Gravel bike on-bike dtorage

On the mtbs, I have OneUp EDC in the steerer and tubeless repair in the bars. I also have extra stuff in the bottom of the steerer secured with a fork cork.

What’s the gravel equivalent? Steerer is carbon so can’t be threaded and the bottom of the steerer is sealed. As for the bars, can you store stuff in there without the tuck of the bar tape being an issue?

Saddle bag?

I’m also using a 140, soon to be 150mm dropper so a saddle bag isn’t going to work

Because the frame is (presumably) taller than an equivalent MTB, do you have room for a frame bag? Or use a small bar bag?

Small bar bag? Top tube bag? One Up Pump?

Top tube bag?

Pannier bags. I’m not even joking.

I’m also using a 140, soon to be 150mm dropper so a saddle bag isn’t going to work

a small saddlebag is fine with a dropper (obviously not one that secures around the seatpost!) I’ve got a medium Lezyne Caddy on mine.

I’ve also recently got a Tailfin bolt-on top tube bag after seeing it rated on here. It’s rock solid (unlike some others I’ve tried in the past!)

For tools I have the OneUp EDC pump next to a cage on my downtube.

I’m considering a small bar bag, like the Restrap canister. I have one of their small frame bags in another bike. It’s usefully sized but I hate to admit, I really don’t like the aesthetic. Tarty I know.

I do like the MTB idea of having bits secreted about the bike.

We use bar bags (Klik-Fix ftw) mainly in summer.
In winter or longer days we add in a mid-sized frame bag from Alpkit.
In proper winter or a long day out or more than a pair of us, I add a small pannier or two.
Job jobbed.

Bar bag:

Frame bag:

Some days the picnic and purchases of the day, and the weather forecast, require something bigger:

Saddle bags and top tube bags +1

I’ve never bought into the idea of trying to hide tools in steerer tubes, pumps in seatposts, puncture repairs in handlebars or any of that. Just seems like a proprietary (i.e really complicated and expensive) solution to a really simple and cheap problem.

Loads of different variations on these

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Lezyne-Flow-Caddy_78066.htm?sku=250939&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Lezyne&utm_campaign=shopping&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwp4m0BhBAEiwAsdc4aAp5hQ7QQ7LU0Ol-wIdNeRK1xOtvj85mjDJH8gtPCnzKPARTZ3wVtBoCQr8QAvD_BwE

Ah yes, should have mentioned, 8 have a few essentials in a zefal keg in the bottle cage under the down tube.

On my Gravel bike –

i have the granite design steerer installed ratchet system fitted – seemed a much better idea than threading my steerer .

and the stash chain tool/quick link holder and tire repair kits in the ends of the woodchippers.

I have a mini morph bracket cable tied inside the rear seat stay.

and my spare tube is electrical taped under the stem.

on my mtb my tool kit lives in an old highfive 500ml bottle in the seat tube bottle cage

I read the title as “on-bike dotage” and clicked in here out of interest. Not nearly as interesting as I thought 😛

Yes, spotted the typo after the edit window has closed

I looked at the Tailfin kit at Bespoked, impressive kit and well thought out.

The frame & saddle pouch live on this permanently.

The One Up pump gets swapped between bikes.

I believe you are allowed to strap anything, anywhere to a gravel bike. The one exception to that is a small saddle bag as it is quite frankly the most ludicrous idea imaginable.

I’ve lost count of the number of multitools and/or complete small saddle bags I’ve lost over the years.*

Makes the granite designs stash look cheap by comparison.

If anyone finds any SKS toolbox travels in the north east mud…..they mine !

Top tube bag

What essentials are in your storage bottle? Mine, in combination with a pump attached beneath the seattube bottle cage and snacks in a jersey pocket, carries everything I could conceivably need for a ride – tube, multi tool, chain tool, links, patch kit and tyre levers. What more do you need to survive anything under about 6 hours?

The kegs holds a tube, couple of co2, co2 head, Dynaplug, very small multi tool, couple of quick links, ct5 chain tool, some paper towel (mostly as packing to stop any rattles), some nitrile gloves, emergency cash and a small exacto blade for trimming bacon strips. All sealed with a few wraps of electrical tape because that’s always good to have around.

All I typically need in addition is phones, keys and a packable shell jacket mostly

Seems like you already have more than most folk I ride with. Who often go full Enduro and carry sod all.

Phones keys and jacket go in back pocket for me.

I use a tool bottle (3 bottle cages) and a 1/2 frame bag.

Anything that won’t fit in the tool bottle (pump and 2 tubes) goes in the frame bag.

