It is life changing. I almost always have a messenger bag on me, lock, flat stuff, tools, etc. Rode in Chicago with my sister and took nothing more than my phone, cash, ID, credit card and put that stuff in my jersey pockets. No bag, no saddle bag, nothing. Felt unbelievable.

Thanks. My first post on this website some jerk was correcting a word i spelled wrong. Glad to see there's some nice guys on here.

Exactly. I'd recommend the SKS Tom 7 mini-tool.

Not seeing why the love for the MT-1. It's listed as a 4.25" x 1.5" tool. Sure, if it's at home in a tool box, it's easy to grab for quick use, but otherwise, in a saddle bag, looks large and potential to put holes in my spare tubes. Oh and it doesn't have a T25 either, which a number of component makers are using these days.

It's a game petty losers play to feel important. BTW, i should have been capitalized.

I carry a Letherman multi tool, a bike multi tool, a 6" crescent wrench, and a clip of tork wrenches. I do not intend to walk home for the lack of tools.

I sometimes carry a multi tool, sometimes not. Over all the years and tens of thousands of miles I've never needed it... not even once. Sometimes, I don't even have a flat kit, and never a cell phone. (never owned one) I'll post a thread if it ever leads to a problem.

About a year ago, I bought a smallish saddle bag at Aldi of all places and it came with a swiss army knife type multi tool and some very cheap tire levers. The multi tool is still in there and I've used it a few times in my driveway and once on the trail. The tire levers got thrown away after trying to use them once (on the trail) and they bent rather than pried the tire off the rim. I've got some good ones in there now.

J White

Yes, a lot of bicyclist don't carry even a basic tool kit or patch kit. I've repaired many a tube for a otherwise stranded bicyclist many kilometers from the trail head or outside the city. I really can't understand those who venture some distance into the country but don't bother to even carry a patch kit or pump. A lot of them just don't seem to know about Old Mr. Murphy.

Cheers

I'll stop and ask a bicyclist standing atthe edge of a road or trail if they need any help. One time I saw a guy crossing a bridge and walking his bicycle ojn the sidewalk. When I stopped he said he'd had a flat tire but fixed it only to find that his pump was busted. I told him I'd pump it up for him. he was very grateful as it was late at night, there were no service stations anywhere near us and he had a long way to go. I think it's great to be able to help a fellow bicyclist.

Cheers

I use my tools 2 or 3 times a year, more often to help someone than my own bike. In fact I just bought another one (heavy :() for my FG. Ironically, the incident that prompted it wouldn't have been helped with a multi-tool. I got launched in the air by a pedal strike and came down hard on the saddle, and like OP rode home with it at an absurd angle. It's clamped on with big solid nut and bolt though and there's no wrench for it on the tool. But at least I have a tool now :lol:

I think that all of the replies are approaching this problem from the wrong angle.

The bike is never wrong.
Let me say that again: The bike is never wrong

As the bikes age and get weaker, itis incumbent on us to follow suit and become weaker as well, to stay in sync with the bike (again since the bike is never wrong).

Your mistake was that you are becoming too strong for your bike.
Stop weight training immediately....

Sometimes a saddle might seem to be well tightened but you hit a bad bump or pothole and it moves a bit. That's when it's really nice to have the proper tool to tighten it with.

One of the most satisfying repairs I ever did was on a rail-trail about 2 kilometers from the trail head. A family were out for a nice Sunday ride and had gone that far when the chain on their Tagalong trailer/bike came off and wedged between the frame and freewheel so tightly that the wheel wouldn't turn. I was able to loosen the wheel nuts with my 6" adjustable wrench and then put the chain back on the freewheel. That family was so grateful and I was very happy that they were able to continue their outing. That's the biggest reason I carry such a comprehensive repair kit. I also refuse any monetary payment for doing any of those repairs.

Cheers

Sy Reene,

Why the negative and accusing post? This tool is excellent, minimal weight and effective for what it is intended to do.



-

[QUOTE=Dave Cutter;19172167Those threads always force me to inventory my saddlebag(s). I try so hard to ride light.. and not carry too much. But... I am also a believer in that... Two is one and one is none, principle.[/QUOTE]

VINDICATED! I always thought I was kind of crazy for wanting to carry 2 multitools, etc. Glad to know that other feel the same way.

Sorry, I really didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings.

I thought I was somewhat clear on what I didn't like about this tool.. long length, sharp edges/protuberances -- in a saddle bag (with tubes) or in a pocket -- doesn't seem ideal. Again, at home in the kitchen junk drawer or a tool box for quick adjustments, it looks quite handy. And for my bike anyway (realizing this may not apply to many), my saddle, stem and brake calibers all adjust using a Torx wrench, which this doesn't have.

