Hi Everyone! I hope there is some useful info in this video for your own bicycle toolkit. What are some of the bike tools you can’t do without? We would love to hear from you and perhaps learn a few extra tricks!!
Use Loctite on everything before a tour. Use a shower cap over your helmet in the rain keeps your head warm and dry. It also doubles as a leather saddle cover at night. If you plan to stay at a campground never use the nearest ATM machine. We did that in northern Greece, got followed back to camp and got robbed. Use the ATM in the morning instead when you leave. Carry some beef jerky in your handle bar bag. If a dog('s) give chase toss one or two. Most of the time they'll stop to eat and you can get away.
This would be a good idea for me....if i knew how to replace a spoke and true a wheel. I'm currently on my 1st tour (1000km so far) and don't feel confident with much bike maintenance.
This is by far the best video on the tool kit I've ever seen. Good tips and perfect balance between being well prepared and light weight. One thing I like to add are zip ties. Ive had numerous oddball mishaps where they saved the day, including a broken front rack. Love the tire levers that double as chain pliers and will take an old sock on my next tour. We're scheduled to tour Mexico for a couple of months.
Spokes in the seat tube - great idea! One of THE BEST on.the road items are zip ties or ty straps. Brilliant get-you-out-of-trouble invention. The modern baling wire....
Spokes in the seat tube 🙂👍🏻......check out the material called Cuben Fibre....e bay ......really lightweight bags in all sizes,I use a small one for nuts and chain links etc....Unior also do a tiny cassette removal tool...🙂🤘🏻
Thanks, Eric. That was incredibly useful. The NBT looks like exactly what I'm after and storing your spoke inside of your seat tube is genius. Take care. JP
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I use my handlebar to store my spokes (I don´t use drop downs). For me it is easier not to remove the seatpost in case. For pliers and wrench in one I use a small Knipex pliers. They can hold and twist all nuts and bolts perfectly, and it is small and light. Anyway I do not need verry much tools because my Rohloff hub don´t need much maintanance.
The handlebar spoke tricks is a great one too! I have had my eye on one off those Knipex pliers for a while now and will probably buy one for an extended tour where bike repair shops are sparse. All the best
Not only do you make films with fantastic content and flow. Another detail in your films is the very clear sound, also when biking and in other windy situations. Happy to have found you!
One thing I do is to occasionally use the multi tool at home e.g. to adjust the brakes. I found out that some adjustments cannot be done with my multi tool, so I carry two angled allen keys that I need for my brakes and such.
A multitool will always be a compromise but a worthwhile one in my case. All bikes are different so always good to select tools from that perspective! All the Best, Eric
Again a very good and useful and helpful list of important items to bring with you on the bike packing trip! A very big and warm THANK, to you, sir! Wishing you both always all the Best! Greetings from Sweden!
Excellent video! Your video shows that it is possible to take less with you but still you're able to fix a lot. The idea to use a toilet bag to organise stuff is brilliant!
Some nice ideas How do you use the cassette tool? AND how do you use it without a shifting spanner? I have two tips that might be of interest to you - well, one won't be if that cassette tool works! So, cyclo cone spanners are lightweight, if you carry a pair they also work as pedal spanners if you use two held together I use the regular nut like cassette tool, it looks like yours but doesn't have a lug - be nice to see how that works! However I avoid carrying a chain whip by using a park bench - yes, I carry a park bench, they're light weight and easy to pack! Sorry, couldn't resist It goes like this, you just need something about the height of a seat that you can hold your back wheel on top of, so the right rock will do. Take the wheel off stand the bike upside down next to the rock/bench with the gear side facing it. Hold the rear wheel with the cassette about the middle of the chain stay and the gear side pedal resting on the tyre, loop the chain around the cassette on anything larger than your middle gear, now as you turn the cassette bolt anticlockwise the chain pulls the pedal against the tyre, so it's locked and you can unscrew, this works fine and doesn't hurt anything or require that you remove the chain But you do need a bench Thanks for the vid
Thanks for the tips! Check out this site for the instruction on the NBT2 tool: www.m-gineering.nl/nbtg.htm I am trying to visualise your explanation but I can't seems to grasp it fully... Best wishes 🍀
All good Erik. 👍 tool selection always has me, the thing I needed left behind and thing I didn't need adding weight. New bike soon so video for then I think, would be rude not to. Take care you guys.
