What's your 'bare minimum' ride tools/spares?

1) Inner tube:  will always work even if you're tubeless, but tubeless fixers won't work in tubes

2) multitool pref with chainbreaker and tyre levers. Topeak Hexus ii is the one whose model name I recall. 

3) mini pump. i have one on each bike, though you could buy one and a selection of brackets if you're sure you'll remember to move it

4) BONUS -  café lock of some kind so if it all goes ****-up you can lock the bike and get a taxi home then come back in the car. Not an option I've taken to be honest but you may think it appropriate

Bare minimum is nothing. Depending on where I am I'll not bother talking anything. 

Although the minimum for a day in the park is Topeak mini multitool, a small analogue pump and some sticky worms.... Maybe a tube strapped to the frame.

Bare minimum?

Nothing.

Largely throigh disorganisation and apathy towards finding it all.

Posted by: joshvegas

↑

Bare minimum?

Nothing.

Largely throigh disorganisation and apathy towards finding it all.

Well yeah, this is where I'm currently at, I'm just aware that at some point it's going to bite me in the arse.

Pump

Tubeless plugs

Tube & tyre levers (all my bikes are tubeless though)

Tyre boot

Quick link + pliers (actually part of the tyre levers)

Multi-tool (hex and torx bits) + dedicated 6mm hex key on the one bike that doesn't have one permanently attached to the rear thru axle

I actually carry a lot more each ride but the above would be what I wouldn't leave home without (have saddle bags etc. for each bike with duplicates in so I don't have to remember to move them around)

Small multitool stashed in the BB of the bike. 

Then if I take my bum bag I will also have tubeless repair, pump, & a tube. 

Has riding with just a small multitool bitten me in the ass? Kinda - did a ride t'other week & punctured a just over a mile from my house on the way out. At least it was a nice walk home.

Most of my rides now I just go with a small multi tool in my pocket, and a pump is always on a bottle cage clip on the frame. Looks shit but I'd rather have it if I need it. If I'm going further I'll strap a tube and tyre levers to my frame as well just in case. I don't really ride anywhere rocky so don't feel the need to carry stuff for fixing tyres etc, I don't think I've ever cut a tyre on a ride.

Multitool including a T(25?) head bought from Lidl end June {had an old multitool before that couldn't sort the mounting bolts on gravel ebike}

Zefel mini pump

Puncture repair kit including tyre lever

Nearly ended in tears a few weeks ago, had my first puncture in ~5 years. Very fortunately it was a slow one, because the apparent almost full tube of patch "glue" was full of air and no "glue." Had to stop every ~5mins on way home to topup tyre pressure. Currently have some of the self adhesive patches from Lidl kit that came with the multitool in a mini saddlebag.

When I started doing longer rides ~9 years ago, I used to take a spare tube, but I had ~5 punctures max '17-'21 and so stopped bothering. No tubeless setup, typically latex tubes. 

Tube strapped to frame. Mech hanger cable tied to saddle rail. On one pump containing multitool plugs and chain link. Small first aid kit in pocket

1) Inner tube:  will always work even if you're tubeless, but tubeless fixers won't work in tubes

You may want to add a tyre boot or you may see the tube bulge of sadness one day. 

For me, my OneUp pump with its multi-tool and tyre plugs is my short ride setup. For longer, it’s pretty much that plus a lightweight tube (and a tyre boot)

For short local rides:

Oneup edc pump (70cc)

Oneup edc multi tool and jabber (in the pump)

Edc pump goes in holder next to bottle cage

Chain quick link (taped to brake hose)

Then I'd probably get away without these, but leave them strapped to the bike permanently anyway:

Strapped on:

Spare tube

Tyre levers

Small under saddle tool roll:

Spare tubeless valves /cores

Extra tubeless worms

A few Zip ties

Length of gorilla tape

A few spare spoke nipples

Axs shifter battery

Plus:

Spare spokes (shoved down my bars with a bit of foam on each end)

I can get away with going packless for all the above as none of it requires a bumbag etc

Ps: I have that same setup for each bike. I only swap the EDC pump + tools between bikes.

For shorter local mtb rides I usually don't take anything, but for anything further afield I'll carry the following in my hydropack or hip pack:

• Mini Pump
• Multi-Tool
• Spare Tube
• Tyre Levers
• Tubeless Plugs
• Zip-Ties

If I'm on my gravel bike they all go in my bar bag and saddle bag.

Multi tool with chain splitter.

2 tubes one for me and one for other people in distress.

Tyre boot.

Puncture kit.

Quick links and piece of chain (especially if your bike has one gear.

Some zip ties.

Gear hanger for each bike if changeable.

A manual pump.

Multitool with chain splitter
Gerber dime with pliers

tube
tyre levers
mini pump

i was let down last year when my Blackburn pump just refused to pump air at the top of an alpine climb. (50m into the descent I’d suffered for - I had to walk the bike home!). So I kind of decided that I will try to have more than one way to pump a tyre in future. So I carry a CO2 cartridge with me now too.

One Up Pump with multi tool. Some tubeless plugs in there too. Inner tube on the frame. Chain link in the One Up

That's it 

The answer Really depends on the ride TBH, if I'm within ~5 miles of Home/Car and could walk back then just a basic multitool, Tyre plugs and a mini-pump is perfectly good, if I'm going further say 10+ miles from my "recovery point" I'd add quick links, maybe spare brake pads(?) and an innertube (this all applied equally to road/Gravel/MTB.

