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Hi all,
I've always preferred to carry a backpack full of things on rides but really want to have a go at not doing that. What's the current thinking about carrying things? Steel hardtail with dropper post so no fancy downtube boxes.
Probably just want to carry car key, wallet, phone, multitool, tube. Maybe a snack if child #1 is riding too. Can do pump and bottle on the bottle mount. Do people just stuff things in pockets?
I use small saddle bag, One Up tool in stem or pump. Water bottle. Phone in pocket. Tube strapped to frame.
Frame bag or bum-bag...sorry lumbar pack 😁
I've not used a rucksack/backpack in years. Much less sweaty and nicer all round.
Plenty of choice on both fronts - I like Osprey and Evoc for waist packs.
My frame bag is a Blackburn one that adjusts from a smaller top tube bag to a full triangle one.
Phone & wallet in one pocket, phone screen turned in towards your leg and the wallet sitting over the back of the phone facing outwards, that way it gives your phone the most protection in case of a fall
Car key in the smallest zippable pocket so it doesn't rattle around
Multi tool look at EDC or Gravity for steerer tube options, see also for tubeless repair kits and chain tools that fit in the end of your bars
For a tube, patches, tyre levers, Co2 canister use a under saddle strap or tool strap that can wrap around the top tube
Pump mount on the bottle cage (ideal for back up if tubeless kit and c02 fail for some reason
Couple of things id add is in a small sealable bag are a couple of sets of quick links for chain repairs and a spare valve core and valve core removal tool
Small Tailfin frame bag. Mine is a Wedge Frame Bag, I think the 1.9L (small) one.
Pump (or electric mini pump), tubeless puncture kit, snacks, maybe a jacket / gilet etc, multitool.
Water bottle in the bottle cage.
Phone in rear pocket or, if I'm not wearing a cycling jersey, in the pocket of trail shorts / trousers.
Honestly it's one of those bits of kit I wonder how I ever managed without. And since then I've got a selection of bigger frame bags as well plus a small top tube bag for longer days out.
Tube, levers and tubeless plugs strapped to the frame (with a Singletrack strap, no less).
Bottle in cage. Pump mounted to cage.
Topeak tool in bottom bracket (cheaper than the OneUp steerer things, and easier to fit. But still has a chaintool which is a dealbreaker for me). There's a couple of chainlinks in there too. Can't do anything in the bars cos I have Deathgrips.
Car key in one pocket. Phone in the other (don't often take a wallet, but that would go in with the phone as per @escrs).
Means if I'm just going for a short local loop (which is most of my riding) I can whack in a bottle and just go.
For longer rides I have an Evoc bumbag that I got off a PSA on here. Takes two bottles, a jacket, sandwiches, lots of flapjack, spare brake pads, emergency blanket, tick tweezers and possibly some other stuff I've forgotten no problem. I'm considering getting a bladder for it instead of the bottles.
**edit** This is on a Bird Aether 9a, so there's not really room for any more in the frame. I could maybe get a tube top bag, but it would ruin my POV footage. Got one of those on my commuter.
You've managed to do the most difficult bit - the pump.
For my "light weight no bag" setup:
I use a one up EDC in the steerer tube. this gets me the multitool, tyre lever, chain breaker, quick links, and tyre plugs, spare pad bolt, valve core.
Phone in one pocket, either car key or house key or garage door remote (there is no need for more than one of these things to be on your person while riding) in the other.
More by luck than judgement my shorts seem to have the phone on top of/at the front of my thigh rather than to the side. THerefore not going to be landed on in a crash.
The phone functions as a wallet. A single plastic banknote can be added if you feel you may encounter a cash only cafe stop.
For a no bag ride, I'll forgo the tube. If I wanted one, I'd likely tape it to the frame.
If I was starting again from nothing, I'd probably get the EDC pump for an all in one solution, attached to bottle mount.
Apart from the tube, your first list can all fit in pockets...although I'd not bother with the wallet as I've got my bank card added to the phone digital wallet.
It does mean you need pockets.
As much as many do, I'm not a fan of storing stuff on or in the bike. Once the mud gets in it just works away at paint or products.
Car key stays in the car, I use the phone to lock it.
Wallet stays at home, as it has done for about 5 years, my phone does what I need.
