Which saddle bag and what to put in it?

[blackfrancois]

So, for the tupperware of leftovers did you also include some silverware and a picnic set for an al fresco lunch on the road?

ummm ... i really needed a microwave and a spoon.

that davidson is an '84. i sold it late last year and bought two others from '87. then, this week, i bought another from '82. i can't stop.

[PBL450]

I know that search and thread history aren’t very friendly on this site, even easy attempts can yield lots of great results. This is a pretty common topic. There are extremely well thought out posts to be had if you look.

[greatscott]

I found a really inexpensive bag on Amazon called the BV Bicycle Strap-on Bicycle saddle bag in a large size, but it expands from 0.7 to 1.0 liter, for just $10 a couple of years ago and the darn thing works great (it went up to $12), in fact it's holding up better than my previous $24 bag! The fabric feels thick and very durable. It's big enough to hold my extra tube, a mini tool, usual affair of tire fixing tools, and of course patch kit and still have space for the cell phone and a protein bar. It even has a strap on the back to hang a light but I hang mine on the seat tube; and it has reflective stripping. That price can't be beat for this sort of quality and expansion ability.

[davesupra]

I prefer using a frame bag. Easy to get into while you are riding, keeps the weight low, and it's big without being an aero drag.

[greatscott]

I prefer using a frame bag. Easy to get into while you are riding, keeps the weight low, and it's big without being an aero drag.

Not sure what you mean by aero drag, I think you mean those huge suitcase style seat bags, I can see your point with those especially if that's all your using in regards to bags.

But I tour with rear panniers and handlebar bags, and being aero is the last thing on my mind when touring. I'm not going all that fast anyways to make much of an effect with being aero when touring, also when touring people are carry a lot of extra weight, and they're using wide heavy tires, they're setting more upright, so really being aero just doesn't come into the equation; in fact having more aero dynamic drag helps with keeping the bike at a slower descent speed down steep roads.

[azpeterb]

I found a really inexpensive bag on Amazon called the BV Bicycle Strap-on Bicycle saddle bag in a large size, but it expands from 0.7 to 1.0 liter, for just $10 a couple of years ago and the darn thing works great (it went up to $12), in fact it's holding up better than my previous $24 bag! The fabric feels thick and very durable. It's big enough to hold my extra tube, a mini tool, usual affair of tire fixing tools, and of course patch kit and still have space for the cell phone and a protein bar. It even has a strap on the back to hang a light but I hang mine on the seat tube; and it has reflective stripping. That price can't be beat for this sort of quality and expansion ability.

Thanks for the tip. I looked this up on Amazon and I think I might give the medium bag a try. I use a frame pump so don't need to put cartridges in it, but it would be nice to fit my small cell phone (Apple SE) and I think the medium size would work. I'm going to order one and try it out. Here's a link if anyone is interested:

https://www.amazon.com/BV-Bicycle-St...bag&th=1&psc=1

[taodemon]

I just carry everything in a ziplock bag in my back pocket. Tube, irons, co2, cash, expired id, etc. I used to have one but when it eventually wore out and had a strap break I was slow to replace and got used to the look of the bike without the luggage.

[Methodical]

Just replaced this.

5DM36688.jpg

With this.

5DM36686.jpg

Works much better and takes up a whole lot less space in my small bag.

5DM36690.jpg

[greatscott]

I just carry everything in a ziplock bag in my back pocket. Tube, irons, co2, cash, expired id, etc. I used to have one but when it eventually wore out and had a strap break I was slow to replace and got used to the look of the bike without the luggage.

The problem with carrying stuff in a rear jersey pocket is if you crash and by chance land with your full body weight on something hard like a CO2 cart it can badly bruise a kidney or damage a back; or while your crashing the jersey moves just right to get the tire iron to move and then you land getting stabbed somewhere. Not possible you say? I knew a guy whos mini frame pump ruined his back in a crash and needed fusion not to mention he couldn't ride his bike anymore without signicant pain.

[velodog]

The problem with carrying stuff in a rear jersey pocket is if you crash and by chance land with your full body weight on something hard like a CO2 cart it can badly bruise a kidney or damage a back; or while your crashing the jersey moves just right to get the tire iron to move and then you land getting stabbed somewhere. Not possible you say? I knew a guy whos mini frame pump ruined his back in a crash and needed fusion not to mention he couldn't ride his bike anymore without signicant pain.

Also you look like a domestique running errands for the team leader.

