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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View Comments
@Lolito
I didn't realize it was even possible to have an even uglier EPMS! My poor eyes...
@Balexander
But wait... that cluster is hanging on a Giant mountain bike. Scroll through some of the other pictures on the page.
It's not on a road bike, so I'm wondering - Do we care?
@JACD214 Good catch. Inattention to detail is what happens when I'm only caring to procrastinate.
@frank
Remind me of your qualifications to express opinions on what is a good pedal?
@eightzero
+1000. this is the most important point made. i can't stand anything extra being on my bike; i make a concession to lights only when they're absolutely necessary for survival. and even then, i try to keep them in my pockets until they're needed (unless they're too damn bulky for that; looking at you lezyne mega drive).
did anyone notice the pump strapped to his down tube bidon cage? seriously?!? wtf is the world coming to?
personally, after not using one for long enough, i can't stand the EPMS any more. even with the tightest, smallest one possible i can still somehow feel it with my legs and it drives me NUTS. my only issue is, much like the sentiment quoted above, i hate having a pump sticking out of my jersey pocket. but the lezyne road drive is the only pump worth using. so i'm stuck...
@Kiwicyclist
That's not actually her bike? Damn, another fantasy comes crashing to the ground like the Hindenburg...
I'm sorry, but when you start to look like a camel (@ the engine) then maybe the time has come to get a small EPMS.
@mrs engine
Or carry less shit...
I carry a mini pump, three tyre levers, an inner tube and maybe a piece of old tyre (in case something unexpected manages to cause damage to my tyre wall) all in a single elastic band. This could all fit in the same pocket as my phone should I desire. I have been known to carry a multitool, but that's tiny...
Seriously @Gianni... what's going on in your head?
@the Engine Thats always been your problem though. Just look at the bag you took on holiday JUST for your cycling kit! Jaysus......