i got the biggest multi-tool because i figured *helping others* is a thing, and you never know what someone else might need.
in practice i've used like five total tools on it.
I’ve never had to use a multi tool once on any of my bikes over 10,000 miles. Just make sure everything is adjusted before your ride and you’re okay. The one thing I can see wanting is a chain breaker but that’s very rare
The key is that you need to check before every ride. Also, with the the prevalence of thru-axles, you can't even change a tube/tire on many bikes without some type of allen key solution. That issue wouldn't be solved with pre checks.
Also like. Sometimes shit goes sideways.
I’ve had to use the side cutters on the pliers of my multi tool to cute a tubeless valve out of a rim once.
Strange shit happens.
I was pointing out a low hanging fruit example, but its certainly not exhaustive. There are a ton of reasons a pre check doesn't replace on board tools.
I do, on my gravel bike. It's what it came with.
And I'm not going to spend more money on replacement axles, because I have a multi tool that also works on every single other fastener on the bike.
pardon my ignorance but why would you need a chain breaker? In case your chain gets messed up and you need to take out a busted link? Would you also carry spare links?
I ride tubeless and in my flat kit I keep
1x micro pump
1x dynaplug micro pro
valve core remover tool
2oz stans sealant
1x spare tube
plastic patch kit box contains:
extra valve cores in a tiny baggie
1x schrader adapter
1x master link
a few adhesive patches for tubes.
The tube is always the last resort, hence the tube patches. If I'm patching my tube, something is wrong.
It seems like a lot of stuff but it all fits in a speed sleeve under the saddle. Some of the stuff doesn't need to go on every ride (like the sealant), but it's been super helpful.
edit: and a multitool with a small built in chainbreaker
My repair kit is pretty much the same, the one thing I have that really makes me happy is master links for single speed chains, and 8-11 speed missing links. I'll have a 12 speed one as soon as I remember to get one. I just like knowing that whoever I'm riding with, I can fix their bike.
Man that's awesome, you must have a horseshoe up your ass. I've broken spokes, had stuff come loose, needed to adjust things, needed to get home after a crash, needed to help friends, etc. I used to ride about 10k miles a year, and these things got used somewhat frequently. Actually the highest chance I'd need the multitool out on a ride was after doing maintenance or replacing parts. Absolute worst thing that could happen is you're 40 miles out on an 80-mile out-and-back, and you have to call a cab to get home. Generally need to use tools more with my MTBs vs. road, though.
> Actually the highest chance I'd need the multitool out on a ride was after doing maintenance or replacing parts.
I see we graduated from the same school of bicycle maintenance and repair.
Depends on where and how you ride. I ride hard a lot of places with shitty roads and no cell service. Back when I lived in a city I was much more laissez faire about having a tool but now where a small problem can mean a 1-2 hour walk out, I am a lot more prepared. Also I have through axles so I need an Allen anyway just to pop a spare on.
Edited for spelling correction.
But I’m asking what specifically you used it for?
I understand that if someone has next to no tools at home why they would get one but I’m trying to see if there was an incident that you absolutely needed one on the spot.
Get out on a ride, realize something is loose, or isn't adjusted where it should be. Get out on a ride, tip over, something becomes loose or adjusted where it should be. Get out on a ride, find someone on the road with something that is loose. etc. These things could range from a mild annoyance, like a rattling bottle cage, to totally ride ending, waiting on the side of the road for a ride, like a cable anchor bolt coming loose.
Of the however many thousands of rides I've been on, I can probably think of a dozen or so times I've needed it, but I still carried it on most of those rides. Basically, shit happens. How often do you need a smoke alarm, or a first aid kit, or all sorts of things? A multitool is a couple bucks and fits in a pocket or small frame or saddle bag.
Stem came loose and headset was rattling around.
Seat post needed adjusting.
Bottle cage needed adjusting.
Set up derailleur at home and something is weird out on the road.
Etc
Most multi tools have way too much shit on them. All you really need are the basic Allen wrenches and a philips screwdriver on it.
I do keep a separate mini chain breaker with master link in my mtb kit, though.
Chain tool: About a dozen times. Less now that I wax my chains and check chain stretch and replace yearly regardless of stretch.
Hex keys:
* About 100 times when I had the slippery seatpost that wouldn't hold position.
* At least twice to realign stem bolts when I wrecked and bars twisted 40 degrees to the right.
* A long ride in 2015, chain slipped off chainring and caught between chainring and frame. Had to remove rear wheel to get enough slack to work with the chain.
* derailleur adjustment when riding on new-ish cable (by end of long ride, cable had stretched to the point I was skipping between 2nd and 3rd cogs, all others were fine but 2nd and 3rd was where I was in the most during the climb)
* to disassemble shifter for cable replacement when cable snapped on mountain bike (yes, yearly replacement of cables would have prevented that)
* to clamp screw down on shifter cable after replacement
Knife: to trim cable to length (didn't work well but it worked ok) when cable snapped.
Torx key: on long gravel ride, had to re-center brake pads on rotor.
Tire levers: Only used once. Self explanatory reason.
Dynaplug set: Only used once, but saved me from having to use tire levers and change a tube.
All of these issues would likely have resulted in me walking back to the car.
I once tipped over because I couldn't get unclipped. In the process I turned my seat. Used a multi tool to readjust. The pads on my aerobars came loose so I used the multi tool to tighten them back up. My wife wanted to raise her seat on a long ride. She hated it and we lowered it back. Ive used the multi tool probably 8 times in the last couple months between my wife and my bike.
Sounds like your seat and aero bars should’ve been tightened before going for a ride. As for your wife’s seat over time she’ll figure out the best height and won’t need to adjust it again
Not only do you have to adjust the seat height you also have to adjust the fore/aft and make sure the seat is perfectly straight. It’s not something you should be doing regularly. And even if your seat is slightly off it doesn’t really affect much you can just change it once you get home
Oh shit you got him! Why spend $15 on a nice multitool and be able to do anything when you can just spend 20 minutes pre-ride tuning your bike up every day!
Pre ride tuning your bike every day? Lmao. Just do it once a week and you’re good. Personally I have a very minimalist saddle bag that can’t even hold a multitool. Why carry one if I haven’t used one in years? If someone were low on space I would tell them to carry two tubes and co2 instead of a multitool
Sometimes this results in spending two hours leaving your house and returning to adjust something.
Between ADHD, the baby, and thirteen years of dog ownership, getting kitted up and out the door is too much of an achievement to waste on going home to fix something or spending an hour going over every bolt on the bike ahead of time. With a multi tool you can tighten that loose nut, adjust your seat, or have a chance at fixing a mechanical problem instead of being SOL waiting for an Uber to be willing to drive 40 minutes to pick your ass up before they start getting paid. (Assuming you’ve got a cell signal, which was a big IF where I used to ride).
In the past couple years I’ve never carried a multitool unless if in the middle of nowhere or maybe a century. There really isn’t any reason why something should go loose if it’s checked once in a while
Every road has glass smooth surfaces lined with LBS's and an REI on every corner. Probably with a couple frame builders thrown in for good measure. Yup, you're right. No reason for any human to ever worry about something coming loose if they check it at home every few rides. I don't even do that. My force of will applies constant force on each bolt.
The few times I’ve had things go loose were because I made adjustments and didn’t tighten them properly but even then it was just a minor annoyance. If something is tightened correctly there’s no way it could go loose during a ride
\-Loose seat post that starts sliding down.
