Cat5 bag

Cat5 bag

CAT5GEAR} Cyclist Case

Long-term review of this bike gear carrying case that finally got me organized.

Pros

  • Easy to use and organize gear
  • Mesh top mean airflow
  • Well built and tough

OCMN Rating

Cons

  • Hard to find any

Cheat Sheet

Buy it Again?

Definitely. And, I would (and do)  recommend it to my friends.

Cost

Last time I looked: $77

Product Link

The Low Down

We are all on some sort of spectrum in life and riders are no different. The racing roadie TENDS to stay firmly in the type-A very organized lane. It is likely that they have not only brought all their gear but possibly an extra set of wheels or a “B” bike – just in case. The dirt rider, on the other hand, tends to be more on the wing-it side of the trail. And yes, there are shaved legged, spandex wearing riders in the bunch – but on the whole – we are more into sending a jump line and who brought the post ride beer over chasing Strava crowns. This all brings me to the CAT5GEAR Cyclist Case. To say this bike briefcase wonder changed my life is probably an overstatement but it has made my ride life waaaay better.

The Cyclist Case is a customizable padded case for all your riding gear. I am able to fit: my helmet, shoes,
gloves, shock pump, tools, chain lube, extra tube and a variety of other misc. items. The design is pretty brilliant with padded sections that attach with velcro allowing you to create your own custom set-up. The zipper runs the length of 3 sides to allow the top to lay flat, making it easy to load and to get your gear out at the trail. The top is mostly heavy duty mesh and mesh is good. Mesh means you can do a quick check to make sure you have your helmet and shoes but also allows for air flow. And, if we are being honest, bike gear can smell less than fresh after a few rides. The air flow allows it all to breathe and thus, dry faster and smell better – win-win.

Compartmentalize you life

Along with the movable padded cube walls, there are a couple of handy small zipped mesh pockets and 2 side pockets to hold stuff large and small. The side pockets are designed for water bottles but since I stick to a one bottle per ride regiment, I use the other one to throw in a jersey, vest or whatever random thing I think I need that day. The little mesh pockets on the inside of the case are perfect for some energy gels or bars, your gloves or – the all important – bottle opener for post rider hydration.

It handles anything
Dad jokes aside, it is great to have a top handle grip as well as a shoulder strap. For you gotta-do-it-in-one-trip people, having all your gear in the case and over the shoulder means you can one shot your gear and bike saving precious time and avoiding the “I am running a bit late” text. Sadly, my ride buddies still see this text more often than they should.

Final Thoughts

This will likely not make you taller, better looking or fasting on trail but I can all but guarantee you will be more organized, efficient and always have your gear for the days shred session.

  • Ease of Use 95% 95%
  • Features 85% 85%
  • Getting Organized 100% 100%

OneUp2

OneUp2

OneUp} EDC multitool

Sleek and light trailside multi tool that is stored in your steerer tube.

Pros

  • Small and sleek design
  • Bike tools are always on bike
  • Light weight and good quality

OCMN Rating

Cons

  • Install = tap your fork tube or go to LBS
  • You need a tap kit from OneUp (extra $)
  • Small size = challenging with big hands

Cheat Sheet

Buy it Again?

Definitely. And, I would (and do)  recommend it to my friends.

Weight

275g

Cost

OneUp EDC Tool System $59

If you want to mount it in your stem, you’ll need both of these: EDC Top Cap: $25 & EDC Tap $35

Product Link

The Low Down

Over the course of my MTB “career” my basic motto has been: If I can spend money on something new to make my ride better/faster/stronger, I’m in! Or, you could also say, “there’s a sucker born every minute.…” I like trying out new stuff, so I’ve rarely regretted it, though my bank account might have different feelings.

I still get a little giddy in the parking lot before a ride, especially when my friends are there. For me that pre-ride excitement also has the unfortunate side effect of forgetfulness, which means on more than one occasion, I’ve ended up being “that guy” who needs to borrow a tool on the trail. I HATE being that guy.

What I needed, I decided, was a tool to replace the standard issue multi-tool I’d always (sometimes) carried that would live on my bike instead of floating around in the back of my car. And, because the majority of my rides are on our metro trails, it didn’t need to be expedition grade. The basics would cover it.

Why the OneUp EDC Tool System?

One word, stealth. EDC stands for Every Day Carry and it’s small enough to fit inside a steerer tube. As small as it is, the EDC Tool System is a fully functioning multi-tool, and OneUp, in their infinite cleverness, took full advantage of its tiny size and developed a way to actually mount it inside the steerer tubethere. EDC stands for Every Day Carry and that’s the beauty of it—once it’s mounted it’s always there. I’ve always tended toward minimalism when it comes to putting stuff on my bike, so being able to have a toolit simultaneously be all but invisible, easily accessible, and functional? Sold, done, bingo, we have a winner!!!

To be fair, it’s not the only stealth option out there now. Syncros has their Matchbox Tailor Cage and now Specialized has their SWAT(™) Conceal Carry MTB Tool. Youand you can still find Industry Nine’s Matchstix if you look around. But at the time of my purchaseI bought it, options were few, and the EDC looked to me like the most elegant solution available.

Details

Yep, it’s small, but that’s not the EDC’s only trick. It also has a tire lever, a chain breaker, and a little compartment with enough room to stash your bacon strips for your tubeless tire (or maybe just bacon strips, if that’s your thing…). Also, the 5 mm allen combined with the screwdriver gives you an 8 mm allen. 

Another nifty feature: go without the bacon stash and you can screw in a small CO2 canister instead. I use a Stomp Pump for trailside air pressure fixes so I use the stash, but it’s another option if CO2 is your preferred method to fix a flat.. 

Basically, the EDCit gives me just about everything that I need to make the repairs that are within my trailside abilities.

  • Ease of Use 80% 80%
  • Weight 90% 90%
  • Installation 50% 50%