Saddle/Bike bag for large phone?

[RobM77]

If I can avoid it, for rides under 50-60 miles that I don't need food for (i.e. 99% of all my rides), I like to avoid having to take a rucksack or have things in my pockets, so I use a saddle/bike bag that attaches under my saddle. I've currently got the largest one my local bike shop had, which takes my door key, a spare inner tube, compressed air cannister, allen keys, tyre spanners, some disposable gloves and my iPhone 4S in a slim case. That's the lot though, it won't take any more.

I was wondering if anyone had found such a bag that'll handle all of the above plus a bigger phone? I'd like to upgrade from my iPhone 4S and it seems that most phones these days are significantly bigger.

I don't want a handlebar mount, as for me one of the joys of cycling is getting away from people/phones etc, plus for safety reasons if I have an accident I don't want my phone totalled or flung into the nearest hedge, I want it safely inside a bag tucked under the saddle. I also don't want to use an empty water bottle for carrying stuff, as for longer rides I take two water bottles with me.

Any thoughts?

[RobM77]

S10GTA said:

Pockets?

RobM77 said:

I like to avoid having to take a rucksack or have things in my pockets

[RobM77]

ShortShift811 said:

Sizes between brands differ hugely.

I have the Lezyne medium loaded saddlebag which comes with the multi-tool in a compartment underneath. Same as you I can only get my phone, a tube and a couple of levers in the main space. I'd actually describe the size as small.

My OH has a medium Specialized wedgie which is much more accommodating; she gets her phone, tubes and purse / wallet in there. I'm sure if you investigated the larger size of that you'd probably find some extra space.

Thanks. I'm encouraged that they're only the 'medium' size as well.

[RobM77]

I do wear standard cycling tops with the three pockets at the back, yes. However, stuff in my pockets annoys me as it wobbles and jumps about whilst I cycle and is uncomfortable even on a flat straight bit of road. Plus if I have an accident, I want my phone to be protected, firstly because of the cost of the phone but mainly of course for safety reasons so I can phone for help if needed. My wife was knocked off her bike at a fairish speed by a car a couple of years ago and there's no question that a phone in a bike bag would have been fine, but in a pocket it probably would have been smashed. The car sped off, there was nobody about and she needed the phone to call for help.

A pocket is a last resort, but before I resort to that (or just keep my 4S), I wondered if anyone had any experience with a saddle bag that'll fit something the size of an iPhone 6.

[RobM77]

pablo said:

Why do you need to take a phone with you, particularly an all singing all dancing iphone 6? if you get lost or have a mechanical, you will never be that far from a farm or a residential area.

I appreciate you may have to be contactable, but if you are say 20 miles away from home, its going to take at least an hour or so to get back in an emergency and there will most likely be someone closer to home who can help so if you have absolutely have to be contactable, buy a cheap as chips phone with PAYG sim? you can get pretty small ones these days that will easily fit in a jersey pocket. Wrap it in a resealable sandwich type bag and away you go....

Edited by pablo on Monday 29th September 10:14

Strava's fun on the phone and no, around our way I could actually be a long way from the nearest house or residential area. I'm not thinking of an emergency at home, I was thinking of me getting knocked off or other problem - as you can appreciate walking 10 miles to the nearest village with a broken leg wouldn't be the nicest of experiences! When my wife was hit two years ago the car sped off leaving her lying on the side of the road injured all on her own with just a phone as a means of getting help. Not only that, but you can come across accidents as well whilst out and about - I've been first on the scene of two accidents, one of which was a runner without a phone on him who was hit by a car that did a runner (initially; the driver turned up in the end). Oh, and a phone's also useful if you get lost; they're smaller than maps

I fully realise that I didn't get my first phone until I was 22, so that's 10 years of cycling fairly big miles without a phone on me, but if possible these days I like to take a phone with me.

The other option of course, as you mention, is just to get a pay as you go deal and perhaps keep my 4S for use with that sim. This is all part of my research and that is a fallback option if I decide I want to upgrade my phone.

[RobM77]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Personally I would keep the iphone4 for riding , great all round phone for outdoor use (with a case) as it is cheap (ish to replace) and offers good functionality, I would never take a phone on a bike that I couldn't easily afford to replace .

You make a good case for that option. According to their website, Vodafone pay as you go only lasts 30 days, but if I shop around I may be able to find one that I can just stick in a phone and forget about. It's such a shame that networks can't cope with having two sims active at the same time for the same number, as it'd be really handy to have my old 4S with me whilst I'm painting or gardening etc, but receiving the same calls and texts. I hate it when my phone rings and my hands are covered in oil and I have to make that decision of whether to check who it is and answer it or not!

[RobM77]

[RobM77]

Alternative ideas very welcome, thanks - that was half the idea of starting a thread actually, rather than just finding out the measurements of the iPhone 6 and comparing it with saddlebags online; I'm interested in how people cope with big phones, as I've noticed my old 4S is easily the smallest of all the phones I see people with from day to day.

[RobM77]

Mr Will said:

You've got the largest bag your bike shop sold and it's already full? What on earth are you carrying in it?

As listed in my first post:

RobM77 said:

I've currently got the largest one my local bike shop had, which takes my door key, a spare inner tube, compressed air cannister, allen keys, tyre spanners, some disposable gloves and my iPhone 4S in a slim case. That's the lot though, it won't take any more.

If you think that's small, then I can only assume that my local bike shop only sell small saddlebags. They had two or three sizes, and I picked the largest. This is a good sign for the ones I've seen on Wiggle (many of which don't show dimensions, but some have it in the Q&A, so I'll measure mine later and compare).

Edited by RobM77 on Monday 29th September 13:54

[RobM77]

Silver940 said:

I have a nexus4 ( similar size but heavier than an iphone 6) that sits in my left jersey pocket. A lezyne caddy sack with tube, multi tool, tyre levers and co2 in the middle pocket and food/gels/keys in the right jersey pocket. Hardly notice them when on the bike and less annoying than a saddle bag rattling around under the seat.

Had pretty much the same for a mountain bike race ( tube much bigger! ) and it didn't bother me, you get used to it.

Rattling? Sounds like you need to tighten the straps It should move a lot less than stuff in your pockets would.