@@WheelstoWander The Knipex 86 03 125 also works really well for adjusting spoke tension. Normal spoke wrenches tend to round-off the spoke nipples if they are old and corroded.
Do you have a video on your personnal choice of bike ? Would you go on bike packing instead of panniers , disk brake visit pads ? Etc ..thanks your great ! keep on rolling
Nice and instructional video !!! I would like to see one about tyres you use and results you have had with others in the past. Best tyres for different areas you have ridden. Thanks in advance.
Thanks Jeffke ;) Maudi is now trying the Schwalbe Super Moto X tyres (2,4") which are really comfy. Let's see how they hold up against the Marathon and Mondial's we regularly use... Ga je goed!
I don't use multi-tool because of the lack of reach. Way too many screws out of reach because of the bulkiness and short length of the bits. But it all depends on the type of bike and how much you are willing to fix on the road.
I agree that the multitool is a compromise. Shop tools are awesome and they let you work with more ease and efficiency. With this multitool I can reach every bolt on the bike and although not as handy as dedicated tools, the weight and functionality wins over bulkiness and weight of full size tools. No right or wrong here ;)
Great video as always guys. That Nbt2 tool is so handy - probably one of the best touring specific tools I've used and worth every penny! I'm surprised you change your chains quite so often. What about carrying a chain wear guage? Me and my partner have been touring for a little over a year now. I've been changing our chains once they get to 0.5% wear on a chain wear guage (about 2500km on average for a 9spd chain on a loaded tourer) and have been able to get 12000+km from the same chainrings and cassette without any slippage. I changed it all out recently, but could have continued fitting new chains too. My point being, you may be able to double the lifespan of each chain before discarding them by using a chain wear guage. Leading on, chain lube makes a massive difference to chain longevity. I used to use a wax solution lube too. My chain stayed nice and clean but wore much faster than with a traditional wet lube, even though my chain looked filthy in comparison! What made me switch was some great lube comparisons online. They show the huge difference in wear rates between brands which I found really useful for getting the maximum life out of my drive train. Furthermore, I'm surprised you guys don't carry the tools to service your cup and cone hubs? (At least I think you use cup and cone!) Do you get that done at bike shops or do you just fit and forget?
Hi Ross! The NBT2 is indeed gram for usefulness one of the best things you can have in a toolset. By changing the chain about every 1000 km's there is no need to gauge and everything will wear equal. I did 20.000+ km's with the cassette and chainrings ( 8spd ) only changing out 2 new chains at about 15.000 km's and some new derailleur wheels. What kind of lube do you use and do you have a link to the online comparison? Always great to learn some useful info :) Yes, we have cup and cone on our hubs/axles. Only one time it needed to be fixed when a rattle started in my rear wheel. It's not an instant disaster and probably manageable to ride to some bigger city where someone can fix it for you. I would possibly take the ball bearings over the tools and see in situ how to fix it. Experience does come in handy and I have done it several times before ;) Thanks for sharing, Eric
@@WheelstoWander Hi Eric, thanks for your response. I realise now that I misunderstood what you meant in the video. I had understood that you were installing NEW chains every 1000km, not rotating between the same 2 used ones. It's useful to hear how long rotation worked for you. I decided against rotation, as I was worried that installing increasingly worn chains would wear out my drive prematurely, as the chainrings and cassettes would still become as worn as the 2 chains. Also, with the global bike part shortage, I didn't want to get stuck with a slipping drive and unable to find suitable replacements - hence why I chose to keep putting on new chains. There just isn't much information out there to say how long that works for, so hearing your numbers is really helpful and it sounds like 2 chains would likely be plenty to do a long-haul trip! Your experience definitely gives me something to think about as its a more inexpensive method. The video was referring to was by a channel called Simply Mountain Biking. They did various tests in a showdown format to determine the effectiveness of some popular chain lubes. I was very surprised that some of the wax lubes were hardly better at preventing wear than a dry chain! Of course, this may not be the case with your brand. Right now I'm using a Motorex Wet Lube, as it was all that was available when I finished my previous lube. It makes things very dirty, which I don't like, even with a sparing application and daily cleaning. However, the chain I lubricated with Motorex lasted the longest yet, which is a major plus. Admittedly, I can't be totally sure if that was just the lube or other factors like better weather, but I don't feel the weather was drastically better. Who knows? My partner would likely agree that I probably worry too much about hubs. From my years in the bike shop, I've found that, by the time the hub is rattling, the races are often (but bit always!) damaged in some way. Usually from contamination than pure wear. Furthermore, Its not always easy to find compatible or quality parts on the road and some cones are very specific. So, for me, regular hub maintenance gives me peace of mind. I do envy your approach as it would rid myself of some tools and weight! Thanks again for taking the time to reply and keep up the great work!
