Touring toolkit

[Blue Hills]

Spoke key and spokes, and chain tool and quicklinks come up on lots of recommendations, but how often are they needed urgently on tour? - we have never needed them at all, and any failure that does not completely incapacitate the bike you can get to a bike shop to buy parts and tools if needed (or borrow tools).

Well a non linked chain might cause problems getting to a bike shop. I would always carry a link. I lost one once on a shopping trip round the south circular. A trailing pannier strap unhooked it i think. I managed to find it in the road but if i hadn't and hadn't had a link with me i would have been walking. Not much fun for want of such a tiddly bit.

 

[numbnuts]

Spare spokes
Kevlar spoke
Hypercracker

 

[RobinS]

Re pump, yes one each, didn't think to mention it as they are on pump brackets rather than in toolkit. also take a couple of pairs of disposable rubber gloves each, and a small rag.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Gravity Aided - did think of that sort of thing, I have a set at home with a more conventional screwdriver type handle and screwdriver and torx bits - can you get allen key bits for them as well?

Also, good idea re standard sizes, if swapped a few bolts I could get down to just 2 allen keys.

Yes, but only up to the size of the base. I got a shop set of drivers which covers everything, but the small, small sizes are still on regular Allen wrenches. It also has Robertson drivers, which are quite rare in the States. But you can get bit sets which effectively cover most everything.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Was wondering whether something like this would be easy to use:

View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUNONA-Double-Headed-L-Shaped-Extension-Screwdriver/dp/B07FTPBQ8F/ref=pd_sbs_60_3/260-1325080-8502146?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07FTPBQ8F&pd_rd_r=ef843445-fcb9-4709-8586-5a67adeedac3&pd_rd_w=j0GD7&pd_rd_wg=rClr6&pf_rd_p=2773aa8e-42c5-4dbe-bda8-5cdf226aa078&pf_rd_r=E00KW43X2TXY2ZWE6Q1K&psc=1&refRID=E00KW43X2TXY2ZWE6Q1K

Could easily swap out the torx and screwdriver bits I don't need for the hex bits I do need - would cover reqirements?

I could go more for something like this. I have found those bit drivers with plastic bodies to be a bit less than reliable.

View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-AK6962-4-inch-Stainless-Ratchet/dp/B00K1UNJ52/ref=pd_sbs_60_3/262-0115782-1877866?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00K1UNJ52&pd_rd_r=b9a3e4ed-29fc-4d20-8726-505d4cfc5d58&pd_rd_w=M4I2f&pd_rd_wg=QkDeb&pf_rd_p=2773aa8e-42c5-4dbe-bda8-5cdf226aa078&pf_rd_r=D388VJ2K3WQ2PXW5GHRS&psc=1&refRID=D388VJ2K3WQ2PXW5GHRS

 

[Nick Saddlesore]

Here's the suggested tour kit I send out.
This is mainly aimed at those going on a group road tour in Europe, not a solo expedition to far off lands.
Some of the links are there to prevent people getting fobbed off with rubbish by a dodgy lbs - you may know better / cheaper &c, but that's not the point.

 

[Blue Hills]

Have you used either the nbt or unior tools @Nick Saddlesore ?

 

[Nick Saddlesore]

Have you used either the nbt or unior tools @Nick Saddlesore ?

Not personally as I've got PMP hubs which use a weird lockring, or I'm on fixed. I've seen the nbt used, simple and efficient. I don't know if it's available anymore - SJS used to stock it. The unior looks very similar.

 

[Blue Hills]

You tour on a fixed?
Man of steel.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Have 36 spoke wheels and forget all those spare spokes and tools for them on the bike. Build the spare spokes into the wheels to start with!

 

[Blue Hills]

Have 36 spoke wheels and forget all those spare spokes and tools for them on the bike. Build the spare spokes into the wheels to start with!

Good point, though there is always the chance of spokes being broken by a rear mech going into them.
I've done it.

 

[Nick Saddlesore]

I've had my 28 spoke wheels for about 10 years, never broken a spoke. But on my old 32 spoke wheel I ripped off the RD and hanger, which went into the wheel and sheared a spoke. Only an audax, so could fix and limp back.
Edit: @Blue Hills got in first.

 

[Nick Saddlesore]

You tour on a fixed?
Man of steel.

No, stupid. I thought the Isle of Wight was flat.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Good point, though there is always the chance of spokes being broken by a rear mech going into them.
I've done it.

Only if badly adjusted and even so you’d need to take out a lot more spikes before it becomes a problem. I doubt many carry that many spare spokes anyway. Three broken spokes on a 36 spoke wheel you’d be able to get it pretty true anyway.

 

[Blue Hills]

Only if badly adjusted and even so you’d need to take out a lot more spikes before it becomes a problem. I doubt many carry that many spare spokes anyway. Three broken spokes on a 36 spoke wheel you’d be able to get it pretty true anyway.

Thanks for the reassurance on the wheel (i always use 36 on tourers) but mech issue not really a matter of bad adjustment unless you are being a real numpty tourer. Usually caused by knocks. Any suspicion of a knock, turn bike over (ie no load) and check the workings of the mech/heady desire to go for the spokes.