Bicycle Mechanics - Best All-in-one biking tool for the road?

Best All-in-one biking tool for the road? How much, what tools does it have and how much? I have been looking at my LBS and they have a $40 one with a lot of tools, but I need a little help, I do a lot of miles on the bike but I still trying to get a book on how to do it, but also needed the tools.


Thanks,
GEEK

Look at some of the Topeak Alien stuff

I like the Crank Brothers tools, very compact and lightweight. Expensive though

Look over you bike and identify all of the fasteners you're likely to need to access. Most likely, unless you have an old bike, you need basic allen keys, a phillips and maybe a flat blade screwdriver. You most likely don't need open end wrenches, torx (unless you plan to swap out a disk rotor on the road), or chain tool for local rides. Same goes for knife, bottle opener, tire levers (you already have these I hope), spoke wrench, and flare gun.

Something like an Ascent Bare Bones tool is just about perfect for most of my rides.

If you're doing a multi-day tour, expand the tools as required.

Some of the multitools look really cool, but so what? Anything more than the basics is going to be extra weight.

flare gun...????

I carry a Topeak Toolbar on most of my local rides. It has the right bits and a pair of alloy tire levers and only weighs 68 grams. For multiday stuff, I add a Topeak Hummer, which has lots more goodies, like a chain breaker, etc. In addition, i always have a patch kit, tubes, and a cell phone with me.

- - And pack an empty 35mm film container with waterless hand cleaner.

flare gun...????

:lol: My exact reaction after I read it.

Thanks for your get advice, Topeak Alien tool was the name thanks, but I flare gun what would you use that for?

Well how about peperspray? I run into a lot a mad people, I haven't been atacted yet. Do any of you carrie some, or what do you use?

Thanks,
GEEK

I'm sure the flare gun was a joke.

AFA the pepper spray; I guess that's a decision you'll have to make for yourself. If you are riding in areas that aren't not "safe", then either come up with some new routes, or if that's not possible perhaps the pepper spray is. HOWEVER, remember that if you do use the pepper spray on someone, chances are they'll be waiting for you the next time you come by!

The traffic that I deal with a flare gun might be handy....put one of those puppies through the window into his front seat and watch him jigger. The Toppeak alien is well made but has lots of things like open end wrenches that have no use on my road bikes.

I've got the Topeak "mini-6" and it's pretty nice, but I really dig the Crank Bros stuff!

flare gun...????

Have you not seen 'Dead Calm'?

I've got the crank brothers tool. It's okay but the chain tool sucks. I bought a park tool chain tool and carry that also, plus I switched to the sram chain. Now I'm ready for anything except what will actually happen.

I used to carry a mini multi-tool on the road but over the years I've never ever been in any situation where I needed more than a couple allen wrenches. Therefore, besides my tire kit, I only carry a couple of allen wrenches...
I do carry an ancient multi-tool when I go mountain biking though.....more things that can go wrong and you're away from civilization.

Had a dork disk,aka spoke protector, brake on a ride way out in the country one day. I was at least 12 miles from home and even black top. That is the only time i needed something to either: a. take the cassette off. Or b. cut that stupid thing off.

It kept causing my wheel to not freewheel and my chain would gather up when i would stop pedalling. Throw in a flat tire that of course had to happen, and you have yourself a bad ride. I still don't carry a lockring remover or anything special like that. I just considered it a freak occurance. Oh yeah, and by the way i did remove the dork disc for good.

Now I'm ready for anything except what will actually happen.
:D

Have you not seen 'Dead Calm'?

Ughhhhh.... nasty.

the thing is, no matter how much stuff you carry with you, there will always come a time when you don't have what you need. :D

as mentioned, some of those 'all in one' tools suck.

make a list of what you might really need and go to sears or the bikeshop and get the individual tools. they work SOO much better, it's worth the small space they take up. IMO.

