Bought First Saddle Bag-Supplies?

[Crankin]

Kajero, I have a Topeak seat bag. I have had several of their products, in varying sizes, on different bikes. But, the Cannondale one I had before held a lot more and still fit on my teeny bike.
Even I can use the CO2 inflator. The one I have has a button you push and it lets you release various amounts of "gas." There are also various types of cartridges and I think some are better than others (threaded vs. unthreaded). I carry 2-3 cartridges and 2 tubes.
I have never worried or obsessed about my phone or wallet... am I weird? I stick my credit card sized regular wallet and my phone in my jersey pocket and go. When I first started riding, I put them in my seat bag, but I stopped doing this when I wanted more room in my bag.

[OakLeaf]

I have never worried or obsessed about my phone or wallet... am I weird?

Nope ... either you have phone insurance, or you don't sweat like I do and don't ride when there's a chance of rain. And I'm pretty sure you don't drive to ride, so you don't have a car key to worry about.

I'm totally not shy (though I am apologetic) about handing soggy bills to a cashier. And I'm confident my organ donor card and insurance card will dry without major damage. But if water got into my electronics, I could be unable to drive my car, unable to call DH to come get me with his key, and out $800 for a new car key and a new phone. I did have a close call with my phone a few weeks ago as the result of a pinhole in my bag - fortunately I removed the battery and packed it with silica gel dessicants and it dried out, but it's likely that the indicator inside my phone will show that it was exposed to moisture, and if something entirely unrelated goes wrong with my phone, it won't be covered under warranty.

I think paying a little extra attention to the condition of my ziploc bag, and taping over any holes, is worth it.

[soprano]

Spare tube: after having an unprotected tube go bad and leave me stranded (the 1/2" nail I took in my tire left an unpatchable gash) I've started treating spare tubes with cornstarch and encasing in a heavy quart-size bag. Normally I carry in my saddle bag a patch kit, spare tube, tire levers, allen wrench set, Swiss army knife, zip tie, and a tube of After-Bite, because I seem to run into fire ants about once a summer. Riding home with 40 fire ant bites on one foot and nothing to treat them was No Fun. I also have a Topeak Road Morph G pump that lives on the bike.

I like to keep my cell phone closer to hand than it would be in my saddle bag. If I whip it out and take a photo of misbehaving drivers, they usually can't leave me along fast enough.

I got a RoadID so I could leave my wallet at home. Ccredit card numbers are memorized.

[Crankin]

Oakleaf, I do drive to ride to some of the group rides I do in the summer, as they tend to be "beach" rides on the North Shore or even Cape Cod. I have a zippered pocket on the inside of the flap of my seat bag and that is where I put my key. I took it off my key ring long ago, since we have a keypad on the front door, and don't need any other keys.
I guess I really don't care about my phone. It's a flip phone, nothing special and I hardly use it. Also, I don't ride in the rain, unless it happens "unplanned." Last Sunday was the first time in 2 years I got rained on.

[OakLeaf]

Credit card numbers are memorized.

I honestly don't understand this, or the people who carry copies of their ID.

What store or agency will accept a copy of an ID? What store will run something off your recital of your bank card number when you're there in person? Obviously it won't work in an ATM.

Memorizing your CC number is good in case you lose it when you're away from home and need to call the issuer. It's a time saver for ordering stuff off the internet (it probably saves me entirely too much time ). But it doesn't do you much good out on the road ... nor does a copy of a license.

My strategy is to carry everything I need. If I'm driving to ride, I don't want to leave credit cards in the car, and it's most convenient to have my store loyalty cards in the bag as well since I almost always use the drive as an opportunity to run errands. Some stores will accept a memorized number or phone number (and those cards I don't carry), others not.

The paperwork (including the "plasticwork") stays in the ziploc always, just gets jammed into my purse when I'm not riding or running, and carrying everything.

[withm]

I honestly don't understand this, or the people who carry copies of their ID.

.

I carry a copy of my drivers license and insurance card only. Since 95% of my rides I'm alone, it's for identification when the ambulance comes to pick me off the side of the road, or to give them a starting point to prove I have health insurance. I also wear a Road ID, to provide phone numbers of emergency contact.