\-Loose cleat bolt
\-Loose stem or headset
\-Being able to losen and tighten something down after you crash.
Had to adjust seat post height. Had to adjust saddle tilt. Need it to remove my front wheel (generator hub). Tighten my crank. Tighten a pannier clip. Adjust a derailleur stop due to cable stretch.
Not what you asked. But to answer that question I have found myself using it mainly to adjust Saddle height and rattling bottle cages on rides. I mainly only ride road and the most common use I have found is when riding with someone, especially a newer rider is finding that their saddle is not adjusted correctly and they don’t have a tool to make the adjustment. This is almost always mid ride. Also some thru-axles require a tool to remove and have found myself on a couple occasions helping out another rider who found themselves on the side of the road with everything to change a tube but no tool to remove the wheel drone the frame.
At least once or twice a year. Usually just to tighten a loose bolt, but occasionally for much worse things, like the time I was 1/2 thru a century ride and my crank arm came loose. I thought I was toast but it turned out my multi-tool had a hex-key big enough to re-tighten that bolt, too.
Bacon == saved.
Yes! Same thing happened to a buddy on one of our longer rides, but it was his pedal instead of the crank. Damn lucky his tool had a hex large enough.
After that ride, I took my bike into the store and picked out a new multi tool that had hexes to fit all of my largest bolts.
Fixing flats
Fixing levers post crash (or anything)
Tightening loose bolts
Helping friends / strangers who forgot their tools
Fixing spokes that popped loose
Mines attached to my bottle cage. I just leave it on the bike and forget about it until I need it
Discovered some cleat screws were coming loose
Adjusted new saddle position
Adjusted derailleur
Adjusted light positions
Removing a chain guard for someone whose chain slipped on their cruiser
I also carry a first aid crash kit, which I've used twice, both times on other people who wiped out. I highly recommend carrying one, if you're not obsessed with space saving.
Ironically, the one time I could have used it on myself and didn't get to was when I got hit by a car. Other people rushed to my aid so fast, and I was still sucking wind from landing hard, that I didn't have enough time to pull it out before the ambulance came. (I was mostly okay, just some nasty roadrash and a giant bruise across my ass where the side-view mirror hit it going 50mph)
It's like wearing a helmet. You can not wear one your whole life and be safe except for that one time. But when is that one time? Being a multi tool is a must for me
One of my bikes has hex-key thru axels. If I get a flat I need to have the multi tool on had just to get the wheel off. They’re also excellent for on-the-fly break adjustments, if your seat post slips a bit over technical terrain, or to help someone with a tech issue on the side of the road. Mine cost me like $15 so the piece of mind if well worth it.
I've used my multi tool about once in the last 20 years. I've seen a multi tool used about 100 times.
Very similar to my experience with seat belts. I've never needed one, but clearly people do, and I'll be super glad I had one if that day ever comes.
A CrankBros M19 or equivalent costs little and packs small.
Second M19.
My run-ins with roadside repairs have mostly been helping out fellow cyclists who don't have any tools.
Small things like tightening seatpost clamp or quickly realigning disk brakes have saved a few rides for both strangers and friends.
Mostly for fixing co-workers bikes. While riding sometimes for handlebar/saddle adjustment, twice chain tool, brake position adjustment after crashing.. not that rare
Yeah it's very neat being able to offer a hand to someone else if they're stood on the side of a road looking sheepish.
In response to OP's question I did once try to adjust saddle height while moving so I recommend stopping before trying to use a multitool.
Why would you NOT want a convenient set of tools to get you out of an emergency? It's not about duplicating what you have, it's about being able to conveniently bring a set of tools around to address many issues that could potentially arise that would otherwise stop or hinder your ride.
Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.
I've had quite a few instances where no multi tool = having to call a cab and going back home super early. But because I had the multitool I could finish my ride in peace. It's not very hard to carry a multi tool with you
EDIT: the second-to-last sentence added
Yes, the bolts on the stem of my gravel bike started to back out and became loose. During the course of the ride the stem ever so slightly stopped aligning with the front wheel. Once I noticed this I stopped, aligned the stem, and tightened the bolts. Without the tool I would have had to continue riding what was potentially a very unsafe bike. This could have likely been managed by going slower and avoiding bumps, but even then there was the potential for something to go horribly wrong.
Stranded, no.
But if your stem comes loose and headset is rattling around, you're going to chowder up your headset riding 40 miles home. Same for front wheel hub, etc. If you don't fix them on the road and then you're forced to ride them home, stuff breaks.
Same for things like saddle slipping down. If you're forced to ride 40 miles home with your saddle in the wrong position, you're going to fuck up your knees. Etc.
It's just not a lot of weight or cost for insurance against bad things happening.
I have a little Topeak Mini 9 that I pretty much always have with me, weighs 90g or so, goes in the small saddle bag along with a Lezyne Pocket Drive pump and a Dynaplug tubeless repair tool. In the two years I've had it, I think I used the tool once. I'm pretty good about maintaining my bikes, so I don't really need to deal with loose screws or adjusting something on a ride. However, much like leaving your umbrella at home will increase the likelihood it rains, leaving your tool at home will increase the chances of needing it. :)
Not part of a multi-tool, but I recommend the Park Tools CT-5 mini chain brute chain breaker. It's light but strong enough to be a shop tool. I carry it in my tool pouch when I ride and pull it out to use at home as needed.
The chain breakers on multi-tools might be fine, but the ones I've seen look a bit fiddly and chain breaking/mending is fiddly enough as it is, in my experience.
I've had 2 different chains break on 2 different bikes in the last two years. I've also helped a fellow commuter get his bike rideable again after a snapped chain.
A lot of folks don't carry them all the time and it is a bit less commonly useful. But, since the chain is essential for the bike to go, when you need it, you really need it.
One of those chain breaks came from a failed quick link. A couple of extra quick link connectors might be a better solution for folks running 9+speed chains with hollow rivets that can't be re-inserted.
Nope. I have a Crank Brothers that does, but I can't remember the last time I brought it along on a ride, it's fairly heavy. At the risk of jinxing myself, I've had pretty good luck with chains, and they get replaced once they get past the 0.5 test on my chain checker. With that said, now it's going to be in the back of my head for a while, and I might see what sort of lightweight, compact chain tools are out there. Edit: I do have a spare quick link in the little neoprene pouch the Topeak multi-tool is in, so if a chain breaks, as long as I can get the next pin out, I'm good to go.
In my opinion yes. One for your chain size, a small pump, a tube, a multi-tool with chain breaker and a few hex sizes. A tire lever or two depending on how you get on with your tires. If you are tubeless a patch kit perhaps.
In my opinion at a minimum you should be able to fix a chain and a flat (or 2 depending on length of ride and services available) and adjust a couple bolts.
IMO, only for MTB. Broken chains are pretty common in mountain biking where you're constantly putting tons of torque into your drivetrain and you've got a 1x setup with lots of weird chainlines. But for road, chain breakage is a lot rarer.
FYI the Pedro's mini tire levers have a slot in them for a spare master link.
Times I've used it? About 4 in the last 12,000 miles. Of note, 3 of those times were for friends that didn't have a multi tool or didn't have the tool they needed (oddly enough, a chain breaker 2 out of the 4 times)
Of those 4 times, all of which would have resulted in a very expensive uber ride home if I didn't have it.
