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12-07-23 | 08:11 AM

#25

chaadster

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Joined: Aug 2008

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From: Ann Arbor, MI

Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turnin_Wrenches

I'm pretty OCD when it comes to multi-tools, general preparedness for flats, and adjustments on the fly. I carry what I need to carry so I can be self-sufficient and self-reliant. That being said, I try to carry the least to accomplish the most.

Specifically, what do I need to do, and which tool do I need to do it?

1) Loosen through-axle to remove wheel and fix a flat... 6mm hex head
2) Adjust saddle height / fore-aft / angle... 5mm or 4mm hex head
3) Tighten miscellaneous bolts (i.e. stem bolts, top cap, bottle cage bolts, etc.) that might be loose or a bit "rattly"... 3mm / 4mm / 5mm hex head in most cases, sometimes a T25 torx head
4) Tighten pedals... 8mm hex head (in most cases)
5) Cleat adjustments... #2 phillips head

If there were a 7-function multi-tool that had 3/4/5/6/8mm hex heads, a T25 torx, and a phillips #2 with nothing else I'd be set. So far, I haven't found one

.

I find 9-function tools to offer the best balance of function and weight, so I primarily carry the Topeak Mini-9 (92g) or the Silca Nove (85g). They both have the same selection of tools (2 / 2.5 / 3 / 4 /5 / 6 / 8 mm hex, T25 torx, phillips #2), come with everything I need and not much I don't. That which I (mostly) don't need, which are the 2mm and 2.5mm hex heads, add almost no weight and are not totally useless.

Another tool that looks really good is Wolf Tooth 8-Bit Pack Pliers (70g), which I don't own or carry. It has all of the same functions as the above mentioned tools, plus it can also remove and install master links.

As referenced by cyccommute , Fix it Stix and Prestacycle are also awesome! I own both, but only carry them for very long, epic adventures.

Excellent post, and I, too, like the Topeak Mini 9, although I don’t really need the 8mm for pedals— mine never have come loose in decades now, even though I change them frequently, moving my power meter pedals between bikes— but I carry it on my gravel bike for the SRAM Force crank fixing bolt, which did come loose on the road once. I’d failed to torque it properly on install, so that was more on me than anything else.

On most of my other bikes I carry either the Lezyne V Pro 7 (65g) or vintage Ritchey CPR-9 (25g). It’s rare that I have anything come loose or need adjustment anymore, so which I carry is almost as dependent on pack space demands as it is on bike spec. For example, I’d probably carry the Ritchey on my main roadie if not for the fact that my Cyckit Aeroclam saddle case has a designated space for a tool like the V Pro 7, simplifying packing of the case.

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