Rules are meant to be broken.

Number 29 of cycling’s satirical ‘rules’ states “saddle bags have no place on a road bike” but while we’ll take or leave a saddlebag in summer – unless on a long ride or sportive, when we’ll generally always have one – it’s a key part of any winter bike setup.

A saddlebag ensures you always have the essentials while freeing up your jersey pockets for the food and additional clothing required for a training ride at this time of year.

You can’t cover every mechanical eventually, nor do you need to, but what should be in every saddlebag?