[No Time Toulouse]

I gave an handlebar bag a try and have been quite happy with it. It gets in the way of riding on the tops, but I never spent much time there anyhow. There's plenty of room in the bag, doesn't affect the handling and is pretty unobtrusive, well except for riding on the tops. Mine is a canvas Acorn, but there are other brands and materials out there. ........

I have an older Cannondale-branded handlebar bag which has a removable mount. this way it keeps from constricting your cables under the bar tape, you can easily remove it to bring inside, and it doesn't flop to and fro while riding, either.

Here's a pic of it on the bike. I know that this model was still being made only a couple of years ago, but not sold under the Cannondale brand. Costs a bit over $50, if I remember correctly.
DSCF0008.JPG

[Methodical]

The crashing scenario sounds very plausible. I can see some of that happening, too, not for me. I'd rather keep all that crap in the bag. It probably doesn't feel too comfortable with all that stuff, stuffed in a jersey pocket, either, but whatever one likes.

[taodemon]

Also you look like a domestique running errands for the team leader.

Hardly, it all fits in a sandwich ziploc with some room to spare. I still have room for a century's worth of gels/bars in the 2nd pocket and phone in 3rd. If I crash there are plenty of hard objects to injure myself on including the bike itself, other bikes, rocks etc.

If anything I need to stop being cheap and pick up something like this:
https://www.sfbags.com/products/cycling-ride-pouch

[bvber]

If I crash there are plenty of hard objects to injure myself on including the bike itself, other bikes, rocks etc.

But what the other guys are saying is, why not reduce the risk.

[colnagoG60]

...If anything I need to stop being cheap and pick up something like this:
https://www.sfbags.com/products/cycling-ride-pouch

FWIW, Sticky Pod is $17...they have two different sizes:

[Oxtox]

Hardly, it all fits in a sandwich ziploc with some room to spare. I still have room for a century's worth of gels/bars in the 2nd pocket and phone in 3rd. If I crash there are plenty of hard objects to injure myself on including the bike itself, other bikes, rocks etc.

If anything I need to stop being cheap and pick up something like this:
https://www.sfbags.com/products/cycling-ride-pouch

I use two heavy-duty ziploks (not the wimpy sammie bags) that some Amazon purchases came in..

two tubes in one in the left pocket, CO2 rig, carts, tire levers in the other on the right. they roll up very compactly and don't even completely fill the pocket. leaves the center pocket for phone, windbreaker, arm warmers, etc.

that Waterfield product looks nice, but no way I'm spending $80 for something that free ziploks accomplish nicely.

[PBL450]

FWIW, Sticky Pod is $17...they have two different sizes:

Thats what I use, I have both sizes but I almost always use the small one. Great company to deal with also. I don’t use a saddle bag but I know that the risk on added injury is there, especially from the mini pump I carry in my pocket.

[greatscott]

Thats what I use, I have both sizes but I almost always use the small one. Great company to deal with also. I don’t use a saddle bag but I know that the risk on added injury is there, especially from the mini pump I carry in my pocket.

Well at least put the tube in a tube sock to keep it from getting punctured; by tube sock I don't mean what the picture shows; but rather this: https://biketubebrand.com/accessories/tubesock

[taodemon]

FWIW, Sticky Pod is $17...they have two different sizes:

I use two heavy-duty ziploks (not the wimpy sammie bags) that some Amazon purchases came in..
...
that Waterfield product looks nice, but no way I'm spending $80 for something that free ziploks accomplish nicely.

The waterfield was just one of the first things that came up on google and not necessarily the specific ones I had seen in the past, and while it does seem nice it's more than I'm willing to spend. The previous ones I had seen weren't cheap either.

The sticky pod for $17 on the other hand seems like an excellent option. I'll probably order one of those for the start of the season. I would probably go with the smaller one as well. I typically have phone in its own pocket for easy access so there should be plenty of room in there for all the essentials.

[colnagoG60]

The waterfield was just one of the first things that came up on google and not necessarily the specific ones I had seen in the past, and while it does seem nice it's more than I'm willing to spend. The previous ones I had seen weren't cheap either.

The sticky pod for $17 on the other hand seems like an excellent option. I'll probably order one of those for the start of the season. I would probably go with the smaller one as well. I typically have phone in its own pocket for easy access so there should be plenty of room in there for all the essentials.

One of these days I'll make the effort to get my (2) tubes to fit like in the picture, so I can carry my phone in there as well. It'll free up a jersey pocket as I carry it in a separate pouch. I'll have to get the current sticky pod though...I have the older one and it doesn't have the sealed section.

That Waterfield is nice though. If going for the Sicky Pod, get (2), just in case. It may have zipper issues if it has to stretch too much.