jtgotsjets

I didn't expect so many people to be hostile to the idea of having some emergency cash on your bike. It's just a $20, if your bike gets stolen, you have much bigger things to worry about. On the other hand, if you just happen to forget your wallet, a $20 stashed somewhere could be very important.

In any case, an extra water bottle can be a nice place to store stuff like money, keys, etc. A cheap water bottle isn't going to attract the attention of 95% of thieves (a pump... I figure there are at least a few thieves who probably thing a mini pump is some extraordinary feat of engineering and therefore worth money) and nobody expects anything but water to be inside of them. Specifically I recall a thread from Commuting where a rider going home at some ungodly hour was stopped and shaken down by the police (for no real reason other than people out at 3 am are a little suspicious by nature). I believe he consented to a search or something... Point is, the cop checked his pockets and his seat bag or pannier very carefully but never checked his water bottle (where he had his keys and other items). Think of all the drugs you could fit in a water bottle!

Velo Dog

What I say, too. Put it in your pocket. If somebody steals your bike, you'll have money for Starbuck's while you wait for a ride. If they steal your pants, you can still ride home.

LowCel 

I keep a baggie in my jersey pocket, it contains a tube, two CO2's, a patch kit, and $5. It came in really handy last week when I did an impromptu century and had no food.

Booger1

I'm not trying to be hostile,I just don't get it.I can understand putting your I.D. in the frame if it gets stolen.

I wear normal clothes,maybe that's why I don't get it.I've "lost" my wallet once in 50 years,at gunpoint.

Keith99

That explains a lot. How far do you ride? Many riders who wear cycling specific clothes will do a 30-50 mile ride on the spur of the moment (or for some the better chance for issues is a group ride that starts earlier then they would like). Either way forgetting to transfer a wallet from the pants pocket to the jersey pocket is pretty easy. Heck I've seen riders who drive to a early ride start forget to take their water bottles, either left in the fridge at home or if running late left in the car.

Somehow many of the posters on this thread have gone off into left field about crime. The issue is not crime, it is oops no wallet or oh crap only 2 bucks in the wallet. And guess what, 95% of the time you find out about either of these only when you are about to pay and reach for the missing wallet or find there is no cash. Things are getting better, but there are still a few places that have minimums for plastic and a handful that do not accept it at all.

pgpdlr

I have always put a $20 bill under the sole liner of one of my cycling shoes. Other than some potential rust accumulation due to the cleat screws "bleeding" on the bill, this has worked for me as emergency money. Just don't let the person you hand this bill to know where it came from!

garethzbarker

love this idea. going to stash 20$ in mine from now on.

hotbike

Everyone here is missing the obvious!

Remember the old trick of "booting" a tire, when the cut or hole was too big for a patch alone?

A folded up dollar bill between the tire and tube!

So you could just as easily carry a twenty note between the tire and tube. Maybe you could put it between the tube and rim-tape, so you won't feel it bumping.

Booger1

I haven't driven a car on a daily or weekly basis in over 30 years.I ride about 250-300 miles a week,depending.The farthest I've ridden in 1 day is 140 miles,and I've ridden as far as L.A.-Denver-L.A.,so it isn't the clothes I don't think.

I knew there was a reason I didn't like kits,must of been I didn't have enough pockets,or it looked funny with all those
lights/waterbottles/fuel bottles/fenders w/mudflaps/frame pump/racks/panniers/handlebar/seat bags on my bike. LOL!

If I hide a bill on my bike somewhere,it would take me an hour to find it.

Paul Y.

pin a jackson to your undershirt.

slowandsteady

Me too.

Davey62

i use the seat post