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The Nicnacpac is a “portable pocket” for cycling essentials, and it’s on Kickstarter now

Yorkshire made essentials case seeks Kickstarter funding

How do you carry ride essentials, things like multitool, pump, tyre lever, house keys etc, on a bike ride? There are numerous solutions available from saddle packs to bottle kegs, but not happy at with any of these for various reasons, a Yorkshire-based duo Tim and Rob have come up with the Nicnacpac.

It’s a handmade bag into which you can stuff all your ride essentials and is secure, weatherproof, lightweight and washable. It’s essentially a spin on the freezer bag that many cyclists rely upon to keep essentials contained in one place and protected from the elements, but more durable and, in their own words (and it’s hard to disagree) more stylish.

cycle pack.jpg

The Nicnacpac is designed to fit into a cycle jersey pocket. It’s made from a lightweight and hard-wearing fabric with a secure draw cord lock with an integrated safety whistle, useful for those rides into the beyond. There’s also an emergency medical information label.

Multiple iterations led to the final design, with a prototype being tested for a year before it was deemed ready to release to the world. To make it a reality, they’re looking for £3,000 of funding on Kickstarter and there are 20 days running on the campaign still. An early bird discount will get you a Nicnacpac for £5, the RRP will be £7.50 should the funding be successful.

You don’t need us to point out the fact there are already similar products on the market, but where the Cycle Pack impresses is with its low price. For comparison a Lezyne Caddy Sack is £9.99, the Rapha Essentials Case is £45, the VeloPac RidePac is £32 and the Sticky-Pods is £17. Of course, all are more expensive than a box of freezer bags, but not everyone wants to use a freezer bag on a regular basis, it’s fine to want something designed for the task.

“We like to think of it as a portable pocket for cyclists to carry their ride essentials. We all know what we should be carrying with us every ride but how many of us do? Carrying awkward items like split-links, zip-ties and tyre-levers is made much easier with the Nicnacpac, its lightweight, weather-resistant, washable and around the same price as an inner tube!

Lots cyclists now have many different bikes at home, carrying everything in this pack allows you to easily transfer it no matter what or where you are riding, on-road or off. Cycling safety matters a huge amount to us, that’s why we incorporated some key safety features. An emergency information label which is clearly visible on the reverse and a discreet cord-lock whistle. Both of which you hope you will never need!”

Check out the Nicnacpac at Kickstarter if you like the sound of it.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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29 comments

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steviewevie | 6 years ago
0 likes

The Kickstarter is probably to help them generate publicity, rather than being necessary to generate funding.

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Sven Van Anders | 6 years ago
0 likes

I still carry the scars from snapping a pair of tyre levers in a jersey pocket after a complete stranger and I were hit by a car at the end of a 2-up 10tt. That was 24 years ago!
These days I carry nothing stiffer than a banana in my spandex.
Good luck to them though

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SilverMerlin | 6 years ago
0 likes

Guys you're entitled to your opinion - perhaps a little negative though (does anyone post anything positive in the comments  on road.cc). But this costs £5, that is reasonably priced for this type of item. It is cycling specific and sized and designed to fit comfortably in a jersey pocket. The quality does look better than the items listed on the above post from ebay.  For me at least I was happy to take the risk on this for a fiver as have been many others.

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severs1966 | 6 years ago
1 like

One might be forgiven, reading this Kickstarter, for thinking that a small synthetic drawstrig bag is a scarce product requiring new investment, and difficult to find because of it.

30 seconds on eBay seems to indicate otherwise:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172847207646

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172850568022

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172866650531

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nortonpdj | 6 years ago
3 likes

A bag that fits in a jersey pocket. ​ ​

Or you could just put the stuff in your jersey pocket.

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Oranj | 6 years ago
0 likes

For real?

Why not just buy clothes with pockets (sez another ziploc freezer bag fan)

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Chris Hayes | 6 years ago
0 likes

...I'm lost for words. 

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ClubSmed | 6 years ago
0 likes

Both of these alternatives below are more expensive than the one above but I believe that they are harder wearing and maybe better from an environmental point of view?

 

 

Recycled product made from old inner tubes with Zip and 2 internal offset pockets @ £17.95:

http://www.beerbabe.co.uk/ourshop/prod_3767615-Joey-Pocket-Pouch.html

 

Slightly cheaper but not as functional (no internal pockets) alternative @ £12.50:

https://ethical.market/upcycled-bike-inner-tube-puncture-pouch-pencil-ca...

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hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
1 like

I don't see why they need a Kickstarter for this.

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alotronic | 6 years ago
1 like

Know anyone with a sewing machine? Have an old waterproof jacket? If you can answer yes to those 2 questins you will have a lifetime supply of these in any shape you want for an hours labour....

