The Wrong... Saddle Pack??

Ok, so I ran my new road bike over to show my friend who insisted I needed a road bike in the first place... and he immediately started sneering at my saddle pack...

It's the only one we had lying around (we usually bike with small backpacks) but according to him it was dorky and clunky beyond belief :rolleyes: and he dove into his garage to come up with something more "appropriate". Needless to say I couldn't see any difference.

Now, I'm going to have to buy a new one anyway, as both of them rub slightly when I pedal. And I might as well buy something really nice :D Anyone have any tips on something suitably sleek, elegant and just amazingly appropriate, that will make bike friend shut up?

I just need room for the bare essentials in case of a flat, plus maybe a light windbreaker.

In the "style" section of bicycling magazine this month the advice columnist says you can't have a bike bag period, if you truly want to be cool. If it doesn't fit in your jersey, you don't need it. Either he was kidding, he rides in a vacuum sealed clean room somewhere, or I am terminally dorky. There is NO way I could ride without a bag! Bags all look alike to me, unless you get into the lovely english canvas and leather bags, which would look very strange on a road bike unless it is itself a pretty english bike. Did your friend point out anything to go on? I will say that the bags that clip on with a plastic clip connection, rather than the velcro strapped bags, are much nicer looking and more functional. The velcro droops. I also have one with a zipper extender, so it is smaller when zipped and can expand when unzipped. But in general, you may just want to stand tall as a dorky yet functional and comfortable cyclist- if I corrected everything that got sneered at somewhere or another, I would be out $1000s of dollars, would not be being particularly true to my practical self...and would probably still look like a dork!

I have an "Ortlieb" water resistant bag. It's a hard material and then a rubber covering comes over the zippered area. It is clipped to the underside of my seat and a small velcro around the seat tube. I think its a great idea. Holds my tube, CO2 cartridge and tire pump, levers, multi tool, gum, and eye drops. I bought it so my cell phone wouldn't get wet. I have to carry that (on potential rainny days in a plastic bag) in my jersey along with snacks as there is no more room left in this bag. I am not sure what size I bought, but i wish I had taken all the goods with me when I went saddle bag shopping. Besides, this was the only one on the shelf, he said they had sold out. Good luck in your shopping experience.
PS. My saddle bag on bike #1, holds everything but the kitchen sink but isn't waterproof.;)

IMO the most important feature is the kind of bag that has a mounting bracket attached to the saddle/post and you can click the bag on and off easily. Futzing around with straps just sucks. I've got a Trek bag that has this sort of mounting system but there are other brands (I think Ortlieb and Jandd) that also have it.

Timbuk2 makes some very cute ones, albeit they do use straps.

OK, I must be a fashion dud. My black and yellow Felt has a black and yellow bumblebee saddle bag. Picture the bee face on the pads in the picture below looking at you as you pass me (and a lot of people pass me). Click here

DH gave it to me and I think it is really cute.

One of my bikes always has a pannier or trunkbag on it.
The other (the lugged steel beauty with honey leather Brooks saddle) has a leather and canvas Rivendell handlebar bag.

My son's bike has one of the Timbuk2 bags like TE sells. http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=25538

He likes it because it holds his Gameboy.

I rode his bike a little, and I didn't rub on his Timbuk2 bag.

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Originally Posted by Lifesgreat

black and yellow bumblebee saddle bag. Picture the bee face on the pads in the picture below looking at you as you pass me (and a lot of people pass me).

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That is SO cute!!

He'd kill me if I turned up for a group ride with something like that :D


I like the Timbuk2, but I think I'll have to try for a clip-on. I am NOT taping my spare tube to the saddle or filling up my pockets with junk.

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Originally Posted by lph

That is SO cute!!

He'd kill me if I turned up for a group ride with something like that :D

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Hee Hee! I think you really have to get it, hide it until the ride starts, and pass him, laughing maniacally!:D

I do have the Timbuk2 one on my mountain bike - very, very sturdy and well-made. However, the velcro strap that goes around the seat tube is also very sturdy and well-made, and so the end won't stay down - it was chafing my inner thigh, until I duct taped around the tip. Not quite as snazzy looking, now (I should just cut it). Really only a problem with the really short liner in my mtb shorts, which I didn't like anyway.

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Originally Posted by wiseowl

I will say that the bags that clip on with a plastic clip connection, rather than the velcro strapped bags, are much nicer looking and more functional. The velcro droops.

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Okay, I have to say this...there has to be some solution to the droopy, swinging seat bag. I get really kind of grossed out when I see these little bags dangling down behind guys' bottoms when they ride. Bad, bad images!!! :eek: (Gets mind out of gutter for a while...)

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

IMO the most important feature is the kind of bag that has a mounting bracket attached to the saddle/post and you can click the bag on and off easily. Futzing around with straps just sucks.

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I agree wholeheartedly with this.
otherwise, why should this guy care?
If you can find a 'hello kitty' sticker, slap it on his back:p

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Originally Posted by zencentury

If you can find a 'hello kitty' sticker, slap it on his back:p

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YES!!!!!!

topeak has these. We have larger ones that we use for self support training etc, which has a healthy set of tools, tubes, co2, and room for keys, phone, gus etc. And we have a 1/2 size topeak which we simply have a subset of above used for supported events. since they are clipped on makes it easy to swap and one system for all the bikes.

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Originally Posted by zencentury

I agree wholeheartedly with this.
otherwise, why should this guy care?
If you can find a 'hello kitty' sticker, slap it on his back:p

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Hee-hee, will try to find one :D

It's ok, he cares because he knows that I care too. I like cool and sleek stuff too, I just don't know what's cool in roadie circles yet ;)

I used to have a clip on bag on my Trek. It was a smallish-medium size that could hold all tools, food and a wind jacket folded up. But nothing fit on my Kuota! The above bag was rubbing and the guy at my shop did not want to try to make any special jerry rigged holder for a clip on bag. He did do this for my husband, whose bike is bigger and has more room for a bag. In fact, he can clip on his giant Carradice bag, which we use when touring or on longer day trips. So, the only thing that fits on my bike is a Cannondale bag that uses Velcro. It does expand, but it's not huge. All of the things I have used would be dorky to a true roadie, but hey, I am not racing. Nothing else I have is dorky, so if this bag holds all my stuff, it's fine with me! I wish I could still use my old bag, but it's not going to happen.