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I'd like to sort something to carry the 'essential' stuff to take on a ride - tube, multitool, little lock, levers, pump, that kinda thing. Mainly to be used for those after work 1-2 hour rides where I'll just take this, whatever it is, and a bottle.
I currently have a 0.75l Alpkit Enduro Pod, and that will just about fit everything in bar the pump, which will go in a pocket. However, I'm not that enamoured by it, as the velcro straps are a poor design (IMO) and it slops around on the toptube (which I've kinda sorted using an old toeclip strap, but it's still not ideal).
It can either be something that lives on the bike, or something that I just grab and attach to me or the bike when I go for a ride. For 'bigger' days I'll take a Camelbak, so this thing, again, whatever it is, would probably just get chucked in that.
Ideas? To be clear, I don't want to buy any more/other tools/OneUps etc, I just want to store and carry the stuff I've already got.
Ta.
I use a Lezyne loaded cage thingy, it has a little compartment for a multi-tool, chainlink, stick on patches & a chuck a C02 cylinder velcros to one side and you can either velcro a pump or another CO2 to the other, obvs it holds a bottle.
Tube & lever is under the saddle on one of those strap things and tyre plugs are in the bar ends, sorted.
Pump attached to the frame, then I use a 76 projects 'piggy' and drybag which has the following in it:
Tube
2x C02 cannisters & inflator head
Tyre plugs and jabber
This can be transferred between my bikes in about 30 seconds.
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Then I have a oneup tool in my FS head tube, or in the pump. Bottle on the hardtail and soft bottle in the pocket when I'm on the FS (that'll change for the next bike to being a small bottle).
£6 bum bag. Works perfectly.
I use a Blackburn Outpost Corner bag: https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Blackburn-Outpost-Corner-Bag_126558.htm?
Fits everything I need (have tube patches instead of a spare tube, and a combined pump/CO2 inflator) for rides up to 2hrs or so.
I've got one of those 76 projects things on my mtb. multitool, tyre worms, Co2 cartridges. etc.
don't take a pump, CO2 or bust.
Bike dependent - can the enduro pod go under the top tube rather than sitting on top just behind the stem.
Easy on a hardtail to put it at the seat tube/top tube junction.
If not, and you need to mount on the top tube, try partly unrolling your innertube so its a long flat shape, to sit in the bottom of the bag rather than stuffing a tennis ball shaped round thing into the bag.
I have a one up pump with the tools in it, but my spare tube / hanger/ bits and bobs are in a wolf tooth drybag.
My FS actually has a bottle mount thing under the top tube, so it’s attached there, but I’ve used the same thing under the saddle on other bikes without that option.
£6 bum bag. Works perfectly.
This, genuinely, is what I was thinking if I'm honest.
Bike dependent – can the enduro pod go under the top tube rather than sitting on top just behind the stem.
Easy on a hardtail to put it at the seat tube/top tube junction.
Yeah, tried that, didn't really work, and would certainly be a bit of a pain getting the bag off to us any of the stuff in it (esp. give the poor design of the straps)
Bike dependent – can the enduro pod go under the top tube rather than sitting on top just behind the stem.
Easy on a hardtail to put it at the seat tube/top tube junction.
If not, and you need to mount on the top tube, try partly unrolling your innertube so its a long flat shape, to sit in the bottom of the bag rather than stuffing a tennis ball shaped round thing into the bag.
+1
And I find that careful packing of the bag minimizes it's tendency to wobble too much, needs to be packed relatively solidly/full. And add an extra ziptie around the spacer above the stem if you have one and it reaches.
Most bikes have in built storage thankfully. Occasionally if it’s a big ride I’ll use bibs with storage for additional.
A fair amount of the time, I don’t carry anything. I’m at the point of discounting bikes now if they don’t come with some sort of additional carrying system, or inbuilt storage & I categorically will not wear any form of bag to ride a bike with.
if i`m not that far from civilisation i dont bother with anything. well, apart from a water bottle.
if i go a bit further i`ll wear a bum bag.
if im in wales miles from anywhere ill go all in with a back pack and cheese n pickle sandwiches.
why you would want to strap stuff to your bike is beyond me.
why you would want to strap stuff to your bike is beyond me.
Because even if I'm only going out for an hour, I can be 7-10 miles away from home without much issue. Walking that distance back (if no-one is available to come pick me up) is going to take several hours... All for the sake of carrying a few basics with you.
