[Closed] Gravel riding - phone and keys ?

Will they jump out my jersey pocket on bumpier gravel stuff ?

This is why most jerseys have a zip pocket, no?

Loads of tops have zip pockets.

A running belt is very handy for this, especially in the summer when just in a tshirt

You’ve got a gravel bike but no frame bag?!

You need a specific gravel phone with a lightly treaded case. It should be slightly thicker than a road phone case but not as bulky as an MTB one as it might drag when removing it from your pocket 🤣😂

If he taking his thick phone case should he take his smart phone or his dumb phone?
Take a key, singular on a bit of string round your neck. Maybe two if titchy. My answer to the phone problem is leave the flaming thing at home.

if you put the phone in a top tube case, turn off the five presses of the side button to phone the emergency services function...

Been putting my phone in the back pocket of my jersey in peak District MTB'ing for years without hitch.

if you put the phone in a top tube case, turn off the five presses of the side button to phone the emergency services function…

This is very good advice!!

Pockets in your shorts?

Very gravel if they are £1,000,0000 rapha gravel cargo bib shorts 😉

Go in a Velopac phone pouch in my jersey pocket - has a slightly rubbery/grippy surface, never at risk of falling out.

Just been out in my new Rapha cargo bib shorts (the core ones) and my phone stayed firmly put in the leg pocket. I’ve got a case on the phone and the pocket fabric grips the case nicely so it doesn’t jump about. 👍

if you put the phone in a top tube case, turn off the five presses of the side button to phone the emergency services function…

or only hit 4 bumps

Some entertaining replies ! Think I’ll stick with jersey pockets for now…

Bum bag?

This is very good advice!!

i learnt it the hard way. Very apologetic conversation with the 999 handler…

if you are after cargo shorts, can highly recommend the 7mesh ones.

Why dont you just use a smaller camelbak on your gravel bike that is what I do then all your stuff will be safe and sound only use it on longer rides smaller ones just goes in back pockets and use a bottle cage for the drink.

Never had an issue with phone in Jersey pocket.

Keys go in a zipped pocket though, partly because they're liable to fall out when you pull something else out. Nothing to do with the terrain. Done it before on a road ride, found the cars keys in the last place I pulled my phone out to take a photo.

What you need is a “burrito style” handlebar bag. Available with or without gravel tax depending on brand.

Not sure if ironic, or just an excuse to start another thread mentioning gravel

Small dry bag, phone and keys in it, in Jersey pocket. Works for me on mountain bike rides, I'm sure it'll work for gravel, and it's £2.50

https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/extra-small-drybag.html#SID=117

Or, buy something gravel specific for about forty quid.

I can’t be gravelling correctly then. Mine stay safely in my Camelbak.

I can’t be gravelling correctly then. Mine stay safely in my Camelbak.

Not sure this is a gravel thing or a drop bar bike geometry thing but while I'd ride an MTB all day with a pack/rucksack, I find using one on a drop bar bike oddly uncomfortable due to the different seating/body position.

To answer the OP I haven't had issues with jersey pockets mountain biking but a bit new to the gravel/gnarmac bike thing but can't imagine it's worse if your jersey fits right. I do try to zip pocket keys in.

^^^ similarly always wear a Camelbak on MTB but am looking to get pack free on gravel bike, so have a medium size seatpack for pump, tools, tubes etc. Options for phone, card, keys etc then jersey pockets or maybe a wee top tube bag behind stem, hence seeking others experiences.

Pockets in your shorts?

Very gravel if they are £1,000,0000 rapha gravel cargo bib shorts

Or Galibier for a more reasonable price....

I find wrapping phone in a plastic bag makes it bulky enough it doesn’t fall out of jersey pocket when mtb-ing. Originally did it to stop phone getting wet but haven’t had a phone fly out since either. I wrap a single key in the same bag

This is why most jerseys have a zip pocket, no?

