Springtime in the rockies can be interesting - hot and sunny, the cold and windy, then some rain or snow followed by hail and maybe sun again.

My bike (caad9 with no attachments for racks) is not equipped in any way to carry extra clothes for changing weather. Obviously I could use a backpack but I'd rather strap stuff to the bike if possible. I was thinking of a bungee around a jacket and my top tube but there are cables passing under and could bind. Saddle bag isn't big enough for my jacket or a pair of pants much less both plus tubes, etc.

Anyone have an ingenious method for carrying stuff on a bike without racks or packs?

Post haste QR rack? https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Haste-Qu.../dp/B000FGVJEA

Or this rack and bag combo: https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0052_203673_-1

maybe something like this on the bars?

Jersey pockets. I must look like some sort of reverse kangaroo or a camel when my pockets are full of clothes but who cares? Pockets don't require any setup and allow you access to your clothes while riding. I realize that you're going to stop to put on pants but I put on and take off my vest while riding all the time. Selecting clothing that compacts well makes it easier. Instead of a bulky heavy jacket, a vest and arm warmers. Instead of pants (pants? really? not tights?), knee warmers.

Wrapping clothing around the frame is a bad idea. Guess what happens when it comes loose and gets sucked into the rear wheel?

If you can't get everything into your jersey pockets, get a larger seat bag.

I'm very interested in finding an elegant solution for roadies, to the same problem. For bonus points, it should hold lunch.

I don't like jersey pockets.

I'd go with the handlebar bag over a seat rack. The seat post racks tend to move around when bumped or parking, get in the way of dismount, etc. Seem efficient but are a minor nuisance.

Another option is a bigger seat bag

This is the elegant solution for most stuff. I have seen people tape gels to the top tube.

Right, I meant tights. They are somewhat warm for cooler weather. My jacket is also for cool weather but has zip off sleeves so I can get a fairly good range. Both are somewhat bulky and won't stuff into a jersey pocket well if at all. I don't have the funds to buy new clothes atm so looking for a cheap solution.

Point taken about clothes attached to the bike, but I was kind of hoping that could somehow be accomplished as that seems the simplest and cheapest solution. If attached well it should should come off and putting it in a plastic bag would prevent sleeves, etc. from slipping out.

Carousel Design Works seat bags and Awesome straps.

Or you could just get 'bent (note yellow seat bag which holds everything and then some)....

I use a Giant brand handlebar bag for my long rides with unknown conditions. holds a spare tire, full fingered gloves, lunch, spare co2, arm warmers, leg warmers, and a wind breaker. Plus it has a clear top where you can insert a route sheet or other notes you may have. Used it on every self supported century I've done, and while it sometimes goes unused, the times I've needed it have made me very glad I had it.

https://wheelworld.com/product/giant-...ag-44673-1.htm

Handlebar bag is one way... The new (improved) Axiom Streamliner Road Dlx looks like a good solution for putting a rack on a road bike. I'm thinking of getting one. Insist on the improved version!

You could just roll the jacket up and attach it under the saddle using little bungies.



Like this, only forget about the bag itself, just roll up the jacket making sure the sleeves don't stick out and lash it to the back of the saddle. Put the tights in your jersey pocket and you are all set.

It's frustrating, I know, all the specialized clothing and accessories that come with cycling. If you are really into the sport, I would save up my pennies and get some basics: arm and leg warmers, windproof vest, and rain jacket. If they are cycling specific, usually they can roll up small enough to put into a jersey pocket. And they last forever if you take care of them. Add some insulating layers (wool or synthetic, never cotton) for days when it is consistently cold, and you can mix and match anywhere from near freezing rain to 80deg and sunny.

I ride a small frame (49cm) , and with the largest seatbag I can fit (which barely clears the top of the rear wheel by a centimeter), I can fit my windbreaker. If I roll them up tightly enough, I can probably also fit some leg or knee warmers in there. Of course, this means everything else (money/atmcard, gels, phone), have to go into my jersey pockets or a bento box. If there are plenty of water stops along the way, and you can get away with only one water bottle, you can stuff a 2nd water-bottle with other supplies as necessary. I once stuffed my windbreaker in a waterbottle.

