Reverence: Lezyne Rule 31 Sack
Rule #31 was conceived out of necessity, aesthetics and plain good taste. Seeing an oversized saddle bag hanging limply by velcro under a Flite, Arione or Regal just isn’t right. Frame pumps, while they undoubtedly do the finest job of inflating a tube, add nothing but bulk and clutter to the lines of a frame (and aren’t compatible with the majority of curvy, plastic frames prominent today). While a folded tubular held under the seat with a Christophe toe-strap may have been de riguer and kinda cool back in the day, running tubs nowadays is not only uncommon, but an exercise in futility should one ride on any road less smooth and glass-free than a baby’s bum. So you see, Rule #31 was a no-brainer.
But even this most important of Rules has its drawbacks; stuffing the three pockets of your jersey can leave you looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, albeit with the hunch on the lower back, and more akin to a series of tumours across the hips and lower spine. Not a pretty sight. My usual pocket-stuffing routine would entail a tube and tyre levers bundled together with a rubber band, stuffed in the middle pocket, with a mini pump accompanying it. The phone would go in the right hip pocket, along with a camera (if there were to be some photo ops along the route, or blatant bike porn shots) and gels and bars in the left. Any extraneous clothing shed en route (arm warmers, cap, gloves) would then be forced in wherever they would fit. If a jacket was required, then all hell would break loose.
But recently I happened by chance upon an item that has made my life, and my riding experience all the easier and clutter-free. Lezyne products were having a season launch of their new, cool gear, and everyone attending received a free gift; in my case, I was handed the Caddy Sack, a simple PVC pouch. Inside was a metal patch kit with glueless patches, and a pair of mini tyre levers. I took it with a degree of dismissal, thinking it would just end up in the pile of superfluous bike crap scattered around my house. But I decided I’d see how much I could load it up, and was surprised to find that it holds a veritable shitload of gear. There’s room aplenty for a tube, levers, patch kit, multi tool, card wallet and phone. But if I want to, I can easily ft in another tube, a bar or two and a couple of gels. And it fits with ease into the middle pocket of all my jerseys, especially the sweet V jersey which is always the go-to garment of choice. This leaves the two outside pockets with more room than ever for whatever the ride requires from the aforementioned list-of-crap-one-may-carry.
Sitting alongside the 31 Sack is always the best mini pump I’ve ever used, the Lezyne Pressure Drive M (for medium). Why is it the best? Just look at it! It’s sexy, yeah, but for such a small unit it packs plenty of air into each stroke, and I can get a geniune 100PSI into my tubes during any roadside repair. But the best feature is the flexible screw-in hose, which eliminates the chance of breaking off the screw-on end of Presta valves, as has happened to the best of us when vigourously hacking away with a fixed-head pump. C’mon, admit it, you’ve done it. No more chance of that with this little beauty. Quite simply, it rules (31 especially).
saddle bags look even worse on bikes than women
@marvo larvo
While acknowledging the humour most likely intended with your remark, this kind of remark is not only incredibly offensive, but will only serve to motivate the countless women who no-doubt can kick your ass on a bike to do so repeatedly, and without mercy.
Just be glad my Velomihottie didn’t see this before I did.
I have several winter cycling jackets. One is a North Shore special for rain and warmth. Unfortunately it has a single zippered back pocket. With my small multi tool, tube with CO2 cartriges and ‘pump’, and phone, it feels like a full baby’s diaper. In fact on the cyclocross (#2) this morning I got the sagging ass of the jacket caught on the seat in a technical section. 3 pockets are needed to balance the weight distribution. And 3 pockets look Pro due to the sleekness.
Interesting. I may dig up a similar bag and give that a shot.
For the non commuting ride, I too suffer from from overloaded jersey pockets at times – mini pump, spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, phone, camera (usually), plastic bag “wallet” with credit card, insurance card, and a few bucks. Yeah, then add in a rolled up rain jacket at times. I usually say screw it and keep the tube, patch kit and levers in small under saddle bag – ancient Cannondale model that clips to the seat rails. Looks be damned.
The old school frame pumps looked correct on old school steel frames. Not so on the carbon wonder bike. Too bad.
Oh yeah – being old school mountain biker – same fate riding off road. I still use jersey pockets and water bottles. A taste of dirt with each swig of water is the real deal.