Multitool, tube and CO2 in dropper friendly saddlebag
If I need to take anything else, like in winter, I use a Evoc bum bag / fanny pack
One up pump with EDC tool and plus inside, tube either in a frame space or strapped to the bike, water bottle and watch for short rides. If I'm going a bit more exploring I put the Garmin on the bars and stick a bum bag on for phone and a light jacket and food.
Pump, multitool and emergency tube lashed to the frame/bottle cage, tubeless plugs in end of handlebar.
Key (singular) and phone in pockets, snack might fit in a pocket but if not I'll tape to top tube, tend not to take a wallet now, phone has apple-pay, and/or a fiver can be stuffed in your phone case/pocket.
I have used feed bags at either end of the top tube, or at the down/Seat tub junction by the BB in the past, never found seat packs particularly good though TBH they swing about and wear out too easily.
Just look at the bike and figure out where you can unobtrusively strap/zip-tie/gaffer-tape items that most of the time you won't need.
My name is Prawny and I'm a bumbag user. Have been since the original Bossnut came out and I didn't have a bottle cage.
That went back under warranty within a couple of months and I got my bottle back, but I've kept the bumbag, it's great. I carry keys, phone, tube pump and multitool and occasionally a light jacket. It's only a cheap one from tresspass or something, I can't even remember, cost about a tenner. I used it on my gravel bike too, because it looks 'cool'.
I'm tempted to replace it with one of the onone packs from PX, but I've not got round to it yet, don't need the bladder but for the price they look good.
Bumbag's are fantastic. Not too big but big enough, and a range of sizes anyway. I'd recommend you get straps with a bit of foam around them as they can tend to cut in somewhat- or wider straps as a minimum requirement
In summer or short ride, I'm all for bumbag too. Several people so far have talked about pockets for various things, but I'm never confident I really trust the stitching or material properly,especially with something heavy or bulky like a phone or rough edges like housekeys.
By 'bulky' i mean it's a tight fit in a pocket to start with, and then the very action of pedalling forces it repeatedly into the corners. Must be bad for the stitching
I used one of these for a bit. I prefer a bumbag, but it was alright in hot weather. A bit rattly is the downside. Pump in a bracket under the bottle cage.
Handlebar bag, just about fits around all the cables and gets swapped around various bikes.
I use small saddle bag, One Up tool in stem or pump. Water bottle. Phone in pocket. Tube strapped to frame.
Exactly what I do. Oneup pump and tool gets swapped between bikes.
Small saddle bag contains any small parts specific for the bike and just stays on there. E.g. stuff like spare pads, chain link. Also any other small bits and bobs like zip ties, spare tubeless valves, spare tubeless plugs.
It's a great system and for rides up to 2 hours ish, other than swapping the pump&tool between bikes I just put a bottle in and go.
Just add a bumbag to that if you need a jacket, food, or more tools or owt
Car key stays in the car, I use the phone to lock it.
what kind of wizardry is this?
Seconded. My car won't let me lock it with either the phone or the spare key, if the other one's inside it. Anti-theft feature associated with the keyless ignition.
Same
Re: carrying stuff - I never feel comfortable going out with so little stuff that I don't need at least a hip pack (with hydration). But my MTB's don't have on bike storage - apart from the SWAT stem tool on my Levo, but that doesn't have a chain tool.
Gravel bike I can do it, as I have top tube, saddle bags and two bottle mounts.
I tend to drink a lot of water when using my own power and one bottle isn't enough. I see some people with just a mini bottle on their frame. I'd die
I've got one of these on the hardtail. Granite portaledge XE. Does the job lovely. bottle cage moves up a bit, bits and bobs get strapped in out of the way of thighs and knees by the DT/ST junction.
bits and bobs stay in a 1L drybag with the strap/clip cut off, and the end just folded over a few times. Tube, lever, multitool, tubeless stabber, £10 note.
I mention this a lot but the oneUp EDC setup really is a brilliant thing. Usable multi tool, tyre lever, chain breaker, tubeless plugs, spoke keys and a chain link pliers (and chain link) all in my steerer tube, always there, moved between bikes in a second. Had mine since they were first released. Great idea, brilliantly executed.
For most rides I don't bother with anything "proper" as the walk back to the car wouldn't be too bad - bottle and pump on the same mount on the bike then keys, phone and multi tool in pockets. Used to strap a tube to the frame but never needed it and its probably no good for the tube to be exposed to all elements all the time. If I'm going somewhere a bit further/more remote (not very often!) I'll just take my dakine backpack and suffer with a bit of sweaty back.
