[Bob Ross]

Been riding a hybrid for the past decade or so, with a rear rack and a swanky Biria rack bag...so I've had plenty of room to carry whatever it is I've needed to carry for anything from short commutes to centuries.

But I'm picking up my new road bike (Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2) next week & realized I now need a seat pack. Looking on the internet at what's available, I realized I have no clue how to equate published capacity of these bags with my needs.

At the very minimum I need something that can easily accomodate 2 spare tubes, tire levers, a multitool, my cellphone & a couple PowerBars. What I'd love is the ability to also cram a folded up windbreaker in there too.

Am I talking 50 cubic inches? 90? 160?

(Also, any recommendations for specific make/model of seat packs would be greatly appreciated.)


Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Yoy really dont need to be able to fit all that stuuf in your seat bag. Thats what jersey pockets are for. The power bars can go in one pocket and the windbreaker in the other and you would still have another one to fir the cell phone, walltet, keys, and whatever else you needed.

 

[Mr. Versatile]

If you're going to put all that stuff in a bag, you'll probably need 90-100 ci. I have a 50ci bag. I have 2 tubes, 3 tire levers, a multi-tool & a VERY small bottle of sunscreen. It's packed very tightly. No chance I could add a cell phone, let alone a windbreaker.

 

[danl1]

You're easily talking 160. I don't think you really want or need something that big.

50 ci will carry a tube, a patch kit, a reasonable multitool (with a lever) and probably a cell phone, though that's as good in a pocket, too. Powerbars you want in your pockets where you can get at them, and a windbreaker is either on you when you head out, or you'll not need it on the ride.

I like the Pearl Izumi fastback. 50 ci, and it's the slim shape rather than the broad wedge shape. The broad ones end up both wasting internal space and getting in the way externally.

Other thoughts: You seldom need both a windbreaker and two bottles full of water. A windbreaker can be rolled and stuffed into it's own sleve in such a way that it sits very nicely in the seat-tube bottle holder. The seat tube bottle on my fixie functions as a seat pack, holding the tools, patch kit, tube, co2 and cell.

 

[wankski]

^ YUP same, just use a wide-mouth screw on type bottle, and its a pretty good holder of stuff. (i've seen some purpose made plastic stuff for this use on ebay too, but no need really...)

 

[croswell1]

Lots of good seat bags out there...........

One of my favorites is the Topeak Aero Wedge seat bag. The large one expands from 100 cu.in. to 125 cu.in. and will easily fit your requirements. They have a quick release that really works great and is not too wide like some of the other wedge bags. Even has a fixture to mount a mini pump to it. I liked mine, and the only reason I dont use it anymore is because the quick release wont fit the wider Brooks seat rails. Very well made bag too.

 

[lawrence]

You need the biggest bag possible and you still won't be able to put everything you want in it. 2 tubes with tools, keys, cell phone, ok, but not your windbreaker and your power bars are going to get squished - bad. Still get the biggest bag possible. My cell phone goes in a separate specialized cell "pack" "bag" that velcros to the headset tube, seat tube, downtube. It cost me $2 at Performance Bike off their clearance table but I've seen them before for less than $6, and recently for $4. In this little cell phone bag, I also carry a pen, and a folded map. I have never regretted getting a larger pack, it doesn't weigh much, it doesn't take up much room because I don't see it behind me, and if I need the extra room I have it. The bag that I have is expandable with another zipper but I have yet needed to use this function.

 

[Bryan]

I have 2 packs that I use. A small one with a spare tube, tire lever and CO2 which I use for short rides and a large pack filled with what ever I think I may need for longer rides.

 

[OneGear]

I have 2 also. I have a specialised Mini Wedge, its arond 63Cu In. I cant fit too much in it but I'm not trying to either, cell, keys, multitool, some patches and money and ID. One tip I have would be to put your spare tube/patches or anythign small into a ziplock, wrap it up and jam it into the space between the rails(fits in a Specialized Avatar seat). I do that and it saves tons of room. just make sure it's secure.

I also had a topeak survival bag, something or other, it was huge, had a level for tools, one for extras, and could even expand it. however i realised i didn't need all that stuff, so i got a miniwedge, and the food goes in the back pockets.