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When spear infantry in the olden days held stuff in their hands other than their spear, where did they put their spear? I know peltasts of the ancient world carried their javelins in their shield hand, but I've often seen pictures of soldiers with a spear slung on their back. What is the mechanism to hold it there? Is it just some kind of leather tube with a shoulder strap?

Spears were primary weapons. Well armed spearmen might have a number of secondary weapons, such as maces, knives, swords, etc. If they needed to switch to a secondary weapon it was usually because their spear had broken, or that the enemy was inside the spears effective range. At that point, rather than taking time to sling it, the spear would be dropped and a secondary weapon drawn.

Apart from the fact that a decent sized spear would be pretty awkward to sling on your back anyway, a simple leather strap would probably do it.

^Completely correct. If spears were being used, they were the person's primary weapon, and if they stopped using them, they permanently stopped using them. They did not store them for further use.

Alright guys, thanks. Is the same true for cavalry spears?

Yes. Infact, those usually broke after being first used (during a charge).

For a Calvary, that probably had some strap on the side of the horse or whatever mount.

Another consideration, not for spears, but I've seen drawings and the like where people had quivers of javelins, and the like.

But yes, spears weren't really stored in-battle. You held them, or you didn't use them.