What tools do you carry?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: north providence, r.i.
Bikes: Nashbar trekking bike
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
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
#2
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
- 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.
- 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.
Last edited by Steely Dan; 02-07-12 at 02:30 PM.
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
Exact same toolkit as SD. Nowhere near a train, but if I did have some kind of catastrophic failure, I wold pull out the cell phone & get a ride.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 158
From: Santa Fe, NM
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
-PDW 3Wrencho tire lever/15mm wrench
- spare tube
- patch kit
- pump
- topeak alien mini-tool
- cut spoke for IGH
- LED light (with headband)
- spare tube
- patch kit
- pump
- topeak alien mini-tool
- cut spoke for IGH
- LED light (with headband)
#5
Carpe Velo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 18
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Bikes: 2000 Bianchi Veloce, '88 Schwinn Prologue, '90 Bianchi Volpe,'94 Yokota Grizzly Peak, Yokota Enterprise, '16 Diamondback Haanjo, '91 Bianchi Boardwalk, Ellsworth cruiser
- 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
- 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
#6
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,474
Likes: 4,879
From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
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
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
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#8
#9
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
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.
#10
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
- 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)
- 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)
#11
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.
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.
#13
Fair Weather Cyclist
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: R&M Frog, Moulton TSR
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
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
#14
-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...
-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...
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#16
#17
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
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...
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...
#19
nashcommguy
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,499
Likes: 0
From: nashville, tn
Bikes: Commuters: Fuji Delray road, Fuji Discovery mtb...Touring: Softride Traveler...Road: C-dale SR300
When I worked 2nd shift I bought one @ Wally World and have had it ever since. In addition I carry: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.
#20
Unlisted member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 435
From: Chicagoland
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock
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
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
#21
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Bikes: Diamondback Copperhead (hardtail, winter bike), 2014 Giant Rapid 2, 2015 Kona Big Rove ST
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.
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.
#22
aka: Mike J.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,405
Likes: 60
From: between Milwaukee and Sheboygan in Wisconsin
Bikes: 1995 Trek 520 is the current primary bike.
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.
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.
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#23
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!!
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!!
#24
Steel is real, baby!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 8
From: Boise, ID
Bikes: 1984 Pinarello, 1986 Bianchi Portofino, 1988 Bianchi Trofeo, 1989 Specialized Allez, 1989 Specialized Hard Rock, 2001 Litespeed Tuscany
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.
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.