I have used the Topeak Dynapack in the past with great success.. They have a 10lb weight limit.. They have to attach to alloy seatpost..

https://topeak.com/products/Bags/DynaPackDX_raincover

https://topeak.com/products/Bags/DynaPack

If none of the Fredly suggestions here turn you off, get a seatpost mounted rack and be done with it.

Funny how he suggests he's not in a position to afford new stuff and yet, all the advice is to...

...wait for it...

...buy new stuff.

Bicycle specific clothing is how you solve problem for reals, but until then, he sounds like he's gotta make do with what he has. He's trying to find a solution more elegant than tying the jacket around his waist.

Also, Fred called and he wants his seatpost mounted rack back.

I don't know how compactable your jacket truly is, but if you have bottle cages, you can store stuff inside one of the bottles.

I could probably stick in there a capo long sleeve jersey, few nutrition bars and tools. Good luck.

That's kind of par for the course here. "I'm looking for a $600 road bike." "Get a $1800 caad." and such.

Anyway, my clothes are cycling specific but jacket is not one of the uber thin stuff it in an altoids can type but a 3 season (fall, winter, spring) jacket so it's a bit bulky. Tights are slightly bulky too. I don't have arm and leg warmers so I'm making due with the clothes I have and I doubt I'll be too hot if I need them. Might need them all day and therefore don't have to carry them.

Seems best suggestion so far is a handlebar bag (or the dreaded backpack). I need my bottle cages for water, but guess I could carry a bottle in a jersey pocket but I don't think my bottle cage will hold the clothes any better.

If I could figure a way to have the brake cable not bind, I still think wrapping around the toptube is a potential solution. If you can suspend a jacket by lashing it to the saddle, why not to the top tube. Although knees might hit it. Guess I may just have to carry a pack.

Hey jp, I swear I'm not stalking you . I don't know if folks from other areas get the climate and altitude stuff we have to deal with in CO. It's pretty hard to bring the right clothes in your pockets if you are doing a long ride that goes from 5000-10,000 feet, with temperature variations possibly from 90 in the plains to 40 and hailing/snowing/raining in the mountains, and then you have to descend in that weather. So, yeah, some of us resort to fredliness in order to carry enough clothes to not freeze. Sure, lots of roadies just deal with the pocket space issue, but it's worth having options.

THere are a few light weight seatpost clip on packs. Detours used to make a great one, but it's not on their web site right now. It was called the Hightail UL (UL for Ultra Light). There are a few version of it - UL, ULP, EXP, etc.

Here's one site that has it
https://schwabcycles.com/product/deto...ag-54845-1.htm

Probably not that different from the Topeak one linked above. Any of those seatpost clamp-on things shouldn't be used with a carbon seatpost, unfortunately.

I prefer this pack over the leather & canvas ones, not just for style (I'm not a retro-style-lover) but also because they are much much lighter weight.

You're going to find it's worth investing in legwarmers, armwarmers and a lightweight jacket, though. Don't waste your time with cheap stuff, buy good stuff once. It doesn't have to be Assos or Castelli, but it shouldn't be Performance brand either.

Life would probably be more interesting if I had a stalker or two.

Thanks for the tips. I'm working on my clothing collection but don't expect to add to it for a few months so looking for options in the interim. I may have to get a handlebar bag or seat post rack. My seat post is carbon but I think only carbon wrapped so maybe one of these racks is okay.

Tennis ball can in the bottle cage.

It sounds like the bulkiest thing you have to deal with is your jacket (although the tights are probably a close second). I would try finding or making a small nylon stuff sack for it and using a bungie to attach it to the rails under your saddle (like you do with a tubular tire). That's a much safer place than the top tube (as an earlier post noted). Everything else goes in the jersey pockets. I suspect that's the cheapest solution if you can't afford a decent saddle bag for now. If you can get a nice pair of arm warmers you can just push them down around your wrists when you get hot- that's one piece of gear that you then won't have to stow at all.

Bundle up the jacket and bungee it to the handlebars.

You just need a light shell jacket, arm and knee warmers. All this will stuff into your pockets.