JamesLondon said:Hi there,
I'm just getting back into commuting and road cycling and am keen to get a decent multitool to carry in my wedge pack (rather than ramming about 10 different tools in there!)
Having looked around a bit it basically seems to be a choice between the Topeak Alien range or the Specialized EMT range.
Thoughts from those who have experience of either/both would be much appreciated.
In Particular, how strong/useful are the chain tools in both ranges? I assume they must make up quite a proportion of the weight of a multitool and I'm wondering how useful they are?
Many thanks,
James
I use a Topeak Hummer I received for Christmas a few years ago. The chain tool is for emergency repairs and after fifteen or twenty thousand miles I still haven't needed it... yet. I would never use it once I've gotten myself home, but I like having it in the bag anyway. The Hummer also has pieces you can lose. If you lose the tire lever with the wrench you lose the chain tool too.
I think it weighs a mighty 200g. A heavier multi-tool will cost you an additional 0.01 mph. When racing, my friends leave the multi-tools behind to get the extra 0.04 mph. They either carry nothing at all or one CO2 cylinder, one tube, and sometimes a tire lever.
What you should carry depends on how you ride. I do a lot of solo 45-75 mile rides and carry enough to survive most minor problems including multiple flats. The added 0.04 mph is meaningless to me. The inventory: one tube, one 12g CO2 cylinder and chuck, one ultralight frame pump, one multi-tool, one patch kit, one mylar patch for a tire boot, and one SRAM power-link.