Most bikes have in built storage thankfully
Peak STW - I say I don't want to buy any more tools, and the answer is to buy a new bike 😉
TBH built in storage, aka a massive hole in the downtube, would be a no from me - I'm sure they're fine but something in me says cutting a huge hole in the most stressed tube of a frame shouldn't be a good thing...
On the road bike I have a small under seat thing for spare tubes and levers and then carry tools and a CO2 thingy in an only bottle in one of the cages. If I need two bottles on a ride, I'll be taking a daysack and the tools, food, etc go in there.
MTB is entirely dependent on what I am doing. Most of the time, it is local trails, so I just take a mobile.
I use a 76 projects bag on the gravel bike where the tube is smaller, but use a weecog custom bag on the fatbike and and a Blackburn outpost bag on the full sus both just big enough for a pump and all the other essential tools + 1 energy bar.
Can't stand camelbak or bumbags now.
Oneup EDC in the steerer.
Tube and pump on the frame.
500ml of water if it's really hot and I'm out for more than a couple of hours-ish.*
If not I don't bother with water.
Don't see the point in carrying anything else.
If the bike needs more than a multi tool to fix I'll be walking back anyway.
*Normal ride is around 20 miles and 1100m
.
I dont carry anything for a 1-2hr ride.
Thats always walkable or jog out if worst came to the worst.
Maintain your bike well and you shouldnt have those issues.
Spesh SWAT multi-tool attached to bottle cage. Lezyne mini pump attached to second cage
Spesh SWAT saddlepack clips to my Spesh power saddle rails for tube, co2, anchovy and bits.
Anything else goes in my Jersey rear pockets
I take it that keeping that list of things in the camelbak and taking that is not an option..?
I just take the same bag every ride, with water bladder and coat etc removed depending on weather and length of ride.
Surprised no one is carrying a first aid kit with them
I take it that keeping that list of things in the camelbak and taking that is not an option..?
It's what I'd like to avoid, as I like riding without a bag on my back if I can. I will take one for longer rides or where the weather may be changeable etc
Surprised no one is carrying a first aid kit with them
I'm of the "if it's an injury that a first aid kit I could carry could fix, I can manage without it. If it's an injury that any first aid kit I could carry wouldn't fix, I'd be calling 999 anyway" school.
Saddle bag on road bike carries tube, minipump (not great for high pressure but will get me home, even on road tyres) and a small toolkit, plus an emergency cereal bar 🙂 For the MTB I've got stuff in the camelback instead.
The solution is to stop taking as much stuff.
You need some water, a phone and a little food if going further (but shops exist).
You probably need a quick link, a multi tool and some way of reinflating a tyre or plugging a hole. You might need a tube and some way of removing a tyre to put one in.
It is unlikely that you will need pretty much anything else unless you are going away from civilisation for a very long time.
Ive got a bottle pack which can either go in 2nd bottle cage, or as its quite soft, just as good in a jersey pocket, voile strapped under seat or under downtube. Or I chuck it in a bike bag or camelback if im taking other stuff too. It goes on every ride.
Currently a whole £1.49 at Planet X!! Fits just the right amount of stuff - small bottke of stans, multi tool, pliers, levers, valve extracor, CO2.
Edit - mines more like teh podsacs one with a zipped compartment, but just plain black carbon look. Only 99p!!!
The solution is to stop taking as much stuff.
You need some water, a phone and a little food if going further (but shops exist).
You probably need a quick link, a multi tool and some way of reinflating a tyre or plugging a hole. You might need a tube and some way of removing a tyre to put one in.
That is all I'm taking, smart arse, what do I take it in?
That is all I’m taking, smart arse, what do I take it in?
pocket?
pocket?
...was what I was doing before I got the toptube bag (well pockets plural, even the limited stuff that continuity says I'm allowed to take won't all go in one pocket).
I'd just like one thing that has all the stuff in it that I pick up and take with me, or that is attached to the bike all the time.
Those tool bottles look good, will investigate...
Jersey pockets. Overflow gets strapped/taped to the bike.
Your jersey pockets. I have three on my jersey. Some people have 5. Isn't that what they're for?
You could put some of it in a small light drybag so it stays together. Then put that in your pocket. Or if you don't have pockets, a voile strap to the frame.
That is all I’m taking, smart arse, what do I take it in?
