As much as I like this tool, I hardly ever get to use it as I can never bloody find it.
Adjust a stem, pop in on the workbench for ten seconds and it’s gone. 2 months later I find it in a random place and it’s gone again within 24 hours.

It’s not even the smallest or most stealth tool in my collection.

The plastic Shimano HT2 tool, only needed once every 18months or so and never where I think it should be!

And as if to mock me, I seem to have the old square taper crank extractors coming out of my ears at the moment, I know I have more than one as like th enew one they were always missing when I needed them, and only cost a fiver, but there must be 4 in my toolbox at the moment (but no plastic key).

Whichever one I need *now*, ime.

My mate Darren, he’s a bit of a tool and forever getting lost 😆

Thinking about it. I purchased about 12 tyre levers a few months ago. Where the hell are they?

Valve core remover or five mm Allen key.

Mojo

Tyre levers. However many I have I can’t find one when I need to.

the one I was ‘just’ using. I swear I spend more time looking for tools I had in my hand 30s ago than I ever do fixing things.

The allen key I’ve used last

its always under some blue workshop towel, at least thats where i lost the needle nose pliers for a while last night..

Have got three bike toolboxes

Toolbox #1 is the Most Popular Tools toolbox. By default the most popular tools are at the top. Tools that make their way to the bottom are evaluated and possibly relegated to Toolbox #3

Toolbox #2 is the Weird Tools toolbox. Tools that get used very rarely but must be immediately available. Tools in the Weird Tools toolbox can never be moved to Toolbox #1 or #3

Toolbox #3 Other Stuff. Non-specialist tools that have a use but aren’t used regularly. Tools at the top of Toolbox #3 may be promoted to Toolbox #1.

Can’t find it right now- whatever tool I used last
Permanently vanishes- scientifically proven to be the 5mm allen key or any variation thereof, they fall through a rift in space and time.

I’m giving special mention here to my scalpels. They instantly vanish when I want them (and they’re cheap, so I own tons of them, that doesn’t seem to help) but miraculously reappear, embedded in my finger, whenever I’m looking for something else.

The small Allen key that fits some but not all lock on grips. Never to be found even though it is only used for this job

Rubber mallet. I must have bought at least three over the last decade and always end up using a hammer and a bit of wood. Not exactly small things – very mysterious.

oh dear I fear I’m in a similar scenario to rocketman.

#1 – just bought. most popular tools go in there.
#2 – other tools. bits i’ll put on ebay one day

(plus a carrier bag of old bits, you know, stuff thats purple…)

plus ‘mobile tools’

pack #1 – camelbak mule. a few legit enough tools that i’m happy making tweaks out n about. spare tube + better mini pump

pack #2 – smaller day pack (with bladder) essentials only. for when i’m riding with people. combi bike tool + spare tube + cheapy mini pump

if i’m solo, pack #1 always, if not, depends how gnar who i’m riding with is

For those of you who have a penchant for putting tools down and loosing them immediately, (actually spiders grab them and move them out of sight is what’s happening), can I recommend a tool belt. Granted, you look like a bit of a bell end, but entirely spider proof.

edit – 4 box system.
Every day tools. Includes allen keys, spanners, screwdrivers etc.
Bike specific tools. Crank, cassette, BB removers, wheel building stuff and thing not used for general DIY.
Big tool box. For rarely used stuff.
Tool roll. Duplicates of every day and bike specific tools in the form of multitool, chain splitter and such, + portable pump.

I used to wonder why I could never find a 5mm allen key until I realised that they have just bulked up through use and become 5.5mm allen keys.
apart from the free IKEA ones which you can always find but never want to use because it’s a free IKEA one.

Tape Measure. Mine is forever disappearing. Too many uses means it’s never put back where it belongs. Currently AWOL.

Everything on the wall.

Multtool and one or two other bits in te camelbak

Few other things live in the car

this i now wear a really fetching apron that i drop all the tools in that i am using

tyre levers…I think I keep the tyre lever industry alive single-handedly

Mark Thatcher

I do have a nice Bern apron that is very useful for storing stuff and keeping shorts clean.

Currently my never yet used torque wrench. Got it for Christmas, buggered if I can find it now. Been looking for the last few months.

on and on – Member
Thinking about it. I purchased about 12 tyre levers a few months ago. Where the hell are they?

They’re all on my desk. All of them. And all of everyone else’s tyre levers.

No idea how or why, but my desk somehow accumulates tyre levers.

Screwdrivers

Does anyone actually have a full set of them left?

Sure I may have three or so left out of what was once a lovely set of six, flat blades and Phillips in different sizes.

Where do they go?????!!!! 👿

It’s maddening…

Most lost tool?

Has anyone (over a certain age) suggested Mark Thatcher yet?

Bloody chainring nut spanner thingy, if they’re tight but spin nothing else will do, it’s never ever where I thought it was!

I keep forgetting to bring multi-tools on trips, so I end up buying new ones.

However they do keep getting cooler.

1) Park allen key set
2) Topeak standard one with chain splitter
3) Lezyne lightweight one, stainless with carbon sides
4) Evans own brand with all the usual plus a knife
5) (Two weeks ago) Blackburn one with everything inc knife but with removable ball-head allen keys!

TiRed – Member

Tape Measure. Mine is forever disappearing. Too many uses

Oh go on, you can’t leave it like that! Tell us more of the myriad uses of a tape measure. (measuring different things doesn’t count, that’s all just measuring)

The hooky bit on the end is great for retrieving other tools from under cupboards.

And scratching my back.

And pulling small things down from high shelves.

the number 14 spanner for the pedals,….everyone but the 14 can be found!

My favourite spoke key when ever I’m in the mood to use it over the others it’s hiding it’s one of the DT Swiss ones so pretty big red and hard to miss but when I want it it’s hiding.

cannondaleking – Member

My favourite spoke key when ever I’m in the mood to use it over the others it’s hiding it’s one of the DT Swiss ones so pretty big red and hard to miss but when I want it it’s hiding.

Ooh! All my nipples use the same size spoke key so why have I never taken the other 2 spoke keys out of the drawer? No idea but as a result, it will always, always be the last one of the three that I find.

Done my first lot of spannering on my bikes for months the other day and have somehow lost/misplaced my complete set of Bahco allen keys…..bloody annoying. A complete set……

The 14mm spanner as said above. Plus it needs a thin 14mm spanner too, so adjusting wrenches don’t fit either for some pedals.

I bought a dozen of these, and four months later can I find any of them? Can I ****.

Spoke keys are great for tightening/removing valve cores btw

The schraeder to presta adapter for the compressor’s airline. Never in the safe place i’m sure i put it