How Do You Carry Your Tools?

[PCeBiker]

I suggest you buy 1/4" torque wrench from modernbike.com or universalcycles.com .

Thanks for the links.
I found the Park Tool torque wrench with the bending pointer for $40 (the TW-1.2 for 0-14 Nm and the TW-2.2 for 0-60 Nm)
so ~$54 CAD plus shipping, duty and tax.

Personally, I've tightened enough bolts I don't need one,

I don't think that I'll buy a torque wrench, (although it's always fun to buy a new tool.)
I've already got my bending pointer torque wrench that I'm pretty sure is accurate, and I shouldn't need to be torquing anything once I get my bike set up the way I like it.
I can bring it with me for a few rides while I mess around with my handlebars and seat post.

And I've got my Crank Brothers multi-tool that I should get a feel for with a bit of practice.
I can connect it to my torque wrench to see what the different torque values feel like.
I'm really liking the Crank Brothers tool. It's got a real quality feel to it.

 

[6zfshdb]

Most fabric bags leak, and I ride in the rain. My velcro fastener panniers from Yuba won't stay closed after the first year.

You make a good point about fabric bags leaking and trapping condensation. For that reason, I generally don't carry them exposed during inclement weather. This applies to both panniers and other canvas bags.

For wet weather rides, I made this completely waterproof rear rack container from a plastic storage case. It's large enough that I can usually ride without panniers.:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FM8I1XW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use the MIK rack mounting system so I bolted an adapter plate to the bottom, a bungee storage compartment inside the lid, a bit of foam padding and some paracord on top:

The case also does double duty as a protective carrying case for batteries during transport:

It can get top heavy when carrying heavy items like spare batteries but it's great for keeping everything else dry.

With the bike locked to a rack, the MIK mount locks the case to the bike so it isn't easy for a casual thief to take the whole thing. Locking hasps are available but a cheap TSA security lock will keep a sneak thief from going through your stuff. None of my cloth rear rack bags lock, so I would have to take them with me when leaving the bike.

The whole rig cost < $125, which is on par with what you would pay for a quality rear rack bag.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Topeak Aero Wedge Pack...



With this...



And this added...

 

[Prairie Dog]

I know I know, bad taste but,

…you did nail it when it came to the brand name of your tool pouch.

 

[mschwett]

i only carry tools on very long rides, 90 miles or more. co2, inflator, tubeless plugs, quick link, multi-tool and extra phone battery in a small top tube bag.

10,000+ miles, only once needed a tool and as luck would have it, it required chain pliers which i didn't have on that multi-tool. have since changed multi-tools. for a ride in which i'm less than 30 miles from home, not going to bother with all that.

i took a photo of everything i take with me. it helps me not forget something when i walk out the door. this is literally everything that isn't permanently attached to the bike.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I've always admired my gravel cycling buddies who could efficiently pack all the necessary tools plus a spare inner tube in small saddle or frame bags, or in a container looking like a water bottle and attached to the frame.

On all my long or group rides, I need to carry a pannier for either one spare battery (Vado) or for three Range Extenders (Vado SL). It leaves a lot of space for tools, which I wrap in a cloth so they don't rattle on the ride.

Tyre set

• A spare inner tube
• Two tyre levers
• KoolStop Tire Bead Jack
• A MTB double action pump with pressure gauge (it is quite small)

General tools

• A set of hex keys from 1.5 to 8 mm (not a multitool)

Chain set

• Chain tool (chain breaker)
• Spare connecting pins
• Pliers

or

• Chain tool
• Spare master link
• Chain pliers

The trouble I'm experiencing is my two e-bikes are different. For instance, I need a different inner tube for each of them. I need the chain connecting pins etc for Vado SL but a master link etc for the Vado. For that reason, I maintain two dedicated panniers, each for each e-bike.

You could say what I carry is an overkill. Not necessarily. There have already been situations on group rides like: "Does anybody here have a full size hex wrench?" or "Thank you for that tyre bead jack, mate, it helped!"