I only buy jerseys with at least one zip up pocket and my phone and keys go in there. I would never put a bag anywhere near my bike.

Phone in a pocket. Keep it where you can reach it should you and the bike part company 🙁

I use a clear, plastic pencil case for £5 from WHSmiths, Wolvo, where ever.
Put your phone and keys in there.
Secure, pretty waterproof and does the job.
Sorted.

I've a restrap midi frame bag... really useful, and makes me feel like I'm on a 18 day bikepacking adventure across the alps or summink...

DrP

Jersey pocket. Never had a problem

If the fabric of the jersey isn’t snug holding the phone in place then eat more pies

Bib shorts with pockets and feel like you have left stuff at home.

Not sure this is a gravel thing or a drop bar bike geometry thing but while I’d ride an MTB all day with a pack/rucksack, I find using one on a drop bar bike oddly uncomfortable due to the different seating/body position.

TBH as soon as the weather is decent - and on shorter rides - I ditch the rucksack on the MTB too. Some stuff is on the bike, the rest I'll use a bumbag when necessary.

My "gravel" bike has a partial framebag and bottle cages.

I don’t really like loading the bike with bags unless actually away proper touring (oops, bikepacking…), so will stick with Revelate Shrew on the seatpost and phone and keys in a waterproof zipper bag (I found a rapha one I bought in the sales in my box of bike bag stuff last night).

Thanks for all the ideas.

Got a fancy Rapha pencil case thingy as an Xmas gift one year. Probably one of my favourite bits of bike kit! Phone, single key and some folding money that never gets used. Plus a few extra Dynaracer plugs. Heavy enough that it has never felt likely to eject from jersey pockets.

Got a top tube bag but it always feels in the way, so now only gets used when extra capacity is required.

A roadie-to-gravel friend of mine asked why so many gravel bikes had bags attached for day rides. I could only really answer from my perspective; typically, my gravel rides get into much wilder and remote areas than my road rides and, without the luxury of being able to flag down a passing motor vehicle, pop into a shop/cafe, or even make a call for assistance, I therefore head out with a bit more kit and food. Of course this doesn't apply to everyone.

I’m still wearing my mountain bike shorts complete with pockets. It’s not very gravel but on the upside I have pockets.

I would doubt very much a key will fly out yer pocket Gravel riding. I'm even guessing you could fly down fort william DH track and not lose a key. If yer worried get a quadcore for yer phone and a zip pocket for yer keys.

I often stop to take photographs but I really need my keys. Used to use a small top to bag but I’ve since moved instead to a small bar-bag. I like the bar-bag because can easily reach and see to retrieve things from it without requiring to dismount.

It also has a click fix mounting and a small handle on the top so I can take it off and carry into the pub/services/post office/etcetera with my keys wallet phone rain jacket all in one place.

The phone hangs in there suspended in a rear-pocket along with a small card wallet.
The keys are attached to the small carabiner which is sewn onto the inside of the bag. Rain jacket plus skullcap with puncture kit and multitool all live in the main compartment.

I like it a lot.

I can't stand stuffing things in jersey pockets, I've a small roll bar bag for phone and stuff and a slightly larger one for longer rides so I can stick a jacket or gillet in there.

Quadlock on the bar for phone.
Keys in second bottle with tools / tube.

Velopac thing works for me in a road jersey. This also works mtbing.

Following with interest as I am considering a gravel bike. For both road and MTB I use one of these (cheaper alternatives are available), it holds phone, house key, bank card, emergency £10, and a mask. Keeps water, sweat, etc out and goes in a jersey pocket. Small tool roll from Beer Babe takes plugs, CO2, and a couple of tools. I'll probably stick with that but interesting to see what others use.

For those that put phones in frame/bar bags, do you not worry it'll get bashed about?

Its not really a gravel bike without some bags strapped on it.

