The Ultimate On-Bike Tool Kit | Cycling Essentials

In today's video, I share my go-to tool kit for taking on bike rides. I think this selection of tools will save you from almost all of the common mechanicals such as puncture and tyre repair, bike adjustments, and chain or drivetrain issues. It's not the cheapest or lightest kit in the world, but it's affordable and fairly lightweight and perhaps can provide a great starting point if you're building your own on-bike tool kit. Let me know your go-to on-bike tool kit or if I've missed anything in the comments.

0:00 - Intro

1:46 - The Minimalist Kit
→

6:07 - The Pro-Activist Kit
→
7:40 Cable Ties
7:52 Mech Hanger

Road Bike: Canyon Endurace CF SL 8.0
Gravel Bike: Canondale Topstone
GPS Cycling Computer: Wahoo Element Bolt
Road Shoes: Lake CX332
Gravel Shoes: Quoc Gran Tourer
Helmet: POC Omne Air Spin
Clothes: Maap / Rapha
Turbo Trainer: Wahoo Kickr Core

* Links are affiliates, so I earn a small commission if you buy products via the links, which helps out the channel.

#cycling #bikes #cyclingtools

[lisamallard]

For longer bikepacking trips I would add a small cleaning brush and small rag

[tomrachellesfirstdance]

I take a tool with me on most rides....his names Jim 😂

Good call with the nitrile gloves especially if you have white bar tape

[MB_EDC]

I like the Topeak Ratchet Rocket Lite. It does weigh 160g all in and is really compact including a couple of tyre levers

[wheelsrbest]

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.

[archiearchie]

For winter I add a re-usable hand warmer. A sticking plaster can double up as a tyre boot.

[saisamsuri]

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.

[zipworks]

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.

[nigelnightmare]

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.

[ricktan]

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)

[GeeklingNo]

I wanted the bare minimum to start myself out and this looks to be it. thanks for the info!

[chrisfanning]

Topeak Hexus X is just incredible. it's £25 and it's 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.

[cyclingjack]

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?

[alyoshakaramazov]

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.

[mynock]

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.

[josephlyne]

Love the detail and actual experience. Thanks

[zachrichardson]

Frame pump all the way for me, it works ridiculously well and i'll never look back

[Vam]

I carry a few extra valve cores which are nominal in terms of weight. I have had one go bad on my gravel bike and cause a slow leak.

[mountaintruthdeeds]

Crank bros m17 or 19, all the stuff including chain break and spoke wrenches.🤔

[chloroticaelysia]

spoke key. especially with our roads looking like the surface of the moon. more important for a rim brake bike though.

[Gufolicious]

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.