Touring - What tools do you guys take touring with you

When I was touring alot, I used to to take alot of tools. I would almost always break a spoke somtime on my tour, on the cassete side of my rear wheel. Before I got a chain whip, I used to carry a piece of old chain and vise grips in it's place. Then I would also have the tool to remove the casette retaining ring, and spoke key of course. I always had all the different sizes os spokes that I needed taped to the inside of my chainstay. Hex keys of course, I had my inner tube and a pump, and patch kit. I have never owned a pair of tire levers, I always use the quick release levers instead. Also I would make sure to bring a chain breaker and a few links of chain to match that which was on the bike. If I thought there were parts that I thought might break on the bike I would bring them too, like a small bracket or a few common size bolts. I think I even brought chain lube for the longer tours. I would have all that crap, and then I would end up breaking a frame or something like that.

On tour I carry a couple of multi-tools. One is a tricked out set of pliers of the "Leatherman" type. The other is a bike specific tool with hex wrenches, chain tool, spoke wrenches, etc. I carry a small, reversible, screwdriver with phillips and plain heads. I also take along a Swiss Army knife. The knife and pliers do double duty; they are useful in camp and on the bike. I carry a decent pump, a CO2 inflator, a couple of tubes, a patch kit and a tire levers. I have a kevlar replacement spoke and a Pamir HyperCracker. This last tool will remove and install a cassette using the bike's frame for leverage. It's a great little tool, no longer made. Every tourer should pick one up if they can find it. I carry lube and a rag.

With these tools I feel pretty much ready for anything. I couldn't repair a broken frame, rebuild headsets or hubs, or install a bottom bracket.

One of the things I like about touring is a feeling of self-sufficiency. I have the tools to deal with most contingencies and the means to deal with the rest.

RG the HyperCracker is being made again:
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/stein-mini-lock/index.html

bhchdh--

do you have any experience with that tool? It looks great.

RG the HyperCracker is being made again:
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/stein-mini-lock/index.html

Very cool. I need to get me one of those!

Doing a search on the Stein mini cassette lockring tool, I found another one: the m-gineering Next Best Thing 2. (Click here (http://www.m-gineering.nl/indexg.htm)). It is smaller still.

I liked the look of the Stein tool. It looks easier to use than the old hypercracker. The Hypercracker took a little finagling to fit in the frame, especially with racks mounted.The NBT2 has the advantage of being one piece and may be just as easy, or easier, to use than the Stein.

Dang! Now I need one of each.

Unfortunately I can't find a US distributor for the NBT2.

There are some good components which dont require large, heavy traditional bike tools.
Threadless headsets save a bundle in tools.
Ive heard that Phill Woods hubs can be dismantles with an allen key, even removing the freehub for spoke replacement. True or not???
Self-removing crank bolts are good.
Campy hubs dont need a cone spanner.

For frame breakage, you can take a length of silver brazing rod, and a mini gas torch/cigarette lighter:)