Top tools you need to carry when biking
We all have a friend that goes out on a 4 hour bike ride with a huge bag of stuff that could easily be mistaken for a two-week camping trip equipment bag. There are also those who leave the house with nothing else than a bike and a phone. Its not easy to choose exactly which tools or accessories we will need while we are out biking because the number of things that can go wrong is certainly varied. So what should we do, carry a small tool-shed on our backs or just accept the possibility of a bad day. This article will try to show you the most important tools, the ones you should never leave behind. Don´t worry the list is shorter than you may think.
Multi-tool, if possible with a chain tool
The multi-tool is for the biker as the Swiss Army Knife is for a rock climber. This tool is practically mandatory. You should never underestimate minor mishaps, they are by far the most common. And a loose screw can very well put an end to your ride.
There are many types of multi-tools. First choose a quality one. Not only it will last longer, but cheap ones can fail you when you least expect it. Check that it includes a full set of Allen keys (also Hex Keys), a screwdriver and a chain tool. If it doesn’t have one you will have to carry one separately, a broken chain is a very common problem.
Tire levers
We have all suffered more than one flat tire during a ride. It always happens at the worst possible time. Even if you are using a tubeless setup, some tears and punctures may be to much for the sealant fluid to handle. Changing a tire is most certainly not the easiest thing to do without tire levers. They may seem unimportant and easy to forget, but they are worth their weight in gold if you happen to need them.
You can usually find them in packs of three. But you only need two of them if you know what you are doing. Just use them to remove the tire, not to set it back up. If you do, you risk puncturing your tube again. Try to avoid cheap ones that may bend after a couple of uses. Some multi-tools include them.
Quick chain link
One of the common problems is a broken chain. Can be due to lack of lubrication, pedalling hard while changing gears or just by crashing your bike into some trees or rocks. Your best bet to fix this is to remove the affected link using your chain tool, and slap in a quick chain link. That´s it, you will be good to go in a couple of minutes.
Off course it is very recommended to know how to use it first. Its not too complicated but you should get the hang of it within the safety of your garage. No rain, no burning sun, no mud. Take your time with an old chain and avoid making your first time a really bad experience. One thing you should keep in mind is that all chains are not the same, and the are no universal quick links, so you should check the ones you are buying are actually the right ones for you.
Derailleur hanger
I get this is an odd one to mention. Most people don’t think of it or even know what it is.
The derailleur hanger is the piece that serves as a bridge between the frame and the rear derailleur. Lets face it: you are going to crash your bike at some point. It’s mission is to break off when this happens to avoid damaging your frame. Not all crashes lead to this, but if they do, you will certainly appreciate loosing this small piece instead of your frame. If the worst happens, you will have to remove the rear derailleur, shorten your chain and continue the rest of the way single-speed.
Same as the quick link, not all bikes have the same derailleur hanger, so make sure you keep one or two extras at home. Recently some efforts have been made into creating a standard, but for now just be careful they match when buying some.
Air pump or CO2 cartridge.
Lets say it again: flat tires are very common. Having an air pump or a CO2 cartridge is a must.
Nowadays you can find really small air pumps that fit in you frame, in any bag or even in your pockets. An alternative is carrying a CO2 cartridge. This is ideal when you are in the middle of a race or event. It will allow you to inflate your tube in 4 or 5 seconds. You will need to keep in mind what kind of tires you are going to use them on. There are models of several capacities and prices.
A spare tube, and a tube repair kit
Unless you are running tubeless, this is another must. And even if you are tubeless there are reasons to carry those items with you. Just imagine you get a tear on your tire and the sealant fluid can´t seal it. Well, just slap on a tube, inflate it, and keep going.
A repair kit is also quite recommended. You can even get one that will allow you to patch your tire, not just your inner tube.
Last but not least, zip ties and a rag.
I can´t count the times a simple zip tie got me out of a problem. They are good for many things. The only limit for using them is your imagination. Can be used to secure our bikes to cars, to attach your gear or tools to the frame or the seat or the helmet, or even as a sort of bike lock. Some times they end up being better than more expensive solutions. They are really cheap and come in all sizes, and you can get them in all the colours of the rainbow, what more do you want.
The rag is pretty much self explanatory.