, someone emptying out your house being the least of the worries. Identity theft and credit cards being used until you get them cancelled. Man my head hurts just thinking about how bad that can end up being.

You make a good point and more food for thought!

fasthair

myridin: Wow, I hope you are healing or healed up! You bring up a good point about having both in the same place. You were lucky they did bring the bike along for the ride too. I can see it now. They leave the bike behind and someone steals it and finds all of your stuff. That is a nightmare that has many long reaching ramifications, someone emptying out your house being the least of the worries. Identity theft and credit cards being used until you get them cancelled. Man my head hurts just thinking about how bad that can end up being.

You make a good point and more food for thought!

fasthair

You're almost overthinking it... ;)

I put "me stuff" in my pockets and "bike stuff" in the bike bag merely for organization. If I really need to stop for a bike problem, I'm already inconvenienced enough that opening up the saddle bag is no worse. But, if I just want to get a bagel at the snack stand, or check the map on my phone, I only need to reach into my pocket.

I always put my keys, phone, and wallet (if I bring it) in jersey pockets, unless I am not wearing a jersey. Never lost anything, and that includes during a recent crash, where I lost conciousness and awoke in the hospital. My phone and keys were still in my jersey pocket. Even though the jersey was cut off of me. They didn't notice either when trying to identify me.

The ambulance brought my bike with me to the hospital, but I would have hated to have my house keys and id in the seat bag if they hadn't done that! At least if they fall out of the pockets the same person is unlikely to find both!
Similar thing happened to me. Except I woke in the ambulance, and whoever found me located my cell phone and started calling people until they got my roommate who came and picked up the bike. But the cell and keys both stayed in the jersey pockets during the crash.

The only time I've ever lost something out of a jersey pocket is when I've dropped it trying to get it out.

The only time I've ever lost something out of a jersey pocket is when I've dropped it trying to get it out.

This or the jersey is pretty much used that there are gaping tear on the pockets. When this happens don't we think the jersey already needs retirement? :)

Well since I posted my last response I decided to go for it. This Friday past I ditched the MTB shorts and relied on just the jersey and cycling jackets rear pockets to carry my stuff. I got to admit I think my fears might have been unjustified. The pockets haven't so much as even given me reason to think something might fall out. Once I started to load things up I could see that it would be pretty hard for things to just fall out. In fact I'm surprised at how well things stay put and don't even shift around.

So much like my first pair of padded cycling shorts, I have seen the light and will use the pockets as intended.

Thanks for the feedback and the positive reinforcement that the pockets do what they are designed to do, carry your stuff and not loose your stuff.

fasthair

A typical cycling jersey will have back pockets designed specifically to prevent things from falling out: the top edge of the pockets spans the entire width of the back and contains a band of elastic material inside. As you put your jersey on, the stretching action of that band is what keeps the top edge tight against your back, preventing things from falling out. I.e. even if you put some thicker items inside your back pockets, the pockets will still remain closed. Pockets like that are very reliable when it comes to preventing things from falling out.

Note though that if the top elastic band of your jersey pockets somehow breaks or gets worn/stretched out with time, the pockets might become a lot less reliable, especially for holding relatively heavy slippery items (like cell phones). Once your back pockets begin to flap instead of staying closed, you can no longer trust them.

I've never lost anything from a jersey pocket; and I ride recumbents, which should be a worst-case.

No, no problem with house keys and an access badge for work. The pockets are deep enough and close fitting enough to to lose things.