Bicycle Mechanics - What's in your toolbox?

Mine? Zip ties. I love those things! Yeah, I have all the "necessaries" like spoke wrenchs, crank pullers, chain whips, etc., etc., but zip ties. . . what a concept.

I have some other weird things, too, like the penny I use to gauge front derailleur height over the largest chainring, or a piece of cardboard I use to toe-in brakes.

Got any unusual ideas?

I'm a zip tie fan, after the spill I took on a 2 day trip I made that knocked my handle bar bag loose and broke the bracket I always carry them when I ride. The other thing I carry in my ride tool kit is a tire patch (not tube) a co-worker taught me how to make one when I was dispatching bike couriers. You take an old tube cut a section out and slice it so it can lay flat then wrap it with nylon filiment tape( also called strapping or glass tape) and if you get a tear in your tire just insert it between tube and tire and you are good to go untill you get a new tire. I used it on a ride once and put on 50 miles before I bought a new tire and it was still usable. So now I never leave home without it.

I have a lot of tools. Should I post a list, or would that be missing the spirit of the thread?

(PS: one of the essentials I have in my toolbox is a Milky Way Dark candy bar :) and then there is always good ol' electrical tape...)

tube, patches, zip ties, electrical tape, multi allen key tool (includes a philips and flat head), and a cone wrench. No need for a full set of wrenches cuz only my cones use them. Well my headset too but that wrench is too big.

I just spoiled myself and bought something I've drooled over in bike shops for 10 years - Park Tools workshop grade cable cutters (£30) - they are awesome :D ! I know buying them just for my bike is very extravagant but I love a well made tool (ahem, you know what I mean...).

There are of course lots of good things to have in your box. For the traveling mechanic, I recommend a spoon. Also, I carry a toothbrush and toothpaste.

http://www.parktool.com/images/repair_help/brush.jpg

zipties.
For me its a holdover from my diving spares kit. you'd be
surprized how many things can be fixed with zip ties.
I also carry assortment of nuts bolts etc. if I'm out and
need to do emergency repairs. Extra magnets for computer
and all the fittings.
I also keep one nearly dead powebar and an energy gel.
All this in my travelling tool box.

Marty

I always carry a set of the washers for my U brakes, never needed them, but they don't take up much space & would be hard to improvise on the road. I carry zip ties, but more velcro straps than you can shake a stick at. They are handy for attaching suddenly loose parts.

I was unclear whether you were asking about my workshop or my saddlebag.

At home, I have a bench vise (great for removing BB fixed cups and old-fashioned freewheels), a truing stand, a pegboard with a full complement of cone and metric combination wrenches, various spoke keys, chain whip, chain rivet pusher, lineman's cutters/pliers, Vise-Grips, and several crank and freewheel pullers.

On the bike, I carry tyre levers, inner tube, patch kit, pump, spoke key, 8-9-10mm socket, 4-5-6mm hex key, small flat-bladed screwdriver, and telephone change.