General Cycling Discussion - 15-in-1 wrench thingy?

http://www.amazon.com/15-Bicycle-Wrench-As-Seen/dp/B001GWD5LM

Looks pretty clever, like a nice tool to throw in the bag. Anyone used one? Is the machining quality adequate?

I looked at the bionic wrench and noted that the 6-inch one stops at 14 mm and the 8-inch one starts at 11 mm. :( So sad.

How many places on your bike will any of those fit? I'm thinking few if any. Then you have to consider if you can orient the rest of the tool so you can actually use it.

I'm not even crazy about folding allen wrench sets because they sometimes won't work for a simple task like installing a water bottle cage. They can, however, be useful sometimes and they make it harder to lose your tools.

I gave up on all bicycle multitools: they are usually uncomfortable, don't have decent grip, don't provide enough leverage and are low quality, weak. I'm a commuter so the weight isn't critical so I just carry a couple of pounds worth of regular tools including: 4-in-1 screwdriver, metric socket wrench with replaceable bits, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 mm hex wrenches, pliers, knife, chaintool, spoke wrnech, tire levers. I also carry a nice, strong Leatherman multitool.

Oh, and anything "As see on on TV" is usually garbage.

Adam

I think that would make a great paper weight........After it has been melted and cast as a paper weight.

A tool like that came with my DL-1 (I can't believe it stayed with the bike for over 40 years). It's handy only for the two or three odd bolt sizes that Raleigh used on the bike. The bottom bracket spanner has come in handy though; saved me from having to buy a real one when I rebuilt the BB on another bike.

Funny thing is that when I was a kid back in Poland, this kind of bike tool was the standard issue. All bikes came with a set of two or three in a flat case and you could take anything apart with those, and they were made of solid steel and lasted forever. Now, it's all Topeak, Park, Pedros :( Although, they were very uncomfortable, we usually wrapped one end in rags to get a better grip. Those few I've seen in USA recently are made of week, soft, crappy alloy.

Adam

I'm a commuter so the weight isn't critical so I just carry a couple of pounds worth of regular tools including: ...

I just carry tools to fix a flat and enough money to put the bike on the bus.

Well, that answered my question. TAANSTAFL.

Thanks, all. I'm still sad about the little Bionic Wrench not including 15 mm.

I just carry tools to fix a flat and enough money to put the bike on the bus.

I couldn't do that, NYC buses don't allow bikes. I can, depending on the section of my commute, hop on the subway, in theory at least, they're usually too crowded during rush hour, I'd have to wait it off to catch a less crowded train, or just walk. So I like to be able to fix my bike if I have to.

No experience with that tool. But so far everything I've ever needed for my bike I've found on my Topeak Alien toolset...

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=topeak+alien&x=0&y=0

Oh wow, I found a picture of such old Polish wrench! Apparently, there are people who still use those 30+ years old tools! Those things were made of tank armor grade steel, LOL :D Ah, the memories...

http://a-world.net/files/bf/OldWrench/01.jpg

Just go over your bike and see how many DIFFERENT size fasteners there are, and take those. My Worksman takes a half-dozen different tools, the Sojourn doesn't require as much.

I'll see your Alien and raise a MacGyver.

:)ensen.

Oh, and anything "As see on on TV" is usually garbage.

Adam

Dangerously off topic, here, but I'm happy with my "As seen on TV" lint brush". Got from an amazon associate vendor that calls itself the AsSeenOnTvGuys. Fastest delivery I ever had from Amazon or any of its vendors. If it holds up, it is better than a lint roller.

Multi tools with allen keys- a 10 mm spanner -a cross and a straight screwdriver and it is light. Only Time I ever needed one though- I was galad I was on the Tandem as I carry a full tool kit on that thing. The "Small" multitool was so small- I couldn't get through to the bolt that needed tighteing.

Puncture repaitr kit and tube are all the tools I have ever used- along with the mobile phone for recovery.

WTF are the 7mm round and 8mm square holes for?

The most common sizes on my bikes are the 3, 5, and 6mm Allen bolts. Those sizes cover almost everything from seats to bottle cages to headsets to booms. Add a phillips and a spoke wrench to make a full toolkit! Well, maybe not quite 'full...'

I'll see your Alien and raise a MacGyver.

:)ensen.

You got me beat, the MacGyver multitool, all you really need.
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Oh, and anything "As see on on TV" is usually garbage.

lol. I bought a magic jack and I couldn't agree more.

I just ordered one of these, (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Product_10053_10052_163126_-1___)because I can avoid taking a separate chain breaker and spoke wrenches.

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I can't see the spoke wrenches in the image, so I hope they are just hiding.