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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@frank
On that point, I actually sized up recently to the very same sack that Gianni has hanging under his limp saddle. It fits beautifully in the back pocket and distributes the clutter of the inevitable bits (mini-tool, tube, levers, etc.) rather nicely across the pocket in order to get a flatter-against-the-back feel. The mini-pump fits nicely on top.
If you're really paranoid about your phone staying dry and unscratched, these work really well. I put tools and a tube in the Lezyne sack in the middle pocket and phone and credit card and house key in one of these in the left pocket. I could put the phone bag inside the Lezyne, but this arrangement keeps the phone handier for route-finding. Plenty of room left over for warmers, food, etc.
Even doing fairly long rides in the PNW in all weathers I've yet to regret my decision to jettison the EPMS. Even on the mtb, I just wear a hydration pack of appropriate (minimal) capacity for the day's ride.
@JACD214
The day I don't carry it is the day I need it. It's insurance, for me and my buddies. Mine is all in one, so good if someone twists or snaps a chain, plus I slow and ask if others on the road need help, which from time to time has come in handy.
BTW, saw your namesake street the other day...
@Marcus
Uh, asthmatic? Point being it is as large as another CO2. WTF is the Spalding reference, Poindexter?
@EricW
@Beers " Golf courses and cemeteries...the worst wastes of prime real estate there is!!"
I love this shit...84 comments since I was out. Now let's see the damage.
The velcro EPMS, small as it was, fell off the bike on a rather fast and winding decent years ago, and I copped a bollocking for it from the guy on my wheel, rightly so.
A small piece of knowledge was shared with me that day and it has been thus ever since.....
Cannot honestly remember the last time I've needed the multi-tool out on the road anyway. And i fly all over between AU and NZ repairing equipment for a living, so being prepared is kind of my thing.
@San Tonio
about fucking time this made an appearance.
Seriously Gianni, what the fucking fuck?
How much more than what's below do you need? That zips up & goes in the middle pocket, phone goes in a jersey bin (waterproof) in a side pocket leaving that & the other side pocket free for food/clothes/whatever.
@Magilla
I was out on a longish, solo, and pretty isolated ride a couple of weeks ago, and noticed that my cleat felt funny. Turns out, it was coming off the shoe altogether. Rather pleased I had the multi-tool with me. I've also tightened here and there once out on the road and the bike didn't feel/sound quite right...