Hi I have a Topeak Alien II multi tool. That's all i have. I have a trip planned where i want to bike ride, no big touring thing, just some recreational rides. i need to put pedals back on my bike when i start out on the trip which i have been told requires a 15mm wrench.

Since i have no tools other than my Alien II multi tool, can anyone recommend a compact set of tools that would compliment what i already have in the Alien II so i can get some more useful tools for home and road use, and that would include a 15mm wrench for pedals?

I'm thinking some sort of set of metric wrenches and maybe a set of metric hex wrenches that are more useful than the short tools in the Alien II. Some sort of kit or pack of tools so i can get a bunch of tools in one purchase of good quality in a kit that is easily portable and compact so i can take it with me on trips.

I dont do any of my own bike work now but id like to do some in the future and right now all i need in particular is a 15mm pedal wrench so i figured its a good time to get a little tool set.

Gary: Get a good pedal wrench like the one from Park, it's heavy but you shouldn't need to carry it if you install the pedals correctly; don't forget to grease the threads and I use stainless pedal washers as well.

I would recommend that you get a good set of hex "L" wrenches (I am partial to Bondhus) and cherry-pick the ones you will need to carry, there should only be a handful. Do the same with a good set of metric ignition wrenches. This would be a good time to go over ALL of the fasteners on your bike and grease and re-torque them, then you will know which wrenches you will need; leave the rest behind.

For home use I would recommend that you buy tools as you need them or when you find a tool you will need on sale. I don't think that ready-made tool kits are a good deal, they have too many tools you will probably never use.

If you are going to be installing shift and brake cables definitely get a high-quality cable cutter, Felco is the best and most expensive, and Shimano and Park have nice ones for less money. One tool I am glad I got was a third-hand tool, Park's, Pedro's and others have them and they are great when you are working alone installing cables.

Good screwdrivers will save you a lot of cursing and stripped screws, although I try to get rid of straight and Philips screws on my bikes and replace them where I can with hex socket head cap screws.

You will be well served by getting an inexpensive 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch drive torque wrench and the needed sockets and hex bits. They are imperative with carbon components and (I feel) important with other types. There have been discussions on this forum regarding the various torque wrench types, i won't get involved with that here!

Park used to make a very light thin pedal (15mm)/1" threaded headset (32 mm) double end wrench called the RW-1 that is light and small enough to take along. I don't see it listed on Park's web site but you may find one NOS at a bike shop.

I bought one to use with my S&S coupled travel bike as I had to remove the pedals to pack it.

Also, many pedals have 6 mm or 8 mm hex recesses at the crank end of the spindle and those can be used in place of a pedal wrench.

Just a thought, but go over your bike and see what size spanners/sockets, hex keys and torx bits you will need - carry these.

Tyre levers, obviously, puncture repair kit of some kind (instant patches like "slime skabs" or a more traditional kit). The more specialist tools such as pedal spanners, cone wrenches, chain breaking tools &c. Only take if you need.

just my $0.02

It looks like the alien II has a small emergency 15mm wrench. It will have terrible leverage for taking pedals off. but should be alright for installing them for a few days of riding if you can manage to get enough leverage to tighten them properly. I have a similar sized wrench on a key chain/bottle opener. It works in a pinch. just be careful not to mar your hands or the pedal flats. use plenty of grease.

The previous poster was right to suggest pedals with a 6mm hex on the inside of the spindle. there are even cheap plastic flats that have this and might make for better travel pedals.

I have an alien that has that small wrench, one of the halves has an 8mm allen wrench and using the 8 mm in the handle of that little wrench will give you more leverage to remove pedals. I only do this for touring, I have a regular pedal wrench for the home.

Hi thanks for all the input. Ive tried to use that 15mm wrench on the Alien II for a kickstand (but the kickstand screw may not be 15mm, it may be a size in inches but it's close) and it is almost unusable (but i never tried combining it with the 8mm as a lever as described above.) For anyone reading, my opinion is that 15mm wrench is no good to use except maybe for emergencies, there's no leverage but maybe its better with the 8mm as lever as described above (but i doubt it.)

