Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

forum
road.cc bike forum

The ultimate saddle bag

by survivor
Wed, Dec 13, 2017 05:33
40

Several close friends and I have been working on a bicycle saddle bag prototype and would like to get some inputs and feedbacks from fellow cyclists here. We want to make sure we are on the right path to help address the issues that current saddle bags have.

As avid cyclists ourselves, we often time have our dilemmas when it comes to saddle bag. Practical or aesthetic? Size or storage? At one hand we want the saddle bag practicality of carrying around the essentials items like spare tubes and multitools during our rides. On the other hand we want to keep the clean aesthetic of our bike. In the case where the practical sense won the first dilemma, we typically still need to trade off between storage space or utterly bulky saddle bag. Even the ones least concern with aesthetic would shake their heads staring at the brick like saddle bag hanging below the bicycle saddle. Majority of the saddle bags in the market today are boxy and black, which doesn’t help to promote the saddle bag’s stylish or aesthetic aspect.

What do you guys look for when choosing a saddle bag? What is in your wish list of the ultimate saddle bag? If you are not a saddle bag user today, what is holding you back and what will make you switch camp?

Would you be interested if there is a saddle bag that can do the following?
1. Compact enough to carry most of your essential items. Think 2 spare tubes, 2 tire levers,  2 CO2 canisters, Multitools with chain tool, patch kit, all these in a compact form factor.
2. Stylish enough to not ruin your bike aesthetic, this can be quite subjective and personal but assume it meets your styling requirement.
3. Quick attach and release. Much faster than dealing with Velcro.
4. Abundant styling/color choices.

We love to hear your inputs and hopefully we will be able to create something that all the cyclists want to use. Thanks!

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

40 comments

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to survivor | 7 years ago
0 likes

survivor wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Dimensions for a snug racing bike type saddle bag should be circa 16cmx10x13cm LxDxW

The dimension of the prototype that we are working for is more compact than 16cmx10cmx13cm LxDxW so hopefully it will be snug enough smiley

Too small and it then becomes less useful for the sake of a few extra cm, my tyre repair cannister (for riding tubs) is 15cm long, if I can't get that in lengthways then the bag is no good to me as I'd have to have that in my jersey pocket.

having measured out the space with the tool, cannister etc it should be 16x8x10 and no less, any smaller and it isn't a useful saddle bag IMHO unless you don't want to take things like a spare tube plus multitool plus two decent tyre levers, and there are already inexpensive very small bags on the market already.

How do you propose to attach such a small bag to the saddle, singular clip, how are you angling the bag, vertical, horizontal or at an angle to match the seatpost?

Avatar
survivor replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
0 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

survivor wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Dimensions for a snug racing bike type saddle bag should be circa 16cmx10x13cm LxDxW

The dimension of the prototype that we are working for is more compact than 16cmx10cmx13cm LxDxW so hopefully it will be snug enough smiley

Too small and it then becomes less useful for the sake of a few extra cm, my tyre repair cannister (for riding tubs) is 15cm long, if I can't get that in lengthways then the bag is no good to me as I'd have to have that in my jersey pocket.

having measured out the space with the tool, cannister etc it should be 16x8x10 and no less, any smaller and it isn't a useful saddle bag IMHO unless you don't want to take things like a spare tube plus multitool plus two decent tyre levers, and there are already inexpensive very small bags on the market already.

How do you propose to attach such a small bag to the saddle, singular clip, how are you angling the bag, vertical, horizontal or at an angle to match the seatpost?

 

There is not many cycling items that cyclists would bring during their ride that is 15cm or longer.  Frankly we haven't design our bag to store the tyre repair cannister. But perhaps it is something we need to look at in our design iterations. We are still finalizing our design so we may throw that in if it make sense.

Like I mentioned we are still finalizing a lot of our design details and there are still alot of options/selections that we need to go through. I will definitely share the details with you once we are finalized.

Avatar
survivor | 7 years ago
0 likes

Thanks for the valuable inputs!

There is definitely no one size fits all for saddle bag storage. We think in general cyclists would want the saddle bag to be visually unobtrusive. So I guess the ultimate solution would be something compact enough to fit the absolute essentials yet have the capability to expand for more items if needed and still remains visually unobtrusive while in compact or expanded mode. And it needs to be compact enough to not rub the bibs.

Looks like the ability to do quick release/attachment for bike swap is something important as well and we will definitely take that into consideration.

