noahjz

Dear BikeForums,

Hi how are you ? Hope your summer is off to a good start!

I guess my life must be going ok because the biggest problem I seem to have is that I use maybe 4 different bags when I bike around, and only two of them have spare tire kits in case I get a flat. By spare tire kit I mean really minimal stuff for fixing a flat: 1 tube, tire levers, a multi-tool, and a mini-pump. What I really want out of life is a small bag, not necessarily built just for this purpose although maybe so, that I can move from larger bag to larger bag, rather than accumulating 4 sets of tubes/levers/multi-tools/mini-pumps so that each bag has a dedicated kit.

I do realize I could just move my kit around from bag to bag, but the way things are set up the various parts go in different pockets in the various bags and so it is easy to bring everything except one crucial item of the kit and then I'm out of luck if I get a flat.

Apologies in advance if this question has already been asked a million times, my search skills are good but not great. Also apologies if there is a sub-forum devoted specifically to bike accessories that I missed.

Thanks!

Noah

taz777

I have a similar issue - and the bikes require different inner tubes so just lugging one tool bag from bike to bike won't work unless I swap tubes out.

The nearest I've come is to use a tool bottle that fits in a bottle cage which will contain all your tools and then you secure a tube under the saddle somehow.

That way you can just fit the tool bottle onto the bike you're riding that day.

Ironfish653

Are you looking for a bag that mounts to the bike, or something that you can put in your back pack / messenger bag / man-purse, etc.?

If it's a kit that you're moving from different backpacks; go to Home Depot, and look on the aisle where the tool belts are. There are usually several kinds of small pouches or cases that might work for you. I do this with my phone charger / cable / battery stick, for days when i take the car, i can just grab the little pouch out of my bike bag.

As far as moving bike-to-bike, there are a number of quick-release bags that may work, or the 'tool bottle' I find that each of my bikes has a slightly different requirement for tools, not to mention different sized tubes, so moving the same bag from bike to bike means either re-packing, or hauling a bunch of extra stuff.
I've been in this long enough that i've accumulated several seat/frame bags, and a number of tools and patch kits so each bike gets it's own bag, which stays on all the time. I got a couple of generic pump brackets, so i can easily swap pumps from bike to bike. (the commuter always gets one, and i usually don't carry one on the townie, unless i'm riding farther than I'm prepared to walk home)

Milton Keynes

I have two bikes and just put an underseat bag on each one to carry a spare tube, patch kit, and maybe a few tools. If both bikes had the same size tires I could just put what I needed in one and switch it from bike to bike, but one bike has 700x28's and the other has 26"x2" tires. Also one is a mountain bike without QR skewers, so I have to carry wrenches to remove the wheels. So I just found it easier to have one bag on each bike with what I'll need to fix a flat.

jefnvk

Saddle bag and pump on each bike for me. Ok, maybe every bike doesn't have a pump, but the regular ones have their own. Saddle bag has an appropriately sized and valved tube, tire levers, and patch kit. Pump is appropriate for the bike. After getting stuck with a flat and no tube when I was sharing packs between bikes, I dropoed the dollars to equip them all.

Past that, your pack can then just deal with the ride needs

Machka 

Sometimes I keep stuff like that in a Ziploc which I can move from one Carradice or handlebar bag to another.

But another source of small bags is your local Dollar store or similar. Check in the ladies make-up section for small make-up bags ... I've got a collection of those I use for stuff I need to transfer from one handlebar bag to another. Also check in the stationary section for things like pencil cases.

And sometimes Dollar stores get in a collection of random small bags. I've picked up waterproof pouches for paperwork on tours, and all sorts.

JohnDThompson 

I just put an inner tube and tire levers in an old tube sock and move that from bike to bike as needed.

big chainring 

I like your style...the way I gave done it for years.

Kedosto

noahjz

Thanks everyone! I am sort of leaning towards tube sock at this point, but I will mull your ideas over. I appreciate the responses.

thebellmont

Swift Industries has a tool roll that folds and rolls underneath the saddle. It's an interesting idea because it gives you a clean surface for roadside repairs and is more durable than a tube sock. Though when compared to other less purpose built options you might find a tool roll similar and cheaper at a hardware store or Harbor Freight.

Steve B.

Litespud

rgconner

I use the little black bag that came with some pair of glasses or other.

Little classier than a sock, and it has a drawstring at the top.

Ballenxj

Walmart has a very limited supply of seat/handlebar bags, but a quick search on amazon will open a plethora of options. I just bought a rear rack and trunk bag through them, and was happy with the results.

wphamilton

Best policy IMO. Even if you streamline the swap with an old sock or bag, there will be times when we're in a hurry or neglectful and don't do it. If it's on the bike we can forget about it and just go.

I also keep an appropriate 1-size spoke wrench in the saddle bags. For convenience, I always know where it is, never lose it.

Eric S.

I use a plastic peanut butter container because it also fits into a bottle cage.

Patriot1 

KraneXL

Brocephus

Dude,that was a great idea! And just yesterday I stumbled across two of these Profile cages in a box of spare parts !!!
Anyway, I have enough saddle bags, tubes, levers, multi-tools, that I keep all of my (now very humble) stable equipped, but those max out my saddle bags, so I've had to put my co2 inflator in a zip-lock bag and carry that in a jersey pocket (along with my phone and chap-stick.)
But man, I'm digging this ^ peanut butter jar trick !!

andrei_r

In another thread some time ago somebody referred to it as Park tool peanut butter.