Story:
I've recently began taking my fixed gear on long rides. That necessitates carrying an axel bolt wrench - 15mm - for the inevitable flats. My current wrench is a heavy Craftsman.

Question:
Are there lightweight options for axel bolt removal?

Thoughts:
1. Maybe an allen bolt adapter? (8mm -> 15mm cup.)
2. Carbon-fiber wrench? (Only half kidding.)
3. Replace the bolts somehow with something that would be accessible with my multi-tool?

Disclaimer:
Don't hate because I'm tring to save weight. I go on 100+ mile rides and a heavy tool in the jersey pocket becomes really annoying after 25,000 pedal revolutions.

The Surly tool is small and kind of light

I have a set of Paul hubs which I love for this very reason. They come with 6mm allen instead of 15mm nut. If you keep your hubs though, I'd recommend something like this:

https://www.beyondbikes.com/BB/ItemDe...=ss-15mmopener

someone makes a Ti compact wrench with a bottle opener, not surly.
Paragon

Recycle - so does a Paul hub still have solid axels? Do you have a photo of yours?

The hubs might be a longer term solution but thanks for the link to the Ti tool. Do you have it? How much does it weigh?

It's not as light as a Ti wrench, but both Craftsman and Kobalt make a stubby combo 15mm wrench that fits in the smallest saddle wedge or water bottle.

I found some more but these don't seem very light.

Surly Jethro



GearWrench 15mm Ratchet

I do not have the tool my self. I can not remember if the axles are hollow or not but I do know that the axles are aluminum. If axle strength is your concern then I'd wager that your current setup type with solid track axles is the best.

They don't have all that drillium that the Paragon wrench has...the paragon wrench is faster too, Ti AND Drillium

I bought a cheap 15mm wrench and ground it in two and then ground each handle to a somewhat spindly little spike. Its cheap, it makes two wrenches, and no one ****s with me since I carry what appears to be a shiv in my bag.

I took a chop saw to my Craftsman wrench and wrapped the handle with friction tape. It fits in my smallest seatbag.

those gearwrenches rule, for the rest of us, btw.

Craftsman stubby FTW

4. Extra large saddle bag (could probably cost you the same as a new wrench).

I don't use saddle bags and you missed the point of this thread.

You take 100mi rides and don't use a saddle bag? Why on earth not?

What do you carry the spare tube and/or patch kit in?

Edit: reread OP and you carry it in your jersey pocket... gotcha.

but still, saddle bags are better than clunky stuff back there, i carry my phone back there and its annoying as it is

I'm a jersey stuffer I guess. Personal pet peeve - swaying weight on the bike when I am mashing. It makes the bike feel unstable. I try to pack as minimally as I can so the jersey constraint is a good benchmark.

I carry a small Cooks Bros multi-tool, CO2 and one lever. The rest is food and cell phone.

Sorry, it was just a helpful suggestion. I'll go shoot myself out back.

Not sure if this is light, but it sure looks cool.
https://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-Crank...QQcmdZViewItem

I also have one of those but I use it as a shop tool. It'll be perfect for the road if you chopped like 2" off.

I don't think it's the weight that's the real problem but rather the shape. A smaller wrench can mitigate this, but it also makes it a lot harder to actually take your wheel off.

Crap jammed in your jersey pocket sways more than a small, tight bag on your saddle (I know, I ride both ways). But if you really want something smal for the jerseyl, the Jethro Thule will do the job and is lot lighter than a cell phone (and smaller too). Just using that for comparison purposes.

I've got a small stubby 15mm from McMaster.com that is lighter than a Craftsman stubby but slightly longer than the Jethro. When I'm going ultra light I use this mini tool which should let you shave some more weight.

Nice. But that's one tool I wouldn't want in my pocket during a crash.

Great feedback so far...!