Separate toolkit with each bike? Or one per bike?

Do you keep a separate toolkit with each bike?

  • Yes

    Votes: 16 38.1%
  • No

    Votes: 19 45.2%
  • Other (please comment)

    Votes: 7 16.7%

  • Total voters
    42
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Question for the multiple-bike owners.
Do you keep a seperate toolkit with each bike. Or do you move the same toolkit from bike-to-bike as needed?
By toolkit, I mean multitool, inflation device, patches, tubes, tyre levers etc..
 

I like Skol

A Minging Manc...
Bit of both.

My 'best' carbon bike has a dedicated tool kit that fits in a tiny under-saddle pack. It's a bit limited on content and only has a single spare tube, no patches.

My commuter/MTB share a tool kit that is more generalised and even includes some kit not applicable to my bikes in case I have to help others. This kit has two inner tubes, puncture repair kit and various other self sufficiency items that many people may consider overkill and call in the recovery service before deploying?

Best bike is almost exclusively for leisure rides where completion isn't critical so if something serious happens I am more open to abandoning.

The other two are more of a MUST get there/complete ride type bike. Abandoning a commute not an option, also MTB rides can be in the middle of nowhere so having a few more repair options up my sleeve is always welcome.

Horses for courses really.
 
OP
OP
PedallingNowhereSlowly

PedallingNowhereSlowly

Über Member
Ideally I'd have a toolkit with each bike - because I like to just grab and go with minimal faff.

The 'best' bike has a dedicated toolkit. The two hybrids are sharing. The MTB doesn't have one yet.
 

grldtnr

Über Member
I used too! But now I don't ,the Utility 'pub bike had a tool kit on it, but it's been ransacked so many times, once a few days worth of grocery went missing !
The recumbent has a basic kit aboard all the time, it has a secret pocket for it, now I pack a kit for which ever bike I use, if it's the Town 'Service' bike i dont bother, if it isn't there ,it cant go missing, annoying as it is to deal with a minor failure without one, but not half as annoying as getting the toolkit nicked in the first place.
It takes years to acquire all those little things that are useful in a repair kit.
 
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OP
PedallingNowhereSlowly

PedallingNowhereSlowly

Über Member
I never leave tools on the bikes I lock up; on the 'going to town bike' - excuse the Vice Grip Garage reference - the toolkit lives in the panniers which came with me when I locked the bike up.

Sadly those panniers don't fit the new general purpose bike; just ordered a trunk bag for that and an MIK adapter plate.

It's annoying but all four bikes on the fleet take different sized tubes; and where the tube sizes are close enough, different valves.
 
Location
Essex
I like to minimise the faff before a ride by doing the faff weeks in advance. :laugh:

My vintage bikes share a nice canvas cylindrical bag, secured with leather toestraps and adorned with badges from my Cycling Proficiency award onwards. Fortunately they all share tube and chain sizes.

After that its a mental matrix trying to maintain about 3 kits, all of which share the Topeak clip thingy under the saddle.

The variables are:
  • chain spec (8-12 speed)
  • presta valve length required for the rims (been 'caught short' before)
  • tyre size (one bike is 650b, the others are 700c but range from 25 - 42mm)
  • wheel fixing method (the 650b needs an actual spanner, the rest are thru-axle or QR)
  • aesthetics! (can't put the big ol' survival wedge on the best bike)
  • length of ride/is it supported? the longer/less supported, the more likely the big wedge pack comes out

So, best and older bikes have their own kits while the others get bits passed around. There's not enough hours in the day to distill the above into a flowchart!
 

Jameshow

Veteran
No my big rides have a dedicated tool kit,

Leisure rides I'll grab a multi tool tube levers and pub or if not going far just the multi tool knowing I'll probably just walk back.
 
I have a hybrid system of sorts. The 9-speed hybrid (see what I did there!) has its own dedicated kit, while the two 8-speed bikes (road & MTB) share a kit. I use frame bags as saddle bags and tiddly bikes don't go well together.

Tool kit consists of the following: multi-tool, pocket rocket pump, spare tube(s), patches, quick link and rubber gloves. If I'm going for an away day or such, then I'll throw a couple of extra tools / spares into the pannier.
 

presta

Legendary Member
I've only got one bike, and quite a few of the tools in the pannier aren't duplicated at home, (the ones in bold below):

Adjustable Spanner
Allen Keys 3,4,5,6
Screwdriver Flat/Pozi
Cone Key
Crank Puller
Chain Tool
Spoke Key

Tyre Levers
Insulation Tape
Sellotape
Penknife
PVC Gloves

Tyraps
Spare Pump Hose
Rag
Tube Patches
Tyre Patch
Tyre boot

Valve stem washer
Rubber Solution
Chalk Grater
Chalk
Split Links
Spare Chain Links
Spare Bolts
 
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