The under saddle pack option is great, it stays on the bike, it never gets forgotten, and it's totally out of the way. You can buy different sizes to allow you to flex what *your* minimal requirement is.
I don't like the bottle packs as that means I can't carry a second bottle, and in current conditions that is essential fluid.
Get your roadie vibe on.
In here…
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/rainproof-essentials-case/product/LEC05XXDNY
Goes a tube, small multi tool, quick chain link, some latex gloves, and my house keys. That plus this…
https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/231-MICRO-ROCKET-AL
Go in my jersey pocket, and a water bottle on the bike.
That’s all you need for a ‘get me home’ scenario.
Oh, and a credit card, and Uber app.
I have a little Huck dry bag and strap. UK made by a small company. And it works. Prior to this I taped a tube to my frame and put my pump and multi tool in my pocket which also worked fine.
Small under saddle storage with Dynaplug racer, multi tool, quick link, spare Dynaplugs and Co2 inflator and co2. Small pump in back pocket and phone.
If it’s a middle of winter ride then also whistle and survival space blanket in back pocket.
If I am that hurt I need survival then I will not be able to get in a bag and will need to wrap the blanket around me.
Full suss- on one podsacs frame bag. The waterproof zip jammed with mud, i sewed a big zip on. Ugly but takes everything.
Hardtail 1. Aldi special frame bag in frame, tube, 2 co2 canisters under the saddle, pump on frame.
Hardtail 2. Tube taped on with insulations tape to frame, alpkit toptube bag upside down inside frame, pump on frame.
Gravel bike and road bike 1 same as hardtail 2
Road bike 2, pump under top tube, everything else in a water bottle.
I have a repair kit, hex keys and a lever bundled up with an elastic band, plus a separate mini pump. For work they go in one chest pocket, for other rides they go in a jersey rear pocket (other jersey pockets used for food, mobile, BC card, keys).
However, during the recent heatwaves, I've wondered if a saddle bag (ideally clamped on to saddle rail to keep it secure) would work better and give me the option of just using a pocketless baselayer.
Back pockets for anything softish like a spare tube, pie, or rain garment. Don't have multitools / keys etc nestling comfortably against your spine when cycling. Use one of the small bag or containers people have recommended for tools.
On a bike with two bottle cages, one cage is used for a 750ml tool bottle with 2 inner tubes, patches, multi tool, co2 cannister and pump head, zip ties, tyre levers etc... pump bolted onto the side of the bottle cage
On a full sus with only one bottle cage then i run a Specailized Swat MTN Bandit, this bolts to the bottom of a Specailized saddle and holds a inner tube, patches, tyre levers, co2 cannister and pump head, normal pump on the bottle cage again (which also contains a co2 cannister) multi tool is wrapped in a section of old inner tube and velcro strapped on to the bottom of the bottle cage
Another bottle works really well- 0.75 litre ones are tall enough for a pump, and a rag stops things rattling around.
I started with a very cheap bum bag, to see if I got on with the concept. Once I discovered that hip packs work for me, I splashed out on a Camelbak LR4. Even on longer rides nowadays, I love my hip pack so much that I try as hard as possible to stick to that. My Hawg hasn’t been off it’s hanger in the wall for months! Even for longer rides. The Camelbak is so much. Better than the cheap bag i had before. I was always having to fiddle with the straps in the cheaper one to get them right. I haven’t touched the strap adjusters on the Camelbak in a year!
Personally, I don’t like strapping stuff to my bike. I can’t think of a logical reason - other than I don’t like the look of it. Plus, when I swap form one bike to the other, I don’t like have to remember to swap something over between bikes. I’m guaranteed to forget.
I've got the Ortlieb Micro Two saddle pack, in 0.8l size.
It fits my Topeak Alien multitool, a Topeak 5NM little torque wrench, a puncture kit, 2 sets of 2 quick links (one pair Shimano, one pair of SRAM), 2 strong tyre levers, a spare inner tube (700c or 26", but a 29er is pushing things), some cable ties and a pair of latex gloves. It's rigid enough that it doesn't need a strap around the seatpost at all. I also have Lezyne pumps that have clips that mount under my bottle cages, and a waterproof wallet to keep my phone and a spare tenner in which lives in a pocket.
