Tool recommendation?

I just have the bare basic mini-tool on my touring/road bikes. One tube, levers, small Serfas mini-tool with 8 tools and a Park Super Patch. Is there anything else I should carry on the mountain bike? I won't really be getting out there until after the clinic, but want to keep my eyes open for a good sale on my mountain bike seat-bag contents between now and then...

I am really looking forward to seeing what the disc brakes are like, I've heard how they are so much stronger from the caliper brakes I am accustomed to...

The braking is different with discs. You'll want to learn one finger braking, and modulating. Whatever you do, don't grab a fistfull!

Thanks for the warning, the Gunnar will have V-brakes rather than the cantilevers on my LHT - guess I will know a lot more about brakes before long! Hopefully no hard lessons in this department :rolleyes:

I am thinking I should get a better multi-tool for the mountain bike. At the clinic there will be "campfire clinics" on the Sat. evening to address things such as fixing broken chains, tire changing, and other topics.

DH has a Crank Brothers one that I think has 16 tools. I also carry a quick link (in case a chain snaps), several CO2, a tube, a pretty decent pump, tire levers and a small first aid kit. I am tubeless but I still have a tube because you can flat on tubeless.

Always know how to use that chain breaker and acutally carry it...speaking from experience..

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Always know how to use that chain breaker and acutally carry it...speaking from experience..

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+1. IME, that's really what makes a "mountain bike" tool different than a "road bike" tool. (Ok, and maybe a Torx driver if your brake rotors use them.)

I've never needed a chain tool on a road bike *knocks wood*

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Always know how to use that chain breaker and acutally carry it...speaking from experience..

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Will remember. I am going to have a SRAM chain if that makes a difference - I sort of understand about the power link, but really won't until I see it demonstrated.

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

DH has a Crank Brothers one that I think has 16 tools. I also carry a quick link (in case a chain snaps), several CO2, a tube, a pretty decent pump, tire levers and a small first aid kit. I am tubeless but I still have a tube because you can flat on tubeless.

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Thanks for this - I AM getting a good pump with a gauge that will fit in my Camelbak so I can have it with me regardless of the bike I am riding. Certainly a first-aid kit is a must-have - especially as a beginner. My LBS is filled with avid mountain bikers, so will ask them their suggestion for a multi-tool for the mountain bike, but it is good to have an idea of the appropriate size. I think I've noticed the Crank Brothers before.

They are recommending I get shin guards since I am starting out on BMX pedals, and my pedals have something like 15 pins. Considering the number of scars from my other pedals last year that only had 6 pins, this might not be a bad idea. Has anyone here done this?

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Originally Posted by Catrin

They are recommending I get shin guards since I am starting out on BMX pedals, and my pedals have something like 15 pins. Considering the number of scars from my other pedals last year that only had 6 pins, this might not be a bad idea. Has anyone here done this?

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no shin guards + flats = hamburger shins.

Shin guards are recommended. Look at "veggie skins"

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Originally Posted by Irulan

no shin guards + flats = hamburger shins.

Shin guards are recommended. Look at "veggie skins"

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Cool, thanks for the recommendation! If I did not have prior experience with this on my touring bike I might "pshah" but I just have to look at my scars from using BMX for road use...

My LBS had the 16-tool Crank Brothers - it does have a chain tool, along with torx wrenches for the brakes. I will need to get a couple of power-links, I've two bikes with a SRAM chain - and I had already purchased a Crank Brothers pump that has a small tire gauge.

I saw my lovely Jamis almost put together today - and she was only delivered today!!! Lovely bike, though I didn't realize that the frame is so small the rear suspension removes any possibility of a water bottle on the frame at all. That is fine, I prefer my Camelbak anyway - just found that interesting.

I've braze-ons for two water bottles but won't bother putting on any cages. I COULD use the one underneath the down-tube I suppose - but that seems a waste as whatever is there will get filthy.

On my bike, a small Specialized, I've got one water bottle mount, and it is very important that it be usable to me. In our hot summers, I like to fill it with an energy/electrolyte drink. I leave the camelbak for water only. So I've been using the Arundlel Side Loader cage. I can get a large camelbak Podium bottel in there, and it pulls out straight to the side.

As for tools, gosh I can't find one that works well all around. The CB-17 has a good selection, but the chain breaker sucks. So I also carry an old Bontrager mini tool that has a great chain breaker. Then I throw in a Park MT-1 tool (great allen key tool), tire irons and a patch kit. I keep a micro tool with a mini pliers in my wallet at all times so that is also with me on my MTB rides. Overkill? I donno, I've used them all at one point or another so the are not just dead weight. If I found the perfect mini tool I could narrow it down, but I don't think it exists.

Shin guards and elbow pads look silly. But I wear them all the time while MTBing. It's already saved my skin- I crashed hard doing a superman when my bike jammed into something buried in soft dry sand while I was turning at speed. While I did bruise my ribs bad, I didn't lose all the skin from my elbow or slice open my shin. I use FOX knee/shin guards, and the awesome 6 6 1 EVO elbow pads.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Lovely bike, though I didn't realize that the frame is so small the rear suspension removes any possibility of a water bottle on the frame at all. That is fine, I prefer my Camelbak anyway - just found that interesting.

I've braze-ons for two water bottles but won't bother putting on any cages. I COULD use the one underneath the down-tube I suppose - but that seems a waste as whatever is there will get filthy.

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My full-squishy is a couple sizes bigger than yours, give or take, and I still only get one under-downtube braze-on. Like you, I'm not about to drink from anything stored there, especially when riding the local area that's shared with horses :eek:

I will just put Heed directly in the bladder for my Camelbak. I did this last summer for rides 3 hours or longer and never had a problem with things growing in it. I might get a separate bladder just for this and make it live in the freezer when I am not on the bike - but the new Camelbak bladders are much easier to clean and the material is supposed to have anti-bacterial properties.

I also decided against a seat-bag, I've got plenty of storage in my pack, more than enough that provides room for tire-changing things + lots of other stuff that I might decide I need.