imfrank

What are the common tools you have layin around for repairs to your bikes. any alternatives to things. I havent ever really worked on bikes, but do alot of auto mechanics and have a few of my own tools and things I have made that work to my benifit. what kind of tools do you have for your bike.

Also, what are those "must have items" that you take to the trail with you or leave in your car as you ride, but want to make sure you have them near for those "moments" when you need them?

such as today, i go for a morning ride, all sidewalk, dont bother flaming, but i get about 6 miles into my ride, and i get a flat. (still havent figured out what happened, it was all concrete) I didn't take my wallet, just an ID in my sock, so I had no money for a taxi or a phone call, or some air, long story short, i walked 6 miles the other way back home. So next time, I know to take some cash.

so what are those must have items?

cyccommute 

Pump, patch kit and extra tube comes to mind Oh, and wallet!

I also always carry a cool tool on whichever bike I'm riding.

imfrank

yeah, i went to the bike shop and looked at there tools, but i have alot of tools, and didnt know what i need and dont need.

i think im gonna go buy one of those seat bags and put a few bucks in it, and whatever you guys recommend....

cool tool...i think im gonna look that one up.

glock17

i like to work on lots of things. Its very important to have the right tool for the job, otherwise you just end up breaking things.

snoopz666

do a search

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ht=tools+trail

the tools that some people cary around are enough to fix almost anything on their bike. a bike tool and a adjustable wrench will fix almost anything on my bike.

robo

You'll want a set of _metric_ allen wrenches (hex wrenches) to start off. Nearly all non-junk bikes are put together using hex bolts.

Tire levers, a pump, and patch kit of course, and lube for your chain, clipless pedals, and cables.

A few sizes of thin metric crescent wrenches are good to have too, although you can sometimes get away with an adjustable wrench.

It's nice to have some sort of stand to hold your bike off the ground while you're working on it. The simplest thing is to flip your bike upside down, but it's far from ideal. For a long time, i used two pieces of wood hanging down from the basement rafters with hooks on the end, and hung my bike by the top tube when i worked on it (stored it that way too).

When you're out riding, take a few hex wrenches (i take three, one that fits my stem and seatpost bolts, one that fits my seatpost binder bolt (no quick release), and one that is bottle cage bolt sized), tire levers, patch kit, minipump, and some alcohol pads to clean the inner tubes before you patch them. I also carry a small screwdriver with the handle cut off short.

That will get you out of the most common scrapes.

dirtbikedude

I only carry a revolver. That way if my bike comes up lame I just shoot it

As for tools, out on trail I carry an 18mm open-end wrench and an 8mm allen for my rear axle, Pedros tire levers (these are the only ones I have found that a 24" 3.0 Gazzaloodi wont break with multiple use), one multi-tool, CO2 inflation and a knife.

In the truck I allways have a complete tool set. Enough tools to completely build a bike and a truck for that matter

willtsmith_nwi

For the trail, this is a start:

https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/119...-Functions.htm

For Home, this kit has most of the things you need. They are low quality tools, but this will get you started and give you a tool to use in a pinch.

https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/119...ntool-Kit-.htm

I carry the crank bolt wrench from this kit around in my Camelbak. I broke one nice multi-tool set trying to tighten a crank bolt (that the bike shop failed to torque properly (at home I use loctite and a leverage bar, those things should NOT require tightening any more than the lug nuts on your car should)).

I like helping people on the trail so I carry tools with me. That crank bolt wrench came in handy yesterday when a friends crank came loose.

Along that line, I have one of these:
https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/113...k-H.A.W.G..htm


They're clearing out the 2004s right now. Pick one up while they last. You can fit TONS of tools in a hawg as well as extra tubes and a jacket, med-kit, etc...

One or two of these are useful as well for chain breaks:

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

imfrank

thanks for all of the replies. all of my parts on the bike are put together with hex bolts, so that kinda narrows it down.

Thanks for all of the replies. I will be picking something up soon.
as for the tire...it got pinched. put the slime tubes in it this evening along with a little talcom powder.

a2psyklnut

I carry a folding metrix allen set that I bought from Home Depot for $6.00. It just doesn't have a screw driver, so I also carry my Gerber Mini tool with needle nose pliers, knife, saw, flat, phillips and the all important bottle opener (for those post ride emergencies).

I carry a multi sized spoke wrench, a mini-brute Park chain tool, an extra derailleur hanger, a crank bolt, and a Sram chain link as mentioned above. I throw in some zip ties and put some wraps of duct tape around my seatpost (black tape/black post).

Of course a patch kit, a spare tube and a mini pump.

If I'm planning for a longer ride I throw in a first-aide kit.

I carry it all in my Camelback.

willtsmith_nwi

Ditto on the Park mini-brute chain tool. It's an awesome little tool

Oh, one thing I forgot. If you have disc brakes, find a T25 Torx driver to augment your older multi-tools.

cyccommute 

The Gerber CoolTool is one of the best multitools ever made, in my opinion. It works better and fits your hand better than the other tools I've looked at. Unfortunately, they don't make it anymore. You can sometimes find them by doing a search on Google and once in a while one shows up in a shop.

Drunken Chicken

Extra derailleur hanger? How hard is it to change one?

Cornish_Rdr_UK

Easy, on your hardrock there is a an allen key bolt on the derailler hanger, undo that and it just pops off, get one exactly the same, which can sometimes be a chore, and bolt it back on.. easy

robo

Ooh.. i'm seriously tempted to buy that Lifu tool set. That's a nice price.

santiago

Is it common for rear derailleur hangers to break? Is this why Kona even has a section for these hangers on their web page? https://konaworld.com/shopping_cart/F...id=207#hangers

Maelstrom 

I go through them often. I find they break like butta

robo

They are _designed_ to break if your rear derailleur gets knocked inwards.

It saves your frame from getting bent instead, which would be a much more serious thing on an aluminum frame (in fact, the frame might be ruined).

halfbiked

I started with an under-seat pack with spare tire, patch kit & tire levers. Pump is on the down tube. At some point added a Y wrench - 4,5,6mm allen. After a buddy broke a chain 4 miles from the trailhead, started carrying a chain tool but never used it on a ride.

khuon

I carry an extra one in my CamelBak as I've bent mine before. It only takes about three minutes to change. It's two bolts at the dropout and one for the derailleur.

Drunken Chicken

Cool, thanks guys. I suppose that's one more thing to add to what I take on rides. I've been through two hangers so far and I do find they bend/break easily (just like they're designed to ) and if it's that easy to change then why not get a spare?

crashnburn

I am el cheapo
$3 for a pump
https://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?s...ice1&pagename=

$7 for 15 in one multi w/ patch kit
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

$17 for a Tool Wedge (if you don't have a bag for the multi tool)
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

$2.50 for a patch kit if you get the tool wedge as it has no patches
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

10% off coupon from nashbar cr201

also look for 20% off(purchase 5 items) in addition to the 10% (prmo that they run often) have also seen $20 off $75 before too