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Saddle bags, yay or nay??

  • This topic has 34 replies, 34 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by Martyn_K.
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  • June 21, 2015 at 2:53 pm #24282
    Lee170

    I’m thinking about buying a saddle bag for essentials rather than having them in my jersey/jacket pocket.
    But the thing is i think they look a bit naff on the bike.
    On the other hand though it would be nice to have one so I don’t have to carry spares on me.
    Wanting something slim, enough room for tube,tool,lever, cable ties and maybe my phone.
    I like lezyne gear but I think the micro caddy maybe to small,
    Don’t want a big bag that sticks out, something that fits snug under the saddle
    Anyone got the bigger lezyne bag? Or any other brand for that matter that can recommend?

    Cheers

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Viewing 15 replies - 16 through 30 (of 34 total)
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  • June 22, 2015 at 6:25 pm #851093
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    crikey

    Had a number of saddle bags
    Had a number of saddle bags over the years, all of which failed in one way or another. I use an old bottle cut off half way with a couple of tubes, a multi tool and a CO2 canister in, wrapped in a bit of old teatowel.

    Easy to swap between bikes, if I do need two bottles I’ll stick a tube and CO2 in a pocket; please don’t do the mountain bike thing of taking a load of crap ‘just in case’; make sure your bike is roadworthy and you don’t need lots of stuff.

    June 22, 2015 at 6:10 pm #851091
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    andyp

    Love the Lezyne pods, but
    Love the Lezyne pods, but both of mine lasted around a year before the zips went. Back to pockets for me.

    June 22, 2015 at 5:56 pm #851089
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    nortonpdj

    Why are you bothered what it
    Why are you bothered what it looks like? Or maybe you’re a RaphaMan….

    June 22, 2015 at 1:57 pm #851087
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    willythepimp

    I have a Lezyne pod caddy
    I have a Lezyne pod caddy like this;

    http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Lezyne-Pod-Caddy-Saddle-Bag_78060.htm?sku=250918&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=AdwordsProductAds&utm_campaign=Adwords&gclid=CLu0yoy5o8YCFUPLtAodSNsOlw#

    It fits all of the essentials and is smart enough to not bake your bike look like it’s good lines are being besmirched by a messy velcro bag. QR fits onto the saddle rails, so to get bits out of it is no hassle at all.

    Mike Cotty has one on the Col Collective videos, and that settles the argument for and against for me.

    June 22, 2015 at 12:31 pm #851085
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    bikebot

    Tool bottle for shorter
    Tool bottle for shorter rides. Topeak aero bag when I want two bottles, large ortlieb saddle bag for long rides.

    To me, an overstuffed jersey looks much more ridiculous than a saddle bag ever will. And frame mounting the pump is fine as well!

    June 22, 2015 at 11:33 am #851083
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    arckuk

    I have previously had a
    I have previously had a Topeak, but found that a little bulky and rigid, so it wasn’t possible to really squeeze stuff in and feel all the space was being used.
    I have since purchased a Lezyne Caddy Medium Loaded, which comes with a multi-tool, tyre levers and stick-on patches. There’s room inside for some cash, an inner tube, CO2 head and 1 or 2 CO2 cartridges and a pair of spare contact lenses. I could maybe just fit another tube in if I really stuffed it. It tightens nicely onto the saddle rails, and holds its position well under the seat. By tightening the straps, you squash it down to a minimal size that minimises the eyesore factor to those who are easily offended! It’s something I can fit and forget – it rarely gets used or removed, but it’s always there when needed. Recommended!

    June 22, 2015 at 11:18 am #851081
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    mtm_01

    Training ride I just shove it
    Training ride I just shove it in pockets no problem.
    Longer rides & Audaxing, I go big and have one of the large Ortlieb saddle bags. Can put absolutely everything I need, a battery pack, all sorts of tools, extra food, rainjacket and so on.
    To me it looks more appropriate than the little diddly saddlebags swinging about.

    June 22, 2015 at 11:01 am #851079
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    ibr17xvii

    Not a fan of saddlebags at
    Not a fan of saddlebags at all as a general rule but the cyckit posted earlier looks decent.

    Much prefer the bottle option personally.

    June 22, 2015 at 8:52 am #851077
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    stevie63

    Not only do I use a Saddle
    Not only do I use a Saddle Bag-Topeak Aero wedge but I also use a top tube bag to keep food in on longer rides. I don’t care how naff it looks, all I care about is getting food out without having to scrabble around in my back pockets particularly when wearing a gilet (which with the wind that we have had this year has been on most rides). Who cares what others think, after all the majority of the cars and pedestrians think that we are a bunch of Lycra wearing idiots and that doesn’t bother us.

    June 22, 2015 at 8:51 am #851075
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    issacforce

    pockets r for food. saddlbags
    pockets r for food. saddlbags for spares

    June 22, 2015 at 6:59 am #851073
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    kookenhaken

    Carry your bits in your
    Carry your bits in your pockets or use a saddle bag when you’ve got too much to carry.

    June 21, 2015 at 11:44 pm #851071
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    Quince

    A neatly tucked away
    A neatly tucked away saddlebag is, in my opinion, a far more aesthetically pleasing option than turning the rider into a sort of backwards kangaroo. Bulging back pockets are not comfortable, aero, or attractive. There’s little point preserving the ‘clean lines’ of the bike if the rider looks like an overflowing garbage bag.

    And ‘bag’ can be a bit of a misnomer. You can get some solid cased ones (http://road.cc/content/review/118101-btwin-comp-04l-seat-post-bike-bag) that remove any risk of ungainly ‘floppage’ from the bike’s rear end.

    I recommend that one, by the way – providing it works with your saddle.

    June 21, 2015 at 10:46 pm #851069
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    kwi

    I use an aero wedge as I
    I use an aero wedge as I don’t fancy landing on stuff in my pockets, my last major off had me land on my back and my phone was in a central waterproof pocket, fortunately the 2 gels in the centre pocket took the impact not my spine. (Was quite a mess and at first I thought I had a bleed that hadn’t been noticed.)

    It really doesn’t bother me and I’ll probably continue to use one on the BMC I’m trying to get permission to buy, at least until some one starts following me in a car. And the modern offerings do look better than the leather tool roll I used to carry.
    Though I find I do have to empty it from time to time to give everything a chance to dry out as my multi tool is developing a thin layer of rust.

    June 21, 2015 at 10:19 pm #851067
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    Simon E

    Funny how a tiny saddlebag
    Funny how a tiny saddlebag under the seat can bother people so much. Once you’re on the bike it’s dwarfed by your big, fat arse 😉

    Look at reviews at wiggle. Topeak Aero Wedge that may be low on glamour but is robust and does the job fine.
    Continental and Schwalbe both make one just big enough for a tube and levers, though you might squeeze a house key or £10 note in as well:
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/continental-tube-bag-with-tube-and-tyre-levers/rp-prod39760
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/schwalbe-race-saddle-bag-inc-tube-tyre-levers/rp-prod83322

    Have you considered a tool bottle?
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-storage-tool-bottle-small/?curr=GBP&dest=1

    June 21, 2015 at 9:36 pm #851065
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    The Rake

    Maybe they look naff, but you
    Maybe they look naff, but you won’t see it while you are riding, and it’s a handy tool carrier. It’s like when the barber asks how you want the back of your hair – flat or tapered? – not bothered as I’ll never see it

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