Author Topic: Repair Kit  (Read 14088 times)

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Offline brad

Repair Kit
« on: June 11, 2006, 03:16:09 pm »
Curious what everyone takes? I usually have a multi-tool, tire patch kit, a few spokes, extra allen keys, pressure gauge, duct tape, and a few extra bolts, nuts. i'm trying to absolutely minimize my repair kit and just want to compare....

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener

Offline gavin_japan

Repair Kit
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2006, 12:06:12 am »
a pressure gauge?  I use these great tools called fingers that seem to work most of the time for me.


FredHiltz

  • Guest
Repair Kit
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2006, 07:54:34 am »
Brad wrote: Curious what everyone takes?

Takes where? On a day ride I take enough to fix two flats and a broken derailleur cable inner wire. On a cross-country ride I take enough to go for a week to the next bike shop; to repair a blow-out, broken spoke on the cassette side, detached pannier, cracked rack strut, broken chain, etc.

Don't forget the repair kit for your body. My tiny first aid kit has come in handy, more often for others than for me, even on day rides.

Fred


Offline Peaks

Repair Kit
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2006, 06:10:45 pm »
What's in my repair kit?

For myself, I've got a first aid kit.

For my Thermarest, I've got a patch kit.

For my stove, I've got a baggie of repair parts.

For my bike, I've got a bike multi-tool (allen wrenches, etc.), tire levers, bike pump with gauge, and spare tube.  If I'm going out long enough, I might pack along a replacement tire.  I probably should carry a spare shifter cable, and maybe a spare brake cable.  Haven't broken spokes yet, so I don't carry them yet.

For general use, I've got a small leatherman, duct tape, and a small backpackers repair kit.  


Offline DaveB

Repair Kit
« Reply #4 on: June 15, 2006, 08:32:10 pm »
I suggest taking a Park's MT-1 "dog bone" multi-tool tool.  It has 3,4,5,6 and 8 mm allen keys, a small flat screwdriver blade (which fits derailleur limit screws) and 8,9 and 10 mm box wrenches.  It weighs only about 50 gms, costs less than $10 and the shape allows a lot of torque on all of the larger hex keys.  Why it isn't wildly popular is beyond me.  

The MT-1 with a very small chain tool like the Ritchey CT-5 (use the MT-1 as the screw press handle) is as versatile as multi-tools costing 3 or 4 times as much and weighing much more.


Offline reinarz

Repair Kit
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2006, 09:51:24 pm »
Even on a short ride I take a personal first aid kit which includes Ibuprofen and toilet paper. On the longer trips the first aid kit is more extensive based on personal experience.


cyclesafe

  • Guest
Repair Kit
« Reply #6 on: September 07, 2006, 04:53:48 pm »
Make sure you buy a quality multitool.  Park is best.

If you have a Topeak Road Morph pump, you have a built-in pressure guage.  I'd also rely on the finger test before I'd carry a separate pressure guage.

This message was edited by cyclesafe on 9-7-06 @ 12:55 PM

Offline litespeed

Repair Kit
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2006, 12:23:38 am »
For serious touring I carry a Topeak Alien multitool, cheap aluminum tire irons, at least four tubes, patch kit, vinyl tape, small leatherman, WD-40 for cleaning things, spare tire (after finally cutting one), little bottles of Tri-Flo, tire gauge, spoke wrench, seam sealer for the tent and a couple of hose clamps. All goes into a ziplock bag except for the tire gauge and leatherman tool which are handy in my handlebar bag. I don't pack a first aid kit - just a few bandaids. I don't carry spare spokes for my very sturdy custom made wheels. I put on a new chain every thousand miles and new tires (Continental Top Touring) every 2000 miles (rotated halfway - 1000 miles out). If your repair stuff (except for the spare tire) takes up more space than a football, you have too much. The more I tour - about 25,000 miles so far - the less I carry. For day trips I take just two tubes and tire irons.


Offline litespeed

Repair Kit
« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2006, 12:25:43 am »
I forgot to mention: The only pump worth taking is a Zefal Double Shot. Don't waste your money on the little ones.


Offline Peaks

Repair Kit
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2006, 05:53:38 pm »
Haven't tried the Zefal Double Shot, but do recommend the Topeak Road Morph pump.  

Most small pumps don't really get the tire all the way up to pressure.  The Road Morph does, and I assume that now the Double Shot does also.


Offline froze

Repair Kit
« Reply #10 on: October 02, 2006, 11:42:45 am »
I haven't started touring yet, but I have rode into remote areas so know the importance of having tools with me otherwise I could be walking for hours.

I like the Park MTB3 for multitool; it's compact and durable and you don't need tire irons if your riding on tires larger the regular road tires; otherwise you need a seperate set of tire irons if your running 700x20-28's. But there are other multitools that are very good as well. The Multitool comes with all the allen keys you'll need except for large crank like size.

Tire patches can be controversal as well; but I've been using glueless (Park brand) patches for over 8 years and never had one fail, and one of my tubes had 8 glueless patches and the tube was 5 or 6 years old and most of those patches were applied in the first year and they all held.  Glueless patches are faster to apply and no worries of ever finding a dry glue tube and you don't need to carry the glue tube.  You also should have a tire boot patch as well-those are not glueless.

Spokes are important if your going touring and most carry 2 or 3.  There is also a fiber spoke you can get that is more portable but I'm not sure how good those are for touring.

Pressure gauge is nice if you really want accurate PSI in the tires, but really not necessary if your trying to save space and weight.

Duct tape is always handy for a wide variety of repairs.

I do carry a very small mini folding pliers I got from Target made by Eddie Baur(sp?) that cost $10 but it's all you need for any sort of bike repair.

I also carry a spare ultralight folding tire and an ultralight racing tube.  But I always try to repair the tube first before replacing it because folding a tube down very compact takes a long time, plus I can repair a tube just as fast as replacing it so why bother, and it gives me a new tube to work with should I need it.

I don't carry any nuts or bolts or even chain links. The chain link thing, since I don't ride loaded I can ride the bike home by putting the chain back together minus a link which would just prevent me from shifting to the lowest and highest gears-no biggy.  The Park MTB3 comes with a chain tool.

I don't carry lube but if your going on a long tour your going have to.

I carry a minor first aid kit for little stuff but I don't have enough space for major injures which means I would be tough out of luck in a remote area.  I also carry diarerra, pain and allergy pills.

I don't take cables since the likely hood of that happening on a road bike is nil.

I carry a different type of pump but again I'm not touring yet.  So I just carry a very small mini pump that does go to 100psi which is all I need; then on long remote trips I take a backup frame pump just in case the mini breaks.  But the Zefal Dble Shot and the Topeak Road Morph are both very good pumps.  I also carry on the valve stem a brass presta to schrader converter because I do use a compressor at home but in case a pump breaks and I can get to gas station I can use the converter.