I really don’t understand why more roadies don’t run top tube bags- they’re the perfect spot for handy stuff with no aero penalty. With a set of bolt holes there on my Diverge- it would have been rude not to put an Apidura racebag on it 🤣🤣

I do like the sewn on carabiner idea thanks- or I may loop a cable tie through the existing holes and keep the carabiner on the key.

erratum:

I often stop to take photographs but I really rarely need my keys

I find wrapping phone in a plastic bag makes it bulky enough it doesn’t fall out of jersey pocket.

This works well for me, and avoids the phone getting sweaty or wet when raining.

I usually carry a small bundle of keys, and am normally wishing that I could get them out of my pocket it a bit more easily!

For those that put phones in frame/bar bags

Yes - So in a frame bag it hangs underneath the top tube again in a mesh pocket so it can’t get bashed around. And in my bar bag as mentioned it hangs in a zipped pocket at the inside-rear of the bar bag - so it’s suspended sideways rather than getting bashed around flat in the bottom. in addition to this, the bag is normally packed full with a rain jacket and skullcap/beanie so - plenty of padding. The phone itself lives in a bumper case with its own shock protection

Fit a key safe at home for you keys and buy a cellular smart watch. Sorted.

I really don’t understand why more roadies don’t run top tube bags

I really, really cannot stand top tube bikes, really inhibit movement when out of the saddle.
For gravel rides like mtb rides my phone goes in a pocket. Sometimes on its own, sometimes in a velopac bag and sometimes in a zip up pocket. Never bounced out yet🤔🤪🤞

Fit a key safe at home for you keys and buy a cellular smart watch. Sorted.

Or just put the key under that plant pot!

I really, really cannot stand top tube bikes, really inhibit movement when out of the saddle.

How so?

Stop me swinging the bike from side to side, hits my knees, does my head in. I'm not over keen of framebikes either but needs must when bike packing... I also cannot conceive how people use those funny bags to the side of the stem for food or bottles, they'd annoy the shit out of me I'm sure.

My top-tube bags are slim enough that I've never had the problem. I do have one of those feedbags too, though I rarely use it.

Stem cell bag from Decathlon eat a very reasonable £4.99. Fits everything you have mentioned and more. If your Lael Wilcox hard you can put a well salted bag of chips in there!

Go on ebay and look at the SP Connect stuff that Wiggle are getting shot of (think they are 'tri-sport_resort' on there). Couple of quid should secure you one of their wedge cases with a couple of fitting options. And if you've an iphone then their cases clip onto that too if you want the phone available to you.

My top-tube bags are slim enough that I’ve never had the problem

Maybe I have fat knees!! I'd rather put things in my pockets.

Phone & Keys in Velopac which fits in jersey pocket. Simples

I really don’t understand why more roadies don’t run top tube bags

Because everything fits in my three jersey pockets. Plus I don't need to carry much. Plus I don't want a bag on my bike. Understand now?

Downcountry Fanny Pack for the reach around, Shirley...

Because everything fits in my three jersey pockets. Plus I don’t need to carry much. Plus I don’t want a bag on my bike. Understand now?

Just how little do you carry and/or how big are your jersey pockets?

Small frame bag for me and its got in it:
- keys
- phone
- inner tube (or if a big off-roader, *2)
- Gillet/rain jacket (depending on weather)
- pump
- small bottle of Stans
- any food
- gel
- tyre boot

Tools and spares go in a tool bottle, and I've enough space for two more water bottles.

The only thing I carry in a jersey pocket is a banana or two.

I'm think we do different types of 'gravel' rides.

@kerley 🤣🤣🤣

I just find it hilarious that people ride like the pros do when they haven’t got a team car following them.

It’s so much nicer having nothing in your jersey pocket and everything is just right there! You don’t even need to break position to get food or gels.

