Tool recommendation?

**Catrin** · 04-16-2011, 02:42 PM

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...

**Irulan** · 04-16-2011, 05:21 PM

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

**Catrin** · 04-16-2011, 05:28 PM

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

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.

**Aggie_Ama** · 04-16-2011, 08:06 PM

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.

**crazycanuck** · 04-16-2011, 08:30 PM

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

**Becky** · 04-17-2011, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by crazycanuck

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

+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*

**Catrin** · 04-17-2011, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by crazycanuck

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

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.

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.

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?

**Irulan** · 04-17-2011, 05:21 PM

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?

no shin guards + flats = hamburger shins.

Shin guards are recommended. Look at "veggie skins"

**Catrin** · 04-17-2011, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Irulan

no shin guards + flats = hamburger shins.

Shin guards are recommended. Look at "veggie skins"

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...

**Catrin** · 04-19-2011, 06:30 PM

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.

**tzvia** · 04-19-2011, 08:38 PM

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.

**Becky** · 04-20-2011, 03:08 AM

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.

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

**Catrin** · 04-20-2011, 03:19 AM

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.

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