Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Storage solution suggestions

Search
Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Storage solution suggestions

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-18-19 | 07:07 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Storage solution suggestions

I'm looking for an alternate way to carry may wallet, keys phone as I ride. Right now I have all of it in a bag with my bladder for water, but I'm getting tired of always having to wear a bag.
I also have the issue of my frame not having holes for bottle cages, so am looking for solution for that.
Do
rear pannier and racks add alot of weight to the back of the bike? How hard would it be to move it around with them on? (Put the bike on the trunk)
I've seen saddle bags with water options but not sure if those are big enough.
Mobely07 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-18-19 | 07:10 PM
  #2  
DrIsotope's Avatar
Non omnino gravis
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 8,552
Likes: 1,739
From: SoCal, USA!

Bikes: Nekobasu, Pandicorn, Lakitu

Something like an Axiom Fondo H2O could do the trick, if you can get by on one bottle.
__________________
DrIsotope is offline  
Reply
Old 07-18-19 | 10:00 PM
  #3  
MEversbergII's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 23
From: Lexington Park, Maryland

Bikes: Current: Origami Crane 8, Trek 1200 Former: 2012 Schwinn Trailway

You may be in the market for a handle bar bag. This is the one I use right now: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Wallet, keys, phone, body wipes, sizable first aid kit all fit in there with some room to spare.

The webbing on the side isn't huge but some smaller canned drinks may fit in it (Redbull type). For me, it just carries bug spray and sun screen spray, if anything. There are smaller handlebar bags out there, mind, that's just the one I use.

I also have a seat bag: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That has a far larger drink holder, and will also carry wallet, keys, and some models of phone. For me, it's tool storage right now. Can fit a Propel bottle in there (and those Pure Leaf tea in the square bottles), and if the pictures are anything to go by a regular water bottle as well.

Pannier and racks can range in weight - some are solid steel rods and do weigh a bit. Some are hollow alu and don't weigh much at all. My small-wheel folder isn't noticeably heavier with my rear rack and its small bag, really.
MEversbergII is offline  
Reply
Old 07-18-19 | 10:23 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 233
From: Madison, WI

Bikes: Giant Toughroad SLR1 and Motobecane Sturgis NX

Large frame bag can hd bladder tools and thousand other things
HerrKaLeun is offline  
Reply
Old 07-19-19 | 03:55 AM
  #5  
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
That handle bar one looks like the ticket! Is it hard to put on?
Mobely07 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-19-19 | 04:40 AM
  #6  
dedhed's Avatar
SE Wis
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 4,329
From: Milwaukee, WI

Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970

Originally Posted by Mobely07
I'm looking for an alternate way to carry may wallet, keys phone as I ride. Right now I have all of it in a bag with my bladder for water, but I'm getting tired of always having to wear a bag.
I also have the issue of my frame not having holes for bottle cages, so am looking for solution for that.

https://bikepacking.com/index/add-cage-mounts-bike/


Do rear pannier and racks add alot of weight to the back of the bike? How hard would it be to move it around with them on? (Put the bike on the trunk)
Panniers come off so they don't add any weight when moving the bike.
I've seen saddle bags with water options but not sure if those are big enough.
some thoughts
dedhed is offline  
Reply
Old 07-19-19 | 07:48 AM
  #7  
MEversbergII's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 23
From: Lexington Park, Maryland

Bikes: Current: Origami Crane 8, Trek 1200 Former: 2012 Schwinn Trailway

Originally Posted by Mobely07
That handle bar one looks like the ticket! Is it hard to put on?
Presuming you're talking about mine, not at all. There's one strap that goes around the stem horizontally, then two vertical straps that go around the handlebars. All velcro.
MEversbergII is offline  
Reply
Old 07-19-19 | 07:52 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138
Likes: 324

Bikes: 2 many

Originally Posted by Mobely07
I'm looking for an alternate way to carry may wallet, keys phone as I ride. Right now I have all of it in a bag with my bladder for water, but I'm getting tired of always having to wear a bag.
I also have the issue of my frame not having holes for bottle cages, so am looking for solution for that.
Do
rear pannier and racks add alot of weight to the back of the bike? How hard would it be to move it around with them on? (Put the bike on the trunk)
I've seen saddle bags with water options but not sure if those are big enough.
Are you not using a bike jersey with pockets on the back?

If there is room, there are a few different ways to attach a bottle cage to a frame. There are side loading bottle cages if there is no room to pull a bottle out the top of a regular cage.
2manybikes is offline  
Reply
Old 07-19-19 | 11:26 AM
  #9  
Full Member
 
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 210
Likes: 99
I really like my Revelate Designs top tube mount "Bento Box" Easily holds my phone, wallet, an energy bar, etc. with room to spare. Both my road and gravel bike have flat top tubes, so it stays put well. The magnetic catch makes it quite easy to access while on the move too.

csrpenfab is offline  
Reply
Old 07-19-19 | 11:54 AM
  #10  
Skipjacks's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 239
From: Mid Atlantic / USA

Bikes: 2017 Specialized Crosstrail / 2013 Trek Crossrip Elite

I have one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mounts firm so it doesn't wiggle back and forth as I ride. It's totally out of the way. And it holds way more than you'd think.

