Cycling UK Forum

All this thread is doing is accentuating the many different uses that people have for bicycles, and consequently their approaches to riding, what they wear while riding, and how they ride. Backpacks, time trials, trouser pockets, keys, wallets, panniers - all are basically mutually-exclusive.

For that reason, getting a consensus here is going to be impossible.

Hi,
Going back to the meagre added weight to bike and rider.
If it worries you that much, leave it at home

I prefer to carry what ever weight you need that day etc as others have expressed.
I used to walk camping on the moors with a ruck sack up to over 30 % of my body weight and still manage 46 miles in a day.
My advice is move on up take the strain and do more.

At the end of the day how did you enjoy the ride............be prepared, many rides ruined by failure of bike and kit.
1.4 kgs flopping around in no more that a distraction which soon disappears when chasing someone down

johnweightsen wrote:Two spare tubes
Decent pump
Two tyre levers
Multi-tool
Cable to charge lights
"Ok" lock
Waterproof saddlebag

The weight comes to around 1.4kg.

Attaching this underneath my saddle made my bike handle noticeably differently. I'm sure I could get used to it, but I'm not sure I want to!

Simple question, will a tool bottle in the downtube bottle cage make the bike handle more similarly to the naked bike?


FYI it's a late 80's road bike with typical racing geometry.

Can I ask why do you need a lock, why do you need to charge lights and why two tubes, it sounds like you're touring?

I'm also not sure how you get the total weight so high, if this is effecting you then clearly you need to lighten that load significantly including thinking about ditching the bag itself in entirety.

For me My 'heavy' decent pump + 'heavy' 2 part multi tool(incl chain tool), two levers + tube = 402g, I usually carry this in jersey pockets and have done for years, how would putting 400g in your back pockets compare to a really heavy set up under your saddle?

It's kinda funny but when riding the out and out racing bike (ex continental pro team frame) I use an Isle of Wight Brooks saddle bag (156g) and put my 'light' tool bits in incl a foam repair/inflation canister for the tubs. I put it on because I like the look of a traditional style bag with a very modern bag and I can put a sweat towel in it as well. The total weight - light pump, tubular repair canister, light tools + the bag itself is around 390g.
This gives you an idea of what weight you can get down to, you just need to ditch the superfluous stuff.