However, my son rides with a Camelback for dirt rides. Can carry things easy, plenty of room for anything. Plus, drink without taking hands off the ‘bars – nice off road.
I haven’t caved yet, but for mountain biking, they make sense. Plus now, I make him carry the camera and Clif Bars. Heh, heh…
@Dan O
For off-road, Camelbaks are the go. Much easier to drink from while rattling over bumpy terrain, and you can carry more than enough water and food and the extra tools etc you need when you’re miles from anywhere.
@marvo larvo
That’s a classic dangling participle.
This is how I carry my tubular, and I have all tools necesary on an small “cellphone sock” that goes on the right pocket. middle pocket is for warmers/gilet/rain jacket ( depending on the weather ) and left pocket is for the cell phone.
I use a 750mm Pro Storage Bottle to carry 2 inner tubes, multi-tool, tire-levers, Campy Ultra Chain Link 10Sp, etc…
So in the pockets just goes the cellphone+keys / camera+pump / and food.
I use one of these
http://www.skingrowsback.com/products/index.php?main_page=popup_image_additional&pID=3&pic=0&products_image_large_additional=images/rubber-wallet_2.jpg
Mine is long enough for a tube and multi tool at one end, gas patches and levers at the other, doubled over with an 0 ring holding it. Fits a picket easily, neat and waterproof
I have a couple of the wallets, one specially sized for my BBerry cash and cards, now my full time wallet
I love the pouch pockets and use one every ride. Mine’s made by SciCon but the same idea. Put my wallet and phone in there and don’t have to worry about the rain or getting my phone to damp with perspiration. (I think this killed my old phone)
And I also love the Lezyne pumps. I use the Road Drive M and have it on two bikes. One in black, one in silver to match the frame color. Incredible pumps. I flatted during a fast training ride for the first time this summer. Nervous as heck when everyone stopped to wait. Changing a tube while panting, sweating, and with 30 people watching who want to tell you how to do it. Got my tube changed and tire up to a good psi in no time. One dude actually told me it was kind of rude of me not to bring CO2 on a group ride. No worries, the pump had me back rolling in no time.
I think most saddle bags are ugly and unsightly. But…I’ll use one sometimes. It’s just a tiny flat one that holds one tube, one lever, one CO2 and the chuck head. Not so bad.
I’ve always disagreed with Rule #31. There are some saddle bags that are very elegant, and solve all problems of overloading jersey pockets etc. Such as the Fi’zi:k aero saddlebags, they are vary compact and sit quite nicely under any saddle, providing enough space for a tube, levers and multitool, without looking absurd. However anything larger is not allowed on my steed.
@Harry
“Get thee behind me Saddlebag.”
OK, I’m a Rule #31 rule breaker as well. I found the smallest saddle bag I could, and I use it to hold my Silca mini co2 pump, 2 co2 cartridges, tire levers, patch kit, some dollar bills for boots or other emergencies, and a spare house key. Sometimes I’ll cram a debit card into there too if I know I’m going to stop by the bike shop or other place where I may need to make a purchase.
In my jersey pockets I keep my speedplay cleat covers just in case I need them, my phone, a snack if I’m not drinking my nutrition, and a kleenex (yes, this has come in handy, I’ve used it to clean up blood when I’ve fallen and once I was crapped on by a bird and used it to wipe it off of me).
Sometimes I have armwarmers that I need to strip off if it gets too warm (like yesterday! The frickin’ 6th of November and I was too hot in arm warmers) or I’ll have my shell crammed into a pocket too if I expect it to rain a lot during the ride.
I’ve thought about turning a small water bottle I have into a gear holder now that it’s winter and I find I don’t need a second water bottle to make it through a ride like I do in the hot summer months.
OK, for all you complaining about Rule #31, I have this to say:
Aside from the aesthetic considerations, jersey pockets are much more practical than saddle bags. Anything you take with you on a ride is easily accessible from aboard the bike. The only clothing that should ever go in the pockets are arm warmers and gloves, pockets are no place for jackets.
Jackets and gillets are to be folded in half and half again and slipped under your jersey between you bibs and your jersey pockets. That way you avoid the bulk, and you can easily take the jacket on and off while riding.
No if’s, and’s, or buts. Saddle bags on Mountain bikes are another matter, although I agree that using a camelback avoids the need for it, although I haven’t really gotten on board with the concept entirely.