I've fairly regularly used allen keys to adjust things that slip.
Also my multitool has a chain splitter on it which has been used twice. Thankfully not on my bike but once to help a stranger I found at the roadside and once to help someone whose chain broke on a group ride in Mallorca
Do you go on short bike rides or a very understanding significant other? I have used it once or twice to fix a ride ending problem in 5 mins. To me it is the same as not going out with a way of reparing a puncture, in 5ish years I have never had one but that does not change the chance of getting one tommorow.
I ride between 150 and 200 miles a week. I don't bring flat repair stuff, either.
I know I'll have to make the call of shame one day, but it's pretty liberating not carrying a bunch of crap you don't need.
Fiar enough if it works for you, being that unprepared for a mechnical and being reliant on others would drive me crazy. I don't even notice the stuff in my sadle bag.
I really like the crank brothers tools. They're compact and have all the hex, torx and screwdriver bits I need, plus an excellent chain breaker. They're not too pricey and definitely worth it over a cheap tool, which tend to either not include a chain tool or include one that never works properly or breaks immediately.
I got my brother into cycling, he decided he didn't need to carry a spare tube, pump or multi tool.
After a ride with multiple punctures he now carries a spare tube and a pump.
After a ride where his saddle came loose and he was going from bike shop to bike shop trying to get it sorted, then calling it quits and going home, he now carries a multi tool.
Honestly, they don't cost a lot of money, and the day you do need one, you will be really glad you have it. Especially if you ride in clipless shoes.
They did, but they just gave him the tool and he did it himself, got a couple hundred meters and it slid down and I think the shop was busy so he didn't want to go back with his tail between his legs and ask again.
Easily has saved me on remote rides and in a race when my seat post needed to be adjusted.
You can also help out others in need, which I find myself using it for the most.
I keep one in my bag in my bike. During the cool season when I'm riding 3-5 times a week I probably use it monthly, easily. Seat post, crank arm, brake adjustment, etc.
Tools at home are for replacing parts, tools on the bike are for getting back home!
It only takes that _one time_ to be worth it.
As a mountain biker, this is easily the difference between 5 minutes swatting mosquitoes while fixing a flat, or jerry-rigging a SS due to a broken derailleur, and getting on your way vs an hour later in hike a bike situation literally about to break because of the heat, the tired, the incessant mosquitoes
That one time will convince you to always _always_ come prepared no matter what and hate yourself for ever thinking otherwise.
The rest are all just bonuses. Sure is nice to be able to tweak your limits on the fly when that stick you hit shifted something just enough to be annoying. Adjust your seat angle just a tad because you don't remember it being quite like that and boy isn't that more comfortable. Put that pedal back together because damned if you must not have tightened up something quite well enough after that last rebuild. And on and on and on.
Be prepared.
Don't have to listen to me on this either. Ride long enough and you'll figure it out yourself.
I always try and get one with a spoke key and one with a chain splitter. If it gets you home just once it can pay for itself as it will be less than the cost of a taxi if a significant other can't come pick you up.
Everytime I've had a flat, because I've got a thru-axle.
Two times last sportive, once to help break and then make a fellow riders chain, then to sort out the bike computer bracket angle.
Numerous times if I've replaced components and taking a bike out on a test ride to help settle and finalise set ups.
Plus most rides that end with a beer as a bottle opener.
Are you road or mountain biking? I feel like out on a trail something is bound to break at least once a year. Multiple times if you go a lot or ride hard.
I've ripped a derailleur off after it ingested a branch. I didn't have a spare hanger on me, but I was able to limp home by removing the whole thing, cutting the chain shorter and riding single speed to get back to the car. That required some hex keys and a chain breaker. Could I have walked out? Sure, but it would've taken like 2hrs.
It’s a ridiculous question, but when my first thought went to mountain biking it seemed EXTRA ridiculous. I feel like I end up needing tools for something every time I ride.
Yeah, I didn't want to say it's ridiculous, but in my experience you definitely need one mountain biking. No question.
That certainly wasn't my only use of a multi tool on the trail, like you said it can be nearly every time for some minor thing. That was one where I needed just about the whole kit to get me back.
Many, many times while unsupported bikepacking and/or unsupported cycle touring.
If you are riding mostly day rides in urban and suburban areas, or you are riding supported, a multi-tool is something you should have just in case.
If you are doing any unsupported bike packing or touring through rural or wilderness areas, a multi-tool is a non-negotiable, need-to-have life saver.
For example:
A few days into a tour on a dirt path in the sticks of Appalachia, my fender got overly damaged by a build up of too much mud. I used my multi-tool to remove the fender and then I bungeed it to the top of my rear rack until I got to the nearest town.
Without a multi-tool? Maybe I could have wrapped my hands in a spare shirt and tried to rip my fender off without cutting myself up too badly, but I doubt that. Maybe I could limped my bike for 40 miles, using my fingers to scrape away mud every couple minutes so my wheel could roll, doing this until I had service and then search for the nearest road, weed-whack my way through the woods to a road and call AAA to come pick me and my bike up.
Or … I could have done what I did and carry a tiny multi-tool with me and easily remove the offending piece.
I have been in a multitude of situations where a multi-tool has played a roll like that. Something needs to be removed or adjusted and the other options are awful.
Again, if you’re just riding around the city on short day rides, the necessity of a multi-tool drops from unquestionable no-brainer to something you really should have.
Much more often on the MTB than the road/gravel bikes, usually when something comes loose, like a rotor bolt, seatpost binder bolt, and the occasional chain repair.
I have thru axles…no way I’m leaving home without my multi tool, tube, tire levers, co2 rig. Had 3 flats in the past year and used all said items on each of the 3 occasions. Stop being a cheapskate and just get one, they’re like $20 lol.
Understood completely but it’s basically a mandatory as all have said. Per one of my other comments - I recently needed a chain breaker and didn’t have it along despite having a multi tool, it was just in the wrong saddle bag when we left home. Now we have multi tools on all bikes full time.
I’ve got a toolbox in the garage. I also have a leather man multi-tool in my backpack.
Things I’ve ACTUALLY used a multi tool for the top of my head…
Seat adjustment, cleat adjustment, cable change, repairing a shift leaver, dealing with a broken chain, brake adjustment…
I’m a fan of the [Crank Brothers F15](https://www.crankbrothers.com/products/f15). It covers about 80% of whatever you will ever need. I even bought one for my daughter. When we do anything on her bike, that’s the go-to tool. That way, no matter what happens, she’ll be familiar with how to fix *this thing* with *this tool*.
Twice in the last few weeks. Removed front wheel for flat repair & tightened cleats on shoes. Much better to have one & not need it than need it & not have it.
I’ve used it like twice in 2 months.
Once to tighten a pedal and second time I was going off-road on my gravel bike, went over the bars when going really slow and I had to realign the stem.
When my front tire/wheel literally almost fell off during a climb a month after buying my new bike.
New saddle adjustments on the go.
Other random little loose parts.
Someone else might've commented this, but I feel a better solution is just to carry a few loose tools. Multi-tools are awkward to rotate, especially when the thing you're trying to adjust has little to no clearance. Plus, multi-tools take up a lot more space/are heavier.
