When you were a kid, you probably heard this nursery rhyme poem:
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
For the want of a bolt, a ride was lost
Everything was coming together for a great ride last night. The temps were reasonable, the winds were light and I was hitting the road about an hour before dusk. Son Matt and I had ridden a bumpy unpaved road on our last outing, and it felt like maybe my seat had dropped just enough to be noticeable.
I pulled into the parking lot of my old newspaper to chat with a former coworker who was walking out and to raise the seat a tad. Because I thought it had slipped, I cranked down hard on the bolt that holds the seat post in place. Then, “just to be sure,” I gave it that one extra little erg of a twist. One erg too many. The bolt snapped off.
I’ve been accused to carrying everything on my bike, but the one thing I DIDN’T have was a spare bolt. I looked at all the other bolts on the bike to see if I could re-purpose one, but no joy.
I COULD have made it the two miles home looking like Groucho Marx pedaling down the road, but I wimped out and asked Wife Lila to fetch me.
Three bolts – two spares
I made a morning trip to George’s Hardware for a new bolt and two spares.
That gave me a chance to do an inventory of the tools and repair stuff I carry on a routine basis.
Park Chain Tool, magnets and the bolts
I bought a Park Tool CT-5 Mini Brute Chain Tool before I knew how to use it. My theory was that you’re always better off to have a tool with you.
How many times have you been broken down on the side of the road and have someone say, “I could get you running if I just had a triple-gaited Throgmartin?”
As it turned out, it was good investment. Son Matt and I were riding the Withlacoochee Trail one weekend when my gears started shifting all by themselves at random intervals.
I noticed that the master link of my chain was sticking out just enough to cause the chain to move in or out, causing the gears to shift. No problem. There was a bike shop alongside the trail in about five or six miles.
Then I made the mistake of standing up on the pedals. SNAP! went the chain.
Necessity makes for a fine teacher. Matt managed to get the chain back together well enough that we could get to the LBS.
At the bottom left, you can see a couple of rare earth magnets that work better than the normal magnets that come with your bike computer. They also do a great job of keeping all those small parts together inside a plastic film can. (I’m sure glad I have a stockpile of those left over from my shooting days.)
Keeping the bicycle tires going round and round
Flat tires and out-of-true wheels can leave you stranded if you can’t do quick fixes. I always carry one spare tube if I’m riding in town. If I’m going somewhere remote, I’ll carry two, plus a patch kit.
I HAVE needed two tubes. I haven’t needed the patch kit yet. (I also have a small tube of Super Glue in the box with the patches.)
This is an area where I have the most (maybe unnecessary) redundancy.
- Two sets of tire tool levers: A generic set and a Crank Brothers Speed Lever. The Crank Brothers lever hasn’t worked on every tire I’ve tried to use it on, but when it does, it’s slick.
- Two spoke wrenches. I think I picked up the Park Tool Spoke Wrench and then found that I had left it at home when I needed it to compensate for a broken spoke. That’s when I got the second one. I carry both. That way I’ll have a spare when I drop the first one in the tall grass.
A couple of one dollar bills. You can spend them or use them as an emergency boot in the tire. (If you don’t have a dollar bill, four quarters won’t work.)- A Kevlar FiberFix Emergency Spoke Replacement Kit. I could have used it once when I broke a spoke in Missouri. I managed to bring the wheel back into round enough to ride home, but if I had been out in the middle of nowhere, the Kevlar could have been a ride-saver.
- A tool for removing Schrader valves. Again, it’s one of those things I’ve only needed once, but it saved a lot of fumbling around.
- A CO2 inflator (similar to the Innovations Ultraflate Plus CO2) and a couple of cartridges. I picked an inflator that will use threadless cartridges available at almost any sporting goods store. Considering that I have a Topeak Road Morph Pump with Gauge, I really don’t need these. On the other hand, when you’re being carried off by mosquitoes, it’s nice to be able to get that tire inflated in a hurry.
