banerjek

I noticed that on major organized rides (century or more), I seem to carry more than others. Specifically, I clip on a seatpost rack, but few other people seem to need them and just ride with a seat bag. I'd like to ride lighter, particularly for the hilly rides, but am not sure what I have that I don't need.

Here is what fits in a seat bag for me: 2 tubes, 3 CO2 and inflator, glueless patches, small Park multitool, money, ID, car key, cell phone

Here is what I'll put on my seatpost rack that won't go in my seat bag: jacket, energy powder, maybe a digital camera or even an extra jersey. When I take the seatpost rack, I don't take the seat bag because everything will go on the rack.

I could put some of the powder in jersey pockets, but what do people do with clothing? If you're climbing more than a couple thousand feet or you're out for a long time when the weather willl change, you really need to be able to change what you wear. I don't like to ride with my jersey pockets bulging (uncomfortable), and I don't like to be dressed too warm for hours on end.

What am I doing that I don't need to?

merlinextraligh

1 tube, 1 CO2, patch kit , crank brothers multi tool should be fine for an organized ride. . If you're unlucky you can always find someone with a pump or a spare cartridge. As for clothing, if you need something for cold weather in the mountains, arm warmers and a very light vest should be sufficient in the summertime. The arm warmers can just be pushed down, and even if you take them off, arm warmers and shell vest don't take up much room in your pockets.

worker4youth

You don't need a jacket in the summer months. In fact, in the cooler months, get rid of your jacket, and wear some arm warmers instead. You also don't need 3 CO2 cartridges, carry 2. Also, just carry 1 tube, for the 2nd flat, you can just use patches. With those gone, you can probably fit your camera and powder in your seat bag, and get rid of your rack.

Cypress

Century for Cypress -

Cell phone, 2 balance gold bars, house key, $5 bill.

caligurl

i'm a stuff carrier... and YES.... i do wear a jacket in the summer... a LOT when i travel to the coast or away from the desert! i prefer my jacket to arm warmers! plus it packs up a LOT smaller!

i have both an under the seat bag for my emergency items (tubes, CO2, etc) and then all the "need during the ride stuff" goes in my little handlebar bag!

i looked at rear seatpost racks before i got my handlebar bag.... don't let others dictate what you take... the important thing is that YOU are happy and comfortable on a ride! and if you need STUFF.... then by all means... take it!

caloso

I'm like Cypress. Light, lighter, lightest.

Treespeed

I would say that the seatpost rack probably adds the most weight. Those things have got to be at least a pound of extra alum. A bigger seat bag, or a handlebar bag would probably be much lighter. But it's the curse of having luggage space, the more space you have, the more likely you are to fill it up with stuff. I would lose one of the tubes, and go with a minipump instead of the multiple CO2 cartridges. The rest should fit in a saddle bag, and then you could just roll up a lighter jacket and your food in your jersey. In the end it's always a trade off, do you want to go fast, or be comfortable and take pictures.

urbanknight

I would get a camera phone in the event that I am on a ride where I absolutely must share the view with others. The energy bars should fit in your jersey pocket (I only carry one for every 25 miles in the ride). The last thing to decide is do you need the jacket and extra jersey (are you actually wearing them on the ride?) And if so, consider using arm warmers instead, and maybe a jacket that folds up really thin to store in a jersey pocket or an empty water bottle.

edit: forgot to mention that I only carry one tube. If I get a second flat I'll use the patch kit.

blue_nose

You may want to look into using a Bento box instead of having all the extra weight of the rack. It sits on your top tube and will be much lighter.

On long rides I use my saddle bag a carry two tubes, patch kit, cell phone, multi-tool, money and ID.

I stick some food in my jersey pockets and then carry extra Gu and bars in the bento box. More convenient and much lighter than any other alternative.

I picked mine up at REI for $12.

https://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...cat=REI_SEARCH

webist

I carry a multi tool, 2 CO2 cartriges and the inflator, 1 tube, 1 patch kit, and tire levers in my seat wedge. I carry a cell phone, house key, money and ID in my jersey pockets. There is also a small air pump clipped to my frame.

EventServices

Learn to mooch without being a nuisance. You'll ride lighter.

A cell phone covers a multitude of problems.
$5 buys the rest.

ElJamoquio

I carry a tire, 2 CO2 cartridges, 1-2 tubes, a Park ~30 function tool (with chain tool), a $20, and two quarters in my seat bag.

rufvelo

WHat are the 2 quarters for - you know you'll never find a pay phone anymore?

botto 

how about a mini-pump, or a zefal frame pump, etc. 3co2's add up.

extra jersey & powder is way overkill. what's wrong with vest/arm warmers? wear 'em, stick 'em in you back pockets, you're good to go.

what doesn't fit in the wedge, goes in the jersey pockets. for me, it's as simple as that

LA_Rider

Anything more than a very small saddle bag = Fred.

josephvman

So I'm guessing the Weber grill makes me a Fred?

banerjek

It sounds like a handlebar bag would serve me well on summer rides. Part of the reason I carry so much junk is that I ride year 'round, and I'm in the habit of lugging a lot of stuff in the winter.

It can be quite chilly at high altitudes or early in the morning. In Oregon where I do most of my riding, it is amazing how much the weather can change within 20 miles. We have mountains, valleys, and ocean in very close proximity so there are lots of microclimates.

On the jacket vs arm warmers issue, aside from packing nice and small, sometimes you actually need an extra layer -- particularly if you get caught in cool rain. I learned the hard way that it's OK to feel cold, but you don't want to be chilled on a long ride. I once got hypothermia (this was in the winter) and became too weak and dazed to ride. One of the interesting things about that experience is that I didn't actually feel cold.

rufvelo

Everything usually depends on how long and far from home you're going to be riding. Proper group biking etiquette also requires that you come well prepared and not depend on others for tools, spares, food. A large part of that etiquette also requires that you know how to use the tools .

What you decide to carry may range from nothing just your ID, to rack with multiple large bags. Also depends on you're personality, carrying nothing and constantly dreading the possiblilty of a flat is no fun. So maybe you're doing just fine.

Mariner Fan

Road Bike
In my seat bag:
· Two tubes
· Three CO2 cylinders
· Inflator
· Three levers
· Latex gloves
· Patch kit
· Multi-Tool
· Cell phone

I usually carry my wallet in the back zip pocket of my jersey.
My commuter bike has tons of storage so I'll carry a lot more stuff.

Cypress

Big +1. Three weeks ago a guy shows up with his friend's Felt FC1 and a litre Mountain Dew bottle filled with water in the cage. First bump we hit, it fell out and was run over by at least 4 guys.

banerjek

Makes me tempted to hold onto the rack. Gettin' dropped by a Fred has got to hurt

rufvelo

Too funny (though not for the rest of the guys). And I'm often asked why I've left a huge gap in the paceline while refusing to stay close to Mountain Dew's wheel

Hambone

Maybe, but your a Fred who will be invited to the Hambone Invitational Century.

FormerBMX'er

No tools? Spare Tube?

Maybe for my next Century I'll leave my bike at home...That'll save me 17lbs or so .

HillMut

cell phones... wimps....

I'd hate to have to wait 30+ minutes for a friend and end my ride early because I didn't want to carry a spare tube or patches.