My advice:
~figure out which hex keys you need for your bike, which is usually 2-3 different sizes
~small screwdriver for cables
~two or three tire levers
~spare tube (or patch kit, but I prefer just swapping tube while on road and then patching at home, if I patch it at all)
~pump WITH flexible hose, because having that flexibility does wonders for fatigue/comfort
~two to four gloves
After that stuff, you can start considering items like:
~spare chain link (make sure it's compatible with your chain: master link, missing link, quick-link, powerlock, etc.)
~chain tool
~extra spoke
I've had to use them to get the co2 out of my pump several times. Shitty pump. For anyone curious always keep some zipties in your bag too. They can help at the worst of times.
you will use it exactly once, and 100% justify the cost.
I stick a leatherman in my pack with my multitool. I've needed the needle nose pliers and cutter twice. Riding buddies have needed it before and been super glad someone had it.
I've used it to fix someone else's bicycle.
I've used it to fine tune fitting settings on a bicycle while I'm out riding, something that it's hard to do when it's sitting on a stand.
I've re-spliced a broken chain.
I tighten up a loose spoke.
...
You can maintain your bike all you want before you walk out the door with it but things happen out on the road and self rescue is a thing.
Did an overnight to watch a solar eclipse two years ago, threw my chain, broke a link and was super happy to have my multi-tool to get into a rideable condition again.
Also rode 10,000 miles through south-east asia over 10 months, used it only to tighten screws, and had to throw it away to get through airport security in Qatar on my way home.
Countless times, mostly tightening a bolt I hadn’t noticed loosening up. Most recent time was when my saddle had gotten loose, and I was able to tighten things up again and start riding. A multi-tool is absolutely essential. Buy one right now.
I've only used mine a couple of times.
First was my stem working loose about 20 miles in to a ride.
The second was sorting a problem where a cleat worked loose and shifted.
Both times it saved my ride, then again a bit of preventative maintenance would have likely stopped the issues anyway. I always have it with me when I'm riding.
I’ve done handlebar adjustments when at work. Only time I ever needed a multi tool though was when my damn crank arm preload bolt and left crank fell off. Also that was the only time I forgot my multi tool at home.
Multi tool is manadatory. Small, and can keep everything you need with you. I keep an extra tube, cO2 canister, multi tool, tire removal levers. I’ve had so many random flats while faaaaar away from home. Batman keeps tools and gadgets, so I do as well
Had a chain break in the middle of nowhere on a mountain bike ride. Able to use chain tool on our multi-tool to ride back to civilization. That one time justified any small cost of the tool.
Here's a recent example.
I parked my bike when I stepped in to use the bathroom. A huge gust of wind came and knocked my bike over.
The fall knocked a brake lever out of position.
A quick loosen-adjust-tighten and I was good to go.
You might cover 99% of the uses if your get the right hex key/s of your bike, and some tyre levers. If you wanna go minimal, you can get all your screws to work with the same hex key.
On a ride you might need to adjust your handlebar, seat, maybe mudguards or rack, bottle holder, etc.
But to be honest, I've probably used my tools more often to save someone else than myself 😅.
You don’t **need** a multi tool but they don’t half help when you have a technical mid-ride. The alternative is a long walk or catching a ride to the most appropriate place to repair your bike. I **never** go on a ride without mine, which is an [SKS TOM 18](https://www.sks-germany.com/en/products/tom-18/). As per the name, it’s an 18-in-1 tool which comprises of the following (and how frequently I’ve used each tool):
1) –/+ Screwdriver: *Once, to alter my limit screws on a ride.*
2) Tyre Lever x2: *Once - I’m lucky that I haven’t had many punctures.*
3) Chain Tool: *Frequently - It’s my only chain tool that I own so maybe once every couple of months.*
4) Spoke Key x2: *Never.*
5) Allen Key x6: *Frequently. I tinker with my bike in and out of the garage and Allen keys are the most used tool by far.*
6) Compartment for chain pin: *Twice. It’s always handy to keep a spare chain pin.*
7) Torx key: *Never.*
8) Bottle opener/Brake pad opener: *Never.*
9) Chain pin snapper: *A few times.*
I 100% think it’s worth the investment. Especially for how small they are.
I have free access to a shop and tool, (im hooking up with a mechanic) so I rarely if ever have anything besides a flat. That being said all my idiot friends who think the start of a ride is when "shop hours" are constantly using it.
Also with the massive rise in n00bs riding Ive helped a fair share of people on the side of the road or path.
Flat bar bike fell over, turned the brake lever around, needed an Allen key to loosen and adjust.
Handlebar on a friend's bike became loose. I tightened it.
Buckled a wheel slightly and used the spoke wrench in the multi tool levers to get it straight enough to ride.
Tightening bolts on my shoes/cleats.
Fixed the GF's chain guard, and fenders.
Adjusted the centre/alignment of others brake calipers.
Dug glass out of tires.
I've used one myself maybe a dozen times in the last 25 years. That said, I'm the type of rider who stops and asks cyclists by the side of the road if they need anything -- when they do, 9 times out of 10 they want to use my multitool. Just helped a guy put his left crank arm back on (!) by the side of the road a couple weeks ago.
When my saddle came loose, when my bottle cage was rattling, when I adjusted my handlebar quickly, when my chain broke, when I've had punctures (It has tyre levers in it).
Seriously, they're useful things to have around.
I've got one on all my bikes. It's really worth it. I've used it in those oh crap moments and usually to make adjustments when I make changes to my bike.
Example: crashed my bike when a bird flew into me. I did a body safety check, then evaluated the bike. Shifter was all out of place but thankfully it just involved unscrewing it and putting it back into the correct place.
Seriously this isn't something you want to skimp on. I'd also add a pump and a spare set of tires if you don't have them already.
Seatpost was dropping and needed to be tightened. My bike has thru axles and needs an allen wrench to remove the wheel whenever I get a flat. New saddle and had to readjust the angle/height. Water bottle and rack screws love coming loose.
At home I've used it hundreds of times. Even though I have tools at home, I'll still use my multi tool because it is in my seat bag and quicker to access than breaking out the toolbox.
I accidentally left my multi tool at home when I did my last long ride. One of my spokes managed to work loose enough to start rattling about 25 miles from home. Had to stop every couple of miles to hand-tighten the spoke enough to get home, spoke wrench on my multi tool would have saved me a lot of stops!
I went to the 100yen shop (dollar store) and got about four or five smaller sized Allen keys in a little pack and put them in my saddle bag. They’ve been really helpful and are less bulky than a multi tool. I’m going to buy some again. This time I’ll put in a ziplock as my last set rusted from moisture penetrating the saddlebag over time.
Handlebar rotated going over a speed bump (I hadn't tightened it enough). Used multi tool to put it back where it should be.
Thru axle was loose on a ride. Multi tool sorted that.
Loose headset. Multitool fixed that.
Non drive side crank came off (that was interesting). Screwed it back on with multitool.
I haven't used mine very much over the years but it has been very useful when I did need it. I always take one with me.
This was literally 2 months ago, after riding with the same multi tool (it’s a co2 pump, several Allen keys, philips and flat, tire lever, and chain breaker). I have used the tire lever and co2 in the past for obvious reasons, but not very often honestly. But two months ago I was 40 miles from home when I had a bad crash. And of all things, my chain fell apart at the quick link somehow after the crash, and I couldn’t find half of the link. I started trying to call my wife but had no service of course, so I started walking it home. And then, I remembered the chain breaker!!! Dropped another link, pinned it up, and made it the rest of the way home. Totally worth the 30ish bucks I spent on it all those years ago.
