Waist or seat post pack for smartphone/wallet?

[deskrider]

I was hoping you ladies might know of something handy to carry a smartphone, small wallet, etc. that attaches to the bike or maybe even works as a waist pack? I have an under-seat bag for tube, co2, tools, but I was hoping to find something that would let me carry my personal essentials kind of like a very very small "purse" when we leave the bike parked and go to a restaurant or walk around town for shopping, etc. I'm also wondering if a waist pack would just get too hot at certain times of the year, and if I parked the bike I wouldn't want to leave the under seat bag on it either so I wonder if there's anything that can double as a purse/under seat bag that would look more purse like when you carry it. Possibly with a shoulder strap? I know this must sound like an odd question!

[shootingstar]

There are front handlebar bags that unclip from handlebars and have a strap for you to carry it around. Some are small.

[Kubla]

I personally like having my valuables (cell phone, keys, money) right where I can see/access them while riding, so most of the time I use a waist/lumbar pack in addition to any other bag I might need for the ride.

I don't find it uncomfortable to wear one except in extreme heat, so I try to use a smaller pack when it's hot and delegate snacks, tools, etc. to another bag on the bike.

[withm]

I don't like anything around my waist. I put cell in left jersey pocket, thinking that if I crash and am away from my bike, the phone will be close at hand. House key is always in right side pocket. Xerox copy of driver's license, insurance card, some phone numbers, and $10-20 in a zip-lock freezer baggie that goes in either seat pack or front handlebar bag. Have a baggie so equipped on each bike so never have to worry about moving from one bike to next. Just have to remember to replenish the cash periodically. If I am going to need more money, or a credit card, I'll add that too.

Sometimes I add a Bento box - can hold camera, phone, shot blocks, energy bar, cue sheet. One hand operation to take anything out. Just make sure to pat the velcro down to be sure it's secure. I have had friends claim their phones jumped out of the bento box.... In several years I've never had even a hint of this problem.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodLG_1493734.html

I like the small front handlebar bag, the keyword here being SMALL:.
for CO2 inflator/spare cartridge, small headlight, money baggie, baggie with some first aid stuff, chapstick, sunblock, chamois butter packets, and my glasses if I think I'll be needing to switch glasses during the ride. There is plenty of extra room to carry food, map, whatever. It's always on the bike, all I have to do is check cash supply occasionally, and add glasses or food if it's a long ride. Can stuff a buff, arm warmers, bandana, or even balaclava too if necessary (but not all those items). Again, I have one for each bike, mostly already loaded.

http://www.jandd.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamCat=3&iLevel=2&subcat=10

[malkin]

What has it gots in its pocketses?

[rubywagon]

What has it gots in its pocketses?

Oh that made me LOL!

+1 on the bento box. I put my phone, chapstick and snacks in mine when I am going on a longish ride.

[ny biker]

Here are a coule of those handlebar bags that you can wear off the bike:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodDT_1122.html

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodDT_1188.html

I have Bontrager's version of that bento box, which I use for my phone, inhaler, pocket pack of tissues, and a couple of packets of Gu. I keep my jimi wallet and keys in my seat bag because the bento box isn't big enough for everything. If I'm walking away from my bike I just put the phone, wallet and keys in my pocket.

I don't have any problems with my phone (or anything else) falling out of the bento box, although you do need to put everything in plastic if it rains. But then the stuff inside the seat bag gets wet in the rain, too.

[Crankin]

I always put my phone, wallet, and cleat covers in my jersey pockets. That way, you don't have to carry anything if you get off of the bike. I usually have room for a bar, too, a baggie with extra Accelerade for long rides. I had to get a new seat bag, which is smaller than the one I had; it only has room for tools, co2 inflator, cartridges, and I shoved some shot blocks in there, too. I used to have room for small layers I took off, like arm warmers, but those can go in the pockets, too. My problem is when I have to take off something like a jacket or vest.
A bento box sounds good to carry extra things, but I don't see why you need to have your phone, etc. away from your body

[ny biker]

A bento box sounds good to carry extra things, but I don't see why you need to have your phone, etc. away from your body

I don't like having lots of things in my pockets. On a hot day, it just makes me hotter. And it actually bothers my back sometimes to have too much in the pockets.

Also, it kinda sounded like deskrider might be wearing regular clothes if she's going to be doing things like shopping.

[smilingcat]

What has it gots in its pocketses?

precious has in her poecketses, house key, spare tube, co2 cartridge, co2 pump, patch kit, tire iron (pedro's milk bars), personal information, cell phone, about 5 bucks and several sheets of paper towel. And occasional treats for the road (fig newton, banana, luna bars)

precious is too cool to have a saddle bag on any of her bike :D

small handle bar bags with straps is probably the way to go for dual use bag. saddle bags are odd shaped to be a purse. And paniers would be far too big not to mention it might be grimy on the outside.

[shootingstar]

I rarely cycle for long distances with stuff in my jersey/jacket pockets.

On exception would be keys on journey homeward. 'Cause I have to cycle underground into bike locker area.

For a camera..it would be for a short distance because I knew of a few upcoming shots ahead.

I stop and eat..even if it means for a few min. I'm not racing/radonneuring against a timeline, so I don't bother eating while cycling. Therefore food is in bag.

I actually don't like stuff, beyond keys and kleenex in my jersey/jacket pockets.