@Crashdummy
What are you using those wrenches for? Thats some serious roadside repair you are anticipating!
Lezyne makes some hot gear. I heart my track pump. However I use an old cycling sock as my “tool sack”
In spite of being a Rule #74 scofflaw, I actually have gotten Rule #31 compliant, in spite of owning a perfectly serviceable Fizik saddlebag that snaps onto the Aliante. After searching in vain for a serviceable sack, I bought and Adventure Medical Kits .5 for 5 bucks, dumped the contents into the medicine cabinet and loaded it up with 2 CO2 cartridges, inflator, levers, tube, patch kit and a couple of hex keys, along with an old ID and insurance card (ICE). It goes in the center pocket, phone and a spare Andy Jackson in a ziploc in the left pocket along with bars/gels, leaving the right pocket and under the jersey for warmers, gilet, etc. Voilà ! The bike looks much better, the bag doesn’t rattle and I even think handling is better (not sure why).
@Brett
I’m a sinner, Oh Great and Powerful Merckx. Have mercy on my sorry ass. Yes, a saddle bag so wee I can barely cram two inner tubes and two plastic tire levers in there. My jersey is already crammed with shit. I had converted and was compliant until I got two flat tires in two miles and had to hide in the shade on the side of the busy road whilst Wifey finished the ride and drove back to pick me up. Oh I cursed Rule #31 and the heartless bastards who chiseled it into the stone tablets. I should have been cursing myself for only having one extra tube with me.
I’ll convert again with the right pouch for a jersey pocket, two tubes, plastic levers, 5mm wrench, paper money. I’ll try Brett, really I will.
I carry just one allen wrench, which I’ve used once in ten years when my seat-post broke and I thanked Merckx I had it. But I see no need for all these tools everyone seems to carry on road bikes. And lastly, glueless patches suck donkey balls. I’ve wasted too many tubes on them. There, I’m done.
@frank
apologies to any velomifatties
@marvo larvo
“Velomifatties”?! Would “Velominata Voluptua” cause less offence, d’ya think?
@Gianni
I must admit, the Lezyne glueless patches aren’t their best work. But, Park Tool ones are the duck’s guts. They stick good. Now go say 3 Hail Eddys as penance.
Nobody has mentioned food/drink – don’t you carry anything ?
I have:
Saddle Pack: one tube, multi tool, money, keys, phone, CO2 canister.
Middle Pocket: mini-pump (Zefal Carbon)and another tube, plus ID and medical card.
Side Pockets: each with soft pack carb/electrolyte concentrate and backup tablets.
Mind you I have a Brooks so I guess I would be burned at the stake before asking for the saddle pack to be taken into consideration as well.
There is plenty of room for tools, spares, food & drink in your pockets IMHO.
An under-saddle bag was one of the first accessories I purchased after buying my first brand new road bike in college. It was also one of the first things I removed when I learned about The Rules.
The aesthetic improvement was drastic and immediate.
I think it encouraged me to take more stuff than I needed. For example, I had a coin in there so I could change the battery on my bike computer.
The under-saddle bag is for the guy who packs two tubes on a fully supported group ride. If you’re unlucky enough to flat both tires while alone with no sag vehicle in sight, you should probably just commit seppuku with your tire lever.
I saw a few guys like you riding around Lake Taupo last year – sleek, clean bikes for sure but so much shit in their pockets their jerseys were snagging on their saddles every time they stood up.
I like the aesthetic of an unfettered bike as much as the next guy, but on longer rides I like to spread the load around so I just take the saddle bag off when I take a picture of my bike… ;-)
With the split in the legions that Rule #31 seems to inspire, is there room for it to be a seasonal rule?
In the summer, when you are looking nice and skinny, have that great tan, and are in your best kit on your nicest steed, one should abide by Rule #31.
But, when the temps drop and the weather turns nasty, most of us pack on the clothes, the pounds, and are on our bad weather bike, maybe even with fenders. If you have fenders on a bike, why worry about a micro saddle bag? The aesthetic joys of your bike are already shot.
Could Rule #31 be made a spring/summer rule and it gets tossed for fall/winter? I mean, is a saddle bag really going to taint your status if you are riding in wind and sleet?
To be honest, nothing is worse than those dickhead pouches that go on the top tube, just behind the handlebars, they are irrevocably bad and should be eradicated from the earth.
