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What tools do you carry?

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Old 02-07-12 | 02:10 PM
  #1  
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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
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Old 02-07-12 | 02:15 PM
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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.

Last edited by Steely Dan; 02-07-12 at 02:30 PM.
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Old 02-07-12 | 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Steely Dan
- CO2 pump with a couple cartridges
- tire levers
- hex wrench multi-tool
- 15mm wrench for axle nuts
- spare tube
- patch kit
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.
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Old 02-07-12 | 02:38 PM
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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)
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Old 02-07-12 | 02:44 PM
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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
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Old 02-07-12 | 02:49 PM
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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
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Old 02-07-12 | 03:02 PM
  #7  
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From: north providence, r.i.

Bikes: Nashbar trekking bike

taking the "el" is not an option for me. i live in r.i. we have no el trains.

thanks
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Old 02-07-12 | 03:18 PM
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From: Potomac, MT, USA
Originally Posted by skycomag
taking the "el" is not an option for me. i live in r.i. we have no el trains.

thanks
We don't have them here either. Besides, doesn't walking to one seem like cheating?

I know I should carry spare links, but I don't.
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Old 02-07-12 | 03:26 PM
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From: Chicago

Bikes: I have five of brikes

Originally Posted by scroca
We don't have them here either. Besides, doesn't walking to one seem like cheating?
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.
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Old 02-07-12 | 03:28 PM
  #10  
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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)
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Old 02-07-12 | 03:39 PM
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From: Potomac, MT, USA
Originally Posted by Steely Dan
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.
I was just kidding. I should have put a smiley in there so it was obvious I was teasing you.
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Old 02-07-12 | 03:42 PM
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From: Chicago

Bikes: I have five of brikes

^ gotcha, my humor detection unit must be on the fritz.
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Old 02-07-12 | 03:54 PM
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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
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Old 02-07-12 | 04:14 PM
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From: NE OK

Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke

-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...
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Old 02-07-12 | 04:50 PM
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- 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).
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Old 02-07-12 | 05:04 PM
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From: Seattle, WA
I have a tire lever or two, some CO2, and a multi-tool in my water bottle.

Originally Posted by skycomag
taking the "el" is not an option for me. i live in r.i. we have no el trains.
Yeah but it's like 20 feet from one end of your state to the other.
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Old 02-07-12 | 05:38 PM
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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...
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Old 02-07-12 | 05:43 PM
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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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Old 02-07-12 | 05:56 PM
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From: nashville, tn

Bikes: Commuters: Fuji Delray road, Fuji Discovery mtb...Touring: Softride Traveler...Road: C-dale SR300

Originally Posted by canyoneagle
-PDW 3Wrencho tire lever/15mm wrench
- spare tube
- patch kit
- pump
- topeak alien mini-tool
- cut spoke for IGH
- LED light (with headband)
Starting out at 5:15 AM it's dark here for about an hour and change. Flatting during that window would be not to my liking. 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.
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Old 02-07-12 | 06:01 PM
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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
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Old 02-07-12 | 06:10 PM
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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.
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Old 02-07-12 | 06:28 PM
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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.
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Old 02-07-12 | 06:54 PM
  #23  
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From: Clearwater, FL

Bikes: Schwinn Fred-mobile

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!!
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Old 02-07-12 | 07:46 PM
  #24  
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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.
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Old 02-07-12 | 08:19 PM
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From: Des Moines

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

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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