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StraelGuy | 6 years ago
0 likes

I recently purchased my first first saddle pack for years thinking I could ditch my rucksack. When it turned up I cunningly realised I couldn't use it because I use a rear light all the time. I gave the saddle pack to a mate who's just started cycling and I'll use these to organise the stuff in my rucksack.

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Bob F | 6 years ago
0 likes

I've purchased all sorts of 'fit for purpose' containers. In the end: Saddle bag for bike-specific items, ziplock freezer bag for phone/cards/cash. And 'Frankly', to Hell with the Velominazi ;-)!!   I'll get my hat...

Wish these kickstarter guys well though.

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mickcee | 6 years ago
0 likes

Im in, I use the Layzene Caddy sack but there sharp edges have put a hole in my pockets on 2 tops. 

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kitsunegari | 6 years ago
1 like

Afraid I'm old fashioned and just use a ziplock plastic food bag.

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simonmb replied to kitsunegari | 6 years ago
6 likes

kitsunegari wrote:

Afraid I'm old fashioned and just use a ziplock plastic food bag.

That's not old-fashioned. Old-fashioned is grease-proof brown-paper sandwich wrap. 

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Daveyraveygravey replied to kitsunegari | 6 years ago
0 likes

kitsunegari wrote:

Afraid I'm old fashioned and just use a ziplock plastic food bag.

 

Me too.  I'm not in Rapha's target market of 45 quid for a little bag, ffs!  I don't care if others think freezer bags are naff, they do the job.

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a.jumper replied to kitsunegari | 6 years ago
1 like
kitsunegari wrote:

Afraid I'm old fashioned and just use a ziplock plastic food bag.

Afraid I'm modern and just use a small £3 dry bag. Can even hang it from the saddle rails or handlebars at a push if I really need all the space in my bag for other stuff.

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StraelGuy | 6 years ago
0 likes

Not normally a fan of KS but I've just pledged for two, I'm sure I'll find a good use for them. They must be popular, every time I look at the page the pledges have climbed a bit further.

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bendip replied to StraelGuy | 6 years ago
0 likes

StraelGuy wrote:

Not normally a fan of KS but I've just pledged for two, I'm sure I'll find a good use for them. They must be popular, every time I look at the page the pledges have climbed a bit further.

 

i've a feeling this write up has given the campaign a shot in the arm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wE17fyb85A

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jasecd | 6 years ago
1 like

I use one of these - phone in the front and credit cards/cash in the back. It's neoprene so fairly waterproof and has a firm card to keep it's shape, which makes it comfortable. It fits perfectly in a middle jersey pocket and had no problems even doing 50+ miles in the wet.

 

 

 

 

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bobbypuk | 6 years ago
2 likes

This misses the USP of the freezer bag - its waterproof. Inner tubes, levers, keys, pump get distributed thorugh the jersey pockets and who cares if they get wet. Phone and money in a freezer bag.

Seems like this is just a way to make lots of small things into something too big for a jersey pocket.

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DaveE128 | 6 years ago
3 likes

Looks like a decent product at a good price. I like the whistle feature. However, I'd be much more likely to use something like this if someone made one with some way of comfortably protecting your back from pointy bits. I don't really fancy a tyre lever, key or 2mm allen key stuck in my kidney in the event of a crash :-\

Until then, it's saddle bag for me. Given that each of my bikes needs different inner tubes, having different saddle bags permanently packed and attached to each one is the best solution - multitools, tyre levers etc aren't that expensive.

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1961BikiE | 6 years ago
1 like

Pledged for 2 for £10.00. just what I need for keeping items together in my large Ortlieb seatpack to make them easy to find and minimise rattles. Even RRP seems pretty reasonable if the bags turn out to be as well made as they look.

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Another David | 6 years ago
1 like

It's a U.S.$10 bag, and it needs a Kickstarter fund? Just buy wholesale from China.

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tugglesthegreat | 6 years ago
0 likes

Just pledged.  Currently have a Vittoria zip bottle cage bag which was more expensive  at £8 but is a good shape for bottle cages but not I find for bags and pockets. 

Worth a punt. 

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nniff | 6 years ago
0 likes

Old sunglasses bag for me - pump, mini-tool, tyre lever and a pair of vinyl gloves.  Spare tube is wrapped in cling film and gaffer tape and jammed under the saddle.  So it all gets wet from time to time.  Not fussed.

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ChetManley | 6 years ago
0 likes

I was a bit sceptical, but £7.50 is alright considering the features. Safety whistle is essential if your riding out in the back of nowhere and having that integrated into a handy doodad is a plus.

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mostly | 6 years ago
0 likes

I use  the mackworkshop pouch for phone and general crap.

https://www.mackworkshop.com/products/jersey-pouch?variant=1221068937

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RobD | 6 years ago
2 likes

Well they've got the pricing in the right area, they look fairly smart, good luck to them, I may go and take a look

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