In my small travel tool kit I have;
tire levers
patch kit (just glue, scratcher, patches from a larger kit purchased at fred meyer or some place)
a few allen wrenchs (for my stem, bars)
new tube.
chain breaker
zip ties

I think that's about it.

For local rides (in town) I carry an Topeak Alien XS. For times when I'm off road trail riding I have a Topeak McGuyver. Finally on test rides after repairs I carry a Park MT-1 (http://www.parktool.com/tools/MT_1.shtml)

- - And pack an empty 35mm film container with waterless hand cleaner.
What for? I don't get it.

I like the crankbrothers multi-17 tool, around $20-25 as shops, not too bad.
Lightish, too, and it has a cool rubber band strap thingy to keep the tools from unfolding. It is also very slim, and fits in a jersey or other pocket well. It also looks really good, as with most crank brothers stuff! I've heard that they have really good a really good warranty/customer serice dept, too!

http://www.bike24.net/images/products/p012115.jpg
Specs:

* Weight: 168g.
* Length: 35' / 89 mm.
* Material: 606146 aluminum chain.
* Chain Tool: 17-4 ph stainless steel. 8/9 speed.
* Spoke wrench: #1, #2, #3, & #4.
* Tools: 6150 high tensile steel.
* Hex wrenches: 2 / 2.5 / 3 / 4 6 ' /8.
* Screwdrivers: philips and flat torx: t-25 open.
* Wrenches: 8mm / 1O mm.
* Warranty: lifetime.

topeak toolbar is awesome! light weight and has a nice set of tools. On sale at Nashbar for $10 atm, http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=13057&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=
Mine weighs under 100g with all of the tools and a key. If I remember it correctly it was around 80g with all.

- - And pack an empty 35mm film container with waterless hand cleaner.

Someone is a previous thread suggested keeping a pair of latex surgical gloves in a 35mm canister. I think I like that one better than the hand cleaner. Plus, you could use the gloves to keep fingerprints off of the flare gun ;)

I like the crankbrothers multi-17 tool, around $20-25 as shops, not too bad.


I have this, and i like it.

flare gun...????

Well, actually, pen launched flares would fit nicely into a seatbag, http://macecanada.com/wilderness/Kits/02B_US.htm.

After all, you never know when you might taco a wheel and need to signal for an emergency replacement.

I like to travel light:

http://www.parktool.com/images/tools/MT_1.jpg

Specs include a 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, and 8mm hex wrenches; 8mm, 9mm, and 10mm socket wrenches; and a flat blade screwdriver.

Of course, the $8-$9 price tag ain't bad either...

I have also used the Pedros RX, and the Topeak Alien XT. The Pedros is really nice, minimalist with just allen wrenches and phillips/flat screwdriver blades. My Pedros doesn't have the little chain tool attachment as shown in the picture. My pedros has the basic features, and is reasonable, around $10-15.
The Topeak is nice, but has TOO many features and comes apart in town separate halves, making it annoying to use. It's also expensive around $40.

Topeak Alien XT:

http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/9e/25/Topeak_Alien_XT_16_Multi_Tool_Shop_Tools-resized200.jpg

Pedros RX:

http://bikefarmer.com/products/images/item156.jpg

I have a Topeak Alien II. It's probably a little overkill, but it was on sale for $22, so I couldn't pass it up. I actually use it a lot for repairs at home, since I don't have a lot of the tools it has. It's got tire levers, chain breaker, spoke wrenches...

http://www.peak-berlin.com/artbild/3471.jpg

I actually use it a lot for repairs at home, since I don't have a lot of the tools it has.

Probably the ultimate test... if you know how to use it at home, you'll know how to use it on the road. Like, do the allen keys actually fit the space to get to the bolt? Do the wrenches undo what they're supposed to?

One question: What about hub cones? I have had several lock nuts undo (a long time ago, one destroyed a cup in the middle of a very hot day on a very long trek). None of these tools provide for that. I carry on long tours a cut-down cone spanner to fit, plus a crescent/shifter.

