Danger of carrying tools / phone in jersey vs bags?
#1
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Danger of carrying tools / phone in jersey vs bags?
Just reading another thread on “cycling wallets” for tools etc, and I started to consider the safety aspect of carrying stuff in your jersey pockets vs in saddle or tube bags.
Apart from the comfort issue, I’m concerned whether a hard object might cause additional injury if you fall on your back. It’s also feel that my cell-phone isn’t very secure in a jersey pocket, and that it would be easily broken in a fall - which is precisely when you probably need your phone!
Becuase of these concerns, I’ve been using a saddle bag for tools & tube and a top-tube bag (Topeak) for my phone, keys & other small but hard items (e.g. small cable lock). There’s also room for some gels or snacks.
Am I worrying unnecessarily?
Has anyone here suffered an injury from stuff in your pockets or busted your cell-phone after a fall?
Apart from the comfort issue, I’m concerned whether a hard object might cause additional injury if you fall on your back. It’s also feel that my cell-phone isn’t very secure in a jersey pocket, and that it would be easily broken in a fall - which is precisely when you probably need your phone!
Becuase of these concerns, I’ve been using a saddle bag for tools & tube and a top-tube bag (Topeak) for my phone, keys & other small but hard items (e.g. small cable lock). There’s also room for some gels or snacks.
Am I worrying unnecessarily?
Has anyone here suffered an injury from stuff in your pockets or busted your cell-phone after a fall?
#2
Senior Member
Probably. There are some pretty good hard cases for phones that are minimal bulk. Even if you break the screen most of the internals will still work. So if you get one of those apps (RoadID) that gives you a time period to cancel the emergency message, you’d have a significantly higher probabilty of getting a message out even if the phone took part of the impact. You could also wear something like an Apple Watch that has cellular capability. That way if your phone got whacked, you’d still be able to call out on your watch (essentially a phone backup).
My kids skied with their phones as alpine ski racers for years which meant a lot of hard falls and hard knocks. They also whacked them pretty hard on gates at speed too. We wound up replacing a few displays but the phones were never nonfunctional. Based on that, I’m pretty confident it would work. That said, nothing is foolproof - your bag can get knocked off the bike and run over by a car too.
My kids skied with their phones as alpine ski racers for years which meant a lot of hard falls and hard knocks. They also whacked them pretty hard on gates at speed too. We wound up replacing a few displays but the phones were never nonfunctional. Based on that, I’m pretty confident it would work. That said, nothing is foolproof - your bag can get knocked off the bike and run over by a car too.
#3
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Of course there’s extra injury risk. There’s also risk to the components that you’re carrying (ie greater chance a phone breaks in your pocket opposed to in the bag).
There’s also a chance that having your phone there could prevent you from getting stabbed by a sharp metal object you could fall on.
At at the end of the day, do what makes sense for you.
I keep my phone and pepper spray in my jersey. Everything else in my bag.
There’s also a chance that having your phone there could prevent you from getting stabbed by a sharp metal object you could fall on.
At at the end of the day, do what makes sense for you.
I keep my phone and pepper spray in my jersey. Everything else in my bag.
#4
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A new UCI requirement coming soon, in the name of protecting its riders. It is fully customizable with sponsor logos etc.
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A friend's broken clavicle was aggravated by those neck/shoulder mounted bluetooth speaker doodads. Freak accident.
I've fallen with jersey and shorts pockets crammed full. Can't recall that being a factor in any injury. So far my only serious injuries were side falls -- ribs last year, shoulder this year. The stuff in my pockets wasn't a factor.
I've fallen with jersey and shorts pockets crammed full. Can't recall that being a factor in any injury. So far my only serious injuries were side falls -- ribs last year, shoulder this year. The stuff in my pockets wasn't a factor.
#8
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I went over the bars and pancaked onto my back with my phone in an Otterbox Defender case in my center jersey pocket. Phone survived just fine but it gave me a broken rib to go along with my separated shoulder. I won't carry anything hard in my center pocket any more.
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I am more afraid of getting sliced up by disc brake rotors.
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I know plenty of cyclists who've broken a rib or two (or six, in my case) who had nothing hard in their jersey pockets. Crashing breaks ribs just fine without requiring any additional help.
#11
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I used to wear gloves.
I had gone over the bars as a grade schooler, and the memory of soaking in epsom salt to prevent infection/release the grit and gravel
hung around for a long time.
Much more recently, riding too late one October evening, it got dark, no headlight, I put my front wheel into a pothole, and me over the bars again.
Long story short:
I so dislike tearing up my hands/knuckles
that I stopped wearing gloves.
Why?
A strong reminder to stay *on* the bike and *off* the tarmac.
I had gone over the bars as a grade schooler, and the memory of soaking in epsom salt to prevent infection/release the grit and gravel
hung around for a long time.
Much more recently, riding too late one October evening, it got dark, no headlight, I put my front wheel into a pothole, and me over the bars again.
Long story short:
I so dislike tearing up my hands/knuckles
that I stopped wearing gloves.
Why?
A strong reminder to stay *on* the bike and *off* the tarmac.
