The Size of Your Tool Does Matter
 

While I'm all for the concepts of light and comprehensive, most multi-tools made for field use seem so "stubby", even to the extent of being situationally unusable. I am aware that my choices could be made lighter by eliminating redundancy. However, my tool choices were made with the ability to extend tool length, while packing away in a compact manner. A pair of tubes and either a frame pump or mini exist on each bike. In/on my motorcycle style hip pack are the following:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6e06175ca3.jpg
In the pouch or on the belt.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9480261193.jpg
All fit in one hand.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f75ea10d73.jpg
Cool Tool allen wrenches can be used to apply more leverage.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8a6e71cc0e.jpg
Widens to just over 17mm.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1f28367128.jpg
Fabric Chamber actually has longish bits.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ce5b32cf12.jpg
Smallest and longest reaches for the ratchet. The ratchet is the primary reason I carry this "luxury".
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cd3b985866.jpg
Middle of the road for tighter spaces.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...35864564f3.jpg
Pedro micro levers. Sometimes it is more important in how you use it.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...43c490366f.jpg
Inside the Rema Kit: The usual, plus cotton (for finding objects inside tire), tube adapters, SS chain link, and tiny allen wrench.

That's a pretty compact kit, alright. And complete with some fine touches, too.

Yes, tool size does matter, as I illustrated here:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9128028863.jpg
(Smaller is better)

...I couldn't help myself. :o

The other day I found myself trying to tighten a crank bolt with a small multi-tool like that - it was probably slightly worse than useless, although I expect I could use it to adjust brakes and gears.

I've taken to tossing a 4mm and 5mm allen key in my front bag so I don't have to go to the trouble of digging out my multitool from my seat pack every time I want to adjust a new saddle I am trying to optimize.

There are some deep philosophical consequences I need to ponder, but I am too lazy to do so.

Q: which multitool izzat?

thanks

I was riding the Atlanta Beltline and got passed by a guy with the cycling equivalent of a tool belt. Also reminded me of the military belts we wore (with the alice (?) clips). So the Cool Tool is in an ammo pouch on the belt and quickly available. I, too, used to carry the tools under the seat in a medium sized Topeak. Not only a bit of trouble to dig out (as you noted/said) but I got that worry itch that the tool would be the only valuable likely to walk away unless I took it with me when locking up. So the tool that will solve the vast majority of problems is readily available. All that to say I agree with you, good Sir :thumb:

So, for me, stuff with a high rate of useage go on the belt. Slightly lesser rate of use, in the belt bag. And lowest rate of use (pump and tubes) on the bike.

Where I'm coming from would invalidate that equation, at least some of the time, and the impetus of this thread. How, in my opinion, it is best to have a tool that is (if possible) light, compact, and will expand to cover the benefits of the larger, heavier, full sized tools (at least as much as possible).

This all came from having to do an Ergon grip adjustment away from home and finding the bit on the multi-tool wouldn't reach. That be damned annoying. Or the time I must have forgotten to torque a crank arm bolt properly and the multi-tool stopped at 6mm. The only thing open on a Sunday was a fire department and everything there was english standard. Or trying to provide working torque from a palm sized tool. So, my years of search led me to the set ups I have. Small, light-ish, as complete as reasonable, and expandable.

my Campag Power-Torque crank requires a 14mm hex to tighten - pretty much precludes a roadside adjustment with a multitool 😀. All that said, in ~50 years, I can recall one time where I needed a multitool for an unforeseen circumstance (loose cleat bolt). If I’m doing a shakedown ride after major work, where I anticipate some roadside tweaking, I’ll carry the required hex keys etc in my pocket. I still have a saddle bag with multitool, CO2, mini pump, tube, levers, quick link etc on my #1 bike, but for my more retro #2 bike, which has a full-size frame pump, I’m fine with just a spare tube and levers in my jersey pocket.
TLDR - good maintenance >>>> any multitool

What I've found is that a stubby tool tends to be a problem when things are not torqued right during installation in conjunction with a lack of routine maintenance.
if a part hasn't been taken apart for interval services, it'll develop a natural resistance that exceeds a stubby tools usability.
in some cases, when that seasoned part does come apart, a roadside tool kit might not resolve the matter at hand.

A tool belt ? ? ? How about a towable spare bike?

It's a Bare Bones multi-tool by Spin Doctor

I had a (factory-tightened) crank arm bolt come loose and I didn't have an 8mm allen key (attachment) in my toolkit with me on the bike. Sunday evening, everything closed. I got home by repeatedly tightening the bolt with a flat screwdriver and my car key jammed into the hex recess. I had to file/scrape some recesses into the inside faces of the crank arm later since they were damaged by using the loose arm.

I admire the resourcefulness and tenacity!

It's a wonderful world where people do things differently and there are multiple ways to do things "right" :)

I have one bike I lock up in front of stores. Whatever might "walk away" needs to walk away with me, c'est vrai, non? Competing with that is the probability that my three bags are almost certainly filled with frozen bottles and groceries. My jersey pockets I like to keep light, a couple cloths in the outer pockets and keep the center empty for seen/unseen needs. This also works with the "track bike" that, for aesthetics and practicality, I like to keep cleaner and meaner. I've tried nearly every flavor under the sun for toting items on and off the bike. What works and bothers me the least is https://www.rockbros.com.au/products...pack-waist-bag
What I need, immediately, goes on the belt section: Sunglasses case, Cool Tool, U-lock. Med kit, additional repair stuff, etc., goes in the more secure, zippered pouches. Others may find this subjectively objectionable and I respect that.

