I use mine on my 4 wheeler. It seals out the dirt pretty well but as you said, it's not waterproof. The place where you put the extra magazine or speedloader is another pocket. The magazine will not fall out when you draw, it's a snug fit.

I started to carry a few years ago when I rode on trails with my mountain bike. I've had a couple 'run ins' with some younger fellas on ATVs and dirt bikes. I've not had to 'display my weapon' or give any threats, but as they say .... better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have it, eh.

I carry my Bersa .380 semiauto in this bag. It attaches to the top tube and down tube of the frame just in front of my seat. It is weather tight and I just rap my gun in a red shop rag and toss it in with the gun butt facing forward and the muzzle down. Zips open easily, too. I practice getting it out, too. Takes only a couple seconds.

This keeps the dirt out, the sweat and moisture out, too. And, it's inexpensive and doesn't "show". I like it a great deal. Used it for 4-5 years now.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?cate ... ame%20Bags

It's on the nashbar.com site. Called a Nashbar Frame Pack Bag. About $5 down from about $20. Check it out.

$5 looks to be an awesome deal

Well, personally, I'm convinced that bicycle helmets are an absolute waste of money. They cost too much, and if you should ever have to rely on them, you can be certain that they're going to break.

I got knocked over and dragged about 25 feet, once, by a truck that took a right turn out the left hand lane. (Ramp from N-bound Cedar onto E-bound 94). I was scraped up a bit, my panniers were smashed, scraped all the tape off one side of my handlebars.

And my helmet was cracked.

Like I said, if you every try to rely on them, you can be certain they're going to break...

I wonder if that is a design feature, like modern cars are made to come apart.

Oh yes, I try to avoid needing to test out the engineering that went into the helmet.

And did this line of reasoning (that they "are an absolute waste of money") come to you after a second fall when you weren't wearing the helmet that broke during the first fall and which you failed to replace because of cost?

You should never use a helmet, because if you ever get hit by a truck, the truck will just take the helmet away and use it against you.



Did your head crack? No? Sounds like the helmet functioned just fine.

Better the helmet than your head. Seems like it worked as it protected your head from cracking.

THat crack would have likely been in your head if you hadn't been wearing it. Yes, they are one time use.

When I worked as a park ranger I did bike patrol only and my boss made me wear a helmet. I gave her crap for it all the time. One day I wiped out REALLY hard, over the handlebars style, and landed first square on my head. (I also managed to sprain both my wrists and break the $1000 radio on my belt.) Given how hard I hit the ground, I was quite convinced that had I not been wearing a helmet I would have had quite a serious head injury and given the opportunity to cool my heels in the hospital for a while. The helmet had a scuff in it, but we had to throw it away. It said right on the sticker inside the helmet that if it suffers an impact its integrity is compromised and it should be thrown away. (Incidentally, the guy that I nearly ran into causing my crash was my bosses boss. Based upon what he saw of the crash he wanted an ambulance taking me to the hospital. I convinced him not to.) I don't ride very much without a helmet anymore,

Not all bike helmets are created equal, though. Some helmets are stronger than others. They are one time use items, but well worth the investment. $50 - $100 is cake compared to how much a head injury costs.