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ok so i'm looking for a bike tool set and i can't find one. actually to be quite frank, i'm not even sure what i should be looking for, except the obvious, a pump and tire tubes. right?
Are you talking about portable tools that you'll keep on you during bike rides?
You'll want a multi-tool, tire levers, and a patch kit at minimum. An extra tube doesn't hurt. Some like to carry a portable bike pump - i swear by the Road Morph by Topeak. If you don't keep a tire pump, at least have a presta to shrader adapter - they're little metal loop things, any bike shop will have them. If you have a modern bike a 15mm wrench is also good. If you ride old-school beater bikes a small adjustable is better.
15mm wrench
10mm wrench
sometimes a 14, 16, or 17 wrench
leatherman
tire lever
allen key tool
needlenose pliers
a chain breaker
a pump
a spare tube
extra chain
zipties
Sometimes I'll carry extra brake pads, batteries, or a spare foldable tire.
Also I always always carry a good first aid kit, my u-lock, lights, extra sweater, etc.
Oh yeah I forgot to mention a presta to schrader adapter, a patch kit (DUH!!!), and a co2 pump thing. If I had one I'd carry an adjustable wrench.
Just a heads up, as far as I know they don't sell tool kits that come with everything you need to keep you on the road. Most tool kits come with tools for major repairs like bottom bracket, headset, etc.
Just accumulate the basics and eventually you'll get everything you need.
Priority is:
A crescent wrench is an adjustable wrench. If you can find a metric version or one calibrated in inches, I'd be glad to sell you part interest in my share of the brooklyn bridge...
dave responding to a comment by Dedicated818
10.13.10 - 6:14 pm
AWESOME ADVICE!!! ok i can figure out mostly everything y'all have listed, except for a dong and tire lever. what are those? and any brand recommendations for rear tail lights?
I carry a metric and SAE crescent wrench with me. With various bikes you sometimes need a tool for adjusting 15mm, and another for 1/2 inch. It can add to the weight, but its always good to have the tools for the job.
Maybe one day, some smart people will design one wrench that can adjust both sizes.
md2 responding to a comment by Dedicated818
10.13.10 - 6:19 pm
so basically if i take my existing wrench (which isn't marked), all I need to do is flip it over for metric sizes? I should probably figure out which size of my cresent wrench if for metric, so I dont try using it on SAE bolts. I'll engrave "M" on the metric side. It will stand for metric and sometimes md2, but mostly moron.
md2 responding to a comment by Dedicated818
10.13.10 - 6:38 pm
tire levers are very important. you need to them to lift the tires over really steep hills, especially when your legs get super tired or you're just too weak sauce to ride up them.
I suggest two levers on hand at all times. You really want to make sure you get the tires over the hills
as for rear tail lights... i dont have any good advice because I dont have a tail.
md2 responding to a comment by mikio
10.13.10 - 6:44 pm
hey joe thanks, i overlooked your TL recommendation, it's hard to read on my iPhone! i'll ask metropolis tomorrow and i'll let you SEE what they showed me, as soon as i figure out how to post a photo online. hmm? if anything i'll set my bike as my profile photo. mikio :)
crescent wrenches are terrible to use for removing wheel nuts. you will round off the edges faster than your legs spin down 7th street. always use the proper sized box wrench to prevent this. im a bike mechanic, you can trust me on this.
Don't forget these;
-Swiss Army knife
-Swiss Beatz(you could ride Amtrak on them)
-roll of electric tape
-roll of duct tape
and 4 ft of 18 ga wire for when you really need to get the job done.
I carry these in addition to everything else the posters above mentioned, however, the wooden stakes and crossbow are optional.
The crescent wrench part first made me lol...
then I began to wonder what I was missing... I guess just the markings!
Since a 'crescent' (Crescent is a brand name; generic is an adjustable) is user adjustable, I didn't get it. Yes the 'right size' wrench is always preferable. I use adjustable wrenches at work daily for the past 20+ years. I feel, if used properly you put it on the nut, THEN adjust to fit TIGHT. If there is slop, even a small millimeter(s) amount, then SLIP: rounded nut!!
I started carrying all the stuff I need to be self-reliant as a Mt Biker. Now I ride the streets of LA on a cargo bike, so I know I carry way more than the average bike rider.
I also carry extra chain links, not a complete chain, as well. Learned that the hard way 10 miles out of Mammoth!!
Talking about the HARD way: In my tool kit, I have a small dab of grease. Nuts can be tough to get off if you don't grease before install-That should get a fun response, Borfo? Anyone?
Spare spoke or 2 AND nipples(which may be what breaks).
Batteries for lights.
"CASH. For purchases and if you have rim brake pads. If a maladjusted pad rips a hole in your tires sidewall, you can use a folded up $1 bill on the inside of the tire to ""patch” the hole."
I think the other denominations work as well, lol.
First aid supplies.
Spare cables.
Trash bags.