I can't imagine why I would need a wallet full of credit cards on a bike ride. If I'm stopping for lunch or a snack (extremely rarely) I would pay cash, and I keep somewhere between $10-20 on each bike for that reason. ATM? Well I only use that when I'm buying groceries or depositing my paycheck. Neither of which I'm likely to do via bicycle (although if that is on the agenda, I'll plan accordingly).

[Kerry1976]

I always wear my Road ID on walks, runs or rides.

[TsPoet]

I'm not sure I've seen boots listed. I also carry a piece of a tyvek envelop (received in the mail from someone random - so for free) to use as a boot if the tire itself tears. I've actually had to use a $20 bill once, because that's all I had. I've never used the tyvek envelope, but it's certainly a cheaper option. Weighs nothing and takes up no room.

[Catrin]

I carry a copy of my drivers license and insurance card only. Since 95% of my rides I'm alone, it's for identification when the ambulance comes to pick me off the side of the road, or to give them a starting point to prove I have health insurance. I also wear a Road ID, to provide phone numbers of emergency contact...

This is my practice as well - then they don't HAVE to contact Road ID to know my identity and and gets things started. Hopefully this will never be needed. I am too concerned about accidently losing my DL, and my insurance "card" is actually quite fragile and easily torn so I don't want it on the bike.

It works for me - I should probably carry more money - but where I ride there isn't any place to spend it...

[LivetoRide]

I thought I had forgotten another important thing that I carry in my saddle bag: a Connex quick link (and multi-tool w/ a chain breaker).

And for those of you that do manage to bring a bit of duct tape along (been there done that with slicing a leg open on the chainring while crashing and the duct tape idea is brilliant for that), how do you manage to bring some along?

[marni]

I thought I had forgotten another important thing that I carry in my saddle bag: a Connex quick link (and multi-tool w/ a chain breaker).

And for those of you that do manage to bring a bit of duct tape along (been there done that with slicing a leg open on the chainring while crashing and the duct tape idea is brilliant for that), how do you manage to bring some along?

I wrap my jimmi wallet in short overlapped lengths of duct tape. My son has a wallet he made of duct tape which is dis assembled if needed.

For tire boots, I too have used a monetary bill, a gu wrapper. These days I cut small 1" sections of a bad tube and then slice them lengthwise- I have been known to duct tape his small patches around a questionable tube, plus they make pretty good, flexible, boots.

[Velocivixen]

What I need on my person goes in one of those one-cup sized ziploc bags that you get bulk herbs and spices in. Perfect size for cards and phone.

Driver's license (original - who's going to accept a copy???), insurance card, organ donor card, store loyalty cards, one credit card, at least one $20 plus at least two $1 bills for vending machines if I'm desperate for water. Phone. Car key if I've driven to ride.

This weekend I double-bagged everything. I think I'm going to make a habit of that. I had a close call with getting my phone wet a couple of weeks ago, so I'm going to be extra careful from now on.


I think a second CO2 cartridge is optional if you have a really usable pump. I carry two since my back-up pump is really for emergencies only ... it takes a LONG time to inflate a tire to a rideable pressure even at my size. But if your pump will inflate a tire in a reasonable amount of time, I think a second cartridge isn't an absolute necessity. Really, if you're not under the gun (either commuting to work or part of a club ride), CO2 isn't a necessity at all.

Hey Velocivixen, did you make that tool roll?? Or if not, what brand is it? That's very cool. What's in the pocket on the left - patch kit? Space for spare CO2 cartridge? Space for the tube?

My DH bought it as a Christmas gift from a local gal who makes the tool rolls. I could find out if I researched around a bit. That "pocket" is only about 1.25" wide, so there is a flat box of "skabs" stick on patches and a tiny "multi tool" that has all sorts of allen/hex/screw driver type things on it.

[Velocivixen]

@Oakleaf, I cannot for the life of me find the name of the artist who makes the rolls. However here's an up close photo and a website of a shop in Portland who sells them and could give you the name. It's a woman in Portland who makes them.
It didn't work, so go to: http://bikeasauruspdx.com/great-gifts/

Scroll down and you will see #3 Roll Kit for storing tools $20.

[soprano]

And for those of you that do manage to bring a bit of duct tape along (been there done that with slicing a leg open on the chainring while crashing and the duct tape idea is brilliant for that), how do you manage to bring some along?

Tear about a yard of duct tape off of the roll. Starting at one end, roll it up into a small roll about the size of a cigarette.

[LivetoRide]

Thanks Marni, soprano.