It’s ironic that the only people on bikes realising it are the ones who ruin a good ride with a swim and a run 😱 🤣

I’m so many ways- it’s why Gravel is the saviour of practical cycling 🤓

Tyre clearance for every size
Brakes that work
Storage and mount options galore 🤩
Geo for making fast descents sane

Enough shite to ride for 10h30 non stop 😎

Front door key goes in the zip up pocket on my Jersey. My Iphone SE (gen 1) fits in a PlanetX zip-up bottle cage case, which then goes in the seat tube bottle cage. It has never fallen out even on my MTB.

I think that the vibration has killed the image stabilisation, because the quality of photos taken with mine compared with my daughter's identical phone is noticable. When I get a new phone its going to be too big to fit in the bottle cage case so will have to get one of those weatherproof cases to protect it from the sweat in a jersey pocket

If someone dislikes having bags on bikes just because they dislike having bags on bikes and no matter what kind of bag it will make no difference.

As I say, I use a bar bag on the road/gravel bike, but for shorter rides and basic kit on the MTB/gravel bike I use a small frame bag (see pic) which interferes neither with my knees nor when climbing. I tried a ‘top tube’ bag (mounted on top, fixed to the headtube) And felt that (for the small capacity it offered) it robbed me of clearance when dismounting/mounting and climbing. So bar-bag for the win there if requiring easy access. ymmv

This thread shows are different we all are I have a riding buddy who will carry nothing other than a backpack or stuffed short pockets Because it’s not his ‘style’/‘spoils the look of his bike’ to have bags on it - whereas I detest carrying anything on my person other than clothes, and even then the less of them the better.

For me on the gravel bike it's a phone in the jersey pocket and nothing else.

Other bits and pieces go on the bike, which has a small Restrap frame bag attached at all times (partly for fashion reasons obvs) and then depending on how long I'll be out and what the weather is I add a top tube and/or canister bag for extra food/supplies/clothes.

On the road bike got a small saddle bag for some bits, and the rest goes in pockets. For some reason I feel like adding bags to that bike doesn't feel 'right', although really I appreciate that this is just fashion and aesthetics and that maybe I should just get over it. If I'm out all day I will tend to plan a cafe stop though rather than taking it all with me.

Gravel:

Road:

On the road bike got a small saddle bag for some bits, and the rest goes in pockets. For some reason I feel like adding bags to that bike doesn’t feel ‘right’, although really I appreciate that this is just fashion and aesthetics and that maybe I should just get over it. If I’m out all day I will tend to plan a cafe stop through rather than taking it all with me.

I made the point earlier that (my) gravel riding tends to take me further from roads, cafes and assistance than my road riding so carrying a bit extra seems sensible.

I made the point earlier that (my) gravel riding tends to take me further from roads, cafes and assistance than my road riding so carrying a bit extra seems sensible.

Yeah mine too in general, although I suspect that as you're in Scotland(?) and I'm in Hertfordshire it's somewhat relative!

perfect...

although really I appreciate that this is just fashion and aesthetics and that maybe I should just get over it.

Maybe run a poll/survey when out and about riding one day? 😉

(The public love surveys and polls 😀)

Simply print out the following and take copies with you (along with a few pencils)

_______________________________________
Answer either A, B or C:

1. Do you think that my gravel bike is fashionable?
A: Yes, very fashionable
B: Maybe/not sure
C: Are you having a laugh omg get over it!?

2. Do you think that my bike bag is fashionable?
A: Yes, very fashionable
B: Maybe/not sure
C: Don’t feel strongly either way

(Before answering the following question please request I first remove the bag from the bicycle)

3. Look at my bicycle again now the bag is removed. Do you think my bike is:
A: More fashionable without the bag?
B: Less fashionable without the bag?
C: Don’t care either way, omg-uh. Etc.

And, finally:

4. Do you think my bike looks more attractive with the bag fitted?
A: Yes it looks more attractive
B: No It looks less attractive
C: I have other important things to do, so ‘C’

For more accurate/nuanced results - conduct the survey both with the non-cycling public, and with the cycling public. And then finally with (1) gravel-bike-curious peers and (2) with gravel-bike-riding peers.

