The Cyclist’s Toolbox: What to Have, and How to Use It
by: Troublegum
Posted on: Monday, January 7th, 2008 at 4:33 pm by: Troublegum
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The sheer number of tools and spare parts out there is mind-boggling. But lets face it, short of carrying a spare bike on your back, there is no way to be prepared for all possible mechanical failures. The goal is to carry as little as possible and still be prepared for 99% of your problems. Here’s a short list that can save your hide when cycling mishaps arise:
- A cycling-specific Multi-tool : Any Multi-tool worth its salt will have a selection of Allen wrenches, a screwdriver, a chain tool, and a spoke wrench. With these four things, you can adjust or repair almost anything on your bike. You will find tools out there with everything from pliers to nail files and magnifying glasses; just keep in mind that anything beyond the basics is just extra weight. In all my years of cycling, I have never uttered the phrase “man I wish I had a bottle opener.” My recommendation here is the Park I-Beam 3, which has these basics, a tire lever and none of the frills.
- A spare tube : The most common mechanical issue you will have when cycling is a flat tire. Having a replacement tube is a must. It is also important to remember that although you may be in a hurry to fix your flat and get riding again, don’t forget to sweep the inside of the tire to make sure that whatever caused your flat isn’t still in there.
- A patch kit : A simple patch kit is lightweight and costs a couple of dollars at most. While most people don’t like to spend the time to patch a tube while riding, your patch kit can be a lifesaver if you get more than one flat tire on the same ride.
- A tire lever : A tire lever is used to remove the tire from your wheel so you can replace a flat tube. Often this procedure can be done with your thumbs only, but you should bring a lever anyway, just in case. A high quality plastic lever is preferred over metal levers because you are less likely to do damage to your rim with plastic. In this category, Park tire levers are consistently the best quality, longest lasting levers.
- A bicycle pump : For racing, you may consider CO2 for tire inflation, but for most purposes a small frame mounted or pocket-sized pump will allow you to get enough air in your tires to get you home. If you like CO2, consider the Innovations Second wind CO2 inflators that can also be used as a hand pump in the event that you run out of CO2. Otherwise, the Crank Brothers Power pump is a nice pocket-sized solution for mountain biking, and the Planet Bike Roadie is a good solution for cycling on the road.
All of this gear will store nicely in the back pockets of your cycling jersey or in a small saddle bag that mounts under your seat, and will prepare you for most problems on your ride. For everything else, I recommend that you simply carry a cell phone. While the cycling community tends to frown on answering phone calls out on a ride, your phone will be your greatest asset when you have a problem that can’t be fixed with the tools you have.