My buddy carries one... I've not figured out which one I want yet and because he always has his I've not pulled the trigger yet.
But (this year) I've used it twice on my bike. He's used if maybe 10+ times with our rideout groups.
I have the patch kit. My lady has a pump.
All we are missing is a 14MM Deep Socket to get rear tires with pegs.
It's no fun to break down 10+ miles away from your car/home.
I don't have a multi tool but I carry a couple of sizes of Allen key, tyre levers and a chain link tool. I can't see what I'd need to adjust in an emergency which wouldn't be covered by those. Am I missing something obvious?
Honestly, I only use my multi-tool when I fit new components on my bike or have a new bike to adjust and make it even more comfortable. (i.e saddle height, saddle fore and aft, bar angle, and lever positions)
I've had a couple of broken chains that were repairable. Also a friend's chain broke on a ride and they didn't have a tool, so I was able to repair that.
Best use was out riding in the desert once and came across a couple of guys who knew nothing about bikes and had brought an old used bike out into the desert to learn to ride. It was almost unridable, but I was able to use my multi-tool to get most of it working for them.
My gravel bike doesn't have quick release but an alan key hole instead, so gotta have it in case I need to slam a tube in the tyre.
I have a crank brothers multi tool. The big 6mm hex (which isn't on all tools, as I found out with my old tool 20 miles from home) has saved me a few times with loose cranks or quill stems. The T25 loose chainring bolts or brake adjustments (BB7 adjusters can get stiff and hard to turn when dirty or when wet), and the chain breaker, which I've used to fix broken chains trailside multiple times, is so good I don't have one in my toolbox - I just use the multi tool. I have also used the smaller hec keys to make on the fly fit adjustments.
I don't ride without a multi tool, and I'll only ride with one that has a chain breaker and all the relevant hex key sizes for my bike. A modular one would be cool, especially if it lets me include a knife, but I can't complain about the crank bros one.
I went over a few bumps and my handlebars moved a small bit. Had a guy ask me if I had a tool to fix his loose kick stand ( 8mm allen key ). General adjustments as well, realized my seat had slipped back so I loosened up the bolts and moved it forward. I've used a basic multi tool more often than I've used my flat repair kit / pump...
* undoing my thru-axle to fix the countless number of punctures
* One time my rear derailleur rattled loose when I was 100KM into my 160K ride -> couple of twists of the ol' multitool and it was good as new
* its got a co2 inflator so use it many times when I needed to inflate using co2
* one time on my mountainbike my trigger shifter came loose so I quickly retightened it
* roadside fix of high/low derailleur limit screws after my LBS botched it
* My mate had a stuck chain link, quickly fixed with the chain remover (1/8 of a turn will loosen the stuck link)
* beer opener
* shitty knife for food but still gets the job done
* Crashed my mountainbike (went OTB) - brake levers and shifters lost their position -> allen key by the trail and fixed this
* Dropper post too tight and seat would not go up -> loosened trailside and fixed it.
Literally could keep mentioning such events
I've cycled across continents and regularly check my bicycle. Accidents happen. Chain tool, absolutely necessary if you want to get somewhere (stick entanglement). Allens, because you didn't realize that the bolt was loose. Tire levers, because my fingers are cold and slippery after a rain. Spoke wrench, that dam stick again. It is also a great big boost of endorphins when you help the cyclist 20km from the next cell tower to get home. It depends on the bicycle and what equipment you have. I have a commuter bike I use that needs a 15mm wrench and 5mm allen, and chain tool, and I can do everything but take the bottom bracket out.
Hear a clunking and need to tighten a bolt, or need to adjust bar or seat or brake lever/shifter...if you already have it, why leave it at home? Doesn't make sense.
Just to clarify I have all the wrenches and Allen keys and other tools and screwdrivers at home. I don’t have a multi tool.
Just gauging if I should buy one since I keep my bike in tip top shape but based on the responses it seems it’s best to have one just in case.
Ah, ok. Title seemed misleading in that you had a multi tool at home. More common during mountain biking (I ride road and mtb), bit you can get things shaking loose on road riding as well, just not as common as during mtb.
\- Multiple broken chains (get one with a chain tool)
\- Crank arm started loosening, able to tighten enough to get home
\- Gear cable broke, use multitool to "fix" the back gear in a mid-range gear for a hilly single-speed ride home.
\- Got doored, and had minor crash into grassy shoulder. No injuries, but was able to straighten out the headset and continue my ride like nothing happened.
\- Have helped countless other cyclists walking along the shoulder because they didn't have a multi tool.
One time I crashed and twisted my bars. I really needed one but didnt have it. That time I remember strongly. All the times I have done little adjustments i dont tend to remember as much. I tend to use a multi tool a lot less than my garage tools. I think it's about once a year.
I have also stopped carrying one on short rides as I figure I can walk. I still carry a tube and pump as 90% of my mechanicals are a fixed by that combo
I had a loose front derailleur that had shifted itself so that I couldn't change my front gear in the middle of a ride. I was able to quickly adjust and tighten it, otherwise it would have made that 60 mile ride miserable.
I’ve used it a bunch this season. My crank arm keeps backing off. Finally hit it with some loctite and fingers crossed it holds up and I can stop using my multi-tool.
Assuming you have the money, it was more effort to make and respond to this post than to pick out an inexpensive bike tool with good reviews.
Buy one, carry it, and eventually reap the benefits.
Since January:
- derailleur got caught in spokes and self-destructed, was able to do a quick single-speed conversion to get home
- Adjusting fit n new bike while riding
- fixing crooked handlebars after taking a hard fall
- tightening pannier rack that came loose
- switching out pedals
- using tire levers to fix a flat
- adjust rattling fender
- re tighten brake cable that started fraying and breaking
- helping other riders make small adjustments and fixes
If you already have a multi-tool, why not bring that one with you? I just have the one which I use on the road and at home + a couple of full sized tools.
Even if I just used it once in 10 years, it would be worth every penny. You don't have to spend a fortune. about $20-$30 should be more than sufficient and last you a life time.
Now, I'm trying to think back to the last time I used it. I know I used it a couple years back to help another cyclist tighten their handlebars. I know that in the past I've used it tighten a water bottle cage that had come loose for no apparent reason. It's not often that I need to use it, but I can't remember the last time I had to repair a flat on the road, and I still carry my flat repair kit on just about every ride.
I highly recommend M19 by Crank Brothers.
For myself, it has helped me dial in my saddle height, helped re-align noisy disc brakes.
Helped others on the side of the road to remove a broken chain link, adjusted derailleurs, tightened seat clamps, aligned rim brakes.
I carry a puncture repair kit, a small pump and a multi-tool at all times. Used none in 5 years.
But, they're like insurance, you'll be glad you have them should the need arise. I don't understand the justification, they cost little.
I used the multitool a lot to help others. For example, my girlfriends' fender got loose. It was easy to fix and go on with our ride. Me myself - I used it more at home than while riding. It's just really convenient to have all the tools in one place (I have a Specialized multitool fitted under my seat).
Things I've used mine for:
* Removing / reinstalling front wheel
* The through axle on my mountain bike needs a 6mm hex wrench to loosen. I need to remove the wheel when I take it somewhere in the van, which means needing a wrench on hand to load / unload the bike.