If you are looking for a basic home mechanics tool kit to supplement your Alien, then you can buy packs of basic tools. Parktools are generally regarded as the best quality. The SK1 kit may have some bits that you dont need on your bike so cost up the separates.
Other tool kits include Super B, Pedros.

Cone wreches (for Shimano hubs only)
Pedal wrench
Allen key set
cassette removal tools (spline and chain whip)
large workshop chain tool
Tyre levers (Crankbros, VAR, Pedros, Michelin, Koolstop, Cyclo, is there any good comparison site?)
screwdrivers
Selection of box and crescent wrenches to fit.
cable cutter
crimping tool
needle files
pliers
Its probably more cost effective to buy as you need them. I always keep a lookout for high quality, used tools at low prices. It is never a bargain to get cheap, nasty tools at low prices.
Many of these "bike-tool" companies buy standard tools from original manufacturers. Park get their Allen keys from Bondhus, but the original brand may be cheaper.

struggling to understand why you need to take the pedals off in the first place ATM - maybe I am mis-reading.

anyway the Alien II is a nice multi-tool. But there in lies its problem.

As an emergency tool kit, I would rather this: ToPeak Survival Gear Box

For what I laughingly call my workshop I have a cheap (£30 GBP) tool kit that I picked up from Halfords Halfords Essential Bike Tool Kit which contains:

• 1 x Adjustable ring spanner for easy adjustment of all sized of nuts and bolts
• 1 x Crank remover for removing cranks for bottom brackets
• 2 x 13, 14, 15, 16mm Cone spanners for adjustment and replacement of wheel bearings.
• 1 x Cassettes locking tools for removal and installation of rear gear cassettes
• 1 x Adjustable bottom bracket tool, for adjusting and removal of open bottom bracket systems
• 1 x Cartridge bottom bracket tool for removal and installation for sealed bottom brackets
• 1 x Multi sized spoke tool for adjustment of spoke tension for and wheel truing
• 1 x Cross point flathead screw driver for adjustment of gear and brake systems
• 1 x Chain tool for bike chain cutting and joining
• 1 x Hex key set 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10mm for adjustment of Allen key fitting found on most bikes
• 1 x 14, 15 mm for several purposed including spanner for pedal removal and fitting
• 1 x 8, 10mm Spanner for adjustment to brakes and gear systems on bikes with steel components
• 3 x Glass reinforced tire levers for removal and fitting of bike tyres
• 1 x Headset spanners for adjustment and fitting on Headset systems on bikes with quill type stems
• 1 x Chain whip for securing freewheels and cassettes for easy removal

I have also purchased a Bikehut Professional Crank Extractor (I would have got the Park Tool version, but they had sold out and I needed it), a Bikehut Professional Freewheel Tool and a Topeak Joe Blow Sport Bike Pump floor pump.

This is on top of all my sockets that I have for the car. Anything else I get as and when I need it.

The reason i need a pedal wrench is bought a folding bike used off ebay. Im having it shipped to a relative where i am vacationing for a couple of weeks soon. The guy i bought the folding bike from is a bike enthusiast and he did a lot of work on the bike to improve it. Since he is so mechanically inclined, when he shipped it he boxed it up removing the pedals and handlebars/headset so it would fit in a smaller box. He didnt think this would cause me any problem to reassemble, all i need is a 6mm hex wrench which is on the Alien II and a 15mm wrench to put the pedals back on. So this is the immediate reason i need a pedal wrench. But at home here i have been riding some old 80's and 90's hybrid and steel road bikes for the last few months using a local reasonably priced mechanic. But it would be nice to be able to do some of my own bike repair /adjustment work in the future. So all i really need right now is a pedal wrench, but Id like additional tools for future use too.

Fair enough - in a pinch the 15mm wrench on the alien should be fine for installing the pedals, as they will tighten themselves as you pedal - just make sure you get them as tight as possible. As said above, some of them have a 6mm hex key socket, this may also be of use (as I have found from my limited experience that those with the hex socket have a narrower profile to fit the spanner to).

GL.