Carrying tools etc?

[RockCoach]

I will keep the saddle bag...hate rummaging for spares and crap before a ride

 

Why would you need to rummage for spares & tools? Whether you had them in a backpack or in a saddle bag shouldn't make a difference?

[TNT1]

As soon as I started getting mud splattered all over my water bottle in my first summer season of riding mtb I decided to get a Camelbak. That means I wouldn't have dog crap smeared over my mouth whenever I needed a sip of water.

 

A, mud is nutritious, and B, stop riding through dog poo...

[RockCoach]

How much does it weigh?

 

68.346 grams

 

Seriously, I just checked and it still has newspaper stuffed inside it to keep the shape - so was in fact never used. It is black. Has Shimano SPD printed on the side...

[DaLoCo]

Why would you need to rummage for spares & tools? Whether you had them in a backpack or in a saddle bag shouldn't make a difference?

I clean my backpack after every ride, including cleaning the bladder. I am not too keen to put fruit and such in a muddy or dirty backpack, I am special that way

[RockCoach]

A, mud is nutritious, and B, stop riding through dog poo...

 

You never know where you are going to encounter fecal matter on the trails around Jhb. The Spruit has many dog walkers. Once it turns to mush during rainy season you tata ma chance. Have encountered human excrement a number of times.

 

Edit: I caught an episode of "1000 ways to Die". One chick ate her neighbours soil. Unfortunately, he was the type who 'enhanced' his compost from the lav.

 

Edited July 3, 2012 by slick

[DaLoCo]

A, mud is nutritious, and B, stop riding through dog poo...

Here in Jbay it is devil's thorns or dog sh**, every frigging person, even the homeless have at least two dogs. ( which explains why I spend little time on the beach, or wear shoes on the beach

[The Ghost]

You never know where you are going to encounter fecal matter on the trails around Jhb. The Spruit has many dog walkers. Once it turns to mush during rainy season you tata ma chance. Have encountered human excrement a number of times.

 

Many of our rivers and streams are also used as bathrooms by some.

[TNT1]

You never know where you are going to encounter fecal matter on the trails around Jhb. The Spruit has many dog walkers. Once it turns to mush during rainy season you tata ma chance. Have encountered human excrement a number of times.

 

 

Ya, bedfordview raceday had to change their route a while back cause of the overflowing sewers at the back of Primrose. So this affects road riders too. None of us bought camelbags though...

[RockCoach]

I clean my backpack after every ride, including cleaning the bladder. I am not too keen to put fruit and such in a muddy or dirty backpack, I am special that way

 

Fair enough. My food goes in a zip lock in the main compartment. Reservoir is drained, rinsed, hung up and then put into the freezer after every ride.

[RockCoach]

Ya, bedfordview raceday had to change their route a while back cause of the overflowing sewers at the back of Primrose. So this affects road riders too. None of us bought camelbags though...

 

Eish. I never had that in many years of road racing.

 

The SO had a bail coming down Delta Park one night into an overflowing sewer spill. We still ate at Fratellis as usual afterwards.

[Weight Weenie]

Clint

 

The XTC is a cool pack but your back will be cooking and sweaty when running, I have a similar pack.

The issue with mtb packs for running is side to side swaying, which the hip belts on packs like the XTC prevent, but as I said they make you sweaty.

Also the XTC does not carry bottles in a comfy and accessable manner, so take that into account. With the bladder you are limited to a single type of drink when running. The XTC does have more than enough space for loads of bike spares or running gear but can also lead to one over-loading the thing with styuff you don't need. The side pockets are about the size of the average male hand so if you put only a few items in it becomes messy and noisy quickly.

 

Bottle wise - Giant and a few other brands make bottles with caps that cover the nozzle, I use these when going on mucky rides. They are around R25 at Sportsmans warehouse.

 

And by saying you ride in a t-shirt I hope you don't mean a normal cotton one ? Rather go to MR. Price Sport and get a polyester wicking shirt for R60 or so. It will keep you dry and keep chafing to a minimum, especially if you decide to wear a pack.

 

Seeing as you are undecided, go to a bike park or a race and see if you can't try out some packs or saddle bags. Should give you an idea of what works for you or not. Me, I just stuff it all in my pockets and usually have to resque Specialized7 when we ride together as he is too cool to carry more than lip-ice and a bit of a boep on rides

[Meentb]

Just buy this then you can fit two saddle bags for all your tubes and ****!

 

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/32214-hobson-saddles-x2/

[Li Mu Bai]

Also using a saddle bag. The problem with everything in your shirt is that your shirt is pulling down on you and if you fall well that’s another story.

+1. Why would a saddle bag not be cool? having any extra weight carried by the bike frame rather than my back/body makes much more sense to me, especially on long rides.

