Minimalist or Boy Scout?

 What do you hang underneath your bum?

I’m talking about the saddle bag of course. Where does style meet function? Or does it? I mean…you have some folks who don’t carry a saddle bag at all and throw everything in their jersey pockets. Anti-saddle baggers..rule 29 believers. I’ve seen a plain tube and mini pump strapped on underneath the saddle. So minimal you could hardly tell it was even there. Then you have the opposite end of the spectrum. The lunch boxers. Boy Scouters. Yes…you know what I’m talking about. A ginormous bag that sways back and forth with every pedal stroke. Be careful, the metronome like rhythm will put you to sleep if you stare at it too long. What’s in there? Swiss Army knife, maps, compass, bear spray, glock, cheeseburger? Then you have the crazy stuff from the TRI world. The double barrel rocket launchers. Twin bottle-seat mounted-all in one-with pump-multi tool-tube-saddle bag-plus extra Co2 cartridge holder-bottle ejection devices. They scare me a little.

I like to think I fall somewhere in the middle of saddle bag madness. Sooo…not a lunch box more like a snack bag. This time of year my longest rides are 3 hours or so and usually with a group. So I roll pretty minimal. In the winter when rides are longer with less people to rely on I’ll take an additional Co2 & tube in a slightly larger bag.

I would love to know what OCA followers are carrying under your bums. What is your junk below the trunk philosophy? Perhaps I need to add something to my bag. Is there a ‘must have’ that I’m missing? Anyone out there rolling with Road ID? Was that a fad or legit? You can leave your comments below.

 Locked & loaded. Is there an arms race going on in Triathlon?

This strap design is a little suspect. PK’s bag fell off during the ride last night.

 JANDD makes a great small saddle bag. Rear access is key for me. You don’t have to remove the bag to get inside. What’s in this bag?

 One tube.

 Two zip ties with electric tape on the end. Two patches cut from mtb inner tube. Zip ties are handy for just about anything. My lawn mower currently runs on gasoline and zip ties! The mtb patches work better then dollars or energy bar wrappers.

 Multi-tool & tire lever. You can always use your skewer lever if the tire lever breaks. Thanks for the tip Heath! The all important Powerlink. Your ride could be over without this little guy.

 Emergency Coke fund. Two dollars goes a looooong way in the heat of summer.

What kind of junk do you have under your trunk? Comment below.

 Cyclists riding by barn pic, a couple more shots from the ride last night.