What’s in a Bikepacking Repair Kit

Sooner or later, everyone experiences a mechanical out on the trail. We know putting together a repair kit can be daunting, but having the right items packed can make or break your trip. In this video, Neil offers a detailed look at his repair kit and shares some thoughts on how each item could help you out of a jam...

Repair Kit
Tube
Spare spokes
Stand alone 4mm Alan key wrapped with tape and thread
Wheels Manufacturing derailleur hanger
Spare brake pads
Duct tape
Spare cleat with bolts
Small parts Box
-Chain link
-Spare plugs
-Brake screw
-Patches
-Valve core
-Bolts for nearly everything
Spare shifter cable
Tent pole crutch/splint wrapped with thread and tape
Lighter
Dumond Tech OG formula in an eye drop container

Mentioned Links:

-------------
Hosted by Neil Beltchenko

[brettfoster]

Walking your bike home is a great learning experience.

[jimmccorison]

A Schrader to Presta adapter. Small, lightweight, and allows you to use gas station air pumps on your Presta valves.

[yumyumhungry]

A note for people who are unaware what he means by "I want to keep my tubeless setup, setup tubeless" Sometimes you need to pressurize the tire quickly to get it to seat on the rim properly.

[bikenejad]

Several tips I've picked up / learned the hard way:

I carry a universal derailleur hanger in addition to one dedicated to my bike. I went on a tour around Catalina with some friends, and on the initial climb out of Avalon on day 1, my buddy snapped his hanger and didn't have a replacement. Thankfully another friend had one of those universal hangers and saved the day. It's not a perfect solution, but it's better than riding a 75lb single speed.

I recommend everyone check to make sure their multitool will actually work on every bolt on their bike. One of the caliper bolts on my Piolet is so close to the seat stay, that I'd be screwed if i needed to adjust it with my crank bros tool, so I carry an extra 5mm.

A little grease would be handy to carry if you're going to be out in the bush for awhile, or you might end up packing a headset with vitacilina in the middle of baja like I did.

If you're packing chain lube, bring a brush or rag to remove filth from your drivetrain, and clean excess lube after application.

[erics]

One of the best overall selections of tools and repair supplies I've seen in a video, or even in books on touring/bikepacking.
As mentioned by others, if you break a drive side spoke with j-spokes, you'll need a cassette removal tool.
Put your sealant inside a plastic bag, I've had a whole bottle empty out into my tools, really a mess.
Depending on your cranks, you may need a beefy hex wrench to remove or properly tighten them.
Loctite can be essential to keep bolts in place. I carry it in my repair kit on tours.
Good to make sure you have a multitool or separate wrench for every bolt and nut on your bike.
Most multitools with a chain break will also have a spoke wrench, but good to check.
Rag for wiping down, wiping hands, and laying on the ground to keep parts and tools out of the dirt and not lost.

[cheezy-rider]

The super glue is great for fixing pinhole leaks in sleeping pads also. My punctures have always been small enough to fix with it.

[Oddity]

Nice rundown. I carry a couple latex gloves for the repairs where u have to get down and dirty without getting down and dirty.

[kevinb]

A really comprehensive ‘Everything you need and how to pack it’ from the maestro himself!👌🏻Thanks Neil👍🏻

[KevinGrinder]

I’m so happy I found this channel. This video, as well as the others I’ve viewed from it are so helpful and well done.

I’m planning on taking my first bike packing trip soon and these videos are helping me feel and be more prepared. Thank you.

[benmaier]

Super glue is a good addition to a first aid kit as well. Seals cuts in your skin surprisingly well.

[outbackwack]

I carry about 1/10 of that stuff on rides because I've never done even an overnight yet...health issues (pulmonary embolism), but hopefully cleared in June for strenuous activity (I'm 61). Putting new 44's on my Topstone tomorrow (hope they fit). When I moto-camped I'd always have my inReach with me, especially important when no cell service because you can still text and email.

[davehoover]

Nice - pretty much what I carried on my mountain bike pack plus a few extras for around camp. Gravel riding just puts them on the frame. I would add an old toothbrush for cleaning the chain and other drivetrain stuff. Headlight is probably covered elsewhere, but much needed as you only breaks when it’s getting dark! Thanks for a good list and sensible approach to keeping yourself running.

[rasmuswi]

One thing I learned the hard way this summer is that the last thing you want is your sealant bottle leaking out into your bags. I'm pretty sure it's worse than having your chain oil leak, because you will be able to clean the oil off most things, but clothes that have sealant on them will be forever sticky with that sealant (at least the Orange seal that I use) no matter how many times you wash them. So make sure you have the sealant bottle stored watertight!

[BrentZahradnik]

This is super helpful as I'm refining my setup for future trips. Looking forward to more!

[YuriyKulikov]

So far the best multi tool I have seen is Topeak Ratchet. Very small and very capable.

[richardelsdon]

Add in a Jockey wheel. My first big multi day trip we were climbing out of a town on the second day when a buddy had his jockey wheel break into many pieces. Thankfully I had a single tacx jockey wheel in my spares and It bolted in despite not quite the right spacers. Trip saver.

[zenomolteni]

Cool informative video! One of the things I carry is a cassette lockring tool, in case I need to remove cassette or a CL rotor (that use that style lockring), which can be helpful/necessary when putting in spokes. There are some minimalist versions of there but I just took a standard park tool one and drilled a hole across the hex part so I stick the 6mm key of my multi tool and use it for leverage instead of carrying a wrench. For a chainwhip you can just move the wheel slightly away from the dropout to access the cassette but leave it on the bike while you crack it loose. Not the most practical thing of course but it works in an emergency.

[adamhaughey]

Excellent and thorough review for a repair kit. I would add a shrader valve. My front shock failed due to a shrader valve gone bad. Had I a replacement, I would not have had to lock out the fork for the remainder of the ride and likely not crashed and broke my scapula and fracture dislocated a finger with 100 miles to go. Fiinger reduced in the field by myself. Finished the ride, but something as tiny as as shrader valve could have saved the day.

[robpelton]

Just found your channel recently. I’m digging the very helpful content. Keep it coming! Perhaps I’ll run into you someday as I’m in MN as well. Cheers.

[CrumbsBrulee]

I always have a misc. bag of hardware too (bolts, nuts, cables, chain links). As well as this I always have some electrical tape, gaff tape (I prefer this over duct tape or gorilla tape), paracord, zip ties and some of those bendy wire ties for attaching random stuff to my frame/bags. You'd be amazed how well you can repair a broken rack with some sticks, paracord and electrical tape. I also carry a small adjustable crescent wrench in case I need to take off my pedals to box my bike for transport (works great for holding/turning any other small bolts too like on my cantilever brakes or to adjust tension on my Brooks saddle). Also can't forget an old toothbrush and wire brushes, lube, and some rags (I just cut up old pants or shirts) for regular chain and casette cleaning.