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I quite like the idea of having all the tools I need on my bike. Partly so I don't need to take a pack, partly so they're always there.
I'm a little bit restricted because I run Vibrocore bars, so I can't use bar insert stuff. So this is what I'm looking at:
- Pump in holder under bottle cage (I already have this bit)
- Tube, tyre levers and tubeless plugs on a strap
- Crank insert thingy toolkit (looking at the Topeak Hide 'n' Tool for this, but suggestions welcome)
Anything I've forgotten? Any better options? I've looked at the OneUp EDC stuff but it's pretty expensive, and this selection looks like it covers most everything I need... But if it's a way better option I'm listening.
Can recommend the Topeak Hide N tool - I've popped it on my bike & not noticed it since.
i've got the giant stash clutch, in crank multi tool and chain breaker, co2 up the steerer and plugs in the bar ends.
with too many bikes, given hindsight, id have bought a one up pump and multitool and swap it around
The OneUp pump was a possibility, but I already have about three decent pumps. The Giant Clutch stuff is interesting though, I'll have a proper look at that.
And good to hear the Topeak is decent, that's the current fave.
there is the daysaver stuff, and wolf tooth, bother premium options
Just bear in mind that storing on the bike means they get full atmospheric exposure. My tools (ooh err) go rusty if I don’t make sure they get wiped down regularly if they’re on the bike. I normally pack the one up edc pump and tools in a hip pack to keep them out of the weather.
I'm currently working through some 'on the bike' options.
So far I'm impressed with the topeak bb tool - seems very secure if a little fiddly to get in there. I see that as a proper 'in case of emergency' tool and I only really have it as an option to stash the chain tool.
For my quick adjustments multitool I quite like the oneup edc lite in the steerer... although I have a stem cap I like more so I'm adding a Specialized swat tool to my zee cage. I know I have a tool in the bottom bracket but I like a tool I can grab quickly - and there isn't enough clearance for for topeak ninja cage mounted tool in my frame.
I've got a topeak pump mounted the cage and CO2 + inflater in the bottom of the steerer which is then plugged by a fork cork.
Finally a few bits and widgets that go in a peatys tool wrap along with a snickers bar.
My gravel bike (Specialized Diverge) has a hollow downtube which stores a pump and tube. One of the bottle cages holds my Vittoria tool case (a soft zip-up bottle sized tube) and on the top tube there is another bottle mount which a small thin zip up bag, holding keys, lock and phone, is attached to. Neat, tidy and rattle free.
I only have one set of bottle bosses (Bird Aether 9a) and I use that for a bottle. I guess if I don't take a tube (could probably just get away with plugs for shorter local rides, although tbf I mostly just ride without anything at the moment!) that opens up more options for tool wraps etc.
How about a saddle wedge pack? They are simple and unobtrusive and work well in my experience. Pump on bottle bosses.
Yeah that's not a bad shout actually - my saddle has an attachement for a pack I think too. Would need to do some measuring with the dropper...
Literally just edited to say that 🤣
I had the Topeak BB Hide N Tool on my last bike and it was great, however after a particularly sloppy ride it got stuck and the end snapped off. Had to tease it out with pliers. Topeak's UK distro were great in sorting a replacement but I ended up selling it as I have an eBike now and it wouldn't fit. As such I'm back to carrying stuff in my pockets/bumbag/backpack depending on how far and how long my rides are.
i found saddle bag/packs rattled loads... weren't for me
That blackburn looks like a lovely bit of kit that would be massively let down by the fact it's got quite a bit of exposed tool right where some of the worse splattering will happen.
I have the Topeak ninja tool on my bottle cage.
It's a great tool
It stored in a wee waterproof box
Yeah the Blackburn looks lovely but it's just too exposed for MTB for me. Would work with guards, I guess.
Topeak Ninja box looks decent. I like that the Hide 'n' Tool has a chaintool as well as mini tool though. I think it's my fave option so far, then pump on the frame and tube, levers and tubeless kit on a strap (maybe a Peaty's wrap thingy, if it'll fit in my frame).
I've been using the 76 Projects Little Piggy with their Piggy pouch for about three years and its been rock solid and kept the contents completely dry, even after a hose down. Pouch fits a spare tube,tubeless repair kit, tyre levers and a Topeak Mini pro 20
That does look nice, but I don't have spare bottle mounts so it doesn't work for me.
They do have a version (I think its called the Piggy as well which doesn't help) which sits below the bottle cage on a kind of extension
Topeak Elementa XS, fits under the saddle and shouldn't get in the way and doesn't rattle. I have that alongside a OneUp pump and steerer tool.
Not sure whether your bars would prevent having the OneUp EDC in your steerer tube. Has everything you'd need shy of a pump. I just stick my wee electric pump in a pocket. Can heartily recommend it and the tool hasn't got rusty with over a year and a half of riding in Scotland! I went for the threadless adapter version, so I don't have the pliers, but the tool has pretty much everything else.
