Recommended utility tool for road bike?

jes.sandiegoca said:

Saw two at my local bike shop. One was $9. It had a flat head and a
Phillips head and I think a 3, a 4 and a 5. The other was $25 and had a
chain repair tool in addition to the other stuff. The one thing with this
one was that the guy said the chain tool might not work for my OCR 1.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Chris

Hi, I carry a Crank Bros Micra 17, which includes a chain tool. For
the chain tool to be helpful without trying to cobble something
together, you will need to carry a spare chain pin or coupler. The
srewdriver bits will seldom get used, but the allen heads will. They
are helpful for adjusting and tightening seatposts, stems, and even
pedals.

Here is the Micra 17:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=0350&sku=5971&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Life is Good!
Jeff

jes.sandiegoca said:

Saw two at my local bike shop. One was $9. It had a flat head and
a Phillips head and I think a 3, a 4 and a 5. The other was $25 and
had a chain repair tool in addition to the other stuff. The one
thing with this one was that the guy said the chain tool might not
work for my OCR 1.

On the last point, that just doesn't make any sense. The frame model
has nothing to do with the chain or the chain tool.

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations?

Well, since you don't mention the tool brands or models, we can't
compare very well directly between them. But we can tell you what we
use, and you can maybe judge from there. Also, take a look at your
bike and see what you actually need. You probably need 4/5/6 mm Allen
keys, a small straight screwdriver, a spoke wrench, tire levers, patch
kit, pump. Also look at the useability of the tool- many of the multi
tools are really a nuisance to actually use.

My tool kit on my road bikes normally consists of a Ritchey CPR 9
(with chain tool, 4/5/6 mm Allen keys, 8/9/10 hex nut sockets, flat
screwdriver, and two barely useable spoke wrench slots), a spoke
wrench, tire levers, patch kit, spare replaceable chain link. I use a
full-size frame pump on all my bikes.

For tours or ultradistance rides, I carry a Cool Tool, Leatherman,
tire levers, patch kit, spoke wrench, tire boot, chain link, some zip
ties and adhesive tape and a HyperCracker.

After witnessing a terrible car accident while on a bike ride with
multiple injuries and having to crawl into an upside down car to help
people get out, I now carry a cell phone for 911 calls if I see
something like that again. That was reinforced after being knocked
off my bike and assaulted by a gang of "youths" a couple of years ago.

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations?

I've got two of them on two two bikes: An "Alien XT" and a "Crank Brothers".

Neither one is what I'd call lightweight.

They both work as advertised, but the Alien's body is disintegrating.
Salt-water corrosion susepected - although it's only been exposed once and
briefly....

If my heart were set on a another multi-tool, I'd get Crank Brothers'.

But it's not - so I'd probably figure out which allen keys and such I really
needed for the application in question, buy them separately, and just stuff them
into a plastic bag or something.
--
PeteCresswell

Tim McNamara said:

Well, since you don't mention the tool brands or models, we can't
compare very well directly between them. But we can tell you what we
use, and you can maybe judge from there. Also, take a look at your
bike and see what you actually need. You probably need 4/5/6 mm Allen
keys, a small straight screwdriver, a spoke wrench, tire levers, patch
kit, pump. Also look at the useability of the tool- many of the multi
tools are really a nuisance to actually use.

I carry what you recommend minus the tire levers because I can get the
tires off and on w/o them. For compactness, I kept one of the tiny
screw drivers that come with the eyeglass repair kits. I had a 5 mm
hex key that had a screwdriver on one end. I lost it and cannot find
another. As you mentioned, the multitool is frequently a nuisance.