I am doing a short tour from Akron to Washington DC, mostly via the trail between Pittsburgh and DC. I just had to change my first cassette side spoke last week and bought a chain whip and the special tool. Just wondering how many of you would take those two tools with them on a short tour like that. (I am pulling a trailer, not panniers)

Thanks
Mike

The cassette tool, or something similar, is needed to remove the cassette, but the chain whip is not needed. Use the chain on your bike to help hold the cassette steady; after removing the wheel you can place so the chain is partially on the cassette, then place your foot on a pedal to hold the chain steady while you loosen the cassette lock ring.

I hope I can explain this adequately. I carry a 3' + length of narrow webbing. It is actually part of something that mountain climbers use. To turn it into a chain whip you tie a knot in one end. The knot catches onto the teeth of the cassette when it spins as the wrench turns the lockring. The other side of the webbing is tied to the wheel. If this doesn't make sense I can take a picture. Until you need it it is very light & takes up little room. I am carrying it in a zip lock bag because the first time it is used it will become quite messy. Of course I also have to carry a crescent wrench & cassette lockring interface. The crescent wrench has been machined down narrow enough to work as a pedal wrench, and it will also work with my Phil Wood bottom bracket interfaces. I hope this makes sense!

Tom

Or you get one of these.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/s...ock/index.html

Fiberfix spoke, no chain whip, no cassette removal tool.

A chainwhip is NEVER needed. There are many better options, some of which are listed above.

QFT

On our tour, for 2 bikes, we're planning on taking 2 fiberfix spokes, and 6 normal spokes. The fiberfix guys would only be used in case of a broken drivetrain side, rear-wheel spoke.

+1, that's what i was gonna say too.

Thanks all. I guess I bought the tool too soon. oh well, it wasn't much.

Actually I don't think you bought those tools to soon both of them are very useful to have around for maintenance at times other than touring. For example your cassette will wear and need to be replaced, you might break another spoke, I like to occasionally pull the cassette to clean off accumulated gunk/crud/muck/etc, the list goes on.