Change come hard in the cycling community

[PaulSB]

It is incredibly rare you are likely to need much more than that, so long as the multi tool includes a chain breaker.

I carry a multi tool (with breaker), tyre levers, spare tube and puncture repair kit (in case of a second puncture). The multitool has hex keys for every hex bolt on my bike (and everything is hex bolts nowadays, apart from the ones holding the disc brake pads in).

What else could I carry that would be likely to make a difference out on the road?

Exactly! Without checking I carry, my bikes are tubeless. I would argue this covers every reasonable eventuality and many that will not happen!!

1 x tube
3 x tyre levers
1 x tyre boot
1 x pump
2 x Co2 cartridge
1 x small piece of chalk
1 x tubeless plug kit
1 x valve core tool
1 x tweezers
1 x tiny screw driver
1 x 6mm Allen key (thru axles)
2 x speed links 1 x 11 and 1 x 12
1 x multitool (bolts etc. coverd) with splitter
1 x folding pliers
6 x zip ties
1 x £20

Most Important of all and that no one ever mentions:
Survival blanket - used four times
Whistle - never used

I've used the blanket once myself. I was touring in France and couldn't get accommodation. I slept under a hedge wrapped in the blanket. I've handed out survival blankets to three injured cyclists.

 

[PaulSB]

If your multitool includes a chain breaker then you are probably right.


Usually true.

I have had a few serious bike problems over the years but some of those were my own fault... A broken square taper crank was possibly caused by me overtightening a bolt. A broken seat clamp definitely was, and so was a stem bolt pulling the thread out of the stem body.


I have had spokes snap, and so have riders with me. It is usually possibly to get the bike rideable just using a multitool.

I have had and seen multiple broken chains. Chain tool time!

Lost bolts, jockey wheels... Whoever didn't tighten them properly!

Fork failure due to rust... That didn't happen overnight and should have been spotted developing by the bike's owner.

Tyre worn through by a brake block rubbing against the tyre wall - adjust brakes properly.

Seatpost snapping! That one was a freak failure that happened on a mate's bike. He nearly gave himself rectal surgery on the broken end. There wasn't enough post left to get the saddle to a decent height so he rode back to the car standing up, with the saddle in his jersey pocket.

Rear mech into wheel causing catastrophic damage. We managed to remove the mech, shorten and rejoin the chain to create a singlespeed bike, straighten the wheel enough to ride it, and take the rear brake off because the wheel wasn't straight enough for that! All of those jobs done with a multitool. (The problem was caused by airport baggage handlers dropping the bike and bending the mech hanger. The owner had straightened it by hand at the hotel but the hanger failed out on the road.)

I thought all multitools included a chain breaker? I've had one major failure in all my cycling life. Free hub failed on a gravel sportive. I had a bottom bracket fail 6/7 miles from home but limped back. Neither roadside fixable.

Spokes and seat post incidents are unavoidable. Forks failure is very poor maintenance unless it was entirely covered by paint and not bubbling. Everything else you list is, as you admit, poor maintenance.

I understand many riders want to carry more with them but it truly isn't necessary.

 

[ColinJ]

I thought all multitools included a chain breaker?

Many (most?) do but some don't.

Forks failure is very poor maintenance unless it was entirely covered by paint and not bubbling.

Almost suicidal negligence, in this case! If you ever looked at your bike, how could you not spot this developing problem?

The rider had gone down a very fast descent just before that. He only noticed the problem when his front mudguard started rubbing on the wheel. Another few minutes and he would probably have been killed or seriously injured!

 

[mjr]

I thought all multitools included a chain breaker?

I've at least four that don't and none that do. Multi tools are a popular small gift from non-cyclists who think they're cool and novel, and they tend not to recognise the value of a breaker. I like my Park Tool mini breaker enough to carry it anyway.

Now can anyone tell me how good maintenance would have told me the frame tubes weren't bonded together correctly inside the lugs, resulting in sudden catastropic separation of the bike into two pieces? Although I never carry welding gear, not even on tour, so that was a recovery job (thanks Gary!) rather than a roadside repair!

 

[rydabent]

Your hands don't get cold on a recumbent?

I live in the snow belt, and I am a wuss when it comes to the cold. As far as I am concerned it has to be 65+ to ride. I believe biking should be done in shorts and a T shirt. I hate riding in long pants.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I thought all multitools included a chain breaker?

Nope

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Gear cable

Yep, gear cables will typically fail more often than chains.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Yep, gear cables will typically fail more often than chains.

I carry a chain splitter religiously after a MTB chain broke when I got a rock about 25 years ago.

Never used it, never needed to lend it to anyone.

I've donated and changed gear cables for others two or three times, and likewise for myself.

 

[ColinJ]

I carry a chain splitter religiously after a MTB chain broke when I got a rock about 25 years ago.

Never used it, never needed to lend it to anyone.

In the last 35 years I have had to fix my own chain a couple of times, and have fixed chains for other riders 4 or 5 times.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've only ever had one chain failure. It was in the days of 5 speed freewheels. I don't think I owned a chain tool at the time, I used to fit the chain using a nail punch and a hammer to mushroom the rivet over. And clearly I hadn't done it properly that time, being a cack handed fool. It turned out to be a very enjoyable day as I got a lift to the nearest town sitting on a trailer behind a tractor, through the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside.

I've lent my chain tool to others on the road a couple of times.

 

[Profpointy]

I've only ever had one chain failure. It was in the days of 5 speed freewheels. I don't think I owned a chain tool at the time, I used to fit the chain using a nail punch and a hammer to mushroom the rivet over. And clearly I hadn't done it properly that time, being a cack handed fool. It turned out to be a very enjoyable day as I got a lift to the nearest town sitting on a trailer behind a tractor, through the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside.

I've lent my chain tool to others on the road a couple of times.

I too have only had one chain failure, ironically
the day after I stopped bothering to routinely carry a chain tool. The failure was entirely my own fault as I'd only the day before stupidly taken the chain off to clean it and had pooh-poohed using a new link to put it back. I now know better than to routinely split a chain without a very good reason, nor do I clean chains with solvents

 

[Smokin Joe]

Before trusting that the chain breaker on your multi tool will get you moving again, test it at home. Many of them are little more than ornaments and will be completely useless.

 

[lazybloke]

I live in the snow belt, and I am a wuss when it comes to the cold. As far as I am concerned it has to be 65+ to ride. I believe biking should be done in shorts and a T shirt. I hate riding in long pants.

I was a wuss, but then started commuting year round. Some of the best rides were below freezing.

Although a warm 43 F today for a leisure ride of 45 miles.

Bibtights, a base layer top, a softshell top and fingerless gloves were plenty warm enough, although it did feel good to have a mug of tea and a hot shower once I got home.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

As far as I am concerned it has to be 65+ to ride.

If I needed that temp (18C) to ride, I wouldn’t get out most of the year.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I've also seen the argument that in a racing scenario having mixed brakes (disc and rim) with different braking characteristics could be dangerous. I've no idea if that's true.

It's nonsense. In dry conditions, both stop at the same rate, given that friction isn't the limiting factor with bicycle brakes, but moment of inertia i.e. going over the bars. In the wet, discs stop quicker but....and here's the thing. If you didn't stop in time you'll crash. If you stop in time, others may crash into you. But crash you will crash. I say better is better. Up disc brakes!