Last edited by chainwhip; 08-13-18 at 08:04 AM.
#12
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I have had more issue from hard objects in my shorts pocket than in jersey pocket. Just bruising nothing serious. Possibly because the "side-fall" is more natural to me (trained in) where the contact is more on the hip, side of leg and upper back/shoulder. Over the bars is generally a roll, and stuff in the jersey pocket hasn't been a problem with that.
If you're doing the often-advised "arms in just fall" thing, then maybe a problem. If you're concerned about it, it's better IMO to learn correct falls and rolls than to address potential problems while falling dangerously.
If you're doing the often-advised "arms in just fall" thing, then maybe a problem. If you're concerned about it, it's better IMO to learn correct falls and rolls than to address potential problems while falling dangerously.
#13
Senior Member
Are you sure it was the phone that gave you a broken rib...versus, say, oh, perhaps going over the bars and pancaking onto your back?
I know plenty of cyclists who've broken a rib or two (or six, in my case) who had nothing hard in their jersey pockets. Crashing breaks ribs just fine without requiring any additional help.
I know plenty of cyclists who've broken a rib or two (or six, in my case) who had nothing hard in their jersey pockets. Crashing breaks ribs just fine without requiring any additional help.
#14
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So how about this one:
Several years ago while descending in a paceline that slowed suddenly, my wife grabbed a bit too much front brake and endo'd. Broke her collarbone. She also happened to be wearing one of those Take-A-Look eyeglass-mounted rear view mirrors. Because she went over the bars and landed on her face, the mirror got pushed all the way through her cheek into her mouth. And then ripped out again. Raggedy hole ~1" long in the side of her face that went all the way through. Mirror even wound up cutting her gums on the way in. Plastic surgeon had to sew her face up in six separate layers. (I forget if the stitches in her gums counted as one of those six, or if those were the seventh set of stitches she received.)
For those still reading...how many of you who currently ride with a rear view mirror will now stop riding with a rear view mirror because of this episode?
Several years ago while descending in a paceline that slowed suddenly, my wife grabbed a bit too much front brake and endo'd. Broke her collarbone. She also happened to be wearing one of those Take-A-Look eyeglass-mounted rear view mirrors. Because she went over the bars and landed on her face, the mirror got pushed all the way through her cheek into her mouth. And then ripped out again. Raggedy hole ~1" long in the side of her face that went all the way through. Mirror even wound up cutting her gums on the way in. Plastic surgeon had to sew her face up in six separate layers. (I forget if the stitches in her gums counted as one of those six, or if those were the seventh set of stitches she received.)
For those still reading...how many of you who currently ride with a rear view mirror will now stop riding with a rear view mirror because of this episode?
#15
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So how about this one:
Several years ago while descending in a paceline that slowed suddenly, my wife grabbed a bit too much front brake and endo'd. Broke her collarbone. She also happened to be wearing one of those Take-A-Look eyeglass-mounted rear view mirrors. Because she went over the bars and landed on her face, the mirror got pushed all the way through her cheek into her mouth. And then ripped out again. Raggedy hole ~1" long in the side of her face that went all the way through. Mirror even wound up cutting her gums on the way in. Plastic surgeon had to sew her face up in six separate layers. (I forget if the stitches in her gums counted as one of those six, or if those were the seventh set of stitches she received.)
For those still reading...how many of you who currently ride with a rear view mirror will now stop riding with a rear view mirror because of this episode?
Several years ago while descending in a paceline that slowed suddenly, my wife grabbed a bit too much front brake and endo'd. Broke her collarbone. She also happened to be wearing one of those Take-A-Look eyeglass-mounted rear view mirrors. Because she went over the bars and landed on her face, the mirror got pushed all the way through her cheek into her mouth. And then ripped out again. Raggedy hole ~1" long in the side of her face that went all the way through. Mirror even wound up cutting her gums on the way in. Plastic surgeon had to sew her face up in six separate layers. (I forget if the stitches in her gums counted as one of those six, or if those were the seventh set of stitches she received.)
For those still reading...how many of you who currently ride with a rear view mirror will now stop riding with a rear view mirror because of this episode?
#16
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carrying too much stuff in your pockets usually damages the (especially lightweight) jerseys. experienced riders will carry 95% of what
they need on any given ride of decent distance. how they carry/transport it is their biz. have crashed more than i've wanted to. usually land
on my side. already have back issues. have been rocking a bag under the seat for innertubes, multitool and tire levers + debit/credit card(s)/
cash/id. currently slinging two big speakers in the left and right rear jersey pockets. crashed hard once w/o them interfering with existing back issues.
tomorrow never knows...turn off your mind relax and float downstream.
they need on any given ride of decent distance. how they carry/transport it is their biz. have crashed more than i've wanted to. usually land
on my side. already have back issues. have been rocking a bag under the seat for innertubes, multitool and tire levers + debit/credit card(s)/
cash/id. currently slinging two big speakers in the left and right rear jersey pockets. crashed hard once w/o them interfering with existing back issues.
tomorrow never knows...turn off your mind relax and float downstream.
