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All bolts on my bike that would need tightening on a short sub 3 hour ride (at this point need water so would carry a bag or bottle) are 4 or 5mm Allen heads. Carrying a multi tool with every key 2-10mm seems excessive.
Run tubeless so carry a plug and tool plus a co2 cart.
Any folding Allen keys that are just 4 and 5mm?
Get a small multi tool, then it's not excessive.
Get one of those that slot into the steerer tube, or handle bar ends.
Or just tape the two allen keys onto your seat rails. Tidy and out of sight.
Can’t think of a multi tool with a chain tool that just has the basics.
I’ve got a spesh swat tool for the mtb with the chain breaker and links in the steerer tube then a very small multi tool which clips to the bottle cage. If you could get the tool and chain breaker separately would be a neat solution.
sub 3 hour ride (at this point need water so would carry a bag or bottle)
Did your mam no teach you to take a jacket?
I've a Topeak Hexus tool with not a lot on.
How comes you want to have bare minimum tools with you? Are you happy to ride with all your tools needed but in a bum bag or frame bag or frame straps set up?
I have dakine strap to have an inner tube and 2 co2’s on the frame, 1 water bottle on the frame, a dakine hot lap bag for extra water bottle with an old hope bottom bracket plastic box with 2 tyre levers, multi tool, co2 head and magic link in it as well as chain breaker and small bottle of stans in the bag itself. This set up is for local and less adventurous rides in known areas.
Look after your bike and things won't come loose when you ride.
Just take the Hex keys and a chain breaker why do they need to be attached to each other?
Smallest chain breaker I’ve seen without going into a multi tool style set up
Fix it Sticks. Basically two double ended tools that slot together to form a t-handle. Comes with a carrier bracket that fits under your bottle cage. There's a few in the range but the original is fine for most things - https://store.fixitsticks.com/collections/all-cycling I've one on my road bike.
For multi-day MTB rides and races I have this little lot
The glove and everything to its right goes in the tin at top right. Pump attaches to frame, Sahmurai tyre plug system goes in bar ends. Chain tool (topeak), Leatherman Squirt, tin of tools and spares, tyre boot, tyre lever and zip ties go into either a Wildcat Cheetah top tube bag or a frame bag depending on which bike I'm on. Inner tube gets stashed wherever.
I have one of those tins with relevant bits for each bike.
Just carry 2 Hex keys, and a tiny chain tool and a quick link.
I usually think the same as I have a great multi tool that negates so much of the weight saving I made on expensive purchases...
Decided that this summer, I'm going to ride without a pack for local loops.
Bikes well maintained, running tubeless reliably and happy to take the risk over an uncomfortable pack
I'm running a bottle on the bike rather than in the bag now. Also looking at getting one of these Hollowtech multitools. Expensive but looks well designed and has a chain tool;
https://www.allinmultitool.com/products/all-in-multitool-v2-black
Only thing I'm really missing is sorting out a flat. But I've not had one of those since getting rid of the tubes.
I've got one of these which is pretty minimal.
https://www.crankbrothers.com/products/m5
Could do with a Torx instead of the screwdriver for modern bikes and the frame could be lighter but its small..
There's a few tubeless repair kits now. There's the Sahmurai that plugs in the bar ends as in my photo above. There's also the Dynaplug and the Stans Dart, not used either of those.
I had the original fixit sticks, the aluminium centre part rounded doing up a headset bolt and a bit fell out. I'd hardly used the thing. Junk.
Blackburn Big Switch minitool might be what you want? I have the older version but 9/10 I take a Lezyne SV10 cos I know it's all there / just works.
Just a recommendation for the park mini chain brute mattvandus linked to up there.
I’ve had one as my workshop chain breaker since 2004. It’s had a few replacement pins, due to user error, but lives on in the shed 😀
Same as Simono5 the all in one multitool with chain-splitter that fits down crank arm plus Samurai tubeless bar end plugs are what I carry. CO2 in small tool pack.
Bizarre how the Chinese whisper effect proliferates a thread - not sure how or why “essential chain tool” came in as deffo didn’t ask. Just wanted to know if you could get a folding tool with 2 specific Allen sizes.
Someone said why do you want minimal tools? Why would I want loads when my bike can be sorted with two 😀
No chain tool as I’m never to far to amble home - luckily my local (Matt outandabout) is Rivelin Valley so winch and plummet ad infinitum
Just carry the two hex keys you need. Or a small ratchet with two hex bits you want.
Like this
https://products.wera.de/en/zyklop_ratchets_and_accessories_zyklop_mini_bicycle_set_1.html
One too many but..
My first idea was a double-ended 4 and 5, if one exists. Am sure I’ve seen them.
Rivelin Valley
So many happy summer's evenings...
Look after your bike and things won’t come loose when you ride.
