It’s in the bag: the best musettes

Soigneur legend Shelley Verses hands up a musette to Andy Hampsten during the 1988 Giro d’Italia.

You can fit a lot in your jersey pockets. With careful cramming it’s possible to carry all the essentials for a day’s ride. But at times a little extra porterage wouldn’t go amiss. Perhaps it’s on your way to a mid-week crit when you need to stash keys-wallet-mobile phone at the start line while you race. Or perhaps you just need something stylish to take with you down the shops. And nothing shouts ‘racing cyclists’ chic’ like a musette slung over your shoulder. Cheap (well, mostly), handy and easy to roll up and carry when not in use – these are my picks of the best musettes…

1 Condor Musette, Condor Cycles, £6.99. 2 iL Soigneur Charly Gaul Musette, Always Riding, £32.50. 3 Waxed cotton Plain Musette, Archival Clothing, $50.00. 4 Recycled Banner musette, Look Mum No Hands, £25.00. 5 Freddie Merckx Musette by Multistorey, Feed My Ride, £15.00 (a donation from every purchase is made to the family of Wouter Weylandt). 6 Rapha Small Shoulder Bag, Rapha, £100. 7 Banjo Bros Pocket Musette, Urban Hunter, £7.95. 8 Colnago/CSF/Inox Team Musette, Prendas Ciclismo, £7.50.