[Clinton1]

Clint

 

The XTC is a cool pack but your back will be cooking and sweaty when running, I have a similar pack.

The issue with mtb packs for running is side to side swaying, which the hip belts on packs like the XTC prevent, but as I said they make you sweaty.

 

Do you think there is any pack that could be used as a cross over (for both running and cycling) that would not have this issue? I know they talk about air directors and the like on these packs but I reckon they are more gimmick, which you seem to confirm.

 

As you mention though, to run you would need the hip belts. Running would not be the main use but I'd like to be able to use it when I do. Did a 10km trail run in Giba recently and it was a pain carrying a water bottle in hand and a phone in the pouch around my waist ( Yip, I've always said appearances are not first priority with me).

 

 

Also the XTC does not carry bottles in a comfy and accessable manner, so take that into account. With the bladder you are limited to a single type of drink when running. The XTC does have more than enough space for loads of bike spares or running gear but can also lead to one over-loading the thing with styuff you don't need. The side pockets are about the size of the average male hand so if you put only a few items in it becomes messy and noisy quickly.

 

A concern with the side pockets too is the netting at the bottom. Worries me that anything in there is fairly exposed. People talk about putting their phone there but I'd feel the need to cover it with a bag or something. I can also imagine keys being noisy as you mentioned and perhaps sticking through the holes causing damage.

 

And by saying you ride in a t-shirt I hope you don't mean a normal cotton one ? Rather go to MR. Price Sport and get a polyester wicking shirt for R60 or so. It will keep you dry and keep chafing to a minimum, especially if you decide to wear a pack.

 

No, no, I wear a properly cycling shirt. When running I do so in a normal cotton t-shirt.

 

 

 

Thanks so much for your response. Just a few questions as regards the XCT, you mention you can pack it but when I watch videos online it does not show much space at the back and msot of the packing is done in the waist poaches. Where do you fit a spare tube and the like? Also I see the new ones have a 3l bladder which means less room in this compartment. Is yours also the 3l one or the older 2l one?

 

Thanks again

Edited July 3, 2012 by Clint_ZA

[Clinton1]

Just buy this then you can fit two saddle bags for all your tubes and ****!

 

http://www.thehubsa....son-saddles-x2/

 

Not certain my ass is big enough...

[Weight Weenie]

Do you think there is any pack that could be used as a cross over (for both running and cycling) that would not have this issue? I know they talk about air directors and the like on these packs but I reckon they are more gimmick, which you seem to confirm.

Unless you have a mesh screen that's rigid it's a gimick IMO. Have a look at the Camelbak Delayney series (or other hip belts), the DC can take 2 bottles and has pouch in the front for stuff with bungee cords for jackets or gloves etc. I run with one works great and as it only covers your lumbar region it's allot cooler than a pack and places the weight lower on stronger muscles. Needs to be tight or it will be bouncy though. Haven't biked with it but could be an option. It will be dual-use and cheaper, with the bottles just being less of a hassle vs bladders. Might be difficult drinking on the ride though.

 

As you mention though, to run you would need the hip belts. Running would not be the main use but I'd like to be able to use it when I do. Did a 10km trail run in Giba recently and it was a pain carrying a water bottle in hand and a phone in the pouch around my waist ( Yip, I've always said appearances are not first priority with me). Hand bottles are great if you can get used to them, the good ones strap to your hand so gripping it isn't needed. Cheap, don't get hot and cushion your hands in a fall. I don't like it though, like to have my hands free and also the arm workout is too much for me. A hip belt would be great for this 10k type of run, I use mine (Camelbak Ultra LR Vest) for it but have the pack for longer runs, have done 5 hours of trailrunning with it.

 

 

A concern with the side pockets too is the netting at the bottom. Worries me that anything in there is fairly exposed. People talk about putting their phone there but I'd feel the need to cover it with a bag or something. I can also imagine keys being noisy as you mentioned and perhaps sticking through the holes causing damage.

They are exposed yes so a phone pocket is a good idea, I use one sometimes when it's wet. I attached a carbiner through the mesh to keep my key in place, no issues.

 

 

No, no, I wear a properly cycling shirt. When running I do so in a normal cotton t-shirt.

Get a polyester shirt for running, your n1pples will thank you !

 

 

Thanks so much for your response. Just a few questions as regards the XCT, you mention you can pack it but when I watch videos online it does not show much space at the back and msot of the packing is done in the waist poaches. Where do you fit a spare tube and the like? Also I see the new ones have a 3l bladder which means less room in this compartment. Is yours also the 3l one or the older 2l one?

Try the LR model, more space up top with two zip pockets as the reservoir is on your hips. LR = Lumbar Reservoir.

 

Thanks again