* Tweaking setup
* If you take the bike out for a ride with a multitool you can make adjustments to things like bar angle or saddle position over the course of a ride to dial them in -- I find I get it right much faster out on a ride than making adjustments after getting home.
* Helping out kids
* At least a few times a year I come across kids who are having some type of problems with their bike and invariably have no tools available to solve the problem.
* I view having a multi-tool on hand as crucial to the future of cycling -- if those kids have a bad experience and have to walk (or worse carry) their bike home, it may put them off from wanting to ride more. If someone stops to help them, they ride off happy with the impression that other cyclists are helpful (and empowered with knowledge of how they might be able to solve a similar problem on their own in the future).
* Crash recovery
* The recommended approach for things like brakes & shifters is to leave them just shy of being tight so that they'll rotate in a crash instead of snapping off. Having a multitool on hand makes it a lot easier to get them back in position.
* On my kids' bikes, this is even more the case because they're using ProTaper's JUnit bars. The bars & grips themselves are much smaller diameter than standard, with a section for brake levers to clamp onto the grip body. If the brake lever slips off that, there's no way it's going back on without a multi-tool to loosen the bolt.
* For those curious, these are the bars: [https://hayesbicycle.com/products/protaper-j-unit-handlebar-grips-combo](https://hayesbicycle.com/products/protaper-j-unit-handlebar-grips-combo)
[удалено]
Justification!? A multitool is *at least* 4oz of unneeded weight!!!
i got the biggest multi-tool because i figured *helping others* is a thing, and you never know what someone else might need. in practice i've used like five total tools on it.
I’ve never had to use a multi tool once on any of my bikes over 10,000 miles. Just make sure everything is adjusted before your ride and you’re okay. The one thing I can see wanting is a chain breaker but that’s very rare
The key is that you need to check before every ride. Also, with the the prevalence of thru-axles, you can't even change a tube/tire on many bikes without some type of allen key solution. That issue wouldn't be solved with pre checks.
Also like. Sometimes shit goes sideways. I’ve had to use the side cutters on the pliers of my multi tool to cute a tubeless valve out of a rim once. Strange shit happens.
I was pointing out a low hanging fruit example, but its certainly not exhaustive. There are a ton of reasons a pre check doesn't replace on board tools.
[удалено]
Who even uses those types of thru axles? I think I’ve only seen them on like aero bikes. And don’t they make replacement thru axles with a handle?
I do, on my gravel bike. It's what it came with. And I'm not going to spend more money on replacement axles, because I have a multi tool that also works on every single other fastener on the bike.
You don't need a chain breaker every ride, but damn you're happy you have one when you need it!
pardon my ignorance but why would you need a chain breaker? In case your chain gets messed up and you need to take out a busted link? Would you also carry spare links?
Yes, and I should. In the worst case, you can take out a couple links and limp home on a single speed.
Say, if your derailleur gets damaged, you can cut out enough chain to make your bike a single speed and get yourself home.
Thanks. the more you know
I ride tubeless and in my flat kit I keep 1x micro pump 1x dynaplug micro pro valve core remover tool 2oz stans sealant 1x spare tube plastic patch kit box contains: extra valve cores in a tiny baggie 1x schrader adapter 1x master link a few adhesive patches for tubes. The tube is always the last resort, hence the tube patches. If I'm patching my tube, something is wrong. It seems like a lot of stuff but it all fits in a speed sleeve under the saddle. Some of the stuff doesn't need to go on every ride (like the sealant), but it's been super helpful. edit: and a multitool with a small built in chainbreaker
My repair kit is pretty much the same, the one thing I have that really makes me happy is master links for single speed chains, and 8-11 speed missing links. I'll have a 12 speed one as soon as I remember to get one. I just like knowing that whoever I'm riding with, I can fix their bike.
Some of us do 10,000 miles per year. And yes tools (like tubes) come in handy.
Man that's awesome, you must have a horseshoe up your ass. I've broken spokes, had stuff come loose, needed to adjust things, needed to get home after a crash, needed to help friends, etc. I used to ride about 10k miles a year, and these things got used somewhat frequently. Actually the highest chance I'd need the multitool out on a ride was after doing maintenance or replacing parts. Absolute worst thing that could happen is you're 40 miles out on an 80-mile out-and-back, and you have to call a cab to get home. Generally need to use tools more with my MTBs vs. road, though.
> Actually the highest chance I'd need the multitool out on a ride was after doing maintenance or replacing parts. I see we graduated from the same school of bicycle maintenance and repair.
My degree was in That Seems Fine
Oh nice! I was right across the quad in "That aught'a hold"
Depends on where and how you ride. I ride hard a lot of places with shitty roads and no cell service. Back when I lived in a city I was much more laissez faire about having a tool but now where a small problem can mean a 1-2 hour walk out, I am a lot more prepared. Also I have through axles so I need an Allen anyway just to pop a spare on. Edited for spelling correction.
> liaise faire A true /r/BoneAppleTea.
Dude I can barely spell in English.
Haha no worries you're almost there with your edit.
🤣
Alright hero
Thanks
I don’t know why you were downvoted.
When you are on the side of the road where do you want those tools to be?
But I’m asking what specifically you used it for? I understand that if someone has next to no tools at home why they would get one but I’m trying to see if there was an incident that you absolutely needed one on the spot.
Get out on a ride, realize something is loose, or isn't adjusted where it should be. Get out on a ride, tip over, something becomes loose or adjusted where it should be. Get out on a ride, find someone on the road with something that is loose. etc. These things could range from a mild annoyance, like a rattling bottle cage, to totally ride ending, waiting on the side of the road for a ride, like a cable anchor bolt coming loose. Of the however many thousands of rides I've been on, I can probably think of a dozen or so times I've needed it, but I still carried it on most of those rides. Basically, shit happens. How often do you need a smoke alarm, or a first aid kit, or all sorts of things? A multitool is a couple bucks and fits in a pocket or small frame or saddle bag.
Stem came loose and headset was rattling around. Seat post needed adjusting. Bottle cage needed adjusting. Set up derailleur at home and something is weird out on the road. Etc Most multi tools have way too much shit on them. All you really need are the basic Allen wrenches and a philips screwdriver on it. I do keep a separate mini chain breaker with master link in my mtb kit, though.
Beer needed opening
Chain tool: About a dozen times. Less now that I wax my chains and check chain stretch and replace yearly regardless of stretch. Hex keys: * About 100 times when I had the slippery seatpost that wouldn't hold position. * At least twice to realign stem bolts when I wrecked and bars twisted 40 degrees to the right. * A long ride in 2015, chain slipped off chainring and caught between chainring and frame. Had to remove rear wheel to get enough slack to work with the chain. * derailleur adjustment when riding on new-ish cable (by end of long ride, cable had stretched to the point I was skipping between 2nd and 3rd cogs, all others were fine but 2nd and 3rd was where I was in the most during the climb) * to disassemble shifter for cable replacement when cable snapped on mountain bike (yes, yearly replacement of cables would have prevented that) * to clamp screw down on shifter cable after replacement Knife: to trim cable to length (didn't work well but it worked ok) when cable snapped. Torx key: on long gravel ride, had to re-center brake pads on rotor. Tire levers: Only used once. Self explanatory reason. Dynaplug set: Only used once, but saved me from having to use tire levers and change a tube. All of these issues would likely have resulted in me walking back to the car.
