Saddle bags have no place on a road bike, and are only acceptable on mountain bikes in extreme cases.
Saddle bags: how do we define them? Is it a saddle bag if it attaches to the seat post and the saddle, if it has a zipper, if it is leather, has two natty straps with buckles, if it swings below the saddle like bumper bollocks?
I weaned myself off a discreet EPMS after twenty-five years of use. I was not happy about transferring the contents to a rear pocket but I’m a team player so I conformed. Previous to that was the ‘core sew-up tire held under the saddle with spare toe clip strap. Back then bikes only had one bidon cage, held on with paint ruining metal clamps. The position forward of the seat tube was reserved for a silca frame pump. Some ride with a tire in a jersey pocket, but with no second bidon to bastardize, it usually had to go under the seat. At least we weren’t wearing tires around the shoulders. I’m not that old, FFS.
When I see professional cyclists out training here, they rock the EPMS. Am I going to correct Ryder, not in this life. I couldn’t catch him to start with, if I did I would be too winded to explain myself and really, why? If you ride clincher tires, with inner-tubes or sealant, one has to carry some tire levers and a spare tube, at a minimum. My custom waterproof phone/money/drivers license/inner-tube/levers/5mm allen wrench bag was a fat bastard. Getting things out of it quickly or elegantly was near impossible.
Then Lezyne came to the rescue with the waterproof mobile phone/money/card /fits in cycling jersey pocket, wallet. They actually didn’t come to the rescue, I paid retail for it but the design rescued me with its brilliance. The phone is in a safe waterproof compartment yet one can access and operate it through the clear plastic window. So all that went into my center rear pocket, but left me with a tube/levers/5mm allen key to stow, in another pocket? Nay, it’s the Lezyne caddy sack, I’m thinking this tucks under the seat, held with old toe clip strap; the clincher rider’s spare tire, without the tire. It’s a sew-up without the outer casing. It’s a nod to the old school in a nice waterproof pvc dry sack, and yes, that is crap.
What does Frank say? I believe his words will be something like “What you have here is a crude looking EPMS held under you saddle with a nasty looking old strap.” Where does he store his spare sew-up tire? I’m already abusing Rule #1, Rule #30 and now Rule #31 too. Luckily or sadly, he is many miles away probably won’t get wind of this.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/j.andrews3@comcast.net/EPMS/”/]
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I'm with Ryder on this one... He is Canadian after all.
I'm useless at packing (just ask Mrs Engine) and even I can get everything in my pockets even in mid-winter.
Ziploc bags are the greatest invention in the world apart from the bicycle - it's been observed that you can tell an off duty cyclist round these parts because all their possessions are in Ziploc freezer bags.
http://youtu.be/XvqZwAR6Uio says it all
@the Engine
I need to show this post to my VMH!!! You have no idea how much shit she gives me b/c I refuse to use a wallet and just use a ziplock for all my ID's, credit cards and cash all the time.
I'm a rule breaker. I have a Micro Caddy SM on my saddle: http://www.lezyne.com/en/products/organizers/caddys#!micro-caddy-s-m
I also carry a Caddy Sack (older version than the one listed here) in my jersey when I go on longer rides.
I'm having visions of chunky inner thighs bouncing against an overstuffed saddle bag, causing it to sway from side to side on each pedal stroke. My Ti railed Selle Italia also cringes at the thought of being sullied in such a fashion.
Then you've got tryathletes buying bikes with Tupperware bins mounted on their seatmast, I can only assume that they're storing compression sleeves, carbon fibre drinking straws, and salt tablets in that thing.
Personally, I think that looks worse than having a EPMS. I tried removing my EPMS and putting everything in my jersey pockets, but I just didn't care for. I bought the Lezyne caddy sack, but if it was packed with my phone, cards, tube, levers, co2 etc it wouldn't fit in some of my center pockets on certain jerseys.
It's very easy for a pro, who has a support car, not to carry a EPMS...but us regular joes have fewer options. Now that I have a Fizik saddle I may go with something like this http://www.fizik.it/en/accessories/bags/Saddle-pak/
Gianni.
A very slick yet (non-)alternative. Let's face it bulging pockets are sexy. I do keep 3xCO2, i valve, 2 tire levers and some cut up inner tubes for boots in a handy pocket size zip up pouch in my center pocket. Spare tube in rear right pocket and phone and protein bar in rear left.
@Buck Rogers
They're great in canoes (if you need to transport your steed over an unjumpable/unfordable body of water) and (should you be trying to evade capture) they're handy out in the hills too. I'm surprised the US Army doesn't have an over engineered version costing $50 a time for issue to special forces.
In passing - condoms are almost as useful as Ziploc bags for waterproof storage (and water transportation in a pinch). However for reasons that elude me people look at you in a funny way if you take your cash out of one at a cafe stop. Maybe I should stop using the coloured ones...
Not sure what's worse, the clear violation of Rule 29 or that saddle. Just hideous in every possible respect.
Also, I use one of these and stuff it in my center pocket:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/101356167/mopha-tool-roll-black-with-white-toe?ref=related-1
I throw one extra tube in the center as well. Left pocket is for cell phone (I have a case that holds credit cards, face it out to avoid sweat on the screen) right pocket is for ride food.
Get it together....this post makes me want to puke.