I saw one on sale. Bought it for training, but wondered if anyone had any experience or knowledge about using them for racing (for CO2, tubes, spare tubulars, snacks)???
Addendum:
ONE being, obviously, a SoftRide beam bag.
I have a rocket TT and a beam bag. I used to race with the bag, but now throw my stuff into my jersey. I don’t know if it is more aero that way. When I did my 1st FeMan, the GFT, I did it without the beam bag. I think it is a tough call. It works fine. I have also seen guys at races riding softrides and they had a small fanny pack which I assumed had the spare tires, etc on it.
I don’t race with the beam bag. For races, I put CO2, tube, tire levers, etc. into an empty (obviously) water bottle behind the seat and snacks go in a Bento box.
J, Thanks. Have you tried that fanny pack for racing? I used one for training, until the beam bag.
Why not just roll than stuff up and stuff it under the seat and tape it to the beam? Don’t you miss the fluid that would have been in the bottle?
Yes I have tried the fanny pack. One thing I have noticed is that you have to choose the right pack. I once had one that whenever I did an upstroke with one leg it interfered with the motion. I even got a bruise with it. So try it before a race. I wonder what the advantages are (aerodynamically) for the beam bag verses putting them in your pocket (which takes a bit of time in T1 and T2) or the fannypack which takes no time. I have wondered all of these questions. I am racing next weekend and am trying to decide how I want to go about this. I think I probably will put all the crictial stuff in the beam bag and go that way. It certainly is easier and less to think about during a race.
My 2 cents.
Jon B
I’ve ridden Softrides since 94 after my back surgery. Have tried many different combo’s. What I’ve settled on (works for me) is rear mounted X-Wing. For IMFL I carried two C02 cartridges, two spares, and two bottles–solid snacks, caps, and hammer gel all went up front in bento box–aero drinking system on the front bars completed the lash-up. For Tng I usually carry one spare, two C02 on the X-Wing and a fanny pack with cell phone, etc. with no bento box or aero front drinking system. Everyone’s different so I offer this up only for consideration as something that’s worked out well for me. Best of luck.
I am on my second softride. My first one I used the beam bag for both training and racing. This worked out fine. I am on my second Softride, the Classic TT. I now use the saddle wing with the CO2 cartridges, two extra tubes and my tools to change my tires. I ditched the beam bag totally. I wear a fanny pack with an extra tire, cell phone, extra CO2, small pump and money. Sounds like a large fanny pack but I got just the right size to squeeze everything in. I am not sure what I am going to do for racing yet. I may go back to the beam bag, I may keep the fanny pack thing going. Hope this helps.