What spares/tools do you carry on your commute?

chronyx

I guess most people carry a tube and CO2 pump, and a multi tool, but what other solutions have people come up with?

Coming from a motorbike trail riding background you should see some of the tools and gadgets that people knock up just to suit a particular machine!

Of course we have to worry about weight a bit more but space is always a premium.

Would anyone have been able to get mobile again in my situation when the BB failed? I suppose if you have a rebuildable BB you could carry spare bearings etc...?

blackworx

Two inner tubes
One set of 3 plastic tyre levers
One metal tyre lever
Multi tool (with chain pin extractor)
A few cable ties of various sizes
A couple of paper towels
A couple of alcohol wipes

I can't imagine a situation, unless I was really touring and therefore completely on my own, where I'd take along things like crank pullers/BB cup tools etc. which would be needed to do a BB repair on the move. Plus all my bikes have cartridge BB's so if one really did fail I'd be humped anyway.

Was on a club ride once a few years back when a guy's seat tube broke just above the BB. We got him going again with duct tape! Poor guy was practically in tears though - it was his cherished Flying Scot.

EDIT: Frame fit pump (no CO2 - pure gimmick imnsho - no point in taking something that only lasts for one p******* when we all know pf's hunt in packs of three!)

chronyx

blackworx wrote:

we all know pf's hunt in packs of three!)

Heh heh

Looks like a good sensible list!

Jay dubbleU

Commuting I usually carry:
Spare tube
3 tyre levers
Pump
Set of hexes
Phillips screwdriver

So far never needed anything more complicated

greg66_tri_v2.0

2 inners, 2 co2 cartridges, one adatper about the size of half my little finger, two tyre levers, Allen keys, small pedal spanner. And cash. And a phone and a CC.

Pumps, schmumps. Co2 works faster and better every time.

Cardinal rule us to make sure that whatever caused the puncture is removed from the tyre before you fit the new inner.

lost_in_thought

Phone (charged), credit card, £20 note.

I used to carry a spare tube, levers and a co2 pump, in a little saddle bag, but people kept nicking them.

If I'm outside London on a country jaunt, I'll carry a tube and pump, but I have only ever had 2 p********s since 2005, and both were pinch flats from hitting potholes at speed. I'm more careful now.

See how I tempt fate!!

chronyx

All sensible stuff guys!

LiT, speaking of tempting fate, I did 600 miles on the SCR with nothing but a towel and swimming shorts as tools Not even a Douglas Adams type super-towel

Pushed my luck there and then some, but got home every time 8) :twisted: Bet that's got the p******* fairies rattled... :roll:

Cunobelin

I have fixed with each bike a pair of appropriate tubes (several have differing wheel sizes) and for the more esoteric sizes each machine has a couple of spare spokes for each wheel.


I then carry:

Alien
Leatherman
P*nct*re repair kit
Road Morph pump
Small head torch
Small bag of nuts and bolts
Chain tool and a "power link"
Spare gear and brake cables.

When touring I also add
Cassette Cracker
Further spare tube
Tyre boot

Mrs_Ragbrutty

I don't carry anything. I'm only a max of 15 miles from home so if the bike goes pop I can run home. Running in cleats isn't great but I've done it before.

Have carried some allen keys, tyre levers and a few other bits and bobs, but t'other half doesn't like me nicking 'his' tools.

Oh I always carry a Gerber or Swisser as a matter of course. Bit like wearing knickers.. or not.

toontra

Spare tube
Tyre boot patch
Mini pump (so I can mend other folks p****ures as well)
Tyre levers
Alcohol wipes
Glueless patches (again so I can mend other people's tubes, and you may always get 2-3 flats on the same run, and they weigh nothing)

To take only one or two CO2 cartridges is asking for trouble. Also, I like to be able to stop & help others in trouble.

itboffin

On me:

Cash Card GPS Phone with GPS mini pump with gauge spare warmer/cooler gloves

In a tiny under saddle pouch:

co2 x 2 tube pre glued patches Park multi tool rubber gloves multi fit spanner (for the axle nuts) chain link value removal dust cap

blackworx

Greg66 wrote:

Pumps, schmumps. Co2 works faster and better every time.

