On bike tool kit / repair kit advice

[Jonleeper]

Sooooooooo,

This morning I was cut up by an Audi who really, really needed to join the stationary queue of traffic 50 yards up the road by overtaking me and having to brake suddenly and swerve across to get over the speed hump which meant I hit a large pothole very hard with the rear wheel. This, of course, immediately punctured the rear and I had a scary moment when I felt like the rear wheel wasn’t actually attached and I had lost complete control of the bike! I hadn’t and managed to stop but then had to walk the bike the rest of the 3 miles into work. I will be walking to the local bike shop after work to get them to check out the tyres as I’ve not changed them from what came with the bike off e-bay so am unsure if I need to replace them, or have damaged the rear walking it to the office, so that will sort me for today.

However, this is the first puncture I’ve had since I started riding, just after Xmas, and I have always meant to buy a kit to keep on the bike but, of course, never have! So I am now looking for recommendations on what to fit. I have found this:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-loaded-caddy-saddle...

which looks like it will tick all of the boxes for tools and will fit a spare inner tube as well. I will need some inner tubes, because Sods Law means if I buy them I’ll never need them, so was thinking about these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-quality-road-p...

I have seen some bikes which have a bottle cage with a mini-pump, but cannot find them online so don’t know how pricy they are, but was also thinking that a CO2 bottle might be a better bet?

All suggestions / comments gratefully received.

Many thanks,

Jon

[TwistingMyMelon]

Depending on what bike you got, the first upgrade most do is upgrade the tyres, as standard fit are often poor. You can tailor your tyre choice to your preference as well , not just the all rounders (or poor rounders) that come on most bikes

The saddle bag looks fine , much of muchness really, its got good reviews so job jobbed

I always carry patches and at least one tube, thankfully I never need them, but sod doing the walk of shame and often walking home isnt an option!

Surprised that most pumps dont come with a bracket, just had a quick look and they dont! You can get them separate off Ebay though: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lezyne-Power-Low-Profile...

I keep the pump in my rucksack or jersey pocket , on club rides I put it on the bike to free up pocket space, but if it is on the bike all the time it get subject to all the crap and st our weather and roads has to offer , shortening its lifespan.

C02 is great when it works, but I prefer a pump, you can get joint C02 inflator & pumps which tick both boxes.

Check the pump works well with your chosen inner tubes before you need it. Ive seen people get punctures in the middle of nowhere and watch them struggle as the valve on the tube isnt long enough for the pump. Or they are too heavy handed and bend the valve. Usually both!! I always carry a Presta to Schrader adapter , this enables me to extend the valve up and use standard car footpumps if I need to

[yellowjack]

I have the very same Lezyne 'S-Caddy' bag. Buy the 'loaded' version. I had to settle for the bag on it's own, without tools, because the 'loaded' version was out of stock at the time. It's a good little bag, and a surprising amount of stuff can be 'forced' into it.

Bottle cage/mini pump you say?

Lezyne can help there too...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-hv-drive-abs-pump/ - 'HV' is 'high volume' for MTB tyres ("Comes with a Composite Matrix frame pump mount.")
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-road-drive-mini-abs... - 'HP' is 'high pressure' for road tyres (this one doesn't mention a mounting bracket, but when I bought my 'Road Drive' pump a few years ago, they were all supplied with a bracket to mount behind a bottle cage)

If you need it separately, then...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-alloy-bracket-mount... - Road drive pump mount
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-nylon-bracket-mount... - Alloy Drive pump mount

Lezyne kit is really rather good - well designed and aesthetically pleasing, yet functional at the same time.

[j4ckos mate]

I have a small roshweel frame top bag on the top tube near handle bar stem
a set of plastic tyre levers, a spare inner tube, a cheap ebay multi tool and its got a clear top so i can put my iPhone with strava on running.
http://www.roswheel.eu/roswheel-shop/all-items/med...

on the frame i have a small pump about eight inches long gos on the screws for the water bottle holder, and its velcro'ed in to its holster,
make sure you take a debit card or tenner so youve some money with you, and preferably something with contact details on as well

[Jonleeper]

Thanks for the recommendations. A supplemental question, if I may, whilst I’m thinking and before I go to the LBS, is it worth moving from a 23 to a 25 tyre? I am not on the light side, a little over 105kg, although trying to reduce this but have not had a problem with the current tyres over the last 4 months of riding. Will I notice the difference or is it just personal choice?

[donfisher]

For the multi tool; what sort of bike do you have?

My old MTB commuter with cantilever brakes could need all sorts of stuff but I was looking at my road bike on the weekend and struggled to find anything that I’d need to fix by the side of the road that wouldn’t be covered with a few allen keys and maybe a screwdriver. If that’s the case then the v5 tool is more than up to the job.

