Carrying stuff in your pockets?

bigpikle

As I start on longer rides I'm packing a little more stuff. I always have a small saddle bag with tools, tubes, patches etc and a small pump strapped underneath it, but am now thinking about food, spare layers of clothing etc and as we head towards spring and changeable weather I can see the need for carrying layers for putting on/off over the course of a ride.

It seems like I need to start stuffing the pockets on the back of my jacket to fit it in.
I have to say this doesnt seem a really good idea (uncomfortable, risk of losing stuff, falling on it etc) yet I know loads of people carry lots of gear in these pockets.

How do people distribute their kit around themselves, especially on longer rides?

GiantMike

It's all down to personal preference to be honest. I tend to carry a waterproof jacket screwed up in one pocket, food in another. I keep tools in the saddle bag because I wouldn't want to fall on them.

You can go a long way with little additional baggage. Just make sure you have some money and a mobile!

balthazar

Pockets for food, phone, and a waterproof if need be. Tools, tube, emergency £20 and "tea+cake" coins, permanently in the saddle bag.

Lillywhite

GiantMike wrote:

You can go a long way with little additional baggage. Just make sure you have some money and a mobile!

I agree. You need to carefully work out what you actually need to carry. A lightweight race cape is all that is necessary if it's likely to rain otherwise you'll be forced to have the full monty i.e. massive saddlebag or panniers like touring cyclists of yesteryear. :roll:

Anonymous

Kiddie trailer for gaz stove, folding chair,duvet etc.

Anonymous

Sorry, last post was tongue in cheek.

Bike repair in saddle bag

If its nippy, I wear a base layer and a Short sleeve jersey with arm warmers. Lightweight gilet over that, rolls up small if I get warm. Race cape, nice and light, I have a PBK one, rolls up small too. Both gilet and cape fit in 1 pocket. phone and cash with gels in one pocket and the 3rd pocket is for food. Usually 3 cheese + Ham + jam croissants in foil.

Bib longs or bib shorts with leg warmers, which if it warms up, and I eat the food, and the leg warmers go in the now empty food pocket.

APIII

My general rule is if it doesn't fit in my pockets, it gets left at home. The only exception is on very long rides when I don't want to stop, where I will put some food in a small bento bag on the top tube.

Tom Butcher

I agree with the "you don't need much" brigade. Maybe for long rides a small saddle pack under the saddle is useful but if you can't fit what you need in three pockets and one of those you need to look at how much you are carrying.

58585

I put my tools, phone, bank card/money and spare tubes into a water bottle which then goes into one of the cages.
Water goes in another bottle in the other cage, and a second water bottle in the middle jersey pocket.
One pocket goes to food and a mini pump and the other pocket is available for arm warmers/anything else. If it looks like it might rain I go out expecting to get wet, I never take additional clothing.
Personally not seen the need for a saddle bag so not tried one.

greasedscotsman

58585 wrote:

If it looks like it might rain I go out expecting to get wet, I never take additional clothing.

+1

It's not really about trying to stay dry, but staying warm. I've always found it difficult to stay dry and not overheat, so I just accept that I'm going to get wet.

Mark Alexander

It is personal preferednce but one thing id'd say is tools even small opnes can go in a saddmle bag cut apart water bottle etc. when riding, food is best in the far left or right pocket think about if your're left or right handed. you don't need access to tools and pump on the move. I put the pump in the middle. if you put ipod phone etc in your jersey, think about a cealable freezer bag.
a gillet can be best stuffed into the middle or most accesable pocket for putting on on the move.

Marcosplace

Food and water are available everywhere....shops every 5 mile in the UK...dont worry about loading your bike with weight...

cougie

Its no hardship loading 2 bottles on the bike and an energy bar or two in your back pocket. I wouldnt take a pic-a-nic basket out with me - but makes sense to take at least some of your own provisions. I'd rather ride than stop usually.

Mark Alexander

for most rides 1.5 L of liquid and a few bars are ok. for more than that shops for an emergency.

Philby

Multi-tool, spare tubes and tyre levers in small Topeak saddle bag. Food, energy bars, gels in right rear pocket. Montane waterproof in middle pocket but only if it looks like it will rain. Money, phone, keys in an old Zipvit bag in left pocket.

Lots of people I ride with have the Bento box things on their top tubes - seem a bit superfluous to me.

4crosser

I'm with the people who say not much to carry. Though usually I have a small rucksack with a pump, lock, keys and mobile in.

dennisn

I tend to carry more than I need, but that's just me. When I was younger it was a different
story but advancing age has apparently made me a bit more paranoid that I might need this or that out there on those long rides. Anyway, I bought a small Camelback, on sale,
removed the water bladder, and it holds more than I need very comfortably, for those long rides when you're by yourself. No big deal - at least for me.

Flasheart

Tomorrow morning I'm riding to Bournemouth to get my copy of Battlefiled Bad Company 2
:idea: I've already checked and YES I can fit a DVD case in my middle rear pocket.

If I was on my Ridgeback hybrid and just local, my Samsonite backpack would be on but on my road bike I have to say it it doesn't fit in the pockets for in my littlle saddlebag ...it's NOT comiing along or the ride.
Sad innit ..see what you lot have done to me :P

Bunneh

Carrying my keys in an inside pocket, some pennies in the same one, rest is in a saddle back and if I'm doing some particulary daring, like chasing Flasheart down a country lane I bring some GT85 for lube.

Got BF BC2 on my bday Paul, came at 10am. YAY!

Flasheart

Amazing how much faster you can cycle when you are being chased by a perverted Bunneh brandishing a can of GT85.
I may manage a spot on the TDF

LittleB0b

Marcosplace wrote:

Food and water are available everywhere....shops every 5 mile in the UK...

err - no really, there isn't.


that said i'm now getting quite used to going XC in my clippy shoes in search of fast flowing streams (no wonder they are trashed)

Flasheart

I thought the same thing as Littlebob.
Err not round my neck of the woods there isn't,

Marcosplace

LittleB0b wrote:

Marcosplace wrote:

Food and water are available everywhere....shops every 5 mile in the UK...

err - no really, there isn't.


that said i'm now getting quite used to going XC in my clippy shoes in search of fast flowing streams (no wonder they are trashed)

woosh.....