taurus1959

I've got a saddle bag that really only has room for a tube, cartridge/dispenser and a tire tool. I've been stuffing my food, wallet (Ziploc bag, ID, credit card and cash) and Blackberry in my back pockets. I hate having stuff in my pockets. My question is, what bag do you guys use, where do you stuff the rest and what don't you carry?

4000Miles

Banjo Brothers medium wedge. It's cheap (I think I paid about $12.50 for it), is expandable, and holds a tube, allen wrench set, tire levers, patch kit, Clif bar, Gatorade powder packet, and my phone/credit card/ID bundle. Also has the standard loopy thing for a blinky and reflective piping and will mount to shorter saddle rails (I did have a problem with the Topeak wedge's bolt-on mount as my saddles are general set pretty far foward). Seems to be a quality product so far.

MegaTom

You're only carrying too much if you have no place to put it all comfortably & conveniently. Either get used to carrying things in your jersey pockets or get a bigger bag. It really is as simple as that. Brand or model of the bag doesn't matter... they all do the same thing... just find one big enough for you and avoid the ones with the silly quick release mounts.

I personally would rather not have the weight of stuff in my jersey pockets, but the idea of stopping every time I want to snack is much less appealing.

mrvile

I pretty much don't notice anything in my jersey pockets. The weight of my phone/wallet keeps my jersey from riding up so it's a plus I guess.

ptle

In my smallest bag I can carry me keys, wallet, tube, levers, and phone. Just make sure the tube you're packing has all the air of it. I roll it up twice to squeeze out all the air to make the tube tiny.

If I'm running a saddle bag (usually carry everything in my pockets now) I carry my cell phone on me along with food. That way I have quick access to my cell phone for calls/texts and food for on the go eating.

I use to dislike using my jersey pockets to carry stuff. But if you distribute it well, you won't notice it there after a few miles.

mobike_moexcite

I use a cheap one from Performance or something, I only carry a spare tube, tire tool, and co2 cartridge in it. I put everything else in my pockets, they have some pretty nice bags out there that are small and are also expandable, you could try and look for one of those.

Velo Dog

There you go. All other posts are superfluous.
I rarely wear jerseys (too much like suiting up in pads and helmet to play football with your kids in the park), and I don't like riding with a backpack, so i have an array of saddle bags to suit a range of trips. Get yourself one of these and stop fretting forever: https://www.londonskaters.com/cycling...s/P3230001.JPG. I have the next size down, a Carradice Lowsaddle Longflap, and I've carried stuff for a week-long camping trip, minus food.

AEO

specialized makes a big saddle bag.

I use it for my bike with fat tires.

nitropowered

I have a Lezyne M (medium) caddy and carry 2 tubes, two CO2, CO2 inflator and a multitool. Nice part of this bag is the multitool has a separate external pouch so I don't have to unzip the main bag to get to it.

Everything else goes in my jersey pockets. Why put food in your saddle bag. It makes it hard to access when you need it. Keys? I have a keypad garage door opener. If I have to drive to the ride, I have my keys separated from car keys vs all the other keys to minimize bulk

gumbii

bento box...



i got the cheap "schwin" walmart one... and tore off the schfail logo... it's ten bucks and has more pockets than the ones i found at the LBS... it has my keys, food and phone... don't rock jerseys yet... need to lose flab...

there's also a mini pannier that i want to get for the fixie...

datlas 

It's not rocket science.

Stuff you will need on the ride/roll, you put in jersey pocket - food, cell phone, etc.

Stuff you probably won't need, you put in seat bag - spare tube/patch kit, minipump/co2, tire levers, multi tool, wallet maybe.

If you can't fit everything you want in your saddle bag, you either carry less or get a larger bag.

scirocco

Stuff that can stay with the bike all the time regardless of how long or short or type of the ride, goes in the saddle bag. In a small bag I can fit: 2xtubes, 2xC02 cartridges, 1xC02 inflator, 3xtire levers, 4mm and 5mm allen wrench, spare master link, $50 or so bills folded up, photo ID card. I hardly ever open the bag unless I have a flat.

Anything else goes elsewhere. On a recreational ride the keys, phone and energy gels go in the pockets, when commuting the keys, wallet, phone and clothes etc. go in the backpack.

Puffyg

I go out for 2.5hour 60 - 90km rides a few times a week and I only carry a tube, small patch kit and tools in my seat bag. carry my small pump on the bike frame and an ipod or iphone in my jersey with a snack if the ride calls for it.

Chef151

To those of you putting your phones in your jersey pockets, you dont worry about sweat damaging the phone?
I have been putting mine in my saddle bag for that reason, but I'd rather keep it 'out' for quick txts.

znomit

Imagine you're lying in the bottom of a ditch with bone poking out the side of your leg and your bike is who knows where. Kinda nice to have your phone on you.

Garfield Cat

There's another alternative. A lumbar bag. These are commonly used by hikers and trail runners who don't need to use a backpack. I have asked Columbia to make one specifically for cyclist. This alleviates the need for any kind of saddle bag. Also for frame mounted pumps too. Then when you stop for a rest period, the bag is always with you.

Columbia because they sponsor Columbia HTC and make outdoors stuff.

gumbii

sigh...



fanny pack...



/thread...

Namenda

I put my iphone in a ziploc bag, then carry it in a jersey pocket. Been doing so for two years without issue.

Namenda

I actually see that a lot around here. No joke.

gumbii

i really don't see anything wrong with it... it's an option and a good one IMO... but i'm still in fred mode with my basketball shorts and sometimes back pack...

AnthonyG

Taking a complete wallet and a blackberry with you is simply going to take a lot of room.

I fit a tube, a multitool, patches, a simple mobile phone, liscence plus cash and sometimes a debit card in a small seat wedge. Food if I'm carrying any goes in a bento box style thing.

EDIT: I forgot keys. They go in the saddle bag too.

Anthony

ancker

I use a Topeak Survival Tool Wedge pack.
https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Surviva...ef=pd_sbs_sg_4

Plenty of room for my iphone, keys, and wallet. (I rarely carry my wallet, but there is room.)
I could probably even sneak a snack or two in there as well.

gsteinb

wolfpack95

Performance TransIt Macro Wedge
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._#ReviewHeader

I hate riding with stuff in my jersey pockets as well. This bag is cheap, expandable and functions well. I have spare tube, CO2 cartridge, patch kit, small multi-tool, plastic sandwich bag with electrolyte pills, $5-10 bill for emergency drinks/food, room for a phone and car keys. Phone goes into the sandwich bag if I get caught in the rain. I will put a gel pack, granola bar or possibly arm warmers in the jersey for but that's all I can stand.

One of the few negative reviews mentions poor zipper design but there is a an easy fix and I've never been inconvenienced: put the most often used stuff in the top zipper and close the zipper until it hits the strap. There's no need to close the zipper past the strap. Other negative review says hard to install - really?

StephenH

I have a trunk bag on a rear rack and add a small handlebar bag when I need to. Yesterday, I had a spare tire, pump, and 2- 32 oz water bottles in the trunk bag; had wallet, cable lock, keys, electrolytes, camera, brevet card, pen, tube, patches, etc., in the handlebar bag. Just adjust your bags to match what you think you need to have.