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What tools do you carry?
What tool does everyone carry while riding streets or bike paths or trails?
i have a leather man style tool with a flashlite with it,a giant multi-allen wrench set wth a stright blade /philips head screw drivers, chain link repair tool with extra links and a mini pump and a couple of wheel wrenches and a patch kit for wheels and tires.also a cell phone. this is a not tool but i do carry a small first aide kit just in case( JIC) So whats in your bike bags/trunks? thanks for your replies :thumb: |
- CO2 pump with a couple cartridges
- tire levers - hex wrench multi-tool - 15mm wrench for axle nuts - spare tube - patch kit i don't bother with a chain tool and extra chain links. i've had a chain break on me only once in 5 years of daily bike commuting. that one time that it did happen, i just walked my bike over to the nearest el station and rode the train home with my bike. on my commute route, i'm always within a half mile walk of an el station. |
Originally Posted by Steely Dan
(Post 13821792)
- CO2 pump with a couple cartridges
- tire levers - hex wrench multi-tool - 15mm wrench for axle nuts - spare tube - patch kit |
-PDW 3Wrencho tire lever/15mm wrench
- spare tube - patch kit - pump - topeak alien mini-tool - cut spoke for IGH - LED light (with headband) |
- Alien multitool, includes tire levers
- Double L shaped allen wrench - spare tube - Patch kit (in case I have more than one flat) - Front & rear blinky lights - House key - Frame pump |
Frame pump
Spare tube patch kit (not the instant patches and check it out ever so often to make sure the glue has not all dried) Tire irons (2 plastic, one steel) small multitool with hexrwrenches and screw driver nitryl gloves wet wipe |
taking the "el" is not an option for me. i live in r.i. we have no el trains.
thanks |
Originally Posted by skycomag
(Post 13822015)
taking the "el" is not an option for me. i live in r.i. we have no el trains.
thanks I know I should carry spare links, but I don't. |
Originally Posted by scroca
(Post 13822078)
We don't have them here either. Besides, doesn't walking to one seem like cheating?
if i have to walk my bike to a el station once every 5 years because of a chain break, that's totally fine with me. |
- Topeak Mini-Morph pump
- spare tube - patch kit with fresh glue - tire levers - 3-6mm allen wrenches - small cable ties - small velcro strap - dollar bill that is no longer fit for circulation ;) When riding my fixed-gear Diamondback: - 8mm and 10mm wrenches (for the front canti) - adjustible wrench (for the axle nuts) |
Originally Posted by Steely Dan
(Post 13822121)
how so? i love living in an area where i know i have complete self reliance. even if my bike explodes into a million tiny pieces out of the blue, i have a plethora of train, bus and taxi options that i can utilize instead of making the dreaded "can you come pick me up?" phone call.
if i have to walk my bike to a el station once every 5 years because of a chain break, that's totally fine with me. |
^ gotcha, my humor detection unit must be on the fritz.
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Folding bike:
Park MT-1 strapped under the seat (if I get a flat, I'll walk or catch transit) Non-folding bike: Qwik-stick (tire lever) Small allen-key multi-tool (One23 MT4 or Lezyne SV5 ) Small pliers/knife multi-tool (Mini Bear Jaws) Spare tube Co2 Cartridge + inflator 15mm wrench On long rides, I add a patch kit, extra Co2 cardridge & a presta/schrader adaptor |
-Frame mounted mini-pump
-Park MT-1 tool -3 plastic tire levers -spare tube -patches -cell phone If I can't fix it with the mt-1, odds are it's beyond my realm of understanding anyway... |
- Combo CO2/ mini pump
- 2 CO2 cartridges - Spare Tube - Patches - Topeak Alien multi-tool (yeah, I know--- overkill) - Cell Phone I have not yet needed the last item (knock wood). |
I have a tire lever or two, some CO2, and a multi-tool in my water bottle.
Originally Posted by skycomag
(Post 13822015)
taking the "el" is not an option for me. i live in r.i. we have no el trains.
|
Hands down, best tool I have owned so far is the Topeak Ratchet Rocket. This tool has almost everything I need, and not a bunch of extra crap like some of the multi-tools I've owned, dull knifes, bottle openers (ahem, alien?). In addition, I carry around a small adjustable wrench, spoke wrench, a CO2 inflator, tire levers and a patch kit (glue tube type). I should be carrying around a spare tube, but I've been feeling lucky ever since I put Stan's No-Tubes in my tires (presta and schrader types), which is clearly hubris and now I'm just asking for 3-4 flats on my next ride.