What Simon said, I maintain my bikes regularly, and as such take no tools unless I'm going out on a bit of a high level epic.
Look after your bike and things won’t come loose when you ride.
What Simon said
Is actually a sensible suggestion. Now I think about it as long as the bike is setup properly then allen keys/multitools are not necessary. I’ve never (to memory) had a chain break either.
I have a Spokey spanner on my keyring. Have had it for over 15 years. Never had to use it trailside but I might one day!
Dunno if you can still buy them, but i have a "chain pup" micro tool for just that scenario. 4,5,6mm Allen keys and a functional chain tool. 32g all in, apparently.
Also a rivelin valley local, living in lodge moor, but you're not having my tool!
Lezyne V5 is about as small as it gets.
One of the Specialized EMT top cap chain breakers for the headtube (lots on ebay, also carries your spare link).
Cheap bacon tubeless plug kits (like the rebranded Giant Tubeless kits) for a couple of quid from ebay, and use a stanley knife to trim the end of the handle down you can glue it / jam it into a bar end plug.
Then stick three zipties in your crank axle and some gorilla tape around one of your brake cables.
All you need now is a way to carry a spare tube - electrical tape one to your frame.
I'd wager all of this is lighter and just as functional as any of the fancy integrated systems.
Specialized swat tool systems is what i use
The headset swat tool has a multi tool, chain breaker and also carries spare split links all carried in your steerer tube, has everything you need to fix trail side, even a large flat bit that fits crank arm bolts
https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/swat-conceal-carry-mtb-tool/p/157285
Then Ive got a Specialized mountain bandit that bolts to the back of a Specialized henge saddle, this carries a tube, tyre levers and a co2 cannister and head and works perfect with a dropper post
https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/mountain-bandit/p/155910?color=229850-155910
90 quid for that SWAT nonsense? lol!.
This is more about adjustment as it’s a new build as opposed to maintenance as it’s bob on
Grab one of those mini-toolkits with lots and lots of different hex key bits and magnetic holder. Choose the bits that fit whatever's on your bike and just take those. That's what's in the mid-lower right of the picture I posted above: one 5mm Allen key, a magnetic holder (magically attached to the Allen key), T25, 4mm & 2mm hex and a Philips screwdriver head. There's one other that I can't remember now.
I've got a tiny Planet-X tool that has a chain tool and 4,5,6mm allen keys. It's pretty good - very small and fiddly to fix a chain but I've done it successfully a couple of times. I keep it in my bag on my commute.
I can't find a link to buy one, though.
For my mountain bike I'd need a t25 Torx as well I think.
Topeak hexus is good and they also do a nice mini ratchet kit. Just take the ratchet out of the holder and take two bits.
Can’t remember the last time a bolt came loose on a ride but I have had crashes that twisted the bars round and needed to loosen the stem to straighten them.
I've got one of these; no idea where I acquired it from mind 😀
Alongside that (most of) a classic Cool Tool circa 1996 for chain splitting / tiny spannery things.
1) You're being obsessive, just take a multi tool.
2) If you want minimum weight, take a tyre plug and CO2 or pump, leave the rest and make sure bolts are tight at the start. You might occasionally have to walk home, but <<1 time a year unless your maintenance or mechanical sympathy are terrible.
I minimised the tool kit recently. Then first ride out realised I needed a Phillips screwdriver to fit a v-brake adjuster on my daughter's bike. Doh!
If you're racing, I understand the point of stripping off every gram you can, but if you're just out riding for fun, or training, having enough stuff that you aren't facing a long walk home when things go wrong just seems sensible. A mini-tool with a chain breaker and tyre levers, plus a tyre boot, spare tyre and a proper pump don't weigh that much and mean that you can fix pretty much any problem you might have. That can all be strapped to the frame if you really hate carrying a bag that much.
Have look at the Topeak Super Chain Tool. It’s a chain tool and a double ended Allen key. unfortunately, it’s a 5 and 6mm. I just carry a 4mm as well
What Jerm said. I just rammed a 4mm & a T25 through the slot it has for spare Shimano pins. No one needs those anymore.
A Park MT1 is about as simple as you'd get with a 4 & 5mm. Mine has seen better days trying to get pedals off with the 6mm.
One the gnarmac bike...
One of these,
In a saddle bag along with a tube, Park patches, pair of Lezyne levers. Then a Spesh SWAT top cap chain tool and a pump alongside the bottle cage.
This is comedy - so many people skim reading and not actually paying attention to what’s being asked 🤷♂️
I could carry a multi tool in my pocket but it effin hurts when I fall on it.
Not sure why no one makes a bespoke multi tool where you can choose the bits you want/don’t want.