If it's a proper expedition/overnighter, I'll add at least one more innertube, possibly a gear cable (Never needed one TBH) most other (foreseeable) issues can be tackled by a decent multitool by the trail/road side (assuming your bike is adequately maintained)...

Note: I do now carry a full sized frame pump on Road/Gravel bikes, As dorky as they might look Getting a Road tyre up to a useful pressure is soul destroying with a mini-pump and while a leccy pump would or CO2 probably save any of that effort, if it's not charged or there's avalve issue a manual alternative is needed. I don't like relying on a "one shot solution" for squirting air...

The one recent exception to all of this is a catastrophic rear wheel failure I had on the Gravel bike a couple of months ago, I on the way home but a fallen tree ate half the spokes and that basically meant I was walking ~8 miles home, no reasonable amount of tools/spares would have solved that particular event TBH (and the boss wasn't available to come fetch me).
Essentially there are always some contingencies that exceed reasonable most planning.

Sensible size multitool (Topeak Hexus). (if I've tightened something at home with a workshop length tool, trying to undo it with something an inch long is going to make a mess)

Pump (with gaffer & pvc tape wrapped round the handle)

Tube

Tyre levers - technically they're on the multitool, but if I do need to get a tyre off that's been glued on for a year or more, gonna need some grown up tools

Little tin with tubeless plugs, stabby tools, glue, patches etc.

Little tin with assortment of bolts, spare SPD cleat, jockey wheel, (old but not dead) brake pads, chain offcut and quick link.

Usually have some cable ties somewhere.

That I can carry in a Camelbak runners vest type thing.

If I'm using my normal pack, it'll be a Mountain Morph pump, leatherman, quite often a shock pump (most used thing on a group ride), little first aid kit, Sol bivvy bag etc.

The way I look at it, even a "local" ride could easily leave me with a 2 hour walk home if I can't fix the issue. Bollocks to that - I want to be self sufficient.

Tiny frame bag which can swap between bikes really easily 

Tube

Mini pump

Multi tool including chain tool

Chain link

Couple of zip ties

Mars bar

Tyre levers

Spare tube, CO2 pump, multi tool, tyre levers.

I used to have a toolkit in a small water bottle, but I left it on the floor somewhere and it was "found" and never seen again. I have now found another good candidate for this kit and look forward to making a new one. With zip ties. And tape.

One-Up EDC pump and tool. A spare tube. A tubeless repair kit. Plus various bits and bobs in my lumbar pack like a Park Tyre boot, some zip-ties and sundry other stuff that I don't even know I have in there. 

Mini pump strapped to a and a lezyne flow cage witha storage pod that has a lezyne sv17 multitool in it- that has a couple of tyre plugs and a chain breaker, I also have some glueless ptaches and a chainlink in there. For longer rides I strap on a piggy pouch thing with tyre levers and a spare tube in.

For a really bug day out with a pack or hip belt; spare pads, gear cable, CO2 canisters, tyre plug kit

Nothing, and wearing shoes comfortable enough to walk back to civilisation.

But normally pump, tyre levers, an inner tube and multitool.

I've a small frame bag that velcros on or off, or goes in a rucksack.

- inner tube, pump, puncture kit, spare valves, tyre levers.

- multi tool, zipties, some tape, spare disc pads (1xmtb 1xroad), couple of spare bolts that would fit stem or seatpost. 

- wee bivvy bag, buff cut in two, heat pad, whistle, wee lights.

The only thing I change is which inner tube is in there.

Mini tool for 99%+ of my rides. About the only time this gets used is to straighten the bars or saddle after a crash.

For the odd ride, where I'm properly out in the hills, I will add a splitlink, a few tyre plugs and a tiny pump. 

Depends on where I’m riding, if it’s local I don’t take anything. If I’m properly in the mountains it’ll be tubes, pump, multi tool, split link, cable ties, tape, little first aid kit, foil blanket thingy. Bikes these days are pretty robust so it’s been years since I’ve used any of it but it’s nice to have just in case. 

I can't recall the last time I needed a spare tube. Last puncture was over a year ago.

Of course, I've only gawn an fwucked it for myself now, haven't I?

For road:

Electric pump

Tyre plugs

Multi-tool

1 tube

Spare mech hanger

Co2 cartridge and head

Tyre lever x 2

Topeak Alien multitool, mini pump, inner tube x1-2, tyre levers x2. 

And obvs food/ water as needed

Current bike - Specialized SWAT tool in steerer tube, also has chain breaker. Tubeless repair kit in bar ends. Tube, electric inflator, tyre levers/chain piers.

OneUp EDC in my head tube with the tubeless repair bitty attached and some chain links stored in it. If I'm feeling fancy or risk averse, electric pump in the pocket of my shorts. Having the EDC tool means that I don't even have to think about it. It is a bugger getting properly torqued wheel axles out with it though as it is so small.

Interesting that nobody's mentioned an emergency tenner (maybe twenty these days) which used to be a staple of the bike emergency kit.

One Up pump & and EDC tool.

TPU tube.