Ride on.

Don't forget: the best tool is a well designed, assembled, and maintained bicycle.

I carry a minimum of tools on my bikes because they don't break down. My fixed gear commuter only has a pump and tubes.

Agreed, and yet they don't until they do. Fixed and single speed are exceptional in needing the least in maintenance and tools due to the awesome lack of most mechanical parts. I expect my Armata to run on until that stocky chain finally needs replacing, i.e., no time soon. Mileages will vary.

We could even refine the question to something like: IF you feel the need to carry tools during a bike trip AND regular sized tools are too (heavy, sharp, long, whatever), would you agree that the capacity to get more reach and torque from your mini tool is to an advantage.

Some have said yes and some no :)

i simply fly out of the house with my cut off jeans, flip flops, and vial of smugness on a thong around my neck.

i ride so i can be completely free!

I get where you're coming from, and admire your compact and capable toolkit.

Mine varies depending on which bike I'm riding. When I'm riding Blue Bella, I have nothing but a spare sew-up. Fredo has a small seat-bag toolkit with the above multi-tool, plus a 5.5mm hex key for my unusual seatpost bolt, plus 8mm and 10mm wrenches for its old-style nuts and bolts. Fredo also has a CO2 inflator which I've never used, so I carry a pump as well. The other two bikes have rear rack bags, so I can carry more tools, but I generally don't. The clincher-tired bike's toolkits all have plastic tire-irons (unless I have borrowed them for a repair and forgotten to put them back), plus a spare tube, valve-core removal tool, a pump, and a multi-tool. I like the Bare Bones one for its small size, and for the fact that the different bits stay tight, with no slop to them, unlike some others with more tools on them. I'm aware that leverage and reachability are limited, but I've made my tradeoffs with slightly different priorities, that's all.

Ride on! :thumb:

does BF have a 'what did you name your bike?' thread?

if not, there should be.

This is my folded space tool box. Wonderfully portable and weighs practically nothing. I can call up any tool in my garage and even a car if I need to

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...14cb440245.jpg

I posted this a few years ago.
I do need to check which Torx sizes are used on bikes. For example, my bottle cage bolts are T20.

~~~

I've had this set for years now. I used to include a tiny flat blade screwdriver, but never used it. So now it's just four L wrenches and an old quicklink. I shortened the 5mm wrench with a hacksaw and a bench grinder.
The wrapper is piece of "rubber membrane roofing" scrap from my flat porch reroofing. It's an extremely strong rubber sheet. Rubber bands from an old 19-23mm inner tube.
I should add a couple of Torx wrenches in here, more bike components use them now.

I like it. 46 grams, including the dollar bill tire boot, and it folds up very small. No sharp edges or rattling.
Full size L wrenches work great.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de5af542e9.png

I have that ratchet tool too and it's a neat concept but it's difficult to apply leverage without the bit slipping down from the ratchet. I do like the torx bits on it, though.

I still ride with my Crank Bros mini multi tool because it's got a chain breaker.

I like the simplicity of just carrying some hex keys but I've got 2.5mm bolts on the saddle light mount all the way to a 10mm for my cranks (both of which have loosened during rides previously) so that means I'd be carrying the whole set.

Good to know. As said, I feel the ratchet is a luxury (worth the weight). I use it only if the Cool Tool is "lacking". So to spin a longish bolt perhaps, but it could be left behind. Kinda like that ball end on some allen keys? I'd use the Cool Tool for leverage. While, in the picture, I show the allen keys fully (straight) extended, I have used them (in the past) canted to get just the right twisting angle (nice that either end is usable as the handle) :)
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f75ea10d73.jpg
Cool Tool allen wrenches can be used to apply more leverage.

I chuckle when I see someone cycling and carrying a full floor pump. I wonder what the thinking is. Then again, when I am a marshal for a big ride, I carry that. There is a chance I'll have to inflate more than one tire for people. But that's a special case. I think I've only done it two or three times.

You're right in that perceived, or actual, need drives what one carries. I have a wonderful mini-pump that serves my mtb well, but acquired a frame pump for my Armata since I know that it is folly for me to try and pump 25mm tires to 100+ psi with a mini pump.

On a minimalist, and possibly practical-ish, level I find your pocket of applicable hexes, a pump, levers, and a tube, to cover most bike needs. On the right bike, as some might need a wrench of some sort (solid axels/some seats). Some don't need the levers to remove their tire. The rest becomes "insurance". Or luxury. And, yet, Linus van Pelt seems a pathetic worry wart till his security blanket comes in need. :p

More germane to the topic premise would be the size of the hexes you carry. Do they provide for leverage needed in all repair cases (so far?). Somewhere I have a box of past multi-tools that includes a Topeak Power 15. Damned compact with a variety of short hexes up to 8mm. But, really, could you any where near apply adequate torque to a crank bolt with that short arse tool?! It's cute, though! :love:

Edit: Thinking about what I wrote in the next to last paragraph. That's the same way we are about locks too. To what extent are we willing to safeguard against disaster vs inconvenience? I keep hoping (especially to try and shed the weight of my U lock) that everyone else realizes how "worthless" my bikes are on any market. Yet, there is always the individual anomaly :(