Lurker1999

I bought a Topeak medium aero wedge thinking I would use it to haul some of my things around on some easy leisure rides/commutes. But I can't get the thing to actually fit onto my saddle. I've got a stock Jamis Coda Sport which has a "Jamis Touring with SL top and satin steel rails" saddle. When I have the aero pack clip attached to the saddle the pack is squashed really tightly up against my seat post, plus it blocks my tail-light mount.

So I think I'm sending it back but now I need something to haul around:

Treo 650 (largish cellphone)
Alien II multi-tool
1 spare tube (700cx28)
1 small patch kit
keys & wallet would be nice but not necessary

Any ideas? I put a Topeak explorer rack on the back where I've got my U-lock stashed at the moment.

Michigander

Get a backpack. That way you can carry a hydration bladder too.

roadfix

a larger saddle bag?

serpico7

The Topeak Aero Wedge medium comes in 2 flavors - straps and quick release. It sounds like you're using the QR version (plastic piece bolted to the rails). Try using the strap version - that should fit w/o a problem. Should fit all your stuff, and some more if you expand the pack by unzipping the expansion wedge. Plus the pack has 2 straps underneath that you can use to hold more stuff down (maybe a Powerbar or two).

khuon

My rule for carrying stuff is that things that are for the bike go into the saddle pack and things for me personally go on me. Thus things like wallet, keys and phone go in my pockets while tools, tubes and such go in my saddle-pack. I describe what I carry and where in a a previous post. As far as my saddle-pack itself, I use the Toepeak QR Aero Wedge in size small.

bikeferret

I use the same wedge. I just used some wire to tie on my rear blinkie to the big fabric strap on the back. Works great, still solid for over 1k miles.

khuon

I don't seem to have a problem with the wedge blocking my blinkie but I also attach a blinkie to the wedge as well as mount another on the seatpost itself. I have additional blinkies at the end of my drops as well as a pivoting helmet-mounted blinkie. The seatpost blinkie and the helmet mounted blinkie are from Planet Bike. The blinkie attached to the saddle-pack is a CatEye. And the handlebar blinkies are from Performance.

Mariner Fan

Do you have your saddle pushed forward? If so, just buy a seatbag with straps.

Khuon, cool picture of your bike.

Lurker1999

Thanks for all of the feedback. I'm sending the medium aero wedge back. And yes, it's the one that has the QR rails attached. I'm going to pick up a small one with the strap from REI if I can find one. It'll be more expensive than buying it mail order but easier to exchange if it doesn't work out.

khuon

How do you have the QR bracket mounted on your saddle? I actually have mine all the way against the back end of the rail and mounted diagonally.



Topeak also sells a special QR bracket called the F22 meant for "racing saddles" which may do the trick for you. It positions the mounting point further back. I'm thinking of trying it out myself. I also have a medium sized aero-wedge which I don't use because it's sort of more room than I need but also because it gets scrunched up when mounted.

Or you might want to try the F33 bracket which is actually meant for sprung saddles but may work for you too. It positions the pack more vertically but negates use of the forward securing Velcro loop.

cyclezealot

I have different needs for different weather conditions. For cold, damp weather. I carry so much stuff, I take a bike that allows for a pannier. Warm , clear weather riding , my road bikes' wedge offers enough space. I have a small streamlined handlebar bag by Madden for imbetween conditions.

Lurker1999

I had it mounted all the way back, similar to your photo. I saw the two other quick release mounts and the racing mount may be what I need as it puts the clip further in the back. I think I'm in a similar position as you because the medium wedge seems to be more room than I really need. I've got it down to a spare tube, Alien II multi-tool and patch kit for what I wanted to carry.

On weekend rides I figure I could just use a trunk bag since I've got a rack attached now if I planned to stop somewhere for a snack, etc.

mlts22 

I have an ancient (think circa 1993) Blackburn saddlebag, and still is great. It uses decently strongvelcro to ensure it remains on the bike, and two different closure methods to keep whatever is in the saddleback, in the saddlebag.

KingTermite 

Be creative with packing...all that can fit in a saddle bag easily!

wonderflee

If you have two water bottle cages, use one water bottle to carry stuff. The water bottle has to have a large lid but I can put in my pocket tool, cell phone, wallet, spare tube inside the bottle. Just be careful you don't lose the bottle.

rando

a large handlebar bag could carry all that. that's all I use anymore.

Lurker1999

Thanks for the helpful replies. The water bottle idea is pretty clever and I'll be sure to exploit that at some point in time. I may end up getting a handle bar bag for some of the weekend rides where I plan to stop along the way.

I ended up picking up a Novara Small Wedge Seat Bag from REI. While I was there I looked at what other bags they had available. The Topeak small wedge was still too unwieldy as far as I could tell (with the quick release, no strap versions were available) and the micro won't fit a tube, small patch kit and the Alien II. But this Novara wedge is perfect. It has a twist release and after mounting it on the seat rails I zip-tied a Cateye LD-600 to the LED loop so I still only have one thing to take off the rear of the bike (bag+rear blinkie vs. just rear blinkie).

I can jam a spare tube, patch kit and multi-tool in there and probably have a tiny bit of extra room for something else, perhaps a couple of bandaids/tiny first aid kit.

HardyWeinberg

I use the same wedge-bag; when I don't have my panniers, I do have all the above (minus patch kit); phone, keys, wallet go into fanny-pack around my waist. (when I do have panniers, the fanny-pack is in one of them).

khuon

The water bottle idea is a good idea. I once carried a spare folding tyre inside an empty water bottle. It was a good thing I did too since one of my riding partners ended up having to use it following multiple slashes on her tyre. Problem Solvers is actually selling a "case" that fits into the water bottle cage. It's called the Cage Rocket.



I got a free cheapo version from my bike club during one ride.



Also, I'm not sure if you've looked through my previous posts but you might want to consider a Bento Box. I sometimes carery one or two of them to supplement storage capacity.

Lurker1999

You know, I saw one of those at REI today (large size). I resisted buying it on that trip because I wasn't quite sure what I would put in there. But I can definitely see the advantages of using a Bento Box over a monsterous rack trunk that weighs 2-3 pounds empty.

Lurker1999

In case anyone's looking for the Bento box, Nashbar has a knock off version here described as a Nashbar Goodie Stasher. It's a bit hard to find since it doesn't appear in their listings under bags. Currently it's being offered at $5.99.

Dimensions are given as 5" long x 3 1/2" tall x 1 1/2 wide which are comparable to the large Bento box.