My saddle bag only comes out in winter when i have to load up with extra clothes, mits etc… especially as i live in the good old UK, where rain is inevitable throughout 6 months of the year, one can only be too careful.
Opposite for me, in terms of seasonal needs. I’m in the Gulf where the need for extra stuff is high at any time and probably greater in summer.
We can be quite a few miles from anything and facing pretty dire consequences if we run out of food or energy drink or need more than one tube. Water is usually available if you know where to find it but you lose so much salt you need carbs and electrolyte too. And on a longer ride you need some food as well. Too much for pockets alone.
V-type hard to me also means being self reliant. I’d rather have a wicker basket on my bars than rely on a support car or finding a convenience store or borrowing tools from someone with a saddle pack.
With heavy guilt I too admit to using a saddle bag. I see it as my team car that follows really really closely without the director shouting at me from the window. Sure, I can make excuses too. Most of my riding occurs on remote roads, I live in a cold climate, my jersey pockets are already stuffed with food, phone, card wallet, tin of “dope”, blah blah blah. Fact of the matter is I prefer having my svelte Fizik clip-on saddle bag carry allen wrenches, tire levers, patch kit, and CO2 cartridges better than having all that crap in my jersey pockets which are loaded with other crap. I’m with Oli on removal for pics and ChrisO on the self-reliance. I think if Rule #31 is to be breached it should be done as elegantly as possible (the Holist in me). The Fizik bags don’t leave unsightly marks on seat posts and are easily switched from steed to steed with matching saddles.
I’m very jealous of your bike Marko. Which gets me to thinking Frank – we need a page to show off our bike porn.
@Cyclops
Thanks, I think, although your bike is nothing to scoff at. That pic was taken by Frank in June on the Tre Cime. I’ve made many upgrades since then (gruppo, bars, crankset, seat post). The new page for us all to post pics of our collective stable has been bandied about for quite some time. Frank needs to get on that as the masterful programmer of this site. It’ll happen.
@Marko
Doth mine eyes deceive, or are you in a ridiculously low gear? While I don’t ride with a saddle bag, I did notice that Michael Barry and others all had them on their winter bikes in Le Métier
@ChrisO
Bingo! That’s exactly why I ride in whatever rules-breaking fashion may be needed. For me, I only stop to refill water or to release water. One metric for my rides is pedal-to-park time. Minimizing this value is key. Anything under 100km, and I can get by with just a couple bottles and my jersey pockets. For rides longer than this, I’m worse than you all and don a Camelbak. I’d rather look like a toolshed than make unnecessary water stops, and there are some places on this earth where you ride and you need at least 100oz of water to get between refill spots.
@Collin
Yeah, a lot of times I ride alone, and I don’t take my U-lock with me when I ride my nice bike as opposed to my old commuter, as it’s heavy and takes up room. That means I need to take with me what I need for my ride, so I don’t need to stop anywhere. I don’t want to go into a store and risk leaving my bike outside for even a second without being watched. Bike shops are about the only place that allows you to bring in a bike, so stopping options are limited unless you know where food carts are, or the ride route is going to pass by a friend’s house.
The Camelbak is a mixed bag. I have one for long rides in the hot summer weather, but I reserve that for metric centuries or longer, and only on very hot days because it just isn’t very comfortable. The downside is it keeps the back of your jersey from being able to evaporate quickly. I really don’t like wearing it, and if I can get away with just two water bottles on the bike because I know where I can refill easily, I refuse to wear it. On the other hand, it’s great for hiking!
Rule #1. Poor Rule #1 all broked, knowingly and it is permeating the peleton in volation of Rule #2. This is not good by Rule #3 standards. Rule #30 has been violated as has Rule #32. That is 6 Rule violations in relation to this topic out of a possible 82 Rules. A pic of a “not a COTHO cockring” from my Velomihottie. She knows the rules.
@Steampunk
I’m probably on the 16 or 17 of my 11-23 as it seems that’s what I’m in most of the time. If I remember that pic was taken not too far beyond the crest of a climb and transitioning to a long gradual downhill whereby I probably ended up in the 12 or something.
I thought about posting some of those Le Metier pics of the saddlebags but it wouldn’t have done any good. The response, I gather, would have been “HTFU” or “Pros transcend The Rules.” No matter, I stand by my breakage of Rule #31.