It appears some of the replies on here seem to be glass half empty types - spare tyre on a ride 🤪 wow that’s some serious gnar in the locale if you need that 😀😀
Anyway I used a 2 fish lock block to fit the co2 pump to the frame and taped the plug kit to the cartridge. The 2 Allen keys are taped to the saddle rail now so job jobbed
You’re welcome 🙄
OP aren't you a bike mechanic? Can't believe you're worried about bolts coming loose, but don't mind 'ambling' home with a broken chain....
“Not sure why no one makes a bespoke multi tool where you can choose the bits you want/don’t want.”
Is Exactly what two of us have given you, but you might have skim read our helpful replies to your post.
I reduced the number of allen keys needed by finding bolts for all the bolty bits that used the same 5mm allen key.
After some hunting I founf M5 and M6 allen bolts all with 5mm hex head that worked for brake mounts, stem bolts, shifter/dropper/brake lever clamps, seat clamp, saddle mount.
One key to rule them all.
No water for <3hr rides 😮
I've an older version of this Topeak Hexus but annoyingly the black pin (in the end of the threaded 'bolt' shown in picture) in the chain tool that pushes out the pin in the chain has gone missing.
Not overly hopeful that I can source a replacement as the allen key size is 4mm not 5mm on the available replacements (Thanks SJS cycles for flagging that up).
Interesting to see what Topeak say as asked their help to find a replacement.
Will see.
Just carry something like: https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Trend-Wp-Smp-35-5027654054376-Cranked-Short-Arm-Hex-Key-4Mm-5Mm-A-F ?
The lengths some folk go to, to avoid carrying a few grams on a bike ride just beggars belief really 😂
Now I'm not a scientist or owt, but I can confidently say that if I taped one allen key or two allen keys to your bike and told you to ride off, you would not be able to tell me how many were there by feel alone! 😉
All those who duck tape stuff to their bikes too, what happens when you need to actually use the thing taped to your frame?
Is that why we get inner tubes in trees?
Quite remarkable.
I carry a multitool. Never know, I might be able to help another rider out who's walking home because they were saving 11g 👍
Pedros Tulio.
Can't use it if you've got a thru' axle, but the tool itself is very good & really lightweight - worth buying just for the tool at this price :-
On sale at Merlin - £16
NS - Just bought two! Love a tidy gadget to minimise faff. Top post - Thanks.
If you have an x12 axle there is a end for it that has a 4mm and 5mm Allen key.
@kayak23 - it's not just weight but volume. Doing multi-day ITTs you don't want to be packing the kitchen sink. My toolkit and spares (but not inner tube) fits into less space than a multi-tool. The various "systems" making use of hidden spaces are great if a little expensive. That Pedros Tulio looks interesting.
Conversely in winter on fat bike races I take full sized Allen/Hex keys - you don't want to be faffing in -20C. I'm taking them anyway to put the bike back together after travel. Only need three sizes (2, 4 & 5mm) to cover everything on that bike.
As ever prevention is better than cure and a well maintained bike is less likely to go wrong. That doesn't preclude accidents of course. In the last year I've needed to use the tools out on the trail precisely once, on my wife's bike as it happens (my fault, I'd bled her brakes and not realigned one of the levers - doh!).
@seadog101 - quite often bolts are different sizes for a reason - replacing a bolt with one with a larger head means you could apply more force when tightening and either break the component or apply undue stress leading to failure. So if you do this, hold the shaft of the Allen key closer to the bolt so you can't over do things.
Wally - No problem.
They are neat little tools & as a standalone tool they only weigh about 60g & not a lot more than a standard QR when fitted to your bike as intended.
keeping your bike maintained works well and removes the need for some tools right up to the point that you crash or a stick/rock pushes your mech into your spokes (only time I've needed a trailside chaintool) and you need to adjust something to get your bike pedal-able again.
If you're always able to walk back to base then you can spend ages deciding what is worth 30secs of spannering to get you riding again and what isnt worth the extra grams and so cut your tools to the bone.
or just carry a multitool that covers all your bolts (including cranks, RF & SRAM I'm frowning at you), chaintool, pump & tube - extra plugs/patches/glue chainlinks at your discretion
former will appeal to some, latter to others, different strokes...
Topeak rocket ratchet.
Tiny and fixes ANY bike I, riding buddies or complete random strangers.
It doesn't need to be your bike that fails to spoil a ride.
If i did away with the wallet thing it would be tiny for it capabilities but the wallet makes it nice and flat to fall on.
Just received a Pedro's Tulio in the post. Looks like it's designed for road/gravel bikes as it fouls the "cowl" at the base of the seat/chain stays. 5mm of washers will push it far enough outboard that it engages.
This look interesting; https://www.topeak.com/global/en/products/mini-tools/1298-ratchet-stick
As do their new powrlink pliers https://www.topeak.com/global/en/products/mini-tools/1280-power-lever