Saddle bag for me. Plenty are designed to work with dropper posts. Though cant see why you need a 150mm dropper on a gravel bike.

The dropper really helps getting down some of the silly stuff with hands in the hooks. Everything is then lower rather than just my front pitching over

Just recently been trying to juggle my storage so I could carry two water bottles. Never liked the tool caddy in my bottle cage anyway.

Multitool inc. chainbreaker, traditional puncture repair kit, dynaplug and a single tyre lever now live in a wee top tube bag behind stem. Pump in a seat tube bracket. Additional spare tube (if it’s a big or remote ride) in a wee seat pack (and there are plenty on the market which don’t wrap around seatpost so presumably dropper compatible).

This leaves jersey pockets free for a little phone case, a rolled up waterproof and whatever food I need. In my experience I want to keep all those things as easily accessible as possible.

Not a massive fan of the half frame bag under the top tube as mine sort of loses shape and stability if not full, but brushes the insides of my legs when it IS full. I think if I want to carry any more e.g. emotional support jacket (thanks whoever gave me that one on a previous thread 😎) or overnight stuff I might actually (forgive me) consider one of those wee handlebar bags.

See, I’m thinking a wee handle bag might be the nicest option but how convenient will it be under the out front gos and light mount?

Also, will it flap about and rattle and will it scuff the head tube?

I do like the phrase “emotional support jacket”.

I believe you are allowed to strap anything, anywhere to a gravel bike. The one exception to that is a small saddle bag as it is quite frankly the most ludicrous idea imaginable

Yet dangling mugs in the firing line of cowshit (other ? is available) is acceptable, nay, trendy to do…

I do like the phrase “emotional support jacket”.

Checked previous thread, credit to BillOddie ?

mine sort of loses shape and stability if not full, but brushes the insides of my legs when it IS full

Apidura ?

There are brands available that don’t do that. But it does seem the art of the frame bag is a skill not all manufacturers manage with their frame shaped objects.

There are brands available that don’t do that.

Yep. The one in my pic doesn’t flap about and doesn’t rub my legs either. I thought I’d just use it when I needed it but it causes no issues so it just lives on the bike.

+1 for half frame bags. I have the Ortlieb on my Kona Rove and it’s perfect.
Everything I need for a day trip is in one spot and still room for 2 bottles. Easily accessed while riding as well.
For overnight trips I stuff a 3L camelback bladder in it.

On my gravel bike I use a rapha bar bag that I got on offer sometime ago which does the job of stashing a mini pump, multitool, plug kit, emergency clip bar, a cafe lock and if necessary a goretex jacket.

I have a frame bag, an ortlieb small frame bag, that gets used in the winter on longer rides but I tend to keep the bar bag on most of the time these days. I also have a salsa bolt on top tube bag which is handy with the bar bag for a few more snacks for longer rides etc.

Basically it’s handy having a few options that can be mixed and matched depending on where and how long your ride is, what weather etc.

Have also got a salsa tool roll thing that bolts to cage mounts which is handy for a minimal tool kit plus a pump on a bracket if going bag less but I use that less these days as i tend to strap under the top tube on the extra mounts and it’s always covered in crap. Also have a fidlock canister that does the same and clicks between 2 bikes easily but tend to only use this for extra storage when the other bags might be packed with other stuff such as when bikepacking etc. the salsa bag is a neater thing other than the British weather.

On a gravel bike I wear a road jersey and use the pockets.

I have OneUp EDC in my MTB steerers then bought the pump for my gravel bike, everything else goes in the small saddle bag

I’m not a fan of saddle bags and run a dropper so have a 76 Project Little Piggy/Micro Pig that holds a tube, 2x c02 carts and some quick links permanently attached to the frame then most of the time just chuck c02 adapter, a Stans Dart and multi tool in my bib pockets.

For bigger rides I’ve a small CamelChops frame bag for snacks, jacket etc. doesn’t get in the way, move/rattle etc and can still fit a full size bottled on the downtube.

“On a gravel bike I wear a road jersey and use the pockets.”

I use to use the back pockets for a tube, pump, multitool, etc. But only put my phone in there now. The extra weight is annoying in back pockets when it starts pulling on the jersey. Plus I kept forgetting to put things in there. Id be an hour into a ride and suddenly remember the multi tool and pump were next to the front door at home. The appeal of tools on the bike is you dont have to remember to pick them up before a ride.

That’s kind of my feeling to. If it’s all on the bike, just grab and go. I can’t forget to take keys and phone though as they’re always on me