[Crankin]

Well, if I am going long distance, I am with someone who has a large bag; either DH or a friend. I just don't have room to put anything big on my bike. What I had before did not look like a large bag, but it held an incredible amount of stuff. I probably stretched it to its limit, after 5 years, as the zipper totally broke off. If I am "shopping," I am on my other bike, with a pannier.
Stuff in my pockets doesn't bother me at all. I don't feel any of it. Even when I am with DH and he has my lunch or my jacket in his bag, I still put my personal stuff and a bar in my pockets. At one time I had a front bag on my Trek (the road bike I had before my Kuota). When I finally took it off, I realized how much the front bag was affecting my cornering and steering. I won't ever use one of those again.
This is why I am getting a touring bike for my next project. I want a road-style bike that doesn't feel sluggish like my Jamis Coda, that has the pannier, that I can ride for shopping, and use when I am traveling/light touring. I just can't put any of this type of stuff on my Kuota, nor do I want to.

[OakLeaf]

Jersey pocket (in a small ziploc bag, like bulk herbs and tea come in at the natural food store) for me.

I agree the smartphone and the electronic car key - plus all the "paperwork" - is starting to get heavy! One of these days the phone will work on the car too. It does tend to bounce when I'm standing to climb.

The things I keep in my seat pack are things that always live on the bike. Way too much hassle to get them in and out.

[channlluv]

I use one of these: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFB_840200.html
(http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFB_840200.html)
Roxy

[Catrin]

I use one of these: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFB_840200.html
(http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFB_840200.html)
Roxy

+1 on the Bento box, it is the perfect size even for my small bike. I have a larger TT bag that I purchased for brevets - but the thing kind of overwhelms my little bike.

[Catrin]

What has it gots in its pocketses?

LOL, perfect timing :)

Next to nothing, outside of a few wet wipes in a zip lock baggie, a tube of chamois butter of some kind if it is a long ride. Earlier this season I was afraid to carry my phone there - I was falling over a lot and what-if-I-fell-on-my-phone :eek: I have yet to get into the habit of putting much in my pockets - in my jersey that is.

The bento box has phone in a zip lock baggie, a cliff bar and shot blocks. If it is a long ride my trunk bag has more nutrition and of course everything needed to change a tube. Also my camera. Camelbak always has extra nutrition that just stays there (I forgot to take some with me for one longish ride), car keys, copies of drivers license and insurance, and, oh yes, ice water :)

[redrhodie]

What has it gots in its pocketses?

Today I had a big samitch for lunchin in mine.

[marni]

on any ride, whether a 40 mile training jaunt or a 120 mile or longer enurance day I carry the following in my jersey pocket- left: 2 packets of gu, 1 packet of chamois butter, center pocket: jimi wallet with 20 dollars cash, a credit card with a low limit, a copy of drivers license and a key to my car at home so I can get in through the garage, right pocket: cell phone in a zipock bag, with both ICE ( in case of emergency) numbers on auto dial and a sweat rag for when I stop.. Two bottles on the bike, two tubes, inflation system, two cartridges and a patch kit in under seat kit, road id on right wrist and another around head tube on my bike. Inside my helmet,small adhesive patch with my two emergency phone numbers,my age and birthdate and penicillan allergy.

This is all I have ever carried and probably ever will carry- I was also joyfully discovered that a small collapsible back pack can be jammed into my under seat tool kit so no worries about having to carry extra clothing that I shed.

[channlluv]

+1 on the Bento box, it is the perfect size even for my small bike. I have a larger TT bag that I purchased for brevets - but the thing kind of overwhelms my little bike.

I agree. I have a seat post bag for my tools. The Bento box carries my keys, cell phone, tissues, and usually a Clif Bar if it's a rider longer than 20 miles.

I have two bottle cages, too, for longer rides. I used to have one of those bigger bags that ride on the front of the handle bars and that you can unhitch and carry as a purse -- mine was black and pretty roomy -- but it doesn't work on my road bike. I used to carry my first aid kit in it, along with a bunch of little things I never used, like extra sunscreen, tissues, chapstick, and such.

If I'm wearing a jersey with pockets, I'll put my keys in a pocket, but I still like my cell phone in easier reach, in case I need to take a picture of something.

I never thought about carrying a copy of my driver's license and health insurance card, but that's a great idea.

Roxy

[ChillyWilly]

There is a holder specifically made for Iphone that frames/holds an Iphone and attaches directly to your stem. It can be found at REI. I just saw it there today! Good luck.

[marni]

one other thought about where to carry a cell phone. If you should fall or have an accident, are you going to be able to get at your bike unless you are entangled in it? are you going to be functional enough to figure out how to unzip or open the seat bag, or wherever you have it?

Of course if you fall hard or roll it will probably fall out of your pocket as well- but perhaps in a pocket is marginally more accessible in general?

just thinking out loud.

[OakLeaf]

It's a common rule among motorcyclists NOT to carry a phone (or anything hard) on your person, because if you crash, it will hurt you, and then it will break, after which it may have sharp edges that will hurt you some more.

I carry mine in my pocket anyway. I want it accessible if something happens that doesn't involve a crash... and I'm willing to take my chances on the rest of it.

[jelee1311]

For longer rides I like my bento box.I also like using it during the summer because I like to wear tanktops & my smartphone is heavy.