pizza777

I usually carry a portable pump, chain lube, a patch kit and one of those topeak multi tools. I also have a bike with bolt on wheels. I was initially going to make a 120mm quick release rear wheel but I figured it would be easier just to get a pair of hex ratchets to put in my portable kit. Can anyone recommend me a cheap, lightweight pair of ratchets to carry with me?

I'm looking for one of these but I don't know what size I should get?

Chrome Vanadium Steel Ratchet Combination Spanner Wrench (12mm) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

Little Darwin

I quit carrying lube with me, since I never used it.

For the bolt on wheels, I wouldn't worry about ratcheting, just get box/open wrenches since you shouldn't have to use them much. Lighter, cheaper, and no ratcheting mechanism to get fouled up. Also, you usually only have to loosen the nuts a couple of turns to remove a wheel.

I have been known to carry a small crescent wrench with me, even though my wheels are quick release. That way I have the flexibility to do what I need, and can help others if they use a different size. However, with your message, I just realized that there are times when a second wrench would be useful.

You can also look into the stamped steel "bicycle wrenches" that you can sometimes find for cheap (or at least used to be able to) as they often have holes and slots for a variety of bolts, including pedals etc.

fietsbob

Depends on how far IM riding .. locally A puncture is all I worry about .

thorn resistant tubes in Schwalbe marathon plus tires I don't even sweat that .

cyccommute 

The wrench should probably be a 15mm. But a quick release make life easier. No tools.

And don't buy the tool from DealExtreme. Your local hardware store should have them.

Phil_gretz

I maintain my bikes carefully, so there are rarely mechanical surprises. So, what I carry depends on the type of ride:

Road, <3 hour - flat repair* only

Road, >3 hour, supported - flat repair* plus a multi-tool (mostly to help others)

Road, >3 hour, unsupported, includes short/day touring - flat repair*, multitool, spares (1 inner cable each, extra tube, quick link, zip ties, duct tape), presta-to-schrader adapter, and maybe a leatherman

MTB (any duration) - flat repair*, multitool with chain tool, spare links and quick link, and spare derailleur hanger. If I'm riding with anyone with a nutted axle, I bring a stubby 15mm box wrench, too.



* flat repair = 1 spare tube, 1 patch kit, 2 tire levers, hand pump, tire boot

t x

For almost all rides I carry just a patch kit & topeak multi tool. If I'm riding my single speed bike I carry this wrench: Amazon.com: Portland Design Works 3 Wrencho Tire Lever (Coated): Sports & Outdoors and my super small multi tool, otherwise the larger multi tool is in the saddle bag of my hybrid along with some plastic tire levers.

For rides > 1hr I'm usually on my hybrid which also has a frame pump.

xtrajack

I carry a lot more than I need to:

a set of allen wrenches
set of combination wrenches
Park MTB-3 multi tool
chain tool
cassette removal tool
bottom bracket tool
chain whip
crank tool
tire irons
diagonal cutters
patch kit
extra tube
2 pumps, one is also my seat post
a selection of 1/4" bits with driver
spare front & rear shift cables
spare front & rear brake cables

That is in addition to the EDC tools that I carry on my person.

pizza777

I actually was planning to get a rear wheel rim with quick release but the slimmest I found was 126mm and my bike has 120mm rear spacing. I think I glanced around it it said something about having to shave it down and it potentially not holding the wheel strongly enough as bolted on so I figured why go through all that trouble when I can just carry two ratchets with me.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-5-7-Spee...item460e1f982c

SkyDog75

My usual:
CO2 inflator and 2+ CO2 cartridges, depending on distance
1 spare tube
1 patch kit
1 boot
2 tire levers
Park Tool MT-1 "dogbone" multi-tool

If the bike I'm taking has a pump mounted on it, scratch the CO2.