Avatar
tugglesthegreat | 7 years ago
0 likes

I went for the Evoc tour for £15, will hold two 700c x 40 tubes and my tools.  It has internal mesh pockets on the sides and flap it has tarp material in the middle section for durability and for easy clean.  I generally use it for gravel events and it has been caked in mud and cleans well.  I guess you could argue that this adds weight!  Depends on your priorities.

The fit is really secure and fast, and it is out of the way so no rubbing when peddling.

  

Avatar
longassballs | 7 years ago
3 likes

I don't think there is a perfect saddlebag as it depends on the application and bike e.g. I carry different things between my 29er mtb and road bike, but assuming you're talking road I really like my Castelli XL. They've embraced the black boxy look by making it a ... black oblong. With no concessions to aero-ness it looks all the better. Fits two tubes, multitool, levers and a few odd ends. Don't like CO2 which I would only use if racing, which I don't, so the elastic strap under the bag for a pump suits me great. Although, I was stretching it a bit fitting in a medium sized Lezyne Pressure Drive that I subsequently lost after working itself loose that was my fault. The replacement size small fits great. So my perfect bag would have a secure fastening for a pump on the outside of the bag.

If I raced I'd use a minimal saddle roll. If mtb a 29" tube can be awkward to fit anywhere, never mind two. If on cx bike I can't fit two tubes either, which I'd like to.

I actually need a solution for my Mother's bike. She rides a 29" hardtail which in hindsight should have been 27.5" as it's too big for her and has very little seat tube showing. I got her a saddle roll so she'd have enough room to put on a rear light but the light isn't very visible and she can't fit a tube in the roll. Probably should get her a top tube bag. There are a hell of a lot of 'casual' cyclists who have little seatpost showing who need a dedicated tool bag elsewhere whereas these bags are marketed usually as food bags so don't buy them

Avatar
theRomfordRider | 7 years ago
0 likes

I use the Thule Pack 'n Pedal Seat Bag in the winter as it hold way more than my summer bag and it's water resistant too.

I carry two tubes, two CO2, multi tool and two tyre levers, and if i pack it right sometimes my mini pump.

 

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/bike-accessories/panniers/thule-pack-n-pe...

Avatar
andyp | 7 years ago
0 likes

All I carry on a ride: Two tubes, patches, multitool, cash. Plenty of options available to carry that.

Avatar
sergius | 7 years ago
0 likes

I carry:

- Two tubes (after "the" incident)

- Tyre levers

- Multi-tool

- Tyre boots/self-adhesive puncture repair patches

- A valve core tool (again, after "the" incident)

 

Everything is stored in freezer bags for easy packing and waterproofing (plus a silica gel packet in with the multi-tool)

 

I currently use a Topeak one which is the best of the many I've tried.  Quick release from the saddle, expandable if needed and has a loop for a light when the light isn't so good.

I hate the asthetics of saddle bags - but I'm not prepared to fill up my jersey with tools.  It's already got enough in it with phone + food.

Avatar
Sevenfold | 7 years ago
1 like

I prefer to have as much as I can in my saddlebag so I can leave my jersey pockets for food. So I carry 2 inner tubes, CO2 + 2 spare cartridgers, multi-tool, 2 large tyre levers, patch kit & spare chain links, packaway jacket & a couple of cable ties. The Topeak bag I currently use is quick release & expandable (great idea & worth incorporating in your design) but no longer made which is a shame as mine is 7 years old & starting to show its age. Each bike I have has the same quick release on the saddle rails so it is easy to move from bike to bike. I'll second the loop for a rear light.

Avatar
Welsh boy | 7 years ago
1 like

I think you are trying to get too much in there.  If you only have 2 CO2 canisters anything more than 2 tubes (your patch kit) is pointless and personally I think multi tools are a waste of time, carry a 4mm, 5mm and 5mm allen key, that is enough for most roadside repairs.  I carry my stuff in a medium size bottle box which means i can also carry a small pump for those emergencies where you run out of CO2.

In answer to your question, I dont like velco fasteners around a seatpost, i have ruined an ecpensive pair of leggings in one ride where the velcro rubbed against my leg so i would like to see some form of saddle mounted bracket so it is easy to swap the saddle pack between bikes, something like Topeak use.  It must also have a loop for a rear light which doesn't leave your light pointing down at the floor like so many do.

Pages

Latest Comments