@mcsqueak
I use a small camelbak on gravel rides over 80k or so for two reasons 1) most of the gravelling I do takes place miles from any convenience so it’s between the camelbak and a water purifier/chemical treatment when water sources are handy – no thanks 2) as with most cross bikes, mine only has one bottle cage and I refuse to retro-fit another or attempt to drill in threaded inserts through carbon fiber. Thus, the camelbak is the way to go in that application.
This probably requires further discussion. Do pros transcend the Rules, or do they innovate them? Pros are unquestionably much cooler than we are, and I think we would be best to follow their lead rather than vehemently resist. To me, The Rules seem attractively malleable, rather than rigid.
I think that one must remember that if you are able to dish out HUGE amounts of “V” (pro or otherwise) you can pretty much get away with anything.
Looking “like a toolshed”? I’ll have you know I never have worn a camelback on a road ride, never will. Personally I think camelbacks rank right up there with helmet visors on the road.
@Oli. Nice one I agree but nah, no bulging pockets here. I carry a tube, co2, keys, credit card, 1x bill, phone, and then up to 2 bottles on the bike and the rest is squeezies and cliff bars. Not a lot happens on the road for me (touches wood) and if I run out of food/ water , I can pretend I am an old skool in the Giro and pop into a bar taking what I need and sneak them the bill when I have distracted the audience.
I can get away with a squeezie, bar and 750ml bidon per 75kms.
Even on my offroad jungle epics of up to eight hours we only have small camelbaks and that’s mostly for weather clothes, more water and food.
@frank
I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Frank. Don’t you get a sweaty back if you have a folded jacket under there?
Whenever I ride behind somebody that has a saddle bag it reminds me of the heavy, pendulous ballsack on a farm animal.
@McTyke
1) It is much, much more comfortable than keeping it in your pockets and is also much easier to take on and off
2) Are you seriously asking me about getting sweaty on a bike ride? Rule #5, mate. Yes, we get sweaty on bike rides. The jacket tucked in between is just at your lower back and beneath your pockets, so you don’t even notice it’s there.
@Steampunk, @Cyclops
You can transcend The Rules when you become one with them. You do not become one with them by pissing and moaning about them at length to justify your breakage of them. Only through lengthy contemplation upon the V can you become a Rule Holist, and then – only then – is it possible to transcend them.
@all
To recap: no fucking camelbacks on road bikes. No saddlebags. Maintain your bike well, and carry a minimum number of tools with you on your ride. Put them in your jersey, along with Nuun tablets and bars and gels. Wear a jersey that fits so this does not cause it to sag; this means your jersey should not be loose and baggy. If you ride with a saddle bag for whatever reason, you must repent afterwards.
Do what you please on your cross bike or your mountain bike, but just make sure you look good doing it.
@marvo larvo
When the Velomihotties find you and pummel you first with their minipumps and C02 cartriages, then on their bikes, I hope someone gets it on tape and publishes it here. It’ll be good stuff, no doubt. Just sayin’.
I’ll confess to using a small saddle bag most of the time but will need to reconsider in light of the well reasoned and/or impassioned arguments presented here.
@Marko
I used to have one of those, but destroyed the plastic attachment riding hard on crap roads.
@Nate
When/if the clip on mine breaks I will conform fully with Rule #31 as I refuse to mar my seatpost with velcro straps. I have wondered how long it’ll last and whether I’ll notice it fall off when it does shit the bed.
@pakrat
I assume he rides a bolted tire, I have to carry a 15mm wrench as well when I’m out of my fixed gear.
Sacrificing a jersey pocket or a water bottle cage for what should be carried beneath the seat is pure idiocy. If you are not using all three pockets for food, money, more food, & spare clothes, you are not riding enough. If you are not using both bottle cages for bottles, you are not riding enough. Rule #31 is a joke. Frame pumps are made by one company only: Zefal. The come in one color only: Black. The mount in one place only: Under the top tube.
Full disclosure, last Friday I could only ride for two and a half hours & I used my center pocket for spare tube / tire levers / cellphone / money / house key. So, it would seem, even my rank pronouncements are allowed a bit of gloss.
Spend much time behind farm animals?
@frank
A-Merckx!
Rules are rules, and any I break (inadvertantly or otherwise) detract from Rule Holism and diminish my Velominatism. No excuses! We are all sinners.