Nope I could go for the Oneup steerer option, it's definitely a possibility. Just quite spendy.
i have a lezyne flow cage with a multitool storage pod that includes tyre plugs and a quick link & a pump strapped to it, for longer rides i take a 76projects piggy storage bag with a spare tube & trye lever that i strap on to the frame
TREDZ.CO.UK I tried the tools on frame thing in a tool wrap and it was fine until I needed the tube. Make sure you buy one that covers the tube completely as they end up full of muck and you don't really want that.
What about a fidlock bottle mount?
I use one of the Peaty's Holdfast Straps. Pouch for your tools/spares. Strap is plenty long enough to stick a tube under it.
I've got a Peaty's and don't find it that suitable for containing much of anything substantial tbh.
Might try a Fidlock though
Does anyone have experience of the Wolftooth Pack pliers or 8 bit tool? I really like their stuff, mainly ride with a hip pack & bladder but am thinking of getting a bottle and multi tool for local rides from home.
I bought the wolftooth pack pliers a few years ago (for almost 40 quid when they first came out) - all the bike packing sites were raving about them but I'm not sure any of the bloggers had actually used a pair.....I found them to be badly made (wobbly pivot), wouldn't stay closed as the magnet wasn't strong enough, didn't fit many makes of spare link in the handle and their actual function didn't even work properly. I sent them back and got a refund.
I bought a Daysaver Ultimate X tool as a birthday present for myself. its was lovely for about 3 hours, first ride a little latch piece broke off and the 90 deg bit holder doesn't lock in or out now.
A real shame.
I have both Wolf Tooth Encase and 8-bit plier kits, they generally work pretty well but are a bit fiddly, I don't think they're worth the money. I now see them as a more comprehensive backup tool and have another small tool with just a key bits on it that I plan to use for most mid ride fettling.
Ortlieb micro saddle bag lives on my gravel/commuter bike. No rattles at all and fully waterproof, looks non-offensive. Plenty big enough for all the essentials, bar a pump.
I used various versions of the tube/tool straps over the years and they all suffer with the same issue that once you have to use the tube then you can no longer securely strap the other bits to your frame. I do have a peatys one now and the bonus with that is you can still strap the bag to the frame after using the tube but it’s not the neatest solution with bag and tube as it becomes quite bulky and there’s not a ton of room in the front triangle on my trail bike. It does have the tool mount bolts under the top tube and I tried using the crank bros tool holder which is decent but I have had the included tyre lever and the multi tool work loose at BPW.
I now use an Evoc race belt which I can fit everything in and I wear it under my shirt so it out the way more protected from the elements and doesn’t move around like some of the bigger hip packs do.
After having umpteen incidents saddle rail mounted straps flipping off on landings, straps coming loose, tubes full of grit, etc I've just gone back to a simple top tube bag on the MTB. i added a zip tie around the steerer above the stem to stop it flopping about which solved it's only notable problem.
No proprietary £50 tools that always seem to omit one crucial hex/torx/ph size, no rotten muddy tubes, holds spares as well as a tube/tool, fits snacks as well, accessible while riding (for snacks).
I was about to say pretty much what muggomagic said above...
Just have a small waist pack/bum bag with essential tools in. I have 3 main bikes I swap between so on bike tools, etc. for each bike would be expensive.
So I just have a small waist pack with essentials in hung up next to my helmet. Literally grab and go.
Not a fan of Seat packs, either too small to be useful or too pendulous not to get in the way/swing about damage other stuff and themselves:
This pic from the weekend shows my "maximum tools/spares" solution on a bike that lacks internal storage:
I do now wish all of my bikes had under downtube bosses so a tool holder could be slapped on easily. I don't typically use it though and the "feed bag" holds the basics adequately (but oddly enough never any food).
This pic from the weekend shows my "maximum tools/spares" solution on a bike that lacks internal storage:
Out of interest, what does that entail that needs more than just either/or the bag or the bottle?
I've always stuck to the premise that a 200/300k audax is no more arduous than a weeks commuting. The only extras I take are clothing and somewhere to store it if the weather looks changeable.
Out of interest, what does that entail that needs more than just either/or the bag or the bottle?
It wasn't full; contents was mostly inner tubes (Plural) as I wasn't fully trusting the rear wheel/tyre yet, I stuck in a couple of levers and a CO2 cart (that I probably wouldn't use TBH) and then stuffed a buff in to take up space and prevent rattles.
It's basically just a 1 litre capacity bottle that you can't drink from, you could get lots of useful items in there as you point out though, the nature of your ride may not justify that volume of tools and/or spares.
0.65 and 0.5L equivalents (or just wide neck water bottles) also exist.
I've got a similar set of mounts on my Sonder that I've not used. I think I just can't bring myself to accept the aesthetics of it! I thought about putting the pump and bits down there rather than clipped to a cage in the main triangle but then they'd bein the firing line for water off the front tyre.
Off-road it's a great mount for a cage/harness to hold a Ti-mug with gas, stove, utensils etc inside as it's heavy and fits perfectly between the spinning cranks, but not so on a narrower road bike it turned out.
Not really sure why they gave it mounts there, but not for a top tube feed bag?