Speaking of backpacks, CamelBaks, jersey pockets and sweaty backs, anything that can't get wet better be in something waterproof if it is going in a jersey pocket. That folded up cue sheet is one example. There's always a chance that your GPS phone/electronic device will die and leave you with no direction out in the middle of BF--------(fill in the blank) It happened to me one time on a century in mid/late August in the sweltering heat/humidity of VA. I ended up doing 155 miles before I finally got back to the start/finish line. You can never have too much water capacity. I was stopping and filling up my bottles at rural churches at their outdoor faucets. I was at this rural school getting my bearings when the phone died. I took off hoping I was headed in the right direction only to end up back at that same f-n school about an hour later. Very demoralizing, to say the least.

This is a derail, but if you've never used waterproof paper, I recommend it. There are two kinds: there's printer paper, which is really a sort of printable plastic (different kinds for inkjets and laser printers), and notebooks, which use a sort of wax-coated paper that requires a special pen to write on. I've used both for different purposes. The printable stuff is extremely durable and looks great when printed.

Firms which cater to the performance crowd like Pactimo for instance. Pockets add weight, limit evaporation, and catch wind, don't you know? I have a jersey where it's hard to get 3 fingers in the pockets. Skin tight, man, just like in all those product photos of the Beautiful People. I can only wear it in my thin phase. Wonderful jersey though. I wear it on hot event rides, where it's the almost perfect thing. I usually put a Camelbak over it. - decreases wind resistance enough that they're UCI banned. Every little advantage, that's what I say. They used to shove sponges down their jersey backs. Maybe that's illegal now too.

Huh. That's not the case with Castelli. In fact the Podio jersey, which is my all-around racing and training jersey has a dropped pocket that extends below the hem. It fits better and it holds all sorts of stuff. I've gone out with phone, key, a small ziploc with ID, CC, and money, an epi-pen, armwarmers, and gloves. Oh and a gel.

As for tubes and repair kit, I use a saddle bag.

No kidding. Back when I randoed, I'd have a Garmin on a battery pack and a wired computer, plus a cue sheet. Always bring a ziploc to the start if you didn't put your own cue sheet in a bag ahead of time. People would ask me why I have a cue sheet displayed. Maybe some day they'd find out. Actually, I also bring a spare cue sheet in another ziploc in my saddle bag, still do. I once lost a cue sheet trying to turn it over and immediately go lost, back before bike electronics.

I've neither owned nor fondled Pactimo, so I'll have take your word for it. Still, Pactimo isn't exactly a super common brand so saying that "a lot" of jerseys can only fit gels seems like some fine hyperbole.

I commuted with a backpack for about a week. Humid mornings and sweat rolling down by back and saturating my undies was enough for me to get saddle bags. This was with a very pricy "cycling" backpack.