Pacific Northwest - Newb Tool Kit question

As I start to prepare myself for my first organized ride (ever) - which is going to be Chilly Hilly, I want to start to acquiring the requisite items for my onboard tool kit.

I've yet to master this forum's search function, so forigve me for posting another thread looking for some guidance.

Can you please either steer me toward the right information on the forum to achieve my task of gathering this tool kit, or provide your recommendations?

Thanks.

Scott

always carry

multi tool (I Like aliens)
small crescent wrench
tire levers
patch kit
spare tubes ( I usually carry 3 I have had bad days)
tire patch (you can make your own out of old tubes and filament tape)
I carry a leatherman that has pliers
if you have presta valves it never hurts to carry an adapter.
spoke wrench
Air pump ( I use CO2 and carry a small hand pump just in case)

I am sure somebody will add to the list if I missed anything

David

always carry

multi tool (I Like aliens)
small crescent wrench
tire levers
patch kit
spare tubes ( I usually carry 3 I have had bad days)
tire patch (you can make your own out of old tubes and filament tape)
I carry a leatherman that has pliers
if you have presta valves it never hurts to carry an adapter.
spoke wrench
Air pump ( I use CO2 and carry a small hand pump just in case)

I am sure somebody will add to the list if I missed anything

DavidDuh.....duct tape :D

I take 12 to 18 inches off the big roll and roll it fairly tight, with another little piece I stick it to the bottom of my saddle, or you can just put it in your saddle bag.

Most of my tools are contained within the Topeak Survival GearBox. It's got a couple of screwdrivers and allen wrenches, a patch kit, a chain breaker, and some mini crescent wrenches.

I also carry 2 steel tire levers, a spare tube, a Park GP2 self-adhesive patch kit, Topeak Road Morph-G pump, some red cable ties (because the red ones are lucky) and some duct tape.


The Chilly Hilly is a fun ride and if you don't have everything you need, there's plenty of people on the course and I'm sure someone would stop to help you out. If you see a 6' 6", 250# guy who looks like Sasquatch riding a black Cross Check, say "hi" to me. :D

Duh.....duct tape :D

I take 12 to 18 inches off the big roll and roll it fairly tight, with another little piece I stick it to the bottom of my saddle, or you can just put it in your saddle bag.

Yes how could I forget :D

and cable ties, they are handy if you have to reattach anything that may come off. My rack is always put on with cable ties. Makes for easy removal and installation.

Isn't the Chilly Hilly a supported ride? You really don't need to carry much for those.

That being said, I always have a multitool, tubes, patch kit, tire levers, duct tape (I carry the whole roll :)), and zip ties. I also have spare batteries and a cell phone.

Duh.....duct tape :D

I take 12 to 18 inches off the big roll and roll it fairly tight, with another little piece I stick it to the bottom of my saddle, or you can just put it in your saddle bag.

Take a few wraps of duct tape around your tire pump. Makes it easy to retrieve and use just the amount you need.

I like to keep a couple Ibuprofen just in case.....
Cell phone.
Beer & salty snack food money for afterward.

always carry

multi tool (I Like aliens)
small crescent wrench
tire levers
patch kit
spare tubes ( I usually carry 3 I have had bad days)
tire patch (you can make your own out of old tubes and filament tape)
I carry a leatherman that has pliers
if you have presta valves it never hurts to carry an adapter.
spoke wrench
Air pump ( I use CO2 and carry a small hand pump just in case)

I am sure somebody will add to the list if I missed anything

David

I carry basically the same stuff, plus a cell phone, some cash, and an ATM card.

Make sure that the tools in your kit are appropriate for your specific bike. I had a real fancy leatherman tool with all the extra bits EXCEPT the 8mm hex that I needed after my right crank came loose because I got some grease on the spindle (but I'm not bitter...)

So I switched to one of these http://www.somafab.com/woodie20.html (the bottle opener sold me)

seatbag also contains:
- set of tire levers
- extra tube
- patch kit
- mylar map of metro area I usually tool around
- folded up dollar bill (used in case of any slashes in the sidewalls or large holes in tire that the tube might herniate through)
- ID, ATM, insurance cards

I would also suggest actually using the minitool to do some repairs at home before you're out on the road, gives you a good feel for how it actually works.

On fun or scenic rides I also always carry a camera!

It's fun on the Chilly Hilly to get pics of all the bikes on the ferry on the way over.

Also, if you stand on some of the hills and get shots looking backwards at people climbing up the hill you can get angles that look massive (much worse than they really are). Great for impressing the out-of-towners when you post your ride pics on BikeForums.

Wow...now that's a shopping list!

I hope most or all of this stuff fits in the seat bag!

Thanks for the info on the "supported" ride. I figure that if I am going to start this fine art of cycling, I need to start indoctrinating myself fully to sport. With that comes removing my reliance on others (repairs, etc.).

So...the next newb question: Why duct tape?

I've learned about the use of a dollar bill or a piece of your bib to help temporarily patch up a hole in the tire, but duct tape? Same use?