Correct. It doesn't have a Torx. I don't like Torx but that's not the point. If one has Torx fasteners on a bike then, no, this tool will most likely be the right one to carry. I only have one bike with Torx. I have never had a problem with stowing this tool in my bag with tubes. It will fit in most saddle bags (even smaller ones) and virtually all roll-up type bags. The small Kreig bag on my Kona that has Torx bolts on the rotor only it fits into just fine. I was carrying a Torx key for that rotor but stopped because, well, I torqued the bolts down properly and they have pre-Locktite threads. I figure the chances of the rotor coming loose are minimal.

For pulling wheels off, tightening brakes, etc, this tool is pretty darn effective. Now, would I use this every day in my shop? NO!! It's not the quality of Bondhus or PB Swiss but for emergency road-side repairs it's pretty hard to beat. And as one poster said, yep, it could probably be used as a weapon.

The problem I have with multi tools is they always have tools I don't need or want to carry. I don't have any phillips or flat head screws anywhere or 2 or 2.5 mm allens and I don't want to carry a chain tool.

By the time I eliminate the tools I don't want, I'm better off just wrapping the few individuals I need in a scrap of t-shirt and stuffing it in my keg or seat bag. I get the benefit of a bit of rag to wipe my fingers with should the need arise.


-Kedosto

I wonder how I used to ride all over without tools when I was a kid and never have any problems. I remember my grandfather cleaning and lubricating my chain once and replying "because it needs it" when I asked him why he was doing that. Ignorance was bliss back then.

Did a lot of solo centuries on your old Schwinn, didja?

I too rode everywhere as a kid-- on a nice 20" BMX bike with no brakes, and no tools or supplies of any kind. I scarcely remember even getting flats more than a few times. But I also remember never riding farther than about 6-7 miles from the house. I rode "the neighborhood."

Na, we just all rode our bikes it if was too far to walk and it was no big deal. Carrying books to school was the maximum I ever carried back then, and I don't think any of us could have used a tool then if we needed to.

No hurt feelings on my end of the conversation. Those are valid questions to raise, but they haven't proven to be a problem for me.

The tool isn't particularly long. It fits easily into any of my saddle bags.

Because it's flat, I pack it at the bottom of the bag. That way, it takes up hardly any interior space and it's in a stable position and not poking anything. And with the straight-edge screwdriver -- really the only sharp(ish) part of the tool -- all the way at the end of the bag, it's pretty difficult to pinch a tube with it.

The MT-1 is a perfect pairing with a Serfas Speed Bag, which happens to be the saddle bag on my road bike. There's a slot/pocket that runs the length of the bag that almost seems custom made for the MT-1. The tool slips right in and is completely separated from the rest of the bag's contents.

I've got zero Torx fasteners on any of my bikes, so the MT-1 works pretty well for most of them. I do have a couple of vintage bikes without any hex key (Allen) fasteners, though, so as you've pointed out, the MT-1 isn't the right tool for every bike.

A "pre-flight check" similar to what a pilot does helps.

• Put the rear wheel between the legs, grab the saddle with your hands and wrench it up/down/sideways hard.
• Put the front wheel between your legs, grab the bar and check that it doesn't rotate side to side.
• Grab the front brake lever and rock the bike front to back feeling for a clunk which would indicate a loose headset.
• Grab the rear brake, put you foot on the pedal and push down hard to stress the drive train.
• Stand on the side of the bike, put one pedal in the six o'clock position, put your foot on it and press down hard. Try to flex the frame.
• Hold the bike an inch or two in the air and let it down. You don't have to slam it. Just enough to listen for rattles, something which might be loose like a water bottle cage.
• Check wheel quick release.
• Visually inspect tires, brake pads/calipers. Grab the brake pad holders in your fingers and try to move them. Grab the caliper and twist it to make sure it isn't loose.
• Ride across the parking lot or to the Cul de Sac before you head out in earnest.
• Etc.

-Tim-

I picked up a VeloChampion VC10 off of Amazon for $10 shipped. It's small and has everything I need for minor fixes. I'm no racer and stuffing the little tool in my saddle bag doesn't add much of anything.

do you live in an urban area?

Yes, it's a carefree joyous experience.

I do carry enough stuff to fix my flat tires - stopped worrying about all that other stuff. I'm typing this from home so I've obviously always managed to get back.