Just spent 2 hrs by the side of the road this evening. A bolt popped out of my front derailleur, 2 minutes to go back and retrieve, 2 minutes to find where it came from and set bike to fix, the rest of 2 hrs attempting to use my Topeak mini multi-tool to put bolt back. The placing and screwing in of the bolt was difficult, it meant putting pressure in 2 directions while using the driver, this is where the tool failed badly. 1st the tool had loosened all by itself in my saddlebag, the remedy would have been another multi-tool since the loosening occurred at its own bolts (!), I used the key from my cycle lock to partly remedy this since I needed maximum leverage, but it was a dismal failure since the tool has a design weakness that means it pulls away in the turn when levering under pressure, I took it apart just so I could grip the shaft of the driver properly. I have vowed never to be so stuck again and am looking for a tool or tools that will actually do the job required. Any suggestions?

I've had many multi-tools and never really liked any of them. It's not that complicated or expensive to bring real tools, and the weight difference is small, too.

+++1^^^^^

8)

Agree.

What I've now done, and works great is to use the Fixit Sticks tools and carry a Prestaratchet handle. Very light, trim and gives pretty much a shop grade experience road side. And really nothing to break either.





J.

+1 on the Prestaratchet. I carry one on my fender-equipped bike (with 8mm and 10mm sockets), and it works really well.

I forgot to add that I think this set up weigh *less* than some of the most popular multitools and is much more functional.

J.

I'm all for well designed and made tools, but absent those, KISS is the rule, and Ritchey is the unrivaled King of the Multitool, managing to combine smart design and simplicity.

The Ritchey CPR9 tool is so simple there are no moving parts; virtually nothing to break. Yet, it brings 9 of the common and useful tools for modern bikes in an extremely lightweight package: 27gm!

Each tool end has been thought through, with sufficient length (as for bottle cage bolts) and leverage for their intended purpose, and arranged so as to not interfere with optimal operation. That is, there's clearance for the tool to turn without one of the extensions hitting part of the bike while using.

It's brilliant design and execution, and Ritchey deserve an award for it, because it's light years ahead of and better than any other multitool on the market. It's more versatile, reliable, easy to use, and lightweight than any other tool set you can carry, including the options listed above. Loose tools suck because the rattle around and require extra futzing to either find in the bag or use, and ar heavier, and that ratchet design is of the only style ratchet I've ever had break, and in combination with the fixit stix is way fussier, less versatile, less easy to use, has fewer options and is heavier.

For modern bikes (i.e. if you dont need nut drivers) there is no better tool option than the CPR9. Period.

I like my Swiss Army Knife (Victorinox). Pretty basic stuff, but what it does, it does well.

I think Leatherman also makes quality tools.

None of those are bike specific though. Perhaps one could convince Leatherman to try a quality bike line of multi-tools.

I generally don't carry Allen wrenches, or more than one with me, at least around town.

But Allen wrenches are basically all you need to completely disassemble the modern bicycle...and you carry just one?? And what would you fix on a bike with a Swiss Army knife that recommends carrying one???

The Swiss Army knife will work as a tire lever in a pinch.
I can adjust my derailleur stops with it.
With pliers, I can tighten or loosen some bolts if needed.
I've found rope, string, or even wire beside the road that I've cut with it... for miscellaneous needs.
Prying open smashed bungee strap ends.
If you're riding sewups, you can cut the stitches.
I regularly use it to pick glass out of my tires, or probe the bottom of holes in the tread with it. And, have used it to extract those pesky radial tire wires.
Resize a boot or patch.

And, it can always serve as a can opener or bottle opener if I ever need it.

As I've been experimenting with a post-pump, one Allen wrench can be handy.

I carry a set of allen key bits and a small handle to go with it. They live in the top box, where I can easy access them if needed and they're secure so no one can use them to pilfer bits off my bike when I park it somewhere.

That said, I do need to replace one of the torx bits, with the aid of a cordless drill, it picked a fight with one of the bolts holding my disc rotor on and came off second best.

Well, I hadn't been thinking along the lines of unorthodox, eccentric, and completely non-ride related uses, so you got me there!