I keep a spare tube, tool kit, wallet, keys, small first aid kit, and it still has room to put a couple of granola bars in there.
Skipjacks is offline  
Reply
Old 07-20-19 | 02:13 AM
  #11  
taz777's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 865
Likes: 25
From: United Kingdom

Bikes: 5

OP: to answer one of your questions, yes, a rear pannier and rack adds quite some weight to the back of your bike. In particular, the rack itself if quite weighty as it needs to be very strong and be able to withstand the weight of fully loaded panniers without sagging or breaking during a ride.

However, for me, it has transformed my hybrid bike into a very practical bike. Thus, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

As someone else has pointed out, the pannier bag can be taken off. The one I have has a locking rail system so it just slides on and off the rack and clicks into place. Takes a couple of seconds.

If it’s just your wallet and keys that you need to carry around with you then a rear rack and panniers might be overkill. A saddle bag would be ideal.

I also have a top tube mounted bag but don’t use it these days as I found it awkward to secure and put things into and get things out from.
taz777 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-20-19 | 04:24 AM
  #12  
MEversbergII's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 23
From: Lexington Park, Maryland

Bikes: Current: Origami Crane 8, Trek 1200 Former: 2012 Schwinn Trailway

Alternatively, you could buy a small backpack. Something like this would more than do it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H4L278B

That's my current day bag when I'm just out and about. There are smaller ones as well, though if it's a single-shoulder type make sure you get one with a lateral strap so it doesn't swing about on you as you ride.
MEversbergII is offline  
Reply
Old 07-20-19 | 05:19 AM
  #13  
freeranger's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,894
Likes: 972
From: Kentucky

Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline

To carry a wallet, energy bar, keys, I dug out an old "fanny pack". Yeah, not stylish, but it works.
freeranger is offline  
Reply
Old 07-20-19 | 06:42 AM
  #14  
Garfield Cat's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,124
Likes: 111
From: Huntington Beach, CA

Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy

Mountainsmith lumbar bag.

Wear it around the waist.

https://mountainsmith.com/knockabout.html
Garfield Cat is offline  
Reply
Old 07-20-19 | 10:42 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138
Likes: 324

Bikes: 2 many

Originally Posted by Mobely07
I'm looking for an alternate way to carry may wallet, keys phone as I ride. Right now I have all of it in a bag with my bladder for water, but I'm getting tired of always having to wear a bag.
I also have the issue of my frame not having holes for bottle cages, so am looking for solution for that.
Do
rear pannier and racks add alot of weight to the back of the bike? How hard would it be to move it around with them on? (Put the bike on the trunk)
I've seen saddle bags with water options but not sure if those are big enough.
My nice three stay per side Blackburn rack is about 1 lb. Each one of my small paniers weighs 1 lb. each one of my large panniers weighs 2 lb.
Ready for a long ride but not with the bags full I had 15 lbs. including the weights of the two small panniers in the bags last time I weighed them. Panniers come off the rack quickly and easily. You just take them off before putting your bike on a car rack.
2manybikes is offline  
Reply
Old 07-20-19 | 11:40 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 318
Why do you need to bring your wallet? As for keys and phone they fit in my jersey pocket.
Bmach is offline  
Reply
Old 07-24-19 | 10:40 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 150
I only take my wallet because I want to
BikeLite is offline  
Reply
Old 07-24-19 | 05:43 PM
  #18  
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 31
Likes: 9
I use a flipbelt. Works great
WarrenC is offline  
Reply
Old 07-24-19 | 05:47 PM
  #19  
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 31
Likes: 9
the flipbelt has various sizes. I've been using mine for a number of years. I take it travelling as well
WarrenC is offline  
Reply
Old 07-25-19 | 07:32 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 18
From: Boston, MA

Bikes: Trek Fuel EX, Trek Checkpoint

Originally Posted by csrpenfab
I really like my Revelate Designs top tube mount "Bento Box" Easily holds my phone, wallet, an energy bar, etc. with room to spare. Both my road and gravel bike have flat top tubes, so it stays put well. The magnetic catch makes it quite easy to access while on the move too.

I recently installed the same bag on my gray Trek. hah. It's working out very well. I normally drop my clothes/shoes and other big stuff off at work ahead time so i use this to simply carry phone/key/wallet/badge/sunglasses on my commute. It's basically a glove box for your bike. The only minor con is that you have to be a little careful when standing over the bike.
TXBDan is offline  
Reply
Old 07-25-19 | 08:12 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 917
Likes: 84
From: NE Tennessee

Bikes: Giant TCR/Surly Karate Monkey/Foundry FireTower/Curtlo Tandem

I use Rogue Panda Alamo and Alamogordo on a few of my bikes. You can pack quite a bit into them.
bakerjw is offline  
Reply
Old 07-25-19 | 08:35 AM
  #22  
taz777's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 865
Likes: 25
From: United Kingdom

Bikes: 5

A couple of mentions of the Flip-Belt earlier in this thread. I have a couple of these that I used to use when I was running and they do work well. Limited storage but enough for a phone, keys and maybe some cash.
taz777 is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Teamprovicycle
General Cycling Discussion
3
06-25-18 07:17 PM
Jean3n16
General Cycling Discussion
22
09-26-16 09:08 PM
TripleB67
Road Cycling
4
09-12-16 09:15 PM
Papa Tom
Commuting
45
03-10-16 12:01 PM
serra
Commuting
7
08-02-10 07:07 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.