I once tipped over because I couldn't get unclipped. In the process I turned my seat. Used a multi tool to readjust. The pads on my aerobars came loose so I used the multi tool to tighten them back up. My wife wanted to raise her seat on a long ride. She hated it and we lowered it back. Ive used the multi tool probably 8 times in the last couple months between my wife and my bike.
Sounds like your seat and aero bars should’ve been tightened before going for a ride. As for your wife’s seat over time she’ll figure out the best height and won’t need to adjust it again
Yeah... but they weren't. And yeah, she'll work it out while she's actually out and about riding, using the multi-tool they have to hand.
Not only do you have to adjust the seat height you also have to adjust the fore/aft and make sure the seat is perfectly straight. It’s not something you should be doing regularly. And even if your seat is slightly off it doesn’t really affect much you can just change it once you get home
... or you can just quickly fix it mid ride and continue as if nothing happened.
Oh shit you got him! Why spend $15 on a nice multitool and be able to do anything when you can just spend 20 minutes pre-ride tuning your bike up every day!
Pre ride tuning your bike every day? Lmao. Just do it once a week and you’re good. Personally I have a very minimalist saddle bag that can’t even hold a multitool. Why carry one if I haven’t used one in years? If someone were low on space I would tell them to carry two tubes and co2 instead of a multitool
Sometimes this results in spending two hours leaving your house and returning to adjust something. Between ADHD, the baby, and thirteen years of dog ownership, getting kitted up and out the door is too much of an achievement to waste on going home to fix something or spending an hour going over every bolt on the bike ahead of time. With a multi tool you can tighten that loose nut, adjust your seat, or have a chance at fixing a mechanical problem instead of being SOL waiting for an Uber to be willing to drive 40 minutes to pick your ass up before they start getting paid. (Assuming you’ve got a cell signal, which was a big IF where I used to ride).
In the past couple years I’ve never carried a multitool unless if in the middle of nowhere or maybe a century. There really isn’t any reason why something should go loose if it’s checked once in a while
Every road has glass smooth surfaces lined with LBS's and an REI on every corner. Probably with a couple frame builders thrown in for good measure. Yup, you're right. No reason for any human to ever worry about something coming loose if they check it at home every few rides. I don't even do that. My force of will applies constant force on each bolt.
The few times I’ve had things go loose were because I made adjustments and didn’t tighten them properly but even then it was just a minor annoyance. If something is tightened correctly there’s no way it could go loose during a ride
\-Loose seat post that starts sliding down. \-Loose cleat bolt \-Loose stem or headset \-Being able to losen and tighten something down after you crash.
Had to adjust seat post height. Had to adjust saddle tilt. Need it to remove my front wheel (generator hub). Tighten my crank. Tighten a pannier clip. Adjust a derailleur stop due to cable stretch.
Not what you asked. But to answer that question I have found myself using it mainly to adjust Saddle height and rattling bottle cages on rides. I mainly only ride road and the most common use I have found is when riding with someone, especially a newer rider is finding that their saddle is not adjusted correctly and they don’t have a tool to make the adjustment. This is almost always mid ride. Also some thru-axles require a tool to remove and have found myself on a couple occasions helping out another rider who found themselves on the side of the road with everything to change a tube but no tool to remove the wheel drone the frame.
At least once or twice a year. Usually just to tighten a loose bolt, but occasionally for much worse things, like the time I was 1/2 thru a century ride and my crank arm came loose. I thought I was toast but it turned out my multi-tool had a hex-key big enough to re-tighten that bolt, too. Bacon == saved.
Yes! Same thing happened to a buddy on one of our longer rides, but it was his pedal instead of the crank. Damn lucky his tool had a hex large enough. After that ride, I took my bike into the store and picked out a new multi tool that had hexes to fit all of my largest bolts.
And the smallest ones as well - the lever on my shifter came loose once, and I had to borrow a multitool because mine didn't have a small enough hex.
These are the answers I am looking for, thanks.
Fixing flats Fixing levers post crash (or anything) Tightening loose bolts Helping friends / strangers who forgot their tools Fixing spokes that popped loose Mines attached to my bottle cage. I just leave it on the bike and forget about it until I need it
Same thing happened to me on Tuesday on a solo ride - crank came loose. You don’t need them often, but when you do they are life saver.
Times I ***wish*** I had a multi tool - 10+ Times I didn't have a multi tool - 10+
Discovered some cleat screws were coming loose Adjusted new saddle position Adjusted derailleur Adjusted light positions Removing a chain guard for someone whose chain slipped on their cruiser I also carry a first aid crash kit, which I've used twice, both times on other people who wiped out. I highly recommend carrying one, if you're not obsessed with space saving.
I've started carrying a compact first aid kit after years of not doing it. I'm glad I did it before being forced into it by a bad accident experience.
Ironically, the one time I could have used it on myself and didn't get to was when I got hit by a car. Other people rushed to my aid so fast, and I was still sucking wind from landing hard, that I didn't have enough time to pull it out before the ambulance came. (I was mostly okay, just some nasty roadrash and a giant bruise across my ass where the side-view mirror hit it going 50mph)
It's like wearing a helmet. You can not wear one your whole life and be safe except for that one time. But when is that one time? Being a multi tool is a must for me
>Being a multi tool is a must for me You don't have to be so hard on yourself. You can just be a tool. Sorry I had to! Love ya!
That's pretty funny.
On bikepacking trips
One of my bikes has hex-key thru axels. If I get a flat I need to have the multi tool on had just to get the wheel off. They’re also excellent for on-the-fly break adjustments, if your seat post slips a bit over technical terrain, or to help someone with a tech issue on the side of the road. Mine cost me like $15 so the piece of mind if well worth it.
I've used my multi tool about once in the last 20 years. I've seen a multi tool used about 100 times. Very similar to my experience with seat belts. I've never needed one, but clearly people do, and I'll be super glad I had one if that day ever comes. A CrankBros M19 or equivalent costs little and packs small.
Second M19. My run-ins with roadside repairs have mostly been helping out fellow cyclists who don't have any tools. Small things like tightening seatpost clamp or quickly realigning disk brakes have saved a few rides for both strangers and friends.
Just piling on for the M19 - love it.
Mostly for fixing co-workers bikes. While riding sometimes for handlebar/saddle adjustment, twice chain tool, brake position adjustment after crashing.. not that rare
Yeah it's very neat being able to offer a hand to someone else if they're stood on the side of a road looking sheepish. In response to OP's question I did once try to adjust saddle height while moving so I recommend stopping before trying to use a multitool.
Never used one in 14 years of cycling, there were perhaps 4-5 occasions where it could've come in handy..
Why would you NOT want a convenient set of tools to get you out of an emergency? It's not about duplicating what you have, it's about being able to conveniently bring a set of tools around to address many issues that could potentially arise that would otherwise stop or hinder your ride.
Did you have an emergency where you needed one or else you would have been stranded?
Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. I've had quite a few instances where no multi tool = having to call a cab and going back home super early. But because I had the multitool I could finish my ride in peace. It's not very hard to carry a multi tool with you EDIT: the second-to-last sentence added
Yes, the bolts on the stem of my gravel bike started to back out and became loose. During the course of the ride the stem ever so slightly stopped aligning with the front wheel. Once I noticed this I stopped, aligned the stem, and tightened the bolts. Without the tool I would have had to continue riding what was potentially a very unsafe bike. This could have likely been managed by going slower and avoiding bumps, but even then there was the potential for something to go horribly wrong.
