Is there a very small, lightweight alternative to the saddlebag that is also easy on the eye? I use a Vaude Race Light S (40g) at the moment, but I generally dislike the look of having a saddlebag at all...

I've weenied the toolset down to the bare minimum so I don't need much space, but I would really like something other than the typical saddlebag. Maybe something aerodynamic mounted to the spare bottle cage holes (something that looks good, not those hideous 500ml bottle shaped things with a big screw on lid), or a small triangle-shaped bag hidden down at the seattube/downtube junction? But I can't seem find any alternatives to the saddlebag that aren't huge and meant for touring...

Open to any ideas! What do you use?

P.S
I did think of using another bottle, but it's 75g for a 500ml tacx bottle and another 5g for a Tune Wasserträger Skyline cage, so that's about 40g more than just sticking with the current saddlebag. This is WW afterall

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Roadbike
Kinesis RaceLight T2

Mountainbike
Van Nicholas Zion Ti

How about a cycling jersey with rear pockets?

Just a little Continental saddelbag. It comes with a spare tyre and 3 lifters. Room enough for some small things like: money, ID-card, ParkTools MT-1 and CT-5, some glue, a missing link and a piece of wire. Phone goes in the backpocket of my jersey.

I really don't care putting sharp tools/keys in my jersey pockets, it's uncomfortable, unsafe in the event of crash and unpractical as I have to re-pack everything before every ride. I only use the jersey pockets for soft goods such as clothes and food.

But I bet somebody out there has a neat alternative to the ugly saddlebag?

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Roadbike
Kinesis RaceLight T2

Mountainbike
Van Nicholas Zion Ti

For jersey pockets, I use a Lezyne Caddysack with my phone wallet and chapstick. For my saddlebag, I use one of the Fizik bags that clips onto the saddle. It holds a tube, co2cartridge and dispenser, levers, multitool, quicklink, and a pair of nitrile gloves.

aroundel makes fantastic saddle bag. I have one and it is perfect for mounting on the saddle or putting it in your jersey if you don't want anything hanging on your seat.

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My Colnago EPS http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=83064&start=45

If you're not a big drinker, a tool bottle is a handy piece of kit.

I usually don't take 2 bottles and even on longer rides I prefer to ride 'till I'm out of water and then when I'm thirsty, buy a big cold bottle of water. This gives me room for bringing a tool bottle. I've got two at the moment and can really recommend the tool bottle made by decathlon http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/carry-case-117024806/#
It's cheap, definatly waterproof and it looks better than similar products by big brand manufacturers.
I use this one for MTB and it contains a spare tube, leatherman, ID, patches, levers and glue, chain link, a small travelcase lock and a rag stopping it al from rattling.

Also have this one for the roadbike http://www.rose.nl/product/detail/aid:499608. It looks nice and doesn't rattle as much as the b'twin one, but it's more expensive.


As an alternative you can also use a frame bag. It has the benefit of being positioned lower as a saddle bag and therefore lowers the center of gravity

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2011 Cannondale Flash F1
2010 Cannondale Caad9
2000 Cannondale Caad 4 aero
1999 Cannondale Caad1
???? Concorde SS

Nah, like I said. Waterbottles, and waterbottle type containers are absolutely out because of the added weight... A frame bag would be nice, but a really, really small one. I don't carry phones, ID-cards, spare tubes or anything big, so anything bigger than 0.2 litre is total overkill...

All the frame bags I've seen are big, lika a square foot from the side, and (besides weight) aestethics is everything here...

But maybe someone knows of a really tiny framebag?

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Roadbike
Kinesis RaceLight T2

Mountainbike
Van Nicholas Zion Ti

i just use the middle pocket, i stuff everything inside a fabric pouch - cut down from a fizik seatpost bag (tube, repair kit, multitool, chain links, disposable gloves, speed lever, tyre boot) so no repacking before a ride

the only pointy bits are in the multi tool and are 'protected' by the sides of the tool so there's nothing that pokes out, if i did happen to be skidding along on my back i reckon it's more likely to save some skin than stab me

saves the weight of a saddle bag

I gotta say the jersey pocket option is out too, I have tried it. And even if all the sharp ends are wrapped up I can feel the ~200g extra weight too much, coupled with a pair of bars even the bare weight is too uncomfortable for me, I'd rather carry that weight on the bike.

Also, all my jerseys don't have pockets, and I'm not about to bin three good jerseys (I tape the bars to the seatpost with those jerseys.)

So it really needs to be a frame/bike mounted solution of some, I suppose...

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Roadbike
Kinesis RaceLight T2

Mountainbike
Van Nicholas Zion Ti

I suggest going for the minimal bag suggested by others: you can read an entire thread on this here.

It is a generic bag that will last about a season before beginning to tear (in my experience, YMMV), is very inexpensive (in Italy most shops will hand one out with every service, for free). It is velcro, works well, and is light. Fits relatively little, but that appears to be what you are looking for.

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Cervelo R3, Campagnolo Chorus/Record mix... pastatrails.blogspot.com
And you can call me Macktastik Honey Pete Kicks, thank you.

Actually the suggested Continental bag is slightly bigger than the Vaude bag I'm on now... I guess maybe it's time to give up and start looking into the DIY option on this one instead. Big thanks for all the help though! I've atleast gotten a little idea of something home made growing in my head

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Roadbike
Kinesis RaceLight T2

Mountainbike
Van Nicholas Zion Ti

You could try making a DIY mini-bento bag, like those they use on triathlons to store food? They can be minimalist and yet fairly functional at the same time.

Or maybe one that fits in near the BB, below the bottles ?

I throw my multi-tool, levers, CO2 and $10 note into a sock, then into my right jersey pocket. Tube goes in the left and phone and munchies in the centre.

Multi-tool- obvious uses
CO2- Obvious
Levers- obvious
$10- emergency money, but folded it's also a great reinforcement if I slash a tyre to put between the tyre and tube. Yes, it works!
Sock- storage and a rag when dealing with chains etc.

Not sure why you say you dont want to feel the 200 grams. No matter where you put it, it's still 200g. I'd also bet my sock (which doubles as a rag) weighs less than 40g

I upgrade to a new sock every year!

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Lefty heaven

I use two different-sized Jersey Bins (http://www.jerseybin.com). I don't have to repack them unless I've had to replace a tube and empty a CO2 cartridge. One contains just a Michelin Airstop tube. The other has 2 generic 12g cartridges, a chuck, 2 Park levers, a Park patch kit, some Park boots, a Park IB-2 multitool, and a SRAM power link. The Jersey Bins lay flat and keep things relatively in order. Still have room for food, keys, phone, wallet, and cleat covers split among the jersey pockets.