Been thinking about getting one of those small Evoc Trail Belts just to keep stuff out of pockets and maybe fit an electric pump in there as well. I don't really feel the need to carry so much shit that I need a backpack, it's just carrying water than can be a pain without a bladder as I can get through a bottle quite quickly.
Been thinking about getting one of those small Evoc Trail Belts
Having always thought Evoc were quality, I've pulled the webbing strap away from it's stitching on two Hip Pack Pro's now when cinching up. Gone back to Camelbak with a MULE hip pack. Sits quite well (got a belly at the moment, so none of them sit that well), but seems better than the Evoc, which was always better than the Camelbak Repack
Saddle bag with a multi-tool, tube, levers and CO2 cart. Phone and a gel or 2 in a pocket, water in a bottle on the bike.
I'm not riding in any kind of wilderness so don't need any more than that.
For road riding, small saddle bag for tools (including mini pump). Pockets can handle some extra layers (pertex or long sleeve depending on weather) and the odd bit of food, phone etc though I also have a mini bumbag for the latter (which I mostly use for running). I've managed to find a really big Jandd saddlebag at a 2nd hand shop, it will hold big sandwiches and more clothing etc.
For MTB, a bigger bumbag or small rucksack is usually better IMO. I've often got a camelback in the latter.
Wee top tube bag - I have OnOne short one (all my tools, pump, inner tube, whistle and bivvy) and a long Alpkit one (can squeeze a jacket or food in).
I also add a bar bag if needed - I have a cheapy eBay one that flops around a bit much for my liking, and I am not bold enough to transfer my lovely, solid, spacious bar bag from the Do It All bike over. It looks like this, and when I have popped it onto an MTB, it works really well...
If I am on a short ride then it's packless just a bottle on the bike, I have a Topeak stashed BB tool. Phone is in my pocket along with car key (stripped of all other keys)
A bit further then it's an Osprey bum bag with about 1l of water & maybe a bottle, plus tubeless repair kit, pump & tube & a snack.
A bit further again a full backpack with 3l bladder (rarely totally full) bigger & more snacks & the same repair kit transferred from the bum bag.
So it's a kind of horses for courses depending on how far I am riding.
Having always thought Evoc were quality, I've pulled the webbing strap away from it's stitching on two Hip Pack Pro's now when cinching up. Gone back to Camelbak with a MULE hip pack. Sits quite well (got a belly at the moment, so none of them sit that well), but seems better than the Evoc, which was always better than the Camelbak Repack
Very much worth your while dropping Evoc an email directly, they are very good. They even replaced the little clip-on wheel on my bike bag FOC after some idiot left it attached at check in
Having always thought Evoc were quality, I've pulled the webbing strap away from it's stitching on two Hip Pack Pro's now when cinching up. Gone back to Camelbak with a MULE hip pack. Sits quite well (got a belly at the moment, so none of them sit that well), but seems better than the Evoc, which was always better than the Camelbak Repack
Very much worth your while dropping Evoc an email directly, they are very good. They even replaced the little clip-on wheel on my bike bag FOC after some idiot left it attached at check in
TBH, when the first one went, I emailed the supplier and they said no problem, send it back. I never got round to it
Ah, the joys of winch and plummet riding; it's always downhill to the car so all I carry is water and keys.
Have a Oneup EDC pump that I can switch between bikes so that's most repair stuff sorted.
Peaty's Holdfast for the few extra bits (tubeless jabber, etc) and things like car keys. Phone in pocket. Long ride where I'd want to carry food, waterproof, etc I have an Osprey bumbag.
I have a lezyne loaded cage with a multitool in the pod bit and pump strapped to it rather than CO2 in the image, has tubeless plugs and I chuck in some quicklinks
for longer rides i strap on a 76 project piggy with a tube and some tyre levers in
Re Levo Swat stem tool. Pop out the tool. Undo the bolt under the fork crown. Remove top bit and bottom bit. Tada! Chain tool!
Re Levo Swat stem tool. Pop out the tool. Undo the bolt under the fork crown. Remove top bit and bottom bit. Tada! Chain tool!
