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Carrying your load

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  • August 29, 2014 at 8:56 pm #22260
    bezz333

    Just a quicky

    Is it better to carry your inner tubes, CO2 canisters and multi tool beneath your saddle or carry them in your jersey pockets?

    If it’s on your person then your bike is lighter and so you can climb higher plus it makes your bike more streamline or does it not make a difference?

    What are your views.

    Andrew

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  • September 3, 2014 at 7:11 pm #812131
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    Daveyraveygravey

    MKultra wrote:It depends how

    MKultra wrote:
    It depends how you ride

    If it’s rough stuff kit is best in your pockets or in a camelbak or similar, this is down to what is known as “unsprung weight”. It’s normally a concept for bikes with front or full suspension, it’s best to have all the parts south of the head tube and rear suspension pivot as light as possible as it improves how well your bike tracks the terrain. On a rigid bike used for rough stuff such a crosser your legs and arms are the suspension so you want sprung weight instead – as in on your person.

    If it’s simply riding on smooth(ish) roads then it doesn’t matter where you carry kit, saddle bags are fine, even a carradice.


    What are these suspension pivot and camelbak of which you speak!?;-)

    September 2, 2014 at 10:12 pm #812129
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    bezz333

    Wow. Thanks for all your
    Wow. Thanks for all your comments

    I tried two things over the last few days. I carried all my tools in my jersey and went for a ride. So uncomfortable and not much room for any food?

    Managed to get 2 x tubes, 2 x Co2 canisters, pump head, leyzine multi tool, self adhesive patches, 2 x cable ties, 2 x thin latex gloves in my Topeak mini bag and carried some food in my jersey

    From what everyone was saying there is no difference in the feeling of the bike when climbing hills. I had plenty of space for a gillet and gels.

    OK it does spoil the look of the bike in my opinion having the bag on the back but for comfort and the possibility of knackering your back should you crash I think I will keep everything in my Topeag bag

    Plus I can simply slide the bag off one bike and slide it onto my winter bike knowing I won’t forget anything.

    Thanks everyone.

    September 2, 2014 at 10:12 pm #812127
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    bezz333

    Wow. Thanks for all your
    Wow. Thanks for all your comments

    I tried two things over the last few days. I carried all my tools in my jersey and went for a ride. So uncomfortable and not much room for any food?

    Managed to get 2 x tubes, 2 x Co2 canisters, pump head, leyzine multi tool, self adhesive patches, 2 x cable ties, 2 x thin latex gloves in my Topeak mini bag and carried some food in my jersey

    From what everyone was saying there is no difference in the feeling of the bike when climbing hills. I had plenty of space for a gillet and gels.

    OK it does spoil the look of the bike in my opinion having the bag on the back but for comfort and the possibility of knackering your back should you crash I think I will keep everything in my Topeag bag

    Plus I can simply slide the bag off one bike and slide it onto my winter bike knowing I won’t forget anything.

    Thanks everyone.

    September 1, 2014 at 3:23 pm #812125
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    MKultra

    It depends how you ride
    If
    It depends how you ride

    If it’s rough stuff kit is best in your pockets or in a camelbak or similar, this is down to what is known as “unsprung weight”. It’s normally a concept for bikes with front or full suspension, it’s best to have all the parts south of the head tube and rear suspension pivot as light as possible as it improves how well your bike tracks the terrain. On a rigid bike used for rough stuff such a crosser your legs and arms are the suspension so you want sprung weight instead – as in on your person.

    If it’s simply riding on smooth(ish) roads then it doesn’t matter where you carry kit, saddle bags are fine, even a carradice.

    September 1, 2014 at 12:23 pm #812123
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    paulrbarnard

    Daveyraveygravey wrote:Weight

    Daveyraveygravey wrote:
    Weight wise it doesn’t matter if it’s on you or the bike – you’re still working getting the “system” up the hill. I find there isn’t enough room in the bag and with 3 jersey pockets for everything you need…can’t imagine not having a saddle bag

    I think you will find that if you tape them to your rims it does make a difference đŸ˜‰

    August 31, 2014 at 9:46 pm #812121
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    bikebot

    Well I’m impressed, 16
    Well I’m impressed, 16 comments and no one has mentioned… “the rules”.

    I thought there was some cycling version of Godwin’s law the guaranteed such a mention within the first ten posts in any discussion such as this.

    August 31, 2014 at 9:46 pm #812119
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    bikebot

    Well I’m impressed, 16
    Well I’m impressed, 16 comments and no one has mentioned… “the rules”.

    I thought there was some cycling version of Godwin’s law the guaranteed such a mention within the first ten posts in any discussion such as this.

    August 31, 2014 at 8:23 pm #812117
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    adrianoconnor

    It has already been said by
    It has already been said by everybody else, but saddlebag’s are a great way to carry tools, CO2, spare tube, keys. Use your pockets for phone, cash, food, clothes and maybe a second spare tube.

    Most of the pros use saddlebags on training rides; there’s nothing wrong with them. Having a pump that attaches to your frame is a smart move too. I’ve got a Lezyne Road Drive that works really well for me.

    August 31, 2014 at 7:27 pm #812115
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    SideBurn

    Maggers wrote:Try taking your

    Maggers wrote:
    Try taking your bottle out of its cage and put it in your pocket.

    This trick only works while riding up Mont Aigoual

    August 31, 2014 at 5:29 pm #812113
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    Ratfink

    Tuck it down the front of
    Tuck it down the front of your shorts and cycle along with a smug look on your face.

    August 31, 2014 at 4:49 pm #812111
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    joemmo

    It’s better to mount your
    It’s better to mount your tools and paraphernalia on the handlebars than behind the saddle because it’s easier to push the extra weight up the hill rather than pull it.

    August 31, 2014 at 1:26 pm #812109
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    Maggers

    The weight is the same
    The weight is the same whichever but getting out of the saddle on a climb your having to lift the weight in your jersey pocket. Gets even worse if you swing about when hauling on the bars. Try taking your bottle out of its cage and put it in your pocket.

    August 31, 2014 at 12:23 pm #812107
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    ydrol

    The difference if you support
    The difference if you support weight on your body is this can affect comfort/cooling and possibly very slight skeletal/muscular load – your lower back needs to be treated with respect. Of course if you carry the weight on your knee that’s another discussion đŸ™‚

    August 30, 2014 at 3:30 pm #812105
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    Quince

    As many seem to have already
    As many seem to have already said, a small saddle bag can take a pretty impressive amount of stuff. It’s basically like a third bottle cage, but in a more aerodynamic* position, and… not where the existing bottle cages are.

    I had this conundrum before buying one. My bottle cages were needed for bottles and my pockets were needed for food and clothing (especially in the colder months), which left everything else in limbo. Enter saddlebag/Sandman.

    For anyone not constantly riding with a support vehicle laden with several spare bikes behind them, I think saddle bags are a wise investment.

    *I’ve never heard this stated, but I’m pretty sure it’s true.

    August 30, 2014 at 1:29 pm #812103
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    Trull

    I don’t carry anything on my
    I don’t carry anything on my person that could stab me if I came off. Its handy to have food in pockets, but a underseat bag is ideal for sharp tools/minipump/keys.

    After a few hours in the saddle, anything heavy/awkwardly shaped will cause your back to complain, so why do it?

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