Warm clothes. Not for the ride, for the After Party. I remember Freezing at the ACT near the 'corn fields' @ 3 AM...
Beer for other ridazz. If you want one ask. Or don't; last ride some peeps must have seen me getting a beer, I walked upwhile they were helping themselves. They were a little, ""Uh, Oh is this yours?"" ""Yah"", I replied. ""Help yourself"".
I actually enjoy sharing with any of you. That's why I roll with 12-24 beers.
Bottle opener of any type.
Lighter. Mt Biking, I was stranded @ night in the cold, and we built a fire(safely of course).
Rag to wipe off your hands after the repair.
Remember in LA; if for any reason you can't ride it home, you can call a VAN cab(most companies have them).
Gern responding to a comment by imachynna
10.13.10 - 11:51 pm
here's what md2 posted: tire levers are very important. you need to them to lift the tires over really steep hills, especially when your legs get super tired or you're just too weak sauce to ride up them.
here's what metropolis told me: tire levers are a tool used to replace the tube in a tire, it has NOTHING to do with helping to "lift the tires over really steep hills," etc ... so now i'm doubly confused here!!!
hey Gern that's a great idea, i think i will have to rely on van cabs, it's probably best since i know nothing about fixing a bike, hell it's confusing enough trying to put together a toolkit.
It's actually an old camera bag repurposed.
Spare tube,levers the compressed air and the topeak ratchet all fit in there.
The skeletool stays on my belt though.
well someone stole your idea cuz they just showed me a kit VERY similar to yours, and it retailsfor $29.99, which i'm not paying, as i rather find my tools myself one by one, but the bag under the saddle i really like, so i'll try to find something that carries a pump too, hm?
mikio responding to a comment by Ninja biker
10.14.10 - 3:54 pm
The first time dong was mentioned was when Rev. Dak beat me to the punch of being the first to respond to your original question. i hope that clarifies everything now...
That's cool you don't know what dong means! All my friends have been contaminated with that word... Mostly because of Spiraldemon a.k.a. fluffer. (nevermind)
I just wish I could have seen the guys expression at metropolis when you asked for a dong....
that's what metropolis told me too joe, but they haven't see how hard it is for me to step through the frame, not yet at least, so i rather not have something strapped there, so we'll see how it goes, i really like the bag under the saddle, and it appears its price is cheap!
mikio responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
10.14.10 - 4:04 pm
Your bike size must be wrong then.
You need at least an inch clearance from top tube to your crotch when you straddle your bike...or you have your seat really high like I do lol
so mikio have you done any of these repairs at all?
I mean changing the inner tubing and such.
no sense in having tools that you don't know how to use right?
I'd be happy to show you how if you like.
yes ninja i would LOVE to learn how to repair my own bike,
i haven't done ANY repairs, i just got my eBike a week ago,
so pretty much i have to rely on others to help me, but first,
may i ask if you're being sincere or pulling my leg like joe?
sorry to ask, but obviously i'm dense to online humour, m.
mikio responding to a comment by Ninja biker
10.14.10 - 4:40 pm
great, i'll email you privately, still looking for a bike rack for my car, then i can come your way, i'm at tujunga and magnolia in north hollywood, your youtube channel is awesome!!
mikio responding to a comment by Ninja biker
10.14.10 - 4:55 pm
I was wondering when someone was going to mention a first aid kit. I find that just as important as a tools. Still, it's a bit alarming when it hardly gets mentioned.
Thanks Borfo...Man ROTW and I've only been here since august!
I would be glad to help you mikio and share with you what I've learned about this awesome community.
I'm always glad to help a new rider out.
In addition to great individuals helping you,
Los Angeles also has fine bicycle cooperatives. These are tool co-ops, where there are knowledgeable people, guiding you as you work on your bike, using the shops tools.
You get to do the work yourself.
These are not places where your bike gets fixed ‘for you’.
It gets fixed ‘by you’.
The mechanics at these shops will teach you all they can to get you going.
Then you have the know-how to do it forever...and maybe help others too.
Bicycle Co-ops are all over the country and sprouting up around the world.
Look em up:
Bicycle Kitchen located at:
706 Heliotrope
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) NO-CARRO or (323) 662-2776
bicyclekitchen.com
BikeRoWave
12255 Venice Blvd
Mar Vista, CA 90066
(310) 230-5236
bikerowave.org
Bike Oven
3706 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 223-8020
bikeoven.com
Valley Bikery
21112 Devonshire St.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 886-5404
valleybikery.com
Bicycle HUB
1740 N. Long beach Blvd
Long Beach, CA 90814
(562) 756-5753
http://longbeachcyclists.com/tag/the-h-u-b/
wow...........just got off the lake balboa ride.........lucky i brought my tool.........fools woulda been shit outta luck..........loaned out pump., hex wrench, adjustable wrench and leatherman (to pull thorn from tire)........haysus christo !!
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