Maybe run a poll/survey when out and about riding one day? 😉

(The public love surveys and polls 😀)

Simply print out the following and take copies with you (along with a few pencils)

This is a great idea. Now, what luggage for carrying polls?

Just how little do you carry and/or how big are your jersey pockets?

3 standard jersey pockets, one with a zip. I carry a phone and keys in zipped pocket and food if required in the other two pockets.
I have a mini pump which is on a holder to the side of bottle cage.

I don't carry any tools or tubes because I don't need them. On rare occasion I get a puncture (tubeless) I just use the mimi pump to top it back up if too much air has come out before it has sealed. Been riding with that minimal amount of stuff for the last 20 years and 3-400 miles per year.

I just find it hilarious that people ride like the pros do when they haven’t got a team car following them.
It’s so much nicer having nothing in your jersey pocket and everything is just right there!

I clearly don't find it as hilarious as you do. I am fine with having things in my jersey pockets thanks.

In the rear zip pocket of the jersey

What bar bags do people recommend?

I just find it hilarious that people ride like the pros do when they haven’t got a team car following them.

It’s so much nicer having nothing in your jersey pocket and everything is just right there! You don’t even need to break position to get food or gels.

Im the same, id rather have the occasional rub of a knee on a bag than a sweaty back and stuff permanently bouncing around In pockets - especially on a gravel bike.

@kerley out for a long Sunday ride 😉😀

What bar bags do people recommend?

I borrowed an on point 'bike packing roll bag'. It wobbled, rubbed and bounced everywhere - and leaked in the rain.

I'm now running granny bag - Altura 6L on Klikfix.

It's properly bomber fit, doesn't move, quick to access on the move or remove at cafe stop. Ours were £7 from a daft OnOne clear out.

(Not my pic or bag model, but like this)

If going on a one day gravel ride my tools tube and tubeless repair kit etc go in tool bottle under down tube, two water bottles, pump attached at bottle cage, if it's a cold time of year I have a emergency foil blanket gaffer taped to saddle rails. The phone, keys, food spare clothes in Jersey pockets. Simples. If taking for example young son out I might use a frame bag to carry extra for him. If you like bags use them I couldn't care less, I don't, not sure why some on here find this an issue

If you like bags use them I couldn’t care less,

same

I don’t, not sure why some on here find this an issue

OTOH I really don’t think people have an issue with you not liking bags. Seems to be (overall) much more per-comment dislike for bags in this thread. Maybe someone (good-naturedly) teased your pocketage? oo-er.

What bar bags do people recommend?

One with a Klik Fix and sufficient capacity (ie not too big or small) for what you need to put in there. Mine’s just big enough for a folded cagoule and café-stop combo cable lock and has a pocket inside that was luckily the right size
for my phone. It has an extra front compartment in which I keep multitool, rag and puncture kit. In summer-time and if just taking my phone and multitool I’ll use the small frame bag instead.

I’m more of a fan of nylon bar-bags in order to keep the weight down - as while canvas ones may look attractive I don’t really see any benefits otherwise. Can’t recommend a particular model because the one I use is a discontinued bag ( NOS deal I found) and is U.S.-made. All I can say is the Klikfix QR and the handle-loop on top make it really handy for shortstops - ie if you want to take the bag with you it saves transferring phone, keys, card etc into your pockets.

As I say this is only really for when stopping at pubs or cafés or whatever, and/or in winter when a rain-jacket/windcheater is handy to stow.

On short keep-fit rides I’m sure I’d be happy with a smaller bag such as a Carradice zipped roll - just for phone and keys and beanie/whatever.

Or - nothing at all. Stash/hide keys, leave phone at home.

I remember happier times when all phones connected to the hallway-wall by the cable 😉