Saddlebag! What goes in it?
- simonineaston
- Posts: 8077
- Joined: 9 May 2007, 1:06pm
- Location: ...at a cricket ground
Saddlebag! What goes in it?
So, I just bought something I never thought I'd get - a traditional saddlebag... in my mind they're associated with old Raleigh roadsters, with huge wheels, a saggy leather saddle, Sturmey Archer gears and one of those tubes for popping batteries for the lights in. I bought a Carradice Audax Lightweight and very nice it is too!
So my question for you to mull over today is this: If you had a nice 9 litre saddlebag on your bike, what would you put in it, when you went out for a long day-ride?
So my question for you to mull over today is this: If you had a nice 9 litre saddlebag on your bike, what would you put in it, when you went out for a long day-ride?
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
Here's the one wot I used to have. Nelson Carradice if my memory serves me correctly.
Used it when commuting to work.
In it was spare tubes and tyre levers, a waterproof top, and my lunch in a Tupperwear box. Spare batteries too when I had battery lights - later a BB dynamo (excellent Soubitez, but that's the subject of other threads!).
The Maddison G14 saddle didn't have loops, so I made an alu unit with slots and clamped it to the saddle-rails. I took the unit off and chucked it away when I gave away that saddle. I wish I hadn't, coz it would fit on my Brooks just the same as it did on the Maddison.
The photo is from a ride out from Glasgow where I was living in digs there for a year. Rowardennan is on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowardennan
Used it when commuting to work.
In it was spare tubes and tyre levers, a waterproof top, and my lunch in a Tupperwear box. Spare batteries too when I had battery lights - later a BB dynamo (excellent Soubitez, but that's the subject of other threads!).
The Maddison G14 saddle didn't have loops, so I made an alu unit with slots and clamped it to the saddle-rails. I took the unit off and chucked it away when I gave away that saddle. I wish I hadn't, coz it would fit on my Brooks just the same as it did on the Maddison.
The photo is from a ride out from Glasgow where I was living in digs there for a year. Rowardennan is on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowardennan
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
I have one - with my old Raleigh! Waterproof, fleece, lunch, sometime a book, binoculars.....
John
- simonineaston
- Posts: 8077
- Joined: 9 May 2007, 1:06pm
- Location: ...at a cricket ground
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
Apart from the main compartment, it's got 5 small pockets so I'm definitely thinking:
* packet of salted peanuts
* packet of fruit & nut mix
* an apple and a banana
* packet of oat cakes
* a couple of choccie bars
* packet of salted peanuts
* packet of fruit & nut mix
* an apple and a banana
* packet of oat cakes
* a couple of choccie bars
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
IMG_1567 by mark tilley, on Flickr
Waterproof / old cycling cape, in the loops at the top'
left pocket, tool pouch, glasses in a tube case type thing, spare brake pads, disposable gloves, hand wipes (kebab shop)
Right pocket, spare tube, plus spare unopened tube repair kit, just in case my opened one has withered.
Main compartment, zip ties, gillet, resident choc bar/s, head torch, lock, room for spare clothing on/off, plus whatever I find on a ride.
Waterproof / old cycling cape, in the loops at the top'
left pocket, tool pouch, glasses in a tube case type thing, spare brake pads, disposable gloves, hand wipes (kebab shop)
Right pocket, spare tube, plus spare unopened tube repair kit, just in case my opened one has withered.
Main compartment, zip ties, gillet, resident choc bar/s, head torch, lock, room for spare clothing on/off, plus whatever I find on a ride.
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
Looks about right.yostumpy wrote: ↑13 May 2021, 9:53am IMG_1567 by mark tilley, on Flickr
Waterproof / old cycling cape, in the loops at the top'
left pocket, tool pouch, glasses in a tube case type thing, spare brake pads, disposable gloves, hand wipes (kebab shop)
Right pocket, spare tube, plus spare unopened tube repair kit, just in case my opened one has withered.
Main compartment, zip ties, gillet, resident choc bar/s, head torch, lock, room for spare clothing on/off, plus whatever I find on a ride.
John
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
In the bottom of my saddlebag are the two small sheathed picnic knives in the link below. Despite the ubiquity of ready made sandwiches in supermarkets and elsewhere, I prefer to buy some bread and something to have with it or in it (on which note the D rings on top of a Carradice saddlebag are perfect for carrying a long baguette with a couple of toe straps).