Surly Long Haul Trucker carries spare spokes
One of the the things I like about my Surly Long Haul Trucker is that it carries two spare spokes on the chain stays. That’s just another example of how this bike is well-designed for the bike tourist. Note the two Rare Earth magnets on the back of the crank arm.
The multi-tool gets used more than any other
I’ve used several multi-tools over the years. My favorite was a bright yellow Pedro tool that I managed to kill. My wife, bought me a new Pedro, but it’s blue, not yellow. I generally carry the one she gave me and this one. They’re similar. One stays in my Arkel Small Bar Bag or CamelBak M.U.L.E. and the other lives with the other tools in the Arkel Tail Rider Trunk Bag.
I very seldom use the adjustable wrench, but it’s handy when you come upon somebody riding a cheap *-Mart bike who needs help. I keep a short length of innertube over the handle. It cushions the grip, can be cut up into spacers or rubber bands and can be used as a tire boot.
The open-ended wrench is a Brooks Adjustment tool. If you have to ask, you shouldn’t own one.
The Leatherman Tool takes care of just about anything the other stuff won’t handle.
Emergency lights for my bike
A Mini Maglite is always handy if you have a breakdown, need some light to find something you’ve dropped or if your primary lights go out. The strappy thing is a handy mount that will let you quickly and securely attach your Maglite to your handlebars.
The Maglite and the inexpensive flasher see most of their use when I invite a newbie on a night ride or we get caught out after dark. The Maglite makes a great be-seen light and will do an adequate job of lighting the road. I used to rig it to my helmet with the bar mount when I wanted some extra light.
I don’t need Halogen bulbs anymore
One thing I can get rid of is my stash of three spare halogen bulbs for my Lumotec generator lights. Halogen lights get dimmer as they age, they blow out and they’re hard to find. Now that I’ve switched my halogen lights for a Lumotec IQ Cyo R N LED light, I won’t need to carry them anymore. I won’t be sorry to get rid of them.
It all fits in a cloth bag
I keep all the tools inside a plastic Ziploc bag inside a cloth bag that telephone headsets came in.
How much does it weigh? Got me. I don’t have a scale to weigh myself because ignorance is bliss. Compared to me, the weight of the tool bag is negligible.
I’d have been happy to have been carrying the weight of an extra bolt the other night.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
Thanks! I carry a similar kit in my rando bag, along with a first aid kit and a few other things. After reading your post, I’m planning to add a fiber fix spoke and a few extra bolts in various sizes. My current kit can be seen at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianogilvie/3642971246/
Brian,
Looks like we’re brothers. Certainly closer in type than my weight wienie REAL brother who thinks all the tools you need are a credit card and a cell phone.
I only covered the tools in this post. I’ll document my first aid and other supplies later.
Nice shot of your stuff, by the way.
If I am going to be out farther than I can carry (yes, carry) my bike back home then I will put a small amount of things in the seat bag and hope for the best. Of course the regular stuff is in there, tube, inflator and extra air, small first aid kit, and a Park Tool Kit.
In comparison, YOU carry enough stuff on your bike to perform surgery whereas I am happy providing CPR.
It also struck me when reading your post about snapping the bolt that you didn’t walk over to street sign and get out your wrench and “borrow” one of the bolts. I suspect that it would have fit.
At least you had sense enough to all Lila instead of getting out many pounds of iron ore and coke and smelting your own right there in the parking lot.
“At least you had sense enough to all Lila instead of getting out many pounds of iron ore and coke and smelting your own right there in the parking lot.”
I have yet to find a portable smelting kit yet that doesn’t eat up the batteries.
Actually this list of tools compares to mine almost identically. I don’t have extra spokes; I do have a spoke wrench. I still need a lighter wrench and pliers however.
Those who snicker at your 2 lbs of tools would be the first to ask you to help fix their bike.
heffel,
Thanks for providing validation.