By the time you've had your (usually rear) wheel off and farted about changing the tube, what difference does another minute make? And better how?

Cardinal rule us to make sure that whatever caused the puncture is removed from the tyre before you fit the new inner.

Indeed, but that's no insurance against bad luck.

In summary: CO2, schmeeO2 :P

greg66_tri_v2.0

blackworx wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Pumps, schmumps. Co2 works faster and better every time.

By the time you've had your (usually rear) wheel off and farted about changing the tube, what difference does another minute make? And better how?

Cardinal rule us to make sure that whatever caused the puncture is removed from the tyre before you fit the new inner.

Indeed, but that's no insurance against bad luck.

In summary: CO2, schmeeO2 :P

Minute? Every second counts! Co2 is pretty much < 1 second to inflate, and inflates to 90-100 psi. If you can get that pressure from a handpump in a minute, awesome. I can't.

Maybe I'm lucky and flippant as a result, but I've *never* had two punctures in a ride. In the last 18 years, at least.

tardington

I'm slightly sad no one has mentioned anything really weird. "I MUST have my lemming scrubber" etc etc.

Sometimes I reckon p*******s are in the mind - I cycled 600 miles (edin to thurso on cheapy tyres, thinking they were puncture proof. The moment I found out they weren't, pfft! Pfft! pfft! (those were puncture noises btw)

chronyx

tardie wrote:

I MUST have my lemming scrubber

blackworx

Greg66 wrote:

Minute? Every second counts! Co2 is pretty much < 1 second to inflate, and inflates to 90-100 psi. If you can get that pressure from a handpump in a minute, awesome. I can't.

I'd dearly love to make a schoolboy gag about it all being in the wrist, but it's not. A decent pump takes all the work out of it.

Maybe I'm lucky and flippant as a result, but I've *never* had two punctures in a ride. In the last 18 years, at least.

:shock: Dooooooomed!

tardie wrote:

I'm slightly sad no one has mentioned anything really weird. "I MUST have my lemming scrubber" etc etc.

Reminds me of...

It was terrible! I sat in the big hall and put my packet of polos on the desk, and my spare pencil and my support gonk and my chewing gum and my extra pen, and my extra polos and my lucky gonk, and my pencil sharpener shaped like a cream cracker and three more gonks with a packet of polos in each, and lead for my retractable pencil and my retractable pencil, and my spare lead for my retractable pencil, and chewing gum and pencils and pens and more gonks and the guy said "Stop writing please!"

boy on bike

Can't beat the Young Ones...

AlanW

Blackburn frame fit pump

Two tyre levers

Two tubes

Small piece of leather cloth

Few self adhesive patches

Spare KMC quick link

Small chain tool

Mobile phone

Couple of quid

Multi tool when riding to/from work

Flycatcher

I carry an inner tube, CO2, Levers, multi, some latex gloves so I'm not covered in oil and a repair kit.

I keep these in a water bottle with a wide neck so I can switch between bikes quickly and if I'm not wearing a jacket I don't forget.

DiggingDeeper

Gregg you are obviously a pro...

Got puncture then pinched new tube leaving last spare tube in the hands of the gods.

Luck overcame incompetence and we were sorted - fate is a fickle mistress, stay lucky

CO2 - pansy - MTFU

Regards

DD

tailwindhome

I carry a couple of spare tyres with me everywhere I go.

DavidTQ

I carry 1 spare tube, a repair kit, 3 strong plastic levers, a co2 inflator with two cartridges spare batteries for front and rear lights all in a water bottle.

In the panniers I have an extra spare tube, mini pump and a selection of allen keys.

The theory goes that the water bottle is my always there emergency kit, and the pannier stuff is there as extras for more critical journeys when im using the panniers, however in reality Ive became very addicted to the extra passing space cars give me when using my panniers so they never come off. Still its less junk in the panniers...

As for CO2 For me it about halves the time taken on fixing a puncture, as I mainly use the bike for commuting cutting down the time on a puncture is very worthwhile, especially with the higher pressures needed on road bikes vs hybrids or MTB's.