#17
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So how about this one:
Several years ago while descending in a paceline that slowed suddenly, my wife grabbed a bit too much front brake and endo'd. Broke her collarbone. She also happened to be wearing one of those Take-A-Look eyeglass-mounted rear view mirrors. Because she went over the bars and landed on her face, the mirror got pushed all the way through her cheek into her mouth. And then ripped out again. Raggedy hole ~1" long in the side of her face that went all the way through. Mirror even wound up cutting her gums on the way in. Plastic surgeon had to sew her face up in six separate layers. (I forget if the stitches in her gums counted as one of those six, or if those were the seventh set of stitches she received.)
For those still reading...how many of you who currently ride with a rear view mirror will now stop riding with a rear view mirror because of this episode?
Several years ago while descending in a paceline that slowed suddenly, my wife grabbed a bit too much front brake and endo'd. Broke her collarbone. She also happened to be wearing one of those Take-A-Look eyeglass-mounted rear view mirrors. Because she went over the bars and landed on her face, the mirror got pushed all the way through her cheek into her mouth. And then ripped out again. Raggedy hole ~1" long in the side of her face that went all the way through. Mirror even wound up cutting her gums on the way in. Plastic surgeon had to sew her face up in six separate layers. (I forget if the stitches in her gums counted as one of those six, or if those were the seventh set of stitches she received.)
For those still reading...how many of you who currently ride with a rear view mirror will now stop riding with a rear view mirror because of this episode?
Last edited by ptempel; 08-14-18 at 06:15 AM.
#19
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Of all the ways we can get hurt out there... this is pretty far down the list of **** to worry about. I've crashed - mountain and road - with my phone in my pocket and it's always come out unscathed. I don't use a saddle bag - everything goes in the jersey pockets. I make sure the stuff is flat, packed in the least "stabby" way possible. And, I don't care extra chainrings, brake discs or other "dangerous" stuff in the pockets.
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Of all the ways we can get hurt out there... this is pretty far down the list of **** to worry about. I've crashed - mountain and road - with my phone in my pocket and it's always come out unscathed. I don't use a saddle bag - everything goes in the jersey pockets. I make sure the stuff is flat, packed in the least "stabby" way possible.
I do use a small seat bag for a tubes, and other repair items, but my phone, wallet, and food go into the pockets.
#22
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I've also had more than my share of wrecks, and in each case I landed on my side. The backs of my jerseys were fine; the shoulders and sides of my jerseys and the sides of my bibs were torn up. An endo could be different, but that seems to be a much rarer case than washing out sideways.
#23
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Not my bike (although coincidentally my bar tape) but I use a Quad Lock mount. One of my favorite purchases. The bars protect the phone a crash, My Garmin is my watch, so there is room for it, and if I get an emergency notifiaction, its right there to peek down at.
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Nope. Crashes aren't that simple. Hands come off bars; heads go down, knees fly up, shoulders drop, bikes flip and tumble... < and that's just if it's one person. There's a reason sayings like "it was a yardsale" are used in reference to crashes. That phone is more vulnerable out there, than in a case in a pocket.
#25
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So how about this one:
Several years ago while descending in a paceline that slowed suddenly, my wife grabbed a bit too much front brake and endo'd. Broke her collarbone. She also happened to be wearing one of those Take-A-Look eyeglass-mounted rear view mirrors. Because she went over the bars and landed on her face, the mirror got pushed all the way through her cheek into her mouth. And then ripped out again. Raggedy hole ~1" long in the side of her face that went all the way through. Mirror even wound up cutting her gums on the way in. Plastic surgeon had to sew her face up in six separate layers. (I forget if the stitches in her gums counted as one of those six, or if those were the seventh set of stitches she received.)
For those still reading...how many of you who currently ride with a rear view mirror will now stop riding with a rear view mirror because of this episode?
Several years ago while descending in a paceline that slowed suddenly, my wife grabbed a bit too much front brake and endo'd. Broke her collarbone. She also happened to be wearing one of those Take-A-Look eyeglass-mounted rear view mirrors. Because she went over the bars and landed on her face, the mirror got pushed all the way through her cheek into her mouth. And then ripped out again. Raggedy hole ~1" long in the side of her face that went all the way through. Mirror even wound up cutting her gums on the way in. Plastic surgeon had to sew her face up in six separate layers. (I forget if the stitches in her gums counted as one of those six, or if those were the seventh set of stitches she received.)
For those still reading...how many of you who currently ride with a rear view mirror will now stop riding with a rear view mirror because of this episode?
It won't deter me from using one, at least not until I find something better. Ideally I'd want the same design with rounder, rubber-padded edges, and perhaps a breakaway stem. The other helmet mirrors I tried were awkward, without the simple but versatile and functional mirror pivots of the Take-A-Look.
But it hasn't been a priority for me because the risk is so low compared with the risk of simply getting on a bike and riding. The most dangerous thing about every ride for me is the first mile of traffic between my apartment and my destination.
The better I can see my surroundings, including behind me via a good mirror, the safer I am.