Now that I have my cervelo seat clamp flipped forward and the saddle set up to give me about 80 degrees (according to Slowman’s chart), along with the new Tacx “behind the seat bottle launcher” (which has yet to launch a bottle) I have no room for a saddle bag for spare tubes, tools etc. How does everyone else get around this? I’ve seen some use a bottle for that purpose, but for longer distances I need the bottle for nutrition. Any advice will be welcome.
Stick it all in the back pockets of your shirt. A couple of cartidges, instaflate, tube, levers, patch kit - doesn’t take up too much room.
Sorry, I should have specified for racing, during training that’s what I’m doing, putting it all in the back pockets. With the limited size pockets on tri-outfits though, that is not always possible. Thank you for the reply.
I carry my stuff in a little pack just as shown here: http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/features/flatkit.shtml and it works great with my Minoura bottle holder bought from Endurosport. Works great!!
Hello,
I believe in a minimalist approach. For oly or less it take a Park single allen wrench thingy (one allen wrench shaped like an H with multiple allen heads.
For half IM I take a spare tubular, the park tool, an instaflate, all in a baggie duct taped under the seat.
For a two lap IM course the same as above, but with a second set waiting at the end of lap 1. For a one loop IM I would add a second cartidge and a second tire. PS I use the 165 gm TUFO tubulars which compress really small.
I was able to cram a small bag under the saddle of my p2k with a minoura and the saddle set forward to 80*.
I do the same as david be it clincher or tubular and I have the same bottle cage.
When using clinchers: Park tool, spare tube, patch kit, C02 cartridge(s), C02 inflator and tire levers in large bento box.
When using tubulars: park tool, C02 cartridge(s), C02 inflator, tufo sealant, paperclip (to release tire pressure if necessary) in large bento box. Spare tubular wedged between seat and xlab flatwing and ‘tied down’ with two velcro straps (which most people use to secure a frame pump).
I’ll also sometimes cram stuff in the Camelbak I usually have on…which gives a lot of flexibility.
OT
In training I just put my spare etc. in my jersey pocket.
For racing I never carry a spare, I dont race long distances so if I get a flat my race is done anyway. There is no way Ill make up the time I lost fixing a flat. Just start looking for the sag wagon. (luckily Ive never had it happen) Probably just jinxed myself:)
During races, I use a seat-tube mounted wide-mouthed water bottle for all my tools, and a NeverReach watering system…64 ounces is a lot of fluid and aid stations aren’t further away than 64 ounces. On training rides, I’ll use a camelback for extra water if I’m going to be gone longer than 64 ounces will take me.
For 1/2s I carry 2 CO2s, instaflate, tufo sealant and good thoughts in my mind. For sprints I dont’ carry anything, for Olys it depends on if it is an A race or not.
What are you guys doing with allen wrenches? For an IM, I could possibly see it, for shorter than that, what are you adjusting?
I use one of the little rubber holders for an adapter, co2, and then a tubular on the outside all strapped to my seat tube with a stretchy, velcro strap that you can buy at Home Depot or Lowes. It works very well.
This is a good solution if you are willing to spend a little time setting it up and sacrifice a little bit of convenience in getting at your stuff. The underside of most saddles are kind of hollowed out, making a perfect place to put stuff. I can get two co2s, an inflator, a tube, an allen wrench and a speed lever under my Selle SLR. Putting a neoprene seat cover over the whole thing helps hold things in though I still have to wrap a strip of black electrical tape around it to keep everything in place.
On my P3 I use the Xlab Saddlewing as my bottle launcher. To carry a spare tube/cart etc… I went to Home depot and bought two picture frame D rings like the ones used to hang pictures on the wall. I placed these between the bottle cage and Xlab saddlewing and then inserted the cage holder screw through it using the top hole on the cage. I did this on both sides, then I use the velcro straps on the tools bag and thread it through these two D rings and back to the velcro on the bag. For the bottom attachment instead of using the seatpost I threaded a bolt in the bottom and wrapped the strap around it. This is very secure and does not move at all. The bag is pretty small and you really do not notice it, in addition I can still use the X hook to hang my bike at the race.
Rectally is the most aero, but it makes the transitions somewhat problematic.
I have a bike part bag that is supposed to attach to the rails of the seat with a quick release plastic thingy. It’s supposed to hold the bag horizontally
I also have an old folded sheet metal Minoura double bottle, behind the seat carrier. Not sexy but it works and I’ve never had a bottle launch.
I have butchered the clamp for the bag holder and bolted it to the inside of the Minoura holder so the bag rides vertically between the bottle holder and the seat post of my P2K, rather than horizontally under the seat as it was intended. To release the bag, I reach up between the bag and bottle holder and squeeze the plastic release mechanism. Since I have short legs, my seat is quite low and the bag drops down to the seatpost binder bolt so I have to slightly wriggle the bag out, but at least I don’t have to worry about it falling out inadvertantly.
When installed, the bag is nearly invisible, tucked up under the seat, between the bottle holder and the seat post. Slick
TriDork
I only have one set of tools–no spares…I keep them…
…OH! BICYCLE TIRE SPARES AND TOOLS???
Thanks everyone, some great ideas that I hadn’t thought of. I’ll be trying some out this weekend.
Are there really people who would rather DNF the shorter races than fix a flat and continue to finish? I understand that the chances of podium finishes may be lost, but isn’t finishing in any position preferrable to a DNF? Just wondering.
Good idea. Cerveloguy Sticks his down the front of his shorts------plenty of room there
I also have a Neverreach system. So, to repeat the thread’s main question, how do you carry spares/tools?
In the past I was able to stuff the spare and CO2 cartridge/injector into a small saddlebag that fit neatly in front of the Neverreach. But I just changed over to racing wheels with tubular tires (I’ll use them for the first time at Gulf Coast next week), and the tubular spare is too bulky for my little saddlebag. For the moment, I’m carrying the spare behind the seatpost using a bungee cord, but I don’t think that’s the ideal method. Any suggestions?