You remind us that which tools we carry will vary based on how we ride and for what purpose. Whereas I've never needed a Swiss Army Knife to cut open a sew-up while out on the road, a fully self-supported touring rider might (although it takes an odd series of decisions to arrive at that point which I, frankly, can't imagine). Similarly, I don't carry sandpaper, but a sandpaper salesman who only rides around town looking for people to sell sandpaper to might be well advised to keep swatches in his pack, because, well, you just never know who you'll run into out on a ride.

Agreed. I carry full sized tools including a chain whip on rides for this very purpose. What you gain in a multi tools space saving ability you usually give up in performance.
I've broken and upgraded enough parts that I now have a small bag of spare nuts, bolts, screws, cables, pulleys and chain links. I also invested in a few spare spokes. Another item I always carry is $10-20 cash in my flat tire kit incase I need to buy a water, phone call or tip someone for helping or giving a ride (a few bucks for gas never hurts).

[MENTION=138487]chaadster[/MENTION], I did a self supported tour on tubulars. I was young and foolish. I don't recommend it.

It has been a while since I've ridden sewups, but I have also taken them on a few multi-day rides, as well as commuting on them. And patched a lot of them, usually in the evenings.

I do, in fact, carry a piece of sandpaper. It comes in my patch kit, although I do realize there is some debate of the efficacy of sandpaper vs the "cheese graters".

A lot will depend on what is most likely to leave a person stranded beside the road, or cause significant damage to one's bike if one tries to ride through it. So... tire related issues hit the top of the list. Thus, one should also carry the tools required to dig debris out of tires, remove the tires, and patch or replace tubes.

A broken chain would be frustrating. Rare... but stops one cold.

Derailleur stops... rare to adjust on the road, perhaps less with indexed derailleurs, but say, if one throws the chain into the spokes, then preventing it from recurring is vital. I've broken a few derailleur cables. I usually just limp home with the remaining gears, but there are people who force the bike into a certain gear using the derailleur stops.

Something like a loose bottle cage, I'll ignore until I get home (although I discovered aluminum rivnuts and loose cages don't mix

I have had load related issues, and have snagged rope or wire along the side of the road to tie a load down, or tie a broken backpack back together.

I've yanked a cleat out once. But, it was only 1/2 mile from home. Doing it 50 miles from home would be frustrating, but still the bike would be more or less ridable. I think when I yanked the cleat, I did, in fact, use the Swiss Army knife to release it from the pedal. It might have been safe enough locked in the the pedal, but I chose to pop it loose.

Anyway, I do typically carry a few tools with me, but a multi-Allen wrench is typically at the bottom of the list (although sometimes with me). And, several things such as a chain tool work just fine as loose tools. The Swiss Army knife gets used much more frequently than anything else in the kit.

I carry the two most common size of Allen wrenches instead of a multi-tool. You could add a small Phillips or slotted screwdriver if you think you may need them but I haven't personally in 30 years of riding. Those three tools should way less than most multi tools and do the job better.

When I did carry a multi-tool I periodically tightened the bolts on it so as not to have the problem you encountered.

I like to be able to adjust my seat and handlebars, even though that's not a repair. I don't make adjustments often, but I like to be able to do them when I want to.

Which Topeak failed you?

I use a Park Tools mutlitool for working on my bike at home. It's easier to use it than get out the regular tools some times and hasn't failed me yet.

personally, I wouldn't use a multitool for regular work. I do not feel they are built for regular use and would rather 'real' shop tools for non emergency use at home.

YMMV

The beauty of the Fixit Sticks multitool is that it gives a shop quality tool in a portable form factor. I'm not exaggerating either.

J.

The nicest one I've used is this Lezyne Blox 23.

When I first moved to Europe, I bought a cheap used bike and needed to do some work on it before my stuff got here through the Panama Canal. It handled all the stuff that I needed at the time, together with a socket wrench set. I also carry a small 15 mm Craftsman wrench that I picked up years ago for my fixed gear and internally geared bike.

Same here. If you carry enough spares to feel prepared you'll be overloaded with spares.

If you carry that many spares, you're OCD.

J.

Tubulars accumulate, plain and simple. Even after changing over to clinchers it was hard to get rid of 'em.