Others?

Probably the ultimate test... if you know how to use it at home, you'll know how to use it on the road. Like, do the allen keys actually fit the space to get to the bolt? Do the wrenches undo what they're supposed to?

One question: What about hub cones? I have had several lock nuts undo (a long time ago, one destroyed a cup in the middle of a very hot day on a very long trek). None of these tools provide for that. I carry on long tours a cut-down cone spanner to fit, plus a crescent/shifter.

Others?

I carry a very old Cooltool. Have for ages. I find it much better than any of the other multitools around. It fits your hand better and you can get better leverage with it. It even weighs less than the other multitools I've looked at.

I have used every single one of its functions. In fact, last night I had to use the chaintool to repair a link on the way home. Unfortunately they aren't made anymore but you can find them occasionally gathering dust on a shelf somewhere (some places still sell them over the internet).

Now if I could only find a titanium one ... but it's probably on the same shelf with that first edition of Dark Carnival that's right next to the Monark Silver King in the antique store I haven't been to yet ;)

Stuart Black

I have a cooltool and carry it on long tours but not everyday. The allen keys are really good and they live with the bike.
I usually carry a Mini Leatherman (with pliers). The Juice is probably the nearest current model.
I used to have a topeak 21 but the moulded allen keys were badly dimentioned and could slip.
Often you need 2 tools to get purchase. The tools that separate into 2 are good.

I have a Topeak Hexus 16

http://www.topeak.com/images/images_products/tools/tool_009.jpg

It's generally pretty nice but I wish it had a knife and/or pair of scissors. As a result I also carry a pocket knife. The spoke wrench is way too long (there are two wrenches built into that right side that comes off) so I have the Park 3-way. It would be nice if it came with a 8mm box wrench so I could adjust my brake cables in the field. A small pliers would be good. Instead the same Swiss Army that has my knife and scissors also features a set of tiny pliers.

It would also be nice if it came with a 15mm box wrench so I could take off my rear wheel, but I realize outside of fixed gear/singlespeeders there aren't many using nutted axles. :)

Most of the tools on it I have larger versions at home but I have no problems with the multitool ones when I've used them, even in high torque applications. It does have my only chain tool and it works well with 3/32" and 1/8".

I didn't mention what I carried. :o

For MTB the Topeak Alien.

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/TP-A.gif

For Road the Park IB2 (got it for Christmas).

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/PT-IB2.gif

Those of you with the multi-tools, which aspects of the multi-tool do you most often need? While mtn biking, I've needed, primarily, tire levers. At some point I started carrying a Y-wrench for 3,4,5mm allen bolts, but don't recall using it in the field. I needed a chain tool once, but didn't have it. I never needed it after starting to carry.

allen wrenches to adjust stem, saddle, and tighten crank bolts.

Those of you with the multi-tools, which aspects of the multi-tool do you most often need? While mtn biking, I've needed, primarily, tire levers. At some point I started carrying a Y-wrench for 3,4,5mm allen bolts, but don't recall using it in the field. I needed a chain tool once, but didn't have it. I never needed it after starting to carry.

5mm allen. Use it the most. Have a allen wrench with a 5 on one end and a 6 on the other.

Not needing a tool after starting to carry it is par for the course. Happens all the time but if you forget it ... :mad:

The Topeak Alien II has got it all! I had a pretty basic tool up until the day I was stuck in the middle of the woods in need of a chain tool. So I bought the Alien II. I'll be buying something else for my road bike, though, because that Alien II is ONE HEAVY MUTHA.

Those of you with the multi-tools, which aspects of the multi-tool do you most often need? While mtn biking, I've needed, primarily, tire levers. At some point I started carrying a Y-wrench for 3,4,5mm allen bolts, but don't recall using it in the field. I needed a chain tool once, but didn't have it. I never needed it after starting to carry.
I usually carry a Park Tire Lever in the pouch as well. I only need one.