JWK

My wife and I have been riding more and more. This has resulted in getting caught out in the rain a couple of times now. So geniuses that we are, we figured we might do something about this.

But seriously, we really don't want to stay home anymore because there is a chance of rain, isolated showers, etc. I got absolutely drenched yesterday. If I had rain gear and fenders, it would have been nothing.

So SKS Longboard fenders are being ordered. Now we need something to carry some clothes. All we have on our bikes now are small seat bags, enough for the typical little stuff.

I have looked for the last couple of days and all I find is the expensive and large seat packs (revelate, apidura, etc.) and small seat bags. Is there anything out there that can hold a rain coat, long sleeve warm jersey and some smaller clothes items? We also want to be ready for Fall riding when it could start out in the 40s and get into the 70s by early afternoon. We just need a soft bag that can hold some clothes. Doesn't need to be heavy duty expedition quality, doesn't need to be waterproof.

Since we both have Surly Truckers, I have thought of putting on a rear rack, but we are not ready to go touring, I don't know if my wife ever will be, and the weight of a rack and trunk is more than the weight of the clothes we'll be carrying.

Suggestions?

Thanks.

rickyk76

Buy a bikepacking-style handlebar bag. That was my answer to this same issue. I got a Salsa one on sale on the REI website and it should arrive tomorrow.

10 Wheels

Trunk bag

10 Wheels

Smaller Day Panniers work well

memebag

My bike clothes dry out quickly. Not sure why more clothes would help.

When there are big temperature swings I wear sleeves and leggings in the cold, take them off and stuff them in my pockets when it's warm.

superdex

rain shell stuffed in a jersey pocket?

SkyDog75

Rack and panniers might be the smartest bike-related purchase I've ever made. If you want a saddle bag instead, though, Banjo Brothers sells some in a variety of sizes and shapes:

Canvas and Leather Bags | Banjo Brothers

There are other brands with plenty of other alternatives, some of which are quite nice (e.g. Carradice). DIY is another option. I use a slightly modified British military surplus gas mask bag as a saddle bag on one bike.

jefnvk

I'd say either a trunk bag or a handlebar bag. Either should be big enough to hold those few items. Handlebar bags are nice to keep things you want access to on the bike as well (camera, snacks). Think my handlebar bag is 7L, it could easily hold a light rain coat and a warmer shirt/jersey.

I'm not all that weight sensitive, but personally the utility of a rack has almost always outweighed (pun intended) its additional weight.

tyrion

Carradice bags, if you like that retro look.

wphamilton

You don't want the extra weight of a rack (I don't blame you), I'd go with a handlebar bag. I use one for commuting - I previously used a frame bag which works fine but I think it gets annoying on longer rides.

79pmooney

The simple and crude approach: a very stretchy sock and a long toestrap (or a toestrap leather sewn onto a toestrap). It is impressive what you can roll up and stuff into those socks. Run the toestrap over your saddle rails and just cinch the sock up to the tool back. Doesn't get much lighter and when you don't need it, just stuff it into the tool bag. And when you are using it, you bike has the look of the classic road bike with a spare tubular.

Ben

79pmooney

You live in Houston. He lives in Maine. A jacket cuts down on body heat loss big time. I grew up in Massachusetts and have lived in Ann Arbor and Seattle. Done my share of rides that got too cold to be remotely fun when I wasn't prepared. (Bike clothes only dry out if it stops raining. That shell will save a lot of heat loss even if you do not get it on in time to stay dry.)

Ben

bikemig 

Lot of good solutions have been proposed. You could go with rack and panniers and/or trunk rack. That will hold a fair amount.

My go to bag for dealing with this sort of issue is the jandd mountain wedge 3. It costs less than any of the other solutions at $69. It works very, very well. This is a large size seat bag (7.5 liters) that does not sway:

Mountain Wedge III

It holds my tools, spare tubes, a rain jacket, arm warmers, leg warmers, and a shell with ease.