For clarification, I don’t use a battery-powered smelting kit. I do it the old-fashioned way, but the city frowns on me starting a fire in the middle of a parking lot. It’s only for real emergencies. That’s why I called for a ride.
You nailed it about those who snicker being the first to borrow stuff.
I can’t think of anyone who has ridden with me any distance who hasn’t tapped my stash of food, bug spray, sunscreen, tools, tubes, clothing or something.
Especially thanks for commenting, which led me to your site. I’m curious to read your comments about bad MO drivers. I’m from there, go back at least once a year, and have had reasonably good experiences.
On the other hand, I’m living S. FL, so my standard of “bad driver” may be slightly different.
Ken–thanks for the response. I ride in rural Massachusetts and I like to have what it takes to get home if I have a flat or other minor breakdown when I’m 20 miles away from home. I often ride with my wife, so calling her wouldn’t help. Besides, I ride a Surly LHT with a Brooks saddle so I’m already disqualified for weight-weeniedom.
WRT bad drivers: did you catch the story on NPR this morning about traffic light cameras in Florida? If not it’s available at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112804933. What particularly caught my attention was the vice-mayor of Pembroke Pines saying that “in south Florida, increasingly, a yellow light has become a signal to speed up.”
Brian,
I didn’t see the story, but I see the behavior every time I’m on the road.
Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s limited to S. FL.
Paul Patterson, on the Bicycle Lifestyle Google Group, has a great idea. I’m hijacking his comment for here:
About 8 or 9 years ago I came up with a tool kit that fits into an altoids tin.
When the seat post bolt on my Bianchi Talladega got busticated last year, I just rode a few blocks to the nearest Ace Hardware store and picked up a replacement bolt. Why carry when you can find?
It wasn’t until earlier this year that I even started carrying a spare tube and CO2 inflator. In the last 4,800 miles, I have only had one flat tire. {knocks on wood}
I may be due for roadside repairs but, until then, I’m riding with as little stuff as possible.
Cheers,
Matt
If you’re on the west side of Lake Okeechobee, there aren’t any Ace Hardware stores.
I’m happy with my bolt.
If you break down while we’re riding, I’ll RENT you my tools.
I have saved other people’s rides several times with zip ties. I carry a few of assorted sizes (8-14″) in a PVC tube in my Camelbak. I would not be without them.
Chain tool can be invaluable. I once finished a mtn bike ride as a single speed after my RD got trashed.
Bob,
Ditto on the zip ties.
I’m also a big fan of Velcro straps. I didn’t think to list them because I carry them wrapped around the frame and other places on the bike to hold the wires going from my generator to the taillight.
I keep enough spares there to be able to rob them, like the other night when I was riding with a gal whose long pants kept getting caught in her chain.
A couple of small stainless steel hose clamps can make an emergency repair to your rack if a weld pops loose.
I tend to be like the general fighting the last war. My tools and parts are built up of stuff that I needed for my last problem or one I saw someone else having on the side of the road.
I also have a couple clamps packed. I picked up some rubber coated ones from a hardware store. Nobody in my riding circles questions the gear that I haul; I have helped them all fix their bikes.
I do not carry the dollars, but I do have a tire patch kit. I have yet to need it, I have coincidentally always had a spare tire when one was needed.
Everyone in my group has a different multi-tool; the variety has been needed at times. I do want a leatherman though.
I admire all but the lack of will to ride home the two lousy miles standing up. I’d walk that if I had a serious repair.
+1 for zipties
+1 for velcro
+1 for hose clamps
I like an old innertube with valve cut out and knotted in the center for hauling stuff.
I mean, what use is a kitchen sink if you can’t bring a towel and soap and a gallon jug of water?
Tsk, Tsk,
Yep, I was lame.
Instead of the innertube, I keep at bungee cord designed for holding tarps down hanging on my trunk bag. It’s light-weight, a loop about eight inches long, with a ball on the end. Great for lashing something to the bag very quickly.