And add a crescent wrench when I'm riding with my daughters for things like bolt-on wheels.

rydabent

Patch kit--tubes-mini pump-CO2 inflater and bottles--bike multi tool---leatherman tool--tire boot--quick link--6 in adj wrench--$10 bill--rags---bottle of alcohol--first aid kit

himespau 

Patch kit, 2 tubes, multitool, tire levers, var tire jack, dogbone wrench, pump, nitrile gloves, small first aid kit, cotton ball to find stuff stuck in tire I can't see, hmmm, I think that's about it.

slorollin

Multi-bike tool, pump, extra tube, patch kit, tire levers, needle-nose pliers, 4" adjustable wrench, a couple of presta to schraeder adapters, cloth band-aids and a couple of wire/zip ties. Also, I'm going to add a small pair of vice grips. I saw a pair the other day that I swear was under 3". Was feeling proud of my self at the time for not giving in to the buying impulse. Now I have to have them........ they're just so damn cute.

I like the cotton ball idea. Great idea for finding that elusive puncture culprit.

himespau 

Thanks for the reminder to hunt down one of my presta to schraeder adapters. Don't know where they wandered off too, but I didn't see on the last time I'd repacked by bag.

slorollin

I buy them 5 at a time and try to spread them throughout my bike world. I put them in jacket pockets, bike bag, taped to my pump, on tool bench, in that dish where I throw my keys and my top dresser drawer.........they still disappear quickly.

Farmer Dave

Pretty simple. Multi-bike tool, spare tube, C02 inflator + 2 cartridges, tire levers, and of course a cellphone for this mechanical failures that can be fixed on the road .

deeth82

◘ Park Tool Patch kit
◘ Topeak Alien II Multitool
◘ Spare Tube + Tire
◘ Topeak Mini Morph Frame Pump
◘ Small Roll of Electrical Tape
◘ Long 15mm Crescent Wrench
◘ Kaito KA200 Radio (to avoid boredom during a fix)

It seems a bit overkill to some of the riders I know, but I don't call for a bail-out unless every other possible option has been exhausted. Most of the other cyclists I know tell me that they only carry their cell phones, but I rarely ride at a time when I know someone would be available to come and pick me up; nor would I want to inconvenience anyone, if at all possible.

Edit: Forgot to add radio.

chaadster

Some of you cats are pretty wild! Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've been riding all kinds of bikes all kind of places, on trails and on roads, since '86 non-stop, and the number of times I've had a disabling and irreparable breakdown I can't even recall exactly, but can't be more than a few times. Maybe a couple, even; I do remember one time, in the days before cell phones (okay, maybe there were bag phones!), having to go knocking on a farmhouse door for use of the phone. Bikes have gotten so much better and reliable since then. If your bike still has bolts that need counter holds, then yeah, carry a couple of adjustables, or better yet, upgrade that sh*t! It'll be more reliable!

Anyway, I carry a Ritchey CPR9 multitool, spare tube, patch kit, $10 bill, one zip tie, and a pair of tire levers. Oh, I think there's a safety pin in most of the saddle bag kits, too. I do carry my cell phone as a matter of course nowadays as well, safely tucked away in the seat bag, ringer off!

big chainring 

I pull my Binford air compressor with a multitude of pneumatic tools in my panniers.

deeth82

stevebiker

Flat kit, 1 tube, CO2 inflator.

It helps to pack your tube in a plastic sandwich bag with talcum powder. The powder makes it easier to get the tube in place.

chaadster

Interesting. Can't say I ever had a problem getting the tube in place. I also can't say I'd want to deal with that powdery mess.

Pidge

For mountain bike it's Multi tool, hex set, patch kit, 2 tubes, pump. Recently added some tire levers, though my tires are pretty easy to manage by hand. One of my backpacks also has a gauge. For just cruising around on the bmx, a thin mini-wrench like what comes in patch kits (front axle nuts loosen on their own sometimes), and maaaybe a little pump too.

And if you count the phone, then yeah, I take that with me every time I leave the house too.

Cyclosaurus

Park Tool Patch Kit
Frame pump
Topeak Alien 2
Tire levers
Spare tube
Leatherman Skeletool, with bit extension and 40-bit kit (my EDC)
an old kitchen towel

scootaloo

I carry my fare card so I can get on a bus or a train that will get me to a bike shop.

Cities have their advantages

Homebrew01

2 tubes, levers, full size frame pump.