Similarly I have one of the disposable plastic spoons or sporks that supermarkets give away with their takeaway foods. Instead of disposing of them, I keep them and re-use them when I buy something like a yoghurt or kiwi fruit.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rikon-Colori-N ... 00T34U9HS/
Similarly I have one of the disposable plastic spoons or sporks that supermarkets give away with their takeaway foods. Instead of disposing of them, I keep them and re-use them when I buy something like a yoghurt or kiwi fruit.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rikon-Colori-N ... 00T34U9HS/
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
They seem to suffer from car boot syndrome, that is the more space you have the more stuff you fill it withsimonineaston wrote: ↑13 May 2021, 8:54am So, I just bought something I never thought I'd get - a traditional saddlebag... in my mind they're associated with old Raleigh roadsters, with huge wheels, a saggy leather saddle, Sturmey Archer gears and one of those tubes for popping batteries for the lights in. I bought a Carradice Audax Lightweight and very nice it is too!
So my question for you to mull over today is this: If you had a nice 9 litre saddlebag on your bike, what would you put in it, when you went out for a long day-ride?
As I currently only cycle with what can fit in my pocket , it's safe to assume that anything else is 9 litres of over kill
If I could develop the discipline not to carry my home round in it, then going out with it nearly empty, so I have some where to stow clothing when it turns out to be 20 degrees warmer than I anticipated and some where to stow mid ride purchases, it does get a bit tiresome cycling with carrier bags on my handle bars
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
In my seat pack I carry a gym bag - it doesn't take up much room - I use that if I need to take off a jacket.jo' bo wrote: ↑13 May 2021, 11:14am
They seem to suffer from car boot syndrome, that is the more space you have the more stuff you fill it with
As I currently only cycle with what can fit in my pocket , it's safe to assume that anything else is 9 litres of over kill
If I could develop the discipline not to carry my home round in it, then going out with it nearly empty, so I have some where to stow clothing when it turns out to be 20 degrees warmer than I anticipated and some where to stow mid ride purchases, it does get a bit tiresome cycling with carrier bags on my handle bars
Obviously it has to be carried on my back which is anathema for some cyclists.
I'm not sure if you are serious about the carrier bags on your handlebars.
I agree that more space is not necessarily a good thing.
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
Unfortunely so, I've just returned from my cycle to the woods ,diverting to farm food on the way home, to do the last three miles with a 20lb shopping bag on each bar end, which is actually better than just having one 20lb bag on one side, as at least the bike goes in a straight lineANTONISH wrote: ↑14 May 2021, 4:47pmIn my seat pack I carry a gym bag - it doesn't take up much room - I use that if I need to take off a jacket.jo' bo wrote: ↑13 May 2021, 11:14am
They seem to suffer from car boot syndrome, that is the more space you have the more stuff you fill it with
As I currently only cycle with what can fit in my pocket , it's safe to assume that anything else is 9 litres of over kill
If I could develop the discipline not to carry my home round in it, then going out with it nearly empty, so I have some where to stow clothing when it turns out to be 20 degrees warmer than I anticipated and some where to stow mid ride purchases, it does get a bit tiresome cycling with carrier bags on my handle bars
Obviously it has to be carried on my back which is anathema for some cyclists.
I'm not sure if you are serious about the carrier bags on your handlebars.
I agree that more space is not necessarily a good thing.
Just to add I also have a, 15lb dog in a carrier on my back, so all in all the weight of a small car
-
- Posts: 585
- Joined: 30 May 2020, 12:43am
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
Don't mock it until you try it, not many modern bicycles will be about in 70 plus years.simonineaston wrote: ↑13 May 2021, 8:54am So, I just bought something I never thought I'd get - a traditional saddlebag... in my mind they're associated with old Raleigh roadsters, with huge wheels, a saggy leather saddle, Sturmey Archer gears and one of those tubes for popping batteries for the lights in. I bought a Carradice Audax Lightweight and very nice it is too!
So my question for you to mull over today is this: If you had a nice 9 litre saddlebag on your bike, what would you put in it, when you went out for a long day-ride?
Small tool kit etc in mine, few pounds if need something from town but low enough if stolen not mortified
Re: Saddlebag! What goes in it?
Off out riding soon.
Seatpost bag on the back of Moulton.
Two CO2 canisters and a Lezyne connector
Two inner tubes
Set of three tyre levers
Multitool
15mm spanner for the rear wheel-nuts
Covid mask
Wallet
Mobile phone
Spare battery for my Garmin
Goretex Paclite jacket
Plenty room!
Seatpost bag on the back of Moulton.
Two CO2 canisters and a Lezyne connector
Two inner tubes
Set of three tyre levers
Multitool
15mm spanner for the rear wheel-nuts
Covid mask
Wallet
Mobile phone
Spare battery for my Garmin
Goretex Paclite jacket
Plenty room!
Mick F. Cornwall