I also have the same bag's bigger brother - Ortlieb Saddle Bag Two which mounts to the same clip under my saddle, but does have a velcro strap for the seatpost. It's big enough to drop the other pack straight into, and add a proper waterproof or warm layer plus a few snacks. So good for longer rides.
Having bought both bags, I have 2 clips, so there's one on each bike and I just have to swap which inner tube is in it.
I've also just bought a couple of elastic straps to see if I can carry stuff that way on my 29er more easily - as I say, a spare 29" tube is really too big for the little pack.
I hate carrying backpacks on my bike and will go to quite some lengths to avoid having to!
Hip pack. As soon as it's on I forget I'm even wearing it. Mind you apart from water bottles I hate having any stuff fixed to my bike. It just doesn't look sexy. The bike I mean, not me with my hip pack.
I have a tiered system.
All rides = EDC pump and spare tube
<=2 hour = add hip pack with 1.5 litres water, toilet paper, paracetamol, dynaplugs
2+ with no facilities = add food to hip pack, 1 litre Sigg bottle and electrolytes to Blackburn cage, Restrap frame bag with extra food.
Going through a similar thought process recently I ended up splashing out on an EDC pump and tool when they had a few % off. I know it's not what you want to do, and it is crazy money, but it is a very good solution if you can't find another mounting option that works for you, and it is exceptionally quick to swap between bikes. I'm very pleased with it. On my small framed full suss I can't get anything but a small bottle in the front triangle, can't even fit a low profile light under my saddle without the wheel hitting it and didn't manage to mount anything atop the top tube to my satisfaction.
That said, I'm also a big water drinker so at the moment I'm hip pack as well for every ride. I just couldn't get myself to "stuff on the bike only". Also, when the weather isn't like this I'll carry another layer most rides, so that immediately puts me into hip pack territory again. So I have struggled to find a solution that gets everything onto the bike except on a minority of rides. But I have got to a solution that is low weight on my back and very low down, so that's as close as I can get I think. And I've got to mount a rear light somewhere.
Depending on your riding I don't think the ultra minimalist option can work for everyone. Punctures are too regular an occurence round here not to have pump and jabber as a minimum.
Surprised no one has suggested getting your butler to ride behind with all the support gear.
Short/local rides
Pump attached to bike. Water bottle.
Remote rides
Backpack with everything else in: waterproof, packed-down insulated coat, first aid kit, tool bag, emergency bivi, sunscreen, food, bladder, …
I've a semi rigid zip up bidon that fits either in a cage or can be bolted to the frame.
Made by syncros but I can't find it on line ...
Its a pity that nobody makes a bag that fits underneath the saddle. This would be the perfect solution.
Oneup edc, pump on bottle cage mount and a water bottle.
Are these short rides way out into the wilderness or close to home?
Its a pity that nobody makes a bag that fits underneath the saddle. This would be the perfect solution.
and gets covered in shit, or bottoms out on teh tyre, or rubs on the stantion of your dropper, or randomly falls off. and looks stupid (not that we should be fixated by looks but well...)
ive got a small neoprene pocket thing i stash it all in and just put it all in my pocket. found it in the house - I`ve no idea where it came from. i suppose i could strap it to the frame but thats more hassle than a pocket.
TBH built in storage, aka a massive hole in the downtube, would be a no from me – I’m sure they’re fine but something in me says cutting a huge hole in the most stressed tube of a frame shouldn’t be a good thing…
Do you realise that with a carbon frame you don't have to cut a hole in it? They're layed up like that.
Local MTB rides of a couple of hours or so a small Decathalon under-saddle pack that will just take one tube, a small multi-tool (with CO2 adapter and chain tool built in), a couple of levers, couple of canisters and quick links and a mini pump. It's tiny and not noticeable when riding. I'll probably move the pump to a frame mount to save a bit of space and make some space in the saddle pack for some tubless worms, couple of patches etc.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/500-bike-saddle-bag-0-6l/_/R-p-119985?mc=8354448
For longer rides a bumbag or rucksack with a bit more stuff.
Riding without any stuff as some on this thread has described is fine when completely on your own, but I've experienced a few times the annoyance of those types in group rides. It switches from "I don't need to take anything" to "can I borrow your tool / CO2 / spare tube" as soon as something goes wrong. I've used my stuff to fix others bikes far more than my own and finished a few rides without any spare tube for my own bike because I've given it to someone else.
