trying to minimize clutter, currentlt keep them in my xlab bag on top tube but would like to keep food there and i need my bottles for my long rides. any thoughts?
Saddle bag?
Will also throw one in a jersey pocket.
Call me “old school”:
I carry mine in a small saddle bag along with tire levers and the mini pump / CO2 Cartridges or the Jersey pockets.
The saddle bag works fine with or without my 2 bottle cages behind the saddle on my Tri bike and of course for the road bike.
For short rides I sometimes stash them in a bottle with the top sawn off and duct tape to secure the tubes in place…
contraption goes into the bottle cage of my choice. No frills.
I use a Sticky Pod. It holds a tube, 2 Co2 canisters, a multi-tool, some bandaids, and a trigger inflator.
The new xlab pod looks cool, I may give it a try.
I use a Sticky Pod. It holds a tube, 2 Co2 canisters, a multi-tool, some bandaids, and a trigger inflator.
http://sticky-pod.com/small-sticky-pod/
I’m glad you posted that! Just ordered one. I’m always just jamming a bunch of crap into my jersey pockets will be nice to have most of my stuff organized now.
Old water bottle.
I have the sitero saddle with a rib cage bottle holder. I just rubber band a tube on each side of the cage. 1 tube gets the tire levers with it, the other gets the co2 inflator.
If I am running deep wheels I put topeak valve extenders in the back pocket of my tri shorts in case I have to use any other tubes without removable valve cores.
Nature’s pocket.
I modified a speed concept aero box to fit on the back of my Blue Triad.
I fit my tube and valve extender under the seat wedged between the seat rails and the seat post. Fits snug on my Adamo seat. I’m assuming that your asking in prep for the IM in which case you probably won’t be racing with a cycling jersey. The tire levers and CO2 inflator are small enough to fit in a tri suit pocket whereas the CO2 cartridges fit nicely taped to the side of the water bottle cages behind my seat. Looks clean, no clutter and all secure. Best of all, no need to buy insanely expensive sheet metal brackets 
Spare tube, CO2, and 2 tire levers tucked up under the saddle (Adamo). I velcro it up there securely and have never had a problem with anything falling out. Clean and not exposed. That leaves the stem bag (xlab stealth pocket 100) for a small multi-tool, mircoflate head and I can still stuff like 2 full bonk breaker bars (or whatever similar size fuel) in it. For a sprint when I’m not concerned about fuel, I’ll put my entire flat kit into the stem bag and leave the Adamo hook thing free for the transition bar.
Rubber band in the middle of my rear bottle holder.
Spare tube, CO2, and 2 tire levers tucked up under the saddle (Adamo). I velcro it up there securely and have never had a problem with anything falling out. Clean and not exposed. That leaves the stem bag (xlab stealth pocket 100) for a small multi-tool, mircoflate head and I can still stuff like 2 full bonk breaker bars (or whatever similar size fuel) in it. For a sprint when I’m not concerned about fuel, I’ll put my entire flat kit into the stem bag and leave the Adamo hook thing free for the transition bar.
my co2’s fell out for me doing that. I tape my tube in its cardboard box between aero bars
I do short course so I’ve used the bottle cage behind the seat trick with an old Peanut butter/mayonnaise container wrapper in electrical tape. I fit in 2 levers, a butyle tube, 1 co2 with inflator, and a multitool in there with a bit of room to spare. no issues so far and it a 0 aero penalty.
