{"id":230303,"date":"2026-02-25T13:21:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T13:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/flipping-your-lid\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T13:21:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T13:21:27","slug":"flipping-your-lid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/flipping-your-lid\/","title":{"rendered":"Flipping Your Lid"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Further to yesterday\u2019s post<\/a>, your cycling superiors, who have been testing bikes for 25 years<\/em> and know much more than you do, have abandoned the laughably obsolete saddle pack in favor of the clearly-superior-in-every-way downtube storage compartment:<\/p>\n

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It hardly bears repeating at this point that if you\u2019re not riding a plastic bike with a glove compartment in it you\u2019re a total loser, and that strapping your tools to the underside of your saddle is the cycling equivalent of transporting your belongings in a hobo\u2019s bindle:<\/p>\n

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But what if bicycle glove compartments aren\u2019t all they\u2019re\u2026cracked<\/em> up to be, so to speak? In fact, one commenter even indicated that his literally did crack, or at least the latch that closes it did. So I asked my intern to a little research, and sure enough, these things can and do have problems<\/a>, who\u2019d-a thunk it?<\/p>\n

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Here are some replies:<\/p>\n

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Mine stays on the bike but sometimes it sits like this.. so the water can go inside the frame when I wash the bike..<\/em><\/p>\n

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I have lost mine during my third ride. I have just ordered a new one and i consider using a strap in the future\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

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I have the same issue. Not while riding but when transporting my bike on the back of my car. I arrived at my destination to start riding and the lid was gone. Including my co2 canister and pump. Bad start of the day. I guess wind got under it and lifted it.<\/em><\/p>\n

I ordered a new one but with this one, just like the old one, there is a small gap where wind can get under it. I strap it down while transporting it.. Bad design I\u2019m afraid<\/em><\/p>\n

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I lost mine yesterday<\/em><\/p>\n

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I lost mine too<\/em><\/p>\n

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Well, same as brought up in other post\u2026. the lid just barely holds on and I\u2019ve had to turn back to retrieve on a ride once before.<\/em><\/p>\n

I live in Costa Rica so it rains often and the fact that it does not have a tight fit allows for water to get inside as I transport the bike on the car. Pretty bad as humidity is an issue and I\u2019ve had to clean the inside pouch a few times.<\/em><\/p>\n

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I just lost mine today!<\/em><\/p>\n

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I just had this problem too. Only the 4th ride and it\u2019s gone. I see lots of people are having issues. I don\u2019t quite understand why it\u2019s so flimsy.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Wait, I thought downtube storage compartments solved the problem of wet tools<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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I unpacked the pack earlier this week and the contents are pretty much totalled. The inner tube has corrosion on the valve, my multi-tool is rusted shut and the glueless patches have glued themselves together \u2013 not to mention the C02 cartridge that\u2019s so corroded I\u2019m scared to use it in case it fails.<\/em><\/p>\n

So, I\u2019m left with a three-figure bill to replace what\u2019s been ruined inside a pack that, despite the claims, does let water in.<\/em><\/p>\n

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So who\u2019s the wet tool now? <\/p>\n

And lest you think I\u2019m singling out Canyon, a storage compartment by any other brand name can get just as lost<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Or simply loose and rattly<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Of course one solution is to just go with it:<\/p>\n

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But is it safe to ride a bicycle with a missing storage compartment lid<\/a>?<\/p>\n

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And what do you even call these things<\/a>?<\/p>\n

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Fortunately, you can in fact purchase a replacement:<\/p>\n

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But you\u2019d better hurry, because there are only two left:<\/p>\n

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I guess they can\u2019t keep \u2019em in stock since everyone keeps losing them.<\/p>\n

It would not surprise me to learn that Canyon makes more money selling replacement lids than they do on the bikes themselves. In fact, given the state of the industry, I suspect that at this point they only make the bikes so they can sell people the lids. Basically, carbon gravel bikes are now the equivalent of ink jet printers, and the storage compartment lids are the cartridges, which is where the real money is.<\/p>\n

At least $25 isn\u2019t that<\/em> much money for the unfortunate Canyon consumer to pay\u2026unlike the poor schnook who needs a replacement lid for a Chek Trekpoint:<\/p>\n

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That will cost you almost four times as much:<\/p>\n

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And hey, if you like fussing with internal cable routing, you\u2019ll love<\/em> fishing stuff out of your downtube<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s fun<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t worry, it only took him three hours to get it out:<\/p>\n

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Losing your tubeless tire plugs in your downtube\u2026now that\u2019s<\/em> a modern cycling problem.<\/p>\n

Speaking of tubeless, I recently received the following email from a reader:<\/p>\n

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As you probably know, Calvin Jones retired from Park Tool. \u00a0He recorded a few last videos before he left. \u00a0\u201cSealant Just Where You Need It\u201d was published on YouTube today. \u00a0I won\u2019t necessarily call it sealant porn but try watching from the 5:30 mark<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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So yeah, I watched it.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the video:<\/p>\n

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