I've got two of these:
One with off-roady type bits (inc tubeless plugs and tools) and one with Roady type bits (inc CO2 carts) and those get swapped between MTB/Gravel bikes and Summer/winter road bikes.
Pretty much all of my bikes have some sort of pump attached to the frame (apart from the pub bike)...
Gravel bike -
1 or two bottle cages as required, and a Lezyne 'loaded' saddle pack with tube, Gas, multitool etc.
MTB -
Various combinations of 'stuff' taken with me depending on how far, in ascending order:
- Tube+CO2 strapped to bike, house key and phone in pocket <1hr, pootling
- Tube+CO2 strapped to bike, bontrager rapid pack hip bag with big bottle, phone, multitool, minipump - 1-3hrs, most rides.
- Tube+CO2 strapped to bike, bontrager rapid pack hip bag with big bottle, phone, multitool, minipump + additional bottle under downtube. 2+ hrs, bigger loops or when its hot.
- Camelback with loads of water and stuff. Proper day out somewhere with proper hills.
ETA - I've used a few different hip packs but I really like this one I dropped on by accident when in a pinch (forgot to take one, bought at trail centre bike shop). Not too expensive and best one I've used. You can see how well it fits the fella in the photos, warpping round snugly not poking out like an 'add on' as many others do.
Bontrager Rapid Pack on review – perfection down to the last detail
My bike has a SWAT box thingummy (hole in down tube), I love the idea but actually don’t particularly like it - I can’t help thinking things will rattle around, and when I was using it everything got soaking wet.
I used to use one of those tool bottles on the road bike, think they’re really handy, but mostly use a saddlebag and/or tool roll as I need both bottle cages for water.
On the MTB, most of my riding is ~2 hours so I just take a multi-tool, tyre plugs, CO2 canister and head in a tool roll which goes in a jersey pocket. If riding alone phone goes in a case in another jersey pocket, water bottle in cage. Figure out the least you really need to carry then ping Beerbabe and ask her to make you up a tool roll to that size.
All my bikes have a saddle pack or tool keg that goes in bottle cage plus a pump so I can never forget the essentials.
Leave it behind. Easy. In the days of my youth my road bike had a tube taped under the saddle and a pump on the frame. Both lived there. Nothing else needed. Old timers had a dumbell spanner in their Carradice bag. When we started MTBing we did the same. But I guess in the mid 80's MTbs didn't break.
Still much the same but I carry more food nowadays. Phone is silly.
Phone is silly.
I was with you till that point. With a couple of tools, a tube and a pump I can get out of most situations on a bike.
With a phone I can get out of anything.
The phone is the one thing that never gets left behind.
nobody makes a bag that fits underneath the saddle
They do!
https://www.weecog.co.uk/collections/on-the-bike/products/bigslider
Dropper compatible. I've not bought one, but it's on my wish list. I will definitely buy one soon.
Phone is silly
Can't tell if serious. Have you seen a modern phone? Small, light, slim, can summon a helicopter rescue squad when you're lying in a broken heap at the bottom of a cliff?
But I guess in the mid 80’s MTbs didn’t break.
😂
I've been mulling over the same problem, I don't tend to use a bag on any bike now except my new hardtail.
It only has one set of bottle bosses, the 2.5" spare tube is massive so that rules out a saddle bag that doesn't need to strap to the dropper post.
Then I was trying to decide between the Restrap rear top tube bag and Alpkits version, chose the Restrap but stalled on the £35+p&p price.
Then saw the bum bag suggestion and got very close to buying one, until I realised it would make all my Jersey pockets redundant.
Then looked at the Evoc multifit bag to go under the rear of the top tube, but the cables run under my top tube and cross over so the bag wouldn't fit very well.
In the end I found I could strap the inner tube under the saddle with one of those Velcro straps (I impulse bought the STW one a while bag) and then dug out my old Alpkit top tube bag and fitted it to the rear of the top tube. Finally, found a rubbish old pump mount that fits my current pump.
Oneup EDC pump, lezyne cage with a storage bit at the back for plugs, chain link and cable ties etc extra CO2 on the bottle cage as well. Means I can't forget stuff and can ride for ages so long as I can refill the bottle.
I've got a bag under the saddle on the graveller with all those bits and a spare tube with a small pink on the one cage.
Yes, its two lots of tools and spares, but im forgetful and disorganised so I'd rather just have multiples and not have to think.