Full size hex wrenches turned out to be useful on that 45-people group ride.

Tire Bead Jack helped on that ride.

 

[DiggyGun]

Carry them in two front fork bags.

DG…

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

I'm a fan of Ortlieb bags. And frame mounted racks from which to mount them onto. I never go anywhere without my rear saddle bag(s), be it to carry my tools, air pump, tubes, jacket, spare batteries and any and all other "stuff" I find necessary to ride my H-bike........

 

[DiggyGun]

I'm a fan of Ortlieb bags

So am I. All our bags are Ortlieb.

Excellent quality.

DG…

 

[antboy]

Most of the time, my seat roll (Silca Grande Americano picked up on sale), with tools for the most common mishaps (tire, chain, basic first aid), does the trick and doesn't interfere with the suspension seat post.

I also like that when unrolled, it's a great place to put small parts. The contents are different than that old picture.

For longer rides, or going into trails, when I use a trunk bag, I toss my mini-bugout bag, in there.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07C9N5K27/?th=1

For less than $20 it's pretty danged sturdy, and holds a lot. Multiple tools (leatherman, folding knife, flashlight) extra daily meds (which get swapped out every 6 months), a more comprehensive first aid kit, survival blanket, disposable poncho, water purification tabs, and even a cheap packable backpack JUST IN CASE.

I would say I probably don't need to bring this often, but having had to clean wounds that required stitches more than once (not me knock on wood), and help out others on the trails, I don't mind the extra weight.

Beyond more adventuresome rides, it's great on hikes and camping trips.

 

[PCeBiker]

I forgot about this thread.
This is how I carry my tools,..

I don't carry anything else. No food, water, clothing etc.
The whole tool bag is compact, sinched down tight, and stays tight on the bike even when I don't.

 

[Rexlion]

When your ebike takes a dirt nap, you can rez it with your tools.

 

[Chargeride]

Love the carlin clip, but I think this is just as appropriate.

 

[PCeBiker]

When your ebike takes a dirt nap, you can rez it with your tools.

I did !!
I resurrected my sleeping e-bike from the dirt with sticks and tools.

A picture from the rez in Canada across the river to the USA

More pictures from the Canadian side,..

 

[Rexlion]

How rude of the snake to stick out its tongue at you... lol.

 

[PCeBiker]

How rude of the snake to stick out its tongue at you... lol.

It was tasting the air to see what I smelt like.
I had bad breath with all the garlic and onions I eat.
I hope I didn't offend the snake.

 

[Catalyzt]

My West Coast Weight Weenie Tool Kits: One small bag on the top tube and handlebars (tire inflator+sealant, which I probably couldn't figure out how to use, allen wrenches, micro pump) and under seat bag which is mainly for an extra microfiber shirt or poncho (depending on the weather) and maybe a leatherman-style tool. I carry a spring-assisted knife with a safety (to lock it closed or open) in my pocket, sometimes a compact stun gun (about the size of a really fat fountain pen, but twice as long and even lighter) and more recently added SABRE pepper spray. All carried so part of them is visible, so all legal in CA.

The knife has been useful for weird stuff like cutting away cloth from a ripped pant leg, self defense is its secondary purpose. (There's a separate thread for SD, but some tools serve double duty.) And SD is as much for really rare animal encounters as well as really rare hostile human encounters. Haven't had one I couldn't avoid in the last 20 years or so at least. And yeah, I have also used sticks and rocks to tighten weird bolts on the crank of my Raleigh acoustic that require some really special zoidoid tool I've never had. And on that bike, I carry black electrical tape to keep that particular bolt from becoming unscrewed.

 

[fooferdoggie]

as far as knives go Now I have several version of one of these. they use scalpel blades that cost a whopping .10 each so they are always sharp and really light weight.

Amazon.com

 

[PCeBiker]

I dunno dude,..
Almost two fiddy a blade here in

These things come awith ten blade for a buck fiddly

 

[PedalUma]

I did this for a while with one bike. I just tucked the handles in the side pockets. I poked four pairs of holes at the corners for zip ties.