I hope most or all of this stuff fits in the seat bag!


Speaking of seat bags -- for the changeable weather that we have most of the year in Seattle I like making sure that I have enough carrying capacity on my bike to add/subtract clothing layers as I go.

I have a pretty sizable Carradice seat bag. Lots of folks use rack packs or rack trunks. They weigh more than a little bag, but it sure is handy -- on a lot of these group rides I see people who are over-dressed because they are worried about rain (so they get too hot) or underdressed if bad weather hits (because they started out light and didn't have any backup plan). The worst is in the spring/summer when people are all bundled up in the morning but as the day warms up they are still bundled up because they don't have anywhere to stash their clothes.

For the Chilly Hilly I'll likely be bundled up like the Michelin Man at dawn and then strip down as the day goes on.

You would be very surprised at how much stuff can be temporarily repaired with duct tape, I roll up a couple 1" rolls on a plastic straw.

Wow...now that's a shopping list!

I hope most or all of this stuff fits in the seat bag!

Thanks for the info on the "supported" ride. I figure that if I am going to start this fine art of cycling, I need to start indoctrinating myself fully to sport. With that comes removing my reliance on others (repairs, etc.).

So...the next newb question: Why duct tape?

I've learned about the use of a dollar bill or a piece of your bib to help temporarily patch up a hole in the tire, but duct tape? Same use?

why duct tape? what a silly question to ask :D

Duct tape is magical stuff, and can cure just about every ailment known to man. thats why !!

mainly to be used in emergency situations it can be used to re attach parts that may fall off. patch clothing that might rip or tear, patch water bottles, even be used to repair tears in your tires (from the indside even as an emergency bandage etc etc

by the way you should pack a scratch pak (small first aid kit) Group Health used to have them available at the start of many of the Cascade rides.

personally i've turned away from multi-tools - some of them weigh a ton! (well, a pound or so..) many of them seem to have too much going on (that you don't need), i think.

really all the tools you need for a supported ride like chilly hilly is a patch kit/tubes, tire levers, and a pump. (unless your bike is never maintained, then i'd bring the whole toolbox)

if on an unsupported ride i'd add:

* chain tool
* spare chain links
* a few more hex wrenches just in case (cleats use 2 or 3mm, brakes use 4mm)
* a couple of tubes
* spare tire or a boot (dollar bills, cliff bar wrappers, and denim patches work here)
* fiberfix spoke, spoke wrench
* spare batteries, light bulbs, clothes, etc

if you're shopping for a patch-kit, i'd look into Park Tool's kit. they're pre-glued, so you don't have to wait for it to dry (although you shouldn't put too many miles on a patched tube, but it'll get you home)

Alien multi tools a very light weight. You are right though some of the knock offs are pretty heavy.

... on a lot of these group rides I see people who are over-dressed because they are worried about rain (so they get too hot) or underdressed if bad weather hits (because they started out light and didn't have any backup plan). The worst is in the spring/summer when people are all bundled up in the morning but as the day warms up they are still bundled up because they don't have anywhere to stash their clothes.


Sounds like me during the spring CTS group rides with Cascade. I would wear a light windbreaker in the morning because the temp was cold or it looked like there was a good possibility of rain. Later when the temps rise I was stuck with a jacket I didn't want to wear but had no place to stash. I saw one rider roll his coat and secure it to the bottom of his seat bag with a couple of bungie cords. I gotta figure out how to do that. I'm not sure it's possible with my really small seat bag.

As for seat bag items, the posts above have good lists. One thing I would add is a pair of latex gloves, like the kind you see in the doctor's office. They weigh next to nothing, bunch up really small, and save your hands from getting dirty when changing a tube or fixing a chain.

Sounds like me during the spring CTS group rides with Cascade. I would wear a light windbreaker in the morning because the temp was cold or it looked like there was a good possibility of rain. Later when the temps rise I was stuck with a jacket I didn't want to wear but had no place to stash. I saw one rider roll his coat and secure it to the bottom of his seat bag with a couple of bungie cords. I gotta figure out how to do that. I'm not sure it's possible with my really small seat bag.

As for seat bag items, the posts above have good lists. One thing I would add is a pair of latex gloves, like the kind you see in the doctor's office. They weigh next to nothing, bunch up really small, and save your hands from getting dirty when changing a tube or fixing a chain.

you can also strap a rolled-up jacket to your handlebars - not pretty, but it'll get the job done.

you can also strap a rolled-up jacket to your handlebars - not pretty, but it'll get the job done.

With duct tape ;)

First, take an inventory of your bike. Make note of the size and type of fasteners. Find a multi-tool that best works for your bike (I'm a fan of Crank Brother multis). Tubes, patches and a pumps. Small amount of money to boot a cut tire or to buy something.

And MOST important---learn how to use your on bike repair tools before you ride. It's amazing how stupid one can become after hours on the bike in the cold and wet. A chaintool may well be a super computer.