Topeak Hexus X is just incredible. it's £25 and it's smaller/lighter/neater/cheaper than your minimalist kit whilst also having rounder corners which is more pocket-friendly. It doesn't have spare quick links but shortening the chain by half a link will still get you home so I consider those unnecessary for the truly minimal kit.
At some point, I gave up on multi tools. They're dumb. Now I just carry a set of Allen keys I got from Daiso, a screwdriver shaped like an Allen key and a mini chain tool in a ziplock bag. This kit is so much lighter and compact (and way cheaper). And I can actually tighten those bolts placed in awkward corners.
I carry 2 TPU spares, a park tool dog bone multi tool, a chain break tool, same leyzene mini pump 2 quick links, 1 tire lever (I’ve never had to take a tire off to replace a tube, and have had plenty of flats) all carried in a rapha jersey pouch way way lighter then the nonsense your carrying in your “light pack”. Also in 40 years of riding never have I had the need for any multitool ever, I carry the park dog bone to turn the chain break. I omitted 2 latex gloves I wrap the tubes in.
Nice! I’d recommend a ratchet with bits in place of the multitool, more usable and you can carry the exact bits you need. Also, potentially a small thing of extra lube.
Yea a ratchet + bits is a good shout, however I do like that the multi tool keeps everything together when it’s in my jersey pocket. And yes some additional lube is a must for longer trips!
It’s better to put all of that on the bike itself. You won’t need the tools without the bike. And you won’t need to remember if your tools are in your jersey pockets if they are always with the bike.
I use the Topeak alien11 multi-tool, a mini track pump Lezyne puncture kit and spare inner tubes 19mm stubby spanner for my ICE recumbent trike. The Topeak has almost everything I could possibly need inc spoke keys 14 & 15 and tyre levers. That kit goes on every ride and so far I have used it once to fix the chain in 7yrs of riding. Not much worried about weight with a trike weighing close on 30lbs bare and it has mudguards rear rack and Dynamo lighting + panniers so it weighs close on 40lbs kerb weight. Regularly ride from Buckie to Elgin and back Or to Banff when I fancy a change.
I ride mostly 50 to 200 km rides. I've found that my small kit should always have 2 each 7 mm thick nitrile gloves. The other day I ran over some weeds and had weeds in my rear derailleur that were a mess to pull out. If I hadn't had gloves I would have had dirty hands for the rest of the ride and would have had to replace my day-glow yellow bar tape. Also, a half a toothbrush is handy for cleaning dirt out of tight places and cleaning my cleats if I step in mud--especially as I use Speedplay cleats. Speedplays work well for me, and easier to walk in, but they don't like to be dirty. I save the weight by going tubeless and not needing tire levers. I carry a tiny tubeless repair kit but have never used it in the 2000 km since switching to tubeless.
Great advice Grant but ... And the but is that I had a batch of Continental tubes in which the core of them easily screwed out and using a similar Lezyne pump like yours unscrewing the pump hose it kept unscrewing the valve. Thankfully some stopped to help me and they used a clip on pump. I now use the same type. I do like that chain / quick link tool and I will definitely be buying one now. You now have a new sub.
Never had a mechanical. Flats, rarely. So indeed the minipump, levers and spare tyre(s) and a small tool to get the wheels of the frame. I only added a couple of tieraps and the patches. For longer rides extended minitool (has chaintools included). Never needed it though. But i’ll knock on wood now 😂. For longer rides (200km+) i’ll take a powerbank and extra spare tyres with me. Like that chain-plier-tool you showed; but when adding the quicklink, you can also put some power in the pedals to make it stuck and work. So not sure if it will really help?
Pump, mini tool, chain breaker. Use Wippermann Connex quick link because these can be put on/off by hand, don’t need the pliers. Don’t need the valve extender if you choose the correct length valve on your spare tube. Rema tiptop patch kit with the vulcanizing fluid. The self-adhesive type tend to not work as good. Tubeless plug kit if running tubeless. Mech hanger is a luxury, or ride a bike with integrated hanger (part of the frame)
Solid list! The valve extender is more if your out and need to buy a tube and you can’t get the right length valve for deep wheels. I’ll need to check those quick links out 👌🏻
I put on my gp5000 str without any lever, i dont know why everyone says it is so hard 🤷🏻♂️ Other than that nice liste. Only thing i would change is the overprized chainthing you showed and go for multitool with chainbreaker.
Probs to do with the wheel set I reckon. Also I picked up the chain break tool for £30 which feels reasonable. The big multi tools with chain breakers are usually pretty heavy!
He starts by saying there aren’t videos out talking about this. Look up cycling EDC (every day carry) and you’ll see the tools and stuff there. I see people In the comments saying the same. So you can look up a few edc vids having to do with commuting or bicycles and get ideas.
You can make your own tire boot out of a used worn tire. Just cut a 5-6inch length and cut off the tire bead. It can save you if you get sidewall tears.