As above a normal pump that also does CO2 would be my choice.

The only other thing I can think of would be a chain splitter and a couple of quick/power/missing/ultra links – whichever one works on your chain.

FWIW, outside of punctures in the last few thousand miles the only thing I’ve used out of my tool kit has been the chain splitter and links (the multi tool got used to fix a drawer at work but I digress).

[Jonleeper]

donfisher said:

For the multi tool; what sort of bike do you have?

Sorry, ought to have thought of this! The bike is a Cube Peleton. Not totally sure of the spec as it came off e-bay, but I'm very happy. the only thing I have changed are the pedals, it came with Look Keos so I have fitted flats as I was not sure about cleats, never having ridden a road bike, and am now happier and saving to get a pair of shoes etc. Unfortunately I keep having to buy other stuff, such as repair kits and inner tubes!

[yellowjack]

Jonleeper said:

Thanks for the recommendations. A supplemental question, if I may, whilst I’m thinking and before I go to the LBS, is it worth moving from a 23 to a 25 tyre? I am not on the light side, a little over 105kg, although trying to reduce this but have not had a problem with the current tyres over the last 4 months of riding. Will I notice the difference or is it just personal choice?

There's a current school of thought that advocates larger volume tyres, claiming no detrimental effects in rolling resistance. Even up to 28mm width (if they'll fit into your frame). Benefits are improved grip (marginally) and greater comfort due to the larger volume of air and larger side walls (more flex).

I've gone from 23mm 'summer' tyres to 25mm 'winter' tyres (Continental Grand Prix 4Seasons) and didn't notice much of a difference, if any. So much so that last year the 4Seasons stayed on the bike all year, and I didn't bother with 'summer' tyres at all.

[outnumbered]

If your frame has enough clearance, I would definitely advocate 25mm tyres for increased comfort and resistance to pinch-flats like you suffered, given the increasingly ste state of the roads.

[TwistingMyMelon]

I would move from 23 - 25

I run both on two different bikes, if you are light, fast, want to sprint and climb as fast as possible then 23"s are great

For better grip, comfort and protection 25 is better

[Jonleeper]

TwistingMyMelon said:

I would move from 23 - 25

I run both on two different bikes, if you are light, fast, want to sprint and climb as fast as possible then 23"s are great

For better grip, comfort and protection 25 is better

Right, so I'm heavy, slow and want to try and avoid sweatingas much as possible, as people tend to ring the RSPCA and tell them that they've seen a beached whale trying to get back to the sea, so 25s it is!

[Jonleeper]

Many thanks for the assistance. I now have two new 25 Conti GP 4 Seasons with a saddle bag and small pump fitted to the bike! ;-) My local bike shop is a CycleSurgery and they price matched where possible and gave me 20% off things that were nearly but not quite. Overall very happy.

I really didn't think that new tyres would make such a difference but, wow! Thre ride back home was a real pleasure and felt much easier.

Thanks again,

Jon

[Woody]

j4ckos mate said:

I have a small roshweel frame top bag on the top tube near handle bar stem
a set of plastic tyre levers, a spare inner tube, a cheap ebay multi tool and its got a clear top so i can put my iPhone with strava on running.
http://www.roswheel.eu/roswheel-shop/all-items/med...

on the frame i have a small pump about eight inches long gos on the screws for the water bottle holder, and its velcro'ed in to its holster,
make sure you take a debit card or tenner so youve some money with you, and preferably something with contact details on as well

Thanks for the link - ordered one yesterday.
Just need to remember where I put my spares and tools now....

[scubadude]

+1 for 25mm tyres, if nothing else they are slightly more comfy meaning I can ride slightly faster and longer than on narrower ones.

FWIW I don't commute so when I ride its jersey pockets only, this is what I carry-
1. two inner tubes and leynze mini-pump
2. little plastic bag (to keep them dry) with- multi-tool that suits my bike, self adhesive tube patches, chain quick-link, £20 and CC
3. 2x CO2 cylinders, tyre levers, tiny first aid-kit and NOK laminate.

Seems like alot of puncture protection but I live in a rural area and walking 10-30miles home on b-roads in cycle shoes isn't an option... One patch of farm dirt can give your multiple holes in both tubes, I guess you could get the same riding past a typically shattered bus shelter window :-)

There is space for a packet of jelly beans and some sarnies for 60mile+ rides.


That said since I put Conti 4000S tyres on (as recommended on this forum) I've only had a single puncture despite riding all year round through all weathers.

[WinstonWolf]

The most important tool is your mobile phone for when the rest of your toolkit isn't enough to get you home