The bag is made from waterproofed nylon hanging from a solid plastic top section. There's a single zip, and inside there's a neoprene sleeve to keep your tool from rattling around and enough room left over for a tube and a CO2 inflator, and that's about it. Even squeezing a puncture kit in there took some doing.
The Race Bag attaches to your saddle via a rotating lock; there's a section attached to the rails permanently, and you just twist the bag through 90 degrees to release it. That's super handy when you've stopped as you don't need to stoop down to dig out your tools. Once in place it feels sturdy and rattle free. There's a light loop on the back, and reflective piping too.
Our test sample got some rotten conditions to play with - most notably a very soggy Fred Whitton Challenge over tough Cumbrian roads in tough Cumbrian conditions - and it stayed dry inside throughout. Okay it's a bit of a squeeze to get everything in, but there's plenty of bigger seatpacks out there, even within this range, so there's no point moaning that this one is small; aside from that it performed admirably and it looks smart on the bike too.
road.cc test report
Make and model: SKS Race bag XS
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
The SKS RACE BAG XS can easily be attached to the saddle rails with no tools. A separate
compartment inside for a multi tool and water resistant material ensure all items are protected.
Other features: attachment loop for safety light and reflective piping.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
No fuss, no frills, just what you need.
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
No problems during testing and it had some bad weather to deal with
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
7/10
If you're complaining about a bag this big holding you back, you're scratching around for an excuse
Rate the product for value:
7/10
Decent value for the spend
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Well made, rattle-free
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
on the limit of what you might deem a useful size...
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Age: 38 Height: 190cm Weight: 98kg
I usually ride: whatever I'm testing... My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium with SRAM Apex
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track
Indeed - but it's no more inconsistent than our current road design - very often UK high streets are "for shopping" and also a busy through route....
I disagree, it's not up to the cyclist to police the road, had no car been coming the other way there's room to overtake safely if they cross the...
People who are subsidised* to make big holes in road (amongst other negative effects) complain about the holes in the road. Same people also...
Yes, obviously complain, a (registered) letter to the CEO perhaps? This should not have happened by Avanti's stated procedure....
If you ask the world's leading economic commentators how many people have been rescued from abject poverty by capitalism the average answer would...
loads of parking
I hate it when I can't find the obvious source of a puncture.
Now, if we're talking gravel bikes, that's a whole different story. Gimme, gimme, gimme! Apologies for the Facebook link....
The police are operationally independent, in fact the regional Police and Crime Commissioners have to swear in their oath of office that they will...
"'Right", said Fred, "we'll 'ave to get a move on…"