Saddlebag Advice

ahhh, I have a saddlebag, but it's straped to my rear mounted bottle carrier...  Pro's carry all their stuff in races behind them too so I'm not sure what you are seeing.

I'm guessing here, but do you race sprints?  I have been known to take off my bag and save weight for a sprint.  If I get a flat during a sprint, the race is over anyway.  But for an Oly or longer, I will of course bring everything on the bike.  Even extra if it's a HIM or IM.

ALSO, could they have stored it in a bento box behind the head tube/stem?

ETA:  And for training, I ALWAYS cary everything in my bag...

Edited by Aikidoman 2009-08-27 1:15 PM

Lame is having to walk home in cleats if you can't get anyone to come get you when you flat. Pack as much stuff as you think you can handle for training rides AND A CELL PHONE. Race day you could get by with a tube, levers and CO2 charger.  

Not stupid at all!

Here's what I do, in a sprint, I won't bother with bag... figuring if I get a flat, I'm out anyway... no way to make up the time, if the bike part is less than 30min. I can't loose 5 minutes changing a flat. If your goal is to finish, then this changes completely, bring the bag!

In longer races, where you're on the bike for close to an hour or more, then 5 minutes is not the end of the world and I make certain I have the bike bag with me. You really only need a small bag anyway... a single tube, two tire levers (no need for 3) and a CO2. Again, more than a single puncture, I would consider myself out of the race anyway. Sucks if I get to walk back though...

I have three bags; one on my road bike (a tube, a couple of patch kits, 2 levers and a C02 plus extra cartridge), one no my tri bike for training (basically the same as above), and one to be used during races (one tube, 2 levers and a single CO2. when this one is strapped in under my seat, you can hardly even see it...)

I do it the same way audiojan and aikidoman do it.....

Additionally, I'm so a careful person, I renew the tubes and tires before each race to reduce the danger of getting a flat....

Good luck!

Timo