A word about the Rocket Ratchet (I love this thing): it solves the one problem that has seemed to elude every other multi-tool. When you crank on a nut with a standard multi-tool (the ones where all the tools are threaded together and sandwiched between two plates by a screw), that force inevitably and imperceptibly loosens the screw holding the whole thing together. So you use your tool, and put it away till the next time you need to adjust something, and the vibrations from the bike and the torquing (can't believe that word made it past spell checker) you did earlier, the screw came loose and all the individual hex wrenches are floating uselessly in you bag until you can find ANOTHER hex or screwdriver or whatever to repair your tool so you can repair your bike. I don't know about anyone else, but it's happened with every multi-tool I owned. The solution for me was either: a) buy a set of mini hex-wrenches, which was kind of a pain and not as cheap as you'd think, especially if you need a T25 wrench or b) get the Rocket Ratchet, which is self contained, cheap as any other multi-tool and has a ratchet! It's the only multi-tool that seems designed to do what it was intended to do. It's got a couple neat features, like a socket on the non-ratchet end of the wrench part, so you get as much/more reach than a standard multi-tool. Downsides: you have to switch out bits like a normal ratchet, so they can get lost if you have butter-fingers, and no flat head bit, but I haven't needed one, but it could easily be bought and carried along side. Oh, and a pair of latex gloves. Those are nicer to have than you might think... |
also, after reading my post, I should probably say that I don't take money from topeak, I just really like their tool. And I am obviously avoiding doing real work.
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Originally Posted by canyoneagle
(Post 13821916)
-PDW 3Wrencho tire lever/15mm wrench
- spare tube - patch kit - pump - topeak alien mini-tool - cut spoke for IGH - LED light (with headband) Topeak Road Morph w/gauge frame pump Park MTB-3 multi-tool Pyramid metal tire levers Un-opened patch-kit Spare tubes On my fg commuter I carry the same kit and a 15mm open and box end wrench as well. |
Multi tool
CO2 inflat r with spare cartridge minipump exam gloves hand cleaner spare tube patch kit allen wrench that came with the mirror plus maybe some more stuff I've forgetten about |
Leatherman Kick multi tool
Lezyne CRV 4 multi tool Tire lever Spare tube Lube Lighter (I've had to thaw my rear derailleur once already this winter with it.) That reminds me, I need to get a new pump since my last one broke. |
I'm going to have to compare that Ratchet Rocket to the Alien II.
The tools I carry often vary depending upon what I'm riding, where I'm going, and a few other variables. But usually a multi-tool of some sort, something to patch and pump tires/tubes, something to cut things with ( shopping bags wrapped up in cogs ), tire levers, and probably a few more things. Several decades ago I used to carry a freewheel tool in case I broke a drive-side spoke. I also sometimes have duct tape and bailing wire in a limited amount. |
When I commuted in Okinawa and Italy I carried a patch kit, tire irons, and two spare tube.
Now I carry a patch kit. I can walk home if I have to and with a cell phone someone is just a call away. I don't worry about being stranded anymore, just inconvenienced!! |
On my commuter, I have:
a mini pump patch kit tire levers spare tube multi tool On my "go fast" bike, I carry: Co2 with 3 cartridges patch kit tire levers multi tool I always take my cell phone with me in case something catastrophic happens. Once, on a training ride, I had a chain explode on me, which also trashed my rear derailleur. Cell phone to the rescue and my son got in my truck and came and got me. In my 26 years of riding, that's the only time I had a chain fail me. |
I carry a few tools. A multi tool is essential. One of the other tools I carry is a bus token.. saved my bacon a few times.
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Originally Posted by skycomag
(Post 13822015)
taking the "el" is not an option for me. i live in r.i. we have no el trains.
thanks |
http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...s/a58596ad.jpg
Allen wrenches Screwdriver Little adjustable wrench Spoke wrench Chain tool Tire levers Patch kit Tube Extra nuts These all fit under my seat Plus small pump, wallet, phone (not shown) |
Some variation* of this
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_0113.jpg and a Topeak pump. This is my mountain bike kit but I use the Camelbak while commuting and touring too. |
-pump
-multi tool ( I think it's a cheap Nashbar one) -dogbone wrench (6-15 mm) -2 Park TL1 tire levers -2 patch kits (standard and glue-less) -spare tube -spare spokes, mainly for IGH use -spoke wrench -triflow -little foil-wrapped wet wipes |
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