It's what I use during the shoulder season when the weather is iffy. Plus it's lighter than the other solutions since it does not involve a rack. If I need more space, I add a front handlebar bag.

tedder987

I have one of these

https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-seat-p...bag+xl+cycling

it fits my minipump, multitool, 2 tubes, wallet, eyeglasses, keys cellphone and a light pearl izumi windbreaker, without opening the expansion zippers. Couldn't live out of it for an overnight but it should cover your needs easily

Champlaincycler

Do a search for bicycle triangle bag. They fit below the top tube either front or rear, cost under $20 and will hold light raingear, leggings, powerbars etc. I use mine in cold weather when I like to shed things. Also use it on my long unsupported rides. I don't like to stop for long so I can load the bag with powerbars, banannas, change of headsweats and light jacket if the weather forcast suggest it. I can access it while riding.

blakcloud

Along the lines of the Carradice bags suggested, Rivendell sells the Sackville line. Yes they are expensive but well made and will last for many years. They make them in different sizes, so needing a rack support and some that don't. Another suggestion would be pick up a small front rack and just bungee some sweaters/coats in a plastic bag to the top. Something like the Soma .

Sy Reene

So, my question is whether you are looking for a setup that can carry both you and your wife's extra stuff -- ie. 2 rainjackets, 2 long sleeve jersey, etc.. or each of you fitting half of this much stuff? IOW, between the 2 of you, you'd only need probably one rack with a trunk bag. FWIW, a rolled up pair of arm warmers and some of the thin rain shells that are now available, could potentially just squeeze into your jersey's rear pockets. Not sure what other small items you're thinking about that you mentioned.

10 Wheels

The frame bag did not hold enough for me.

tyrion

Rando bags are nice because you can get into them without dismounting your bike. But expensive.

JWK

No, we each carry our own things. Actually, we rarely get the chance to ride together.

Some good suggestions. I'm liking the Jandd wedge.

JWK

I like the look of this, and it about the right size for our purposes.

A couple of questions:
1. Quick and easy to take on and off?
2. How and where exactly do those straps attach? There are no pictures showing them in use on a regular touring bike with braze ons. How would we use that on our Truckers? Do you personally always use the straps when you have the bag on, or just with the bag packed to a certain amount?

Thanks!

bikemig 

Piece of cake to take it on and off. The straps attach with hooks to the eyelets. You have 2 on the LHT; one for the fenders, the other for the rack. You don't need to run the straps but they're easy on and off. The thing is rock stable and holds a reasonable amount of gear. I always use the straps. Honestly it takes a very small amount of time to take on and off. I find that I don't use it much in the summer (when I don't worry about carrying extra gear) and use it a lot in spring and fall when I need to carry a raincoat and warm weather gear.

JWK

Sold!

Seriously, this looks perfect. Thanks!

memebag

Houston is warm a lot, but we get cold snaps. I've ridden in the 30s down here. I have a shell for that. It also wads up and goes in my pocket when I'm not wearing it.

But it doesn't do a good job of keeping me dry. With it on I sweat so much I might as well be in the rain. The shell just stops the wind.

I thought the OP was trying to stay dry somehow.

rm -rf

Fenders! Yeah, they are great. I'm more likely to go riding anyway with a moderate chance of rain later in the ride. And riding immediately after the rain stops, wet roads aren't a bother. I even ride right through puddles and just get a few drops splashed onto my shoes.

~~~

I can't tolerate any of those large saddle bags. It's annoying when my thighs hit the bag on every pedal stroke. But some riders like them.

My small wedge saddle bag is narrower than the saddle, but it's tiny, just for tube and tools.

~~~

I got this inexpensive Axiom Atlas handlebar bag, 4.5L, with two straps around the handlebars. It came with some elastic stabilizer straps that work fine on my gravel bike, but I don't use them on my road bike, and the bag doesn't bounce around. I have cables run under the bar tape, and the bag sits in front of the exposed cables.

It's quick and easy to attach the two straps. The bag is lightweight, 330 grams, and can easily fit a jacket, leg warmers, and gloves. There's plenty of room on both sides so my hands on the hoods don't hit the bag.

I've also used it to carry my small mirrorless camera bag securely. I'd leave the camera bag unzipped inside, and just zip the Axiom. Very handy.


But it's no longer available. I've seen similar, simple handlebar bags in the local bike shops. Jandd has some on the web catalog, and are likely available in many bike shops.



~~~~~~

I see Axiom now has a larger, 7L bag, the Oceanwave, that appears to be deeper front-to-back. And just 200 grams! I probably wouldn't fill it up with heavy items, since it hangs by the straps, but it would handle a lot of layers.