Tool recommendations

[Medianox]

After getting a flat on my first ride on my new bike, I understand the need for a tool kit to take with me on the road. Anyone have any favorites? Is a multi-type tool good enough for most stuff or does it need to be something more elaborate? :confused:
I have a pump, extra tubes and an allen wrench-what else is helpful/needed for everyday rides? How about on longer rides what should I anticipate without having to drag the whole tool bench with me? :)

[aicabsolut]

Be sure you have a multi-tool with all the sizes of wrenches that you need for your bike, at least for some major parts like stem, seat post (collar and clamp for saddle), cleats, etc. If you need an 8mm allen wrench for your pedals only, you will probably be ok without it, since that is an odd size for many multi-tools. You don't need a chain breaker and extra links if you don't know how to use it.

Take tire levers (plastic, not metal) and spare tubes. Have a pump and/or CO2. If you have deep rims, take a valve extender. While you should carry 1 or 2 tubes that have the right length stem for your wheels, if you need to borrow a tube, it's good to have the valve extender on hand, even though they don't tend to work very well as a permanent fix.

[MamboGirl]

I'm also shopping for a multi tool kit, and there are so many out there, I don't know which one would be the handiest.
Any advice? here is a link to a web site that has a lot available and looks like great prices.
http://www.realcyclist.com/roadbike/group/100000774/Bike-Multi-Tools.html

[aicabsolut]

The only thing I can think of for differentiating between lots of very good multi-tools is to make sure that you've got the right sizes (not all of them have the same allen wrenches, for example). Then be sure it's not TOO tiny. If you have to tighten down the clamp on your hood so that it doesn't move and shut your brake on you (yeah, not fun), you want the allen wrench to be long enough to fit down in there to where the screw is. The 3-pronged ParkTools one works the best for stuff like that, but it's awkward to carry around. My Pedros multi tool is good enough to get me home, though it won't get it tightened all the way easily. If the bolts on your saddle clamp are similarly hard to get to, then that might also dictate which tool you get. Nothing like spontaneous saddle movement to make your ride unpleasant.

[Medianox]

Thanks for the info...Dh has a huge toolset in the garage and I was able to pick out some allen wrenches that were long enough to get to parts and have good leverage, I'll be on the lookout for a multi-tool that has similar sizes and features.
Good advice and thanks!

[PscyclePath]

Strong recommendations for a Park MTB-3... I can just about take a bike apart by the side of the road with this thing and put it back together if I have to. I carry a separate set of tire levers, several CO2 cartridges, one of those little micro-inflators, and various patching & booting supplies. So far it's worked well for me, on either the road or trails...

[Owlie]

Timely thread. I'm looking for one myself, as I'm starting to venture out without DBF, who is otherwise known as The Packhorse.

[msincredible]

One thing to think about is that generally the more features on a multitool, the bulkier it becomes and the harder it is to get into tight spaces.

[DebW]

As far as carrying on the bike, I bring the 2 allen keys that fit most everything on my bike (4 and 5 mm). Much smaller and lighter than a multi-tool. When I've got the fenders mounted, then the 3 mm allen and an 8 mm open wrench would also be useful if they were to come loose. I also carry 2 tire irons, 2 tubes, a patch kit, and a fiberfix spoke with tiny spoke wrench. I always have a frame pump and my pocketknife which includes screwdrivers as well. Recently I found a need for pliers when a piece of wire got imbedded in my tire, but that piece was at such an angle that it didn't pop the tube so I rode home and used pliers. A spare chain link (try the Missing Link or a SRAM powerlink) is another good idea, though a chaintool would probably be required to remove the broken link.

[msincredible]

Next time I need to get one I may just make my own kit, like this:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bicycle-Mini-Tool-Kit/

[Medianox]

Great info everybody! Thanks for the tips and sharing...