Ah yeah completely forgot about that/didn't realise, was just thinking there was a spare link hidden somewhere
Osprey serel 7 has been a great bag so far. As a bolt on I keep a draw string bag inside, for layer shedding when required. Also carry a Russian bag (pillow case and string). This is for trail finds, tools and roadside freebies.. and apple scrumping.
Bumbag's are fantastic.
They are if you have a waist. Otherwise they just slip down unless you cinch them uncomfortably tight. I created weight weanie saddle pack using a Day Saver tool, TPU tube etc, but then blew the weight budget on a Mountain Morph pump, having seen too many people struggling to pump up tyres with a tiny pocket size pump.
I guess I'm lucky in that bum bags work for me. I used to ride with backpacks but I've never felt really comfortable wearing one whilst riding. I was skeptical about bum bags/hip bags, but I gave one a try and now have two (Evoc 1 litre and 3 litre) and really get on with them - to the point where I sometimes have to check that the 1 litre one is still there as I don't really notice it.
On a regular ride I use the 1 litre pack and mostly put soft stuff in it (food, waterproof, emergency bag, liner gloves, nitrile gloves, vet wrap etc) and put the physically hard objects I wouldn't want to fall on (multitool, pump, dynaplug, topeak power lever etc) in my saddle bag. My car keys also go in the saddle bag. I only use the 3 litre bag on multi-day rides or rides where I want to take knee pads.
I could tailor the contents of the saddle bag and the small hip bag to each ride, but I really can't be bothered with that faff so I take both on all rides, with the advantages that I have a routine that works, requires minimal fuss (as long as I check that everything is still in working order from time to time), and the ride feels consistent (no significant weight changes from one ride to the next).
I don't like carrying things on the bike.they either shake off and get lost, or get so dusty/filthy is a pain to use stuff.
I used to use a hydration backpack, but shifted to bumbag about 6 years ago. I was surprised by how less sweaty I was without a backpack on. Makes a real difference.
Phone in pocket and everything else in a 76 Projects little piggy strapped to whatever frame tube i fancy!!
Small saddle bag. Unless its a long day a couple of munchie bars and back card in back pocket and tool, spare tube, CO2 stuff in bag. Spare CO2 shoved up seat post. No phone, the last thing I want is a call.
gravel bike:
I always liked the bike cup bag things for chucking the odds and sods in as well as sometimes using for bottles 🙂
I’ve also tended over the years to use one of their smaller frame bags for locks and pumps but you do ruin the lines 🙂
Tools live in tool wrap under back of saddle.
XC:
Scalpel,it’s got the toolkit built in under the bottle mount and I’ve a funky silica with a boa saddle thing under the saddle.
I’ve also used the evoc bum bag and the camel back vest and a camel back sky line which sits low and on hips so less of your back is covered , like the old wingnuts(got one of them as well).
Bag choice for me is dependent on duration but tbh I’ve used the skyline in some hot weather and don’t remember thinking never again and it’s got the nice clips to carry your helmet and I do think its good as your upper back isn’t covered.
I tend to use the backpacks for carrying more water than tools and crap.
I can also chuck a micro towel thing and some trunks to get a beach break or just a rest break if any shade, I do also like a bike picnic up some mountain.
https://www.wohobike.com/en-eu/collections/xtouring-bikepacking-gear/products/xtouring-almighty-cup
Phones always on person if possible but bag if not but I do try to have it close to hand.
I’m Spain and stuff goes to shit quickly here 🙁
Osprey Lumbar pack - Seral 7- with spare tube, One UP EDC pump and tool, lightweight first aid, sundry spares and snacks, plus a very lightweight shell jacket. On long, hot rides, I use the Osprey reservoir, but for shorter stuff, bottle on the bike. I like being able to have everything I need to ride on any one of several mtbs. I still use a proper pack in deep winter conditions, but then I carry a lightweight PrimaLoft jacket because I don't want to go hypothermic fixing a flat in a blizzard.
On the gravel bike, Tailfin top tube bag, saddle pack, pump on the bottle cage and two bottles on the bike. I sometimes also carry stuff in jersey pockets on longer rides.
Lumbar packs are fantastic for keeping weight low down and avoiding sweaty back syndrome, I can't really fault the Osprey one bar the slightly faffy drinking tube, which I tend to tuck away now rather than drinking while moving.