Nice kit. Have never seen the chain plyers before. Will be waiting to see what you think of the new aluminum ones. Another good informational video. Looking to head out to see the fall foliage here in Vermont soon You both take care, Al
Thank you Al! We will be updating this video somewhere down the line and I'll give you my opinion on the aluminium chain pliers. New England must be beautiful that time of year. Wishing you lots of enjoyment! Eric
Thanks Eric and maudi most helpful personally I carry to much like most of us , especially nuts and bolts 🔩 screws, but the reason for this is its often said I have a Screw loose l😆l so you can't be to carful, I look forward to your adventures hopefully next year I will get back to your awesome country the netherlands disneyland for cyclists.
Why no journey footage, and beautiful wildlife footage this time?. I hope your ankle is/has healing/healed. Thank you for this video. Love to you both ❤
I agree that the adjustable spanner is a great tool and we used it quite a bit. I will miss it if there will be a problem with the headsets but for anything else I believe got it covered or we'll need a bike shop anyway... We will find out ;) Thanks!
will u consider disc brakes anytime soon? Our newest bike has disc and since it is new, we haven't had to service it (we might never need to), curious to your thoughts.
The vast majority of nuts are 8 & 10 on my specific bike. The adjustable spanner is great but I only used when necessary a few times in two years I had it with me. For a tour where I could be stranded if I didn't have one I'dd still take it although it is relatively heavy. On recent tours I could get by without one.
GreAt tips! Do you change the wheel and BB bearings before each season or a long expedition? They must take a beating with all that stuff you are carrying.
Awesome video. A quick question. Do you think this scaled down tool kit is good for touring in remote areas too where Bike shops could be further off in between? Thanks!
Thanks Clifford! That's a shame, Leatherman's are such versatile and handy tools to have. There is probably a suitable replacement available I guess. All the Best
With regard to the "locking blade" - as long as you have good reason for having it in your possession (in your tool kit) then you should be fine with UK law.
@@OverTheHillPhil Hi Phil, please can I direct you to; ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5bVknOv19_w.html. In addition I believe, possibly from the same source, you can do the following. You may own a leatherman and use it freely at home. You can have one at work and travel between the two carrying with good reason. However, you can’t take it into Tesco’s when you do the shopping or attend a parents evening at your kids school. On the other hand a Swiss Army knife doesn’t have a locking blade so this can be carried. Confused? I still am! I think the only legal thing I can legally do with my two multi tools is take them to the scrap yard or wait for the next police amnesty and hand them at the station.
@@cliffordhallam3270 Hi Clifford, thanks for the link - very informative. I've carried my leatherman crunch for some years, aware that it's a "locker" and have never had any difficulties. I'm retired though, so that may explain why I don't look like a threat! LOL
Knowing how to fix a bike is key of course ;) Some simple tightening of bolts doesn't seem to be too hard I guess and can already help a lot with things coming loose!
Very useful list - thank you. Just a question about the puncture repair kit. I haven't used a tube of glue for many years now. I have had 100% success with self-adhesive patches. Just wondered if you had tried them and what you thought.
luci lights, washing soda for washing clothes and self, small bottle of chloroseptic, duct tape, sewing kit. h2o2 for mouthwash ^stuff i take i didnt see
@@WheelstoWander lately ive been considering taking juice concentrate, the kind found in the frozen goods in the plastic can, on camping trips because it can be diluted with water. i like to do sewing. ( e, i have a consew and a mini walking foot:/) consew makes some nice drop feed machines that zigzag too(which is good for strech fabrics and repairing holes, buttonholes, overcasting edges to prevent fraying. ive worked on some back pack projects and did a canopy cover for my sons bike trailer(out of heavy canvas that was linseeded). keep posting the vids! dumpster dive if you can man!!! peace
And God says this: "Find what you love to do and do that ( do it well) and be successful in what you love to so others who may be inspired by your doings will learn from what it all takes to do what you love...God's yoke is easy, but all that we choose, requires our own efforts and reading if need be to be successful in what we choose to do....:)