Ive had two punctures in a journey before when my tyres were getting worn out (didnt look it until I compared rear tyre with front tyre and realised there was a good 3-4mm less rubber along the centre line :shock: ). Even after two punctures Ive got the minipump as back up but that does take ages to get up to road tyre pressure (unlike my old hybrid where 70 PSI was fine).

I view CO2+minipump as being like carrying spare tubes as well as a repair kit, I CAN fix tubes, my repairs hold out permanently, no problems whatsoever, BUT I carry spare tubes to make the repair as quick as possible, and patch the tubes when I get to my destination (preferably in a nice warm dry room). I hate to think how long a puncture would take to fix if I had to patch a tube and inflate with the mini pump at the road side. But I can do it if it comes to it...

singlespeedexplosif

Same as every other ride. Pump, tube, instant patches, multitool, 2 spare links, hipflask.

Niffleman

I tend to carry a spare tube, multitool, multi fit spanner tool, pump, levers, a patch kit and cable lock for commutes. I have found that if I don't carry a patch kit I get a puncture on the way to work and on the way home, which necessitates a long walk! With a patch kit I can change the tube quickly, then patch the punctured one when get to work so I have a spare. I manage to fit this into a saddle bag and in my jacket pocket, so no need tor panniers. I have heard you should keep a few spare spokes in your seat tube, and I worry about not having a chain tool. What do you all think?

blackworx

Never carried spokes myself but I've known folk who do. For a commute I certainly wouldn't bother.

As for chain tool, get yourself a multi-tool with one built in - there are quite a few on the market. Also, if you have a reinforced chain (8/9/10sp I think) you'll need to carry a super link with you too. I found this out just recently after a lifetime of riding with "ordinary" chains on bikes with seven sprockets or less. The chain on my new 10sp broke pulling away from some lights because I'd treated it the same as every chain I'd ever had and just popped it apart for cleaning :oops:

jinnan_tonnix

Looking in my bag'o'tricks now....

2 x tyre levers
1 x tube
Mini pump
5mm allen key
Little box with spare brake pads, glue & patches

No spare chain links. Sod's law I'll need them on my way home tonight....


Oh, and not part of my commuting kit, bit I keep a little tub of Swarfega in the cupboard at work.

wgwarburton

Hi,
Frame fit pump, tube, patch kit.
Fixie-tool (15mm ring spanner cum tyre lever)
Spoke key, a few zip ties.

I usually carry a Swiss-army knife, but that's not bike-specific. Might drop the spoke key again, now the winter hack's died.

Cheers,
W.

Clever Pun

inner tube
spare co2 canister
2nd wind mini pump (fits canister inside)
park tool tyre irons
campag peanut spanner for the fixed

I think that's it, the only time I would havet needed the multi tool is helping other people out who don't have one

pst88

2 inner tubes
puncture repair kit (just in case i get through 2 tubes)
2 plastic tyre levers
minipump
co2 inflator
multitool consisting of various allen keys and screw drivers
spare batteries for lights in winter
adjustable spanner
insulation tape (never know when you might need it)
handful of cable ties
collection of random nuts and bolts

greg66_tri_v2.0

pst88 wrote:

handful of cable ties

Ah, yes, cable ties. They make excellent handcuffs (thumbcuffs, actually) to quell the annoying road rager who's just cut you up, then been hauled from his car, beaten and subdued.

In my imaginary world, at least...

Jamey

I bet I carry more than anyone here.

Every single commute I have all of the following on the bike, just in case:

- Pump (mini track type)
- D-lock (the XL orange Kryptonite one)
- Cable lock (not self-locking, for use with D-lock)
- Another cable lock (self-locking this time)
- Spare tube
- Tyre levers
- Puncture repair kit
- Multitool
- Spoke keys (x2)
- Hex key to fit seat post clamp (broke the one on the multitool)
- Overshoes
- Spare gloves (ie in addition to the ones I'm wearing)
- T-shirt
- Jeans
- Pants
- Socks
- Wallet
- Keys
- Phone
- Packed lunch
- Work pass

This is a normal load. Often I'll have extra bits and bobs depending on what I need to take to work. It can weigh a lot extra but I just see it as a workout.