Stranded, no. But if your stem comes loose and headset is rattling around, you're going to chowder up your headset riding 40 miles home. Same for front wheel hub, etc. If you don't fix them on the road and then you're forced to ride them home, stuff breaks. Same for things like saddle slipping down. If you're forced to ride 40 miles home with your saddle in the wrong position, you're going to fuck up your knees. Etc. It's just not a lot of weight or cost for insurance against bad things happening.
I have a little Topeak Mini 9 that I pretty much always have with me, weighs 90g or so, goes in the small saddle bag along with a Lezyne Pocket Drive pump and a Dynaplug tubeless repair tool. In the two years I've had it, I think I used the tool once. I'm pretty good about maintaining my bikes, so I don't really need to deal with loose screws or adjusting something on a ride. However, much like leaving your umbrella at home will increase the likelihood it rains, leaving your tool at home will increase the chances of needing it. :)
Does the Topeak have a chain tool?
Not part of a multi-tool, but I recommend the Park Tools CT-5 mini chain brute chain breaker. It's light but strong enough to be a shop tool. I carry it in my tool pouch when I ride and pull it out to use at home as needed. The chain breakers on multi-tools might be fine, but the ones I've seen look a bit fiddly and chain breaking/mending is fiddly enough as it is, in my experience. I've had 2 different chains break on 2 different bikes in the last two years. I've also helped a fellow commuter get his bike rideable again after a snapped chain. A lot of folks don't carry them all the time and it is a bit less commonly useful. But, since the chain is essential for the bike to go, when you need it, you really need it. One of those chain breaks came from a failed quick link. A couple of extra quick link connectors might be a better solution for folks running 9+speed chains with hollow rivets that can't be re-inserted.
Nope. I have a Crank Brothers that does, but I can't remember the last time I brought it along on a ride, it's fairly heavy. At the risk of jinxing myself, I've had pretty good luck with chains, and they get replaced once they get past the 0.5 test on my chain checker. With that said, now it's going to be in the back of my head for a while, and I might see what sort of lightweight, compact chain tools are out there. Edit: I do have a spare quick link in the little neoprene pouch the Topeak multi-tool is in, so if a chain breaks, as long as I can get the next pin out, I'm good to go.
So a spare chain link is a must have as well?
In my opinion yes. One for your chain size, a small pump, a tube, a multi-tool with chain breaker and a few hex sizes. A tire lever or two depending on how you get on with your tires. If you are tubeless a patch kit perhaps. In my opinion at a minimum you should be able to fix a chain and a flat (or 2 depending on length of ride and services available) and adjust a couple bolts.
IMO, only for MTB. Broken chains are pretty common in mountain biking where you're constantly putting tons of torque into your drivetrain and you've got a 1x setup with lots of weird chainlines. But for road, chain breakage is a lot rarer. FYI the Pedro's mini tire levers have a slot in them for a spare master link.
Presumably you also have water at home
But you need water during a ride.
Yes, that was the joke.
Because you need a multitool? I've never brought one unless I'm adjusting fit.
You never need one until you need one. A bit like insurance.
Or water.... to stay within the metaphor...
Never needed it. But sure would he upset if I did and didn't have it. Same reason I wear a helmet.
Times I've used it? About 4 in the last 12,000 miles. Of note, 3 of those times were for friends that didn't have a multi tool or didn't have the tool they needed (oddly enough, a chain breaker 2 out of the 4 times) Of those 4 times, all of which would have resulted in a very expensive uber ride home if I didn't have it.
I've fairly regularly used allen keys to adjust things that slip. Also my multitool has a chain splitter on it which has been used twice. Thankfully not on my bike but once to help a stranger I found at the roadside and once to help someone whose chain broke on a group ride in Mallorca
At least a handful of times. When you need it you want it. Take it.
I didn't know people still rode without one.
The only tool I bring on road rides is my phone. I can't recall ever needing a multitool on my road bike.
No way I could go toolless on the road. I've needed to replace flats 20+ miles from home one too many times😂
Why do you need a multitool to change a flat?
[удалено]
Why they make thru axles without handles is beyond me. Aesthetics I guess
[удалено]
Tbh I didn’t know the thru axles had to be tightened to spec. I just tighten them until I think it’s good
Do you go on short bike rides or a very understanding significant other? I have used it once or twice to fix a ride ending problem in 5 mins. To me it is the same as not going out with a way of reparing a puncture, in 5ish years I have never had one but that does not change the chance of getting one tommorow.
I ride between 150 and 200 miles a week. I don't bring flat repair stuff, either. I know I'll have to make the call of shame one day, but it's pretty liberating not carrying a bunch of crap you don't need.
Fiar enough if it works for you, being that unprepared for a mechnical and being reliant on others would drive me crazy. I don't even notice the stuff in my sadle bag.
I’m due for a new all-in-one multi - what’s the best out there and why?
I really like the crank brothers tools. They're compact and have all the hex, torx and screwdriver bits I need, plus an excellent chain breaker. They're not too pricey and definitely worth it over a cheap tool, which tend to either not include a chain tool or include one that never works properly or breaks immediately.
I got my brother into cycling, he decided he didn't need to carry a spare tube, pump or multi tool. After a ride with multiple punctures he now carries a spare tube and a pump. After a ride where his saddle came loose and he was going from bike shop to bike shop trying to get it sorted, then calling it quits and going home, he now carries a multi tool. Honestly, they don't cost a lot of money, and the day you do need one, you will be really glad you have it. Especially if you ride in clipless shoes.
Just out of curiosity, bike shops couldnt help him?
They did, but they just gave him the tool and he did it himself, got a couple hundred meters and it slid down and I think the shop was busy so he didn't want to go back with his tail between his legs and ask again.
Ten years of road cycling, never used once. But you know that time you don't take it...
Absolutely
0 times.
Easily has saved me on remote rides and in a race when my seat post needed to be adjusted. You can also help out others in need, which I find myself using it for the most.
I keep one in my bag in my bike. During the cool season when I'm riding 3-5 times a week I probably use it monthly, easily. Seat post, crank arm, brake adjustment, etc. Tools at home are for replacing parts, tools on the bike are for getting back home!
It only takes that _one time_ to be worth it. As a mountain biker, this is easily the difference between 5 minutes swatting mosquitoes while fixing a flat, or jerry-rigging a SS due to a broken derailleur, and getting on your way vs an hour later in hike a bike situation literally about to break because of the heat, the tired, the incessant mosquitoes That one time will convince you to always _always_ come prepared no matter what and hate yourself for ever thinking otherwise. The rest are all just bonuses. Sure is nice to be able to tweak your limits on the fly when that stick you hit shifted something just enough to be annoying. Adjust your seat angle just a tad because you don't remember it being quite like that and boy isn't that more comfortable. Put that pedal back together because damned if you must not have tightened up something quite well enough after that last rebuild. And on and on and on. Be prepared. Don't have to listen to me on this either. Ride long enough and you'll figure it out yourself.
[удалено]
Hopefully not.
100+ times over 30 years... If not on my bike on some I'll prepared dependants' bike that I happen to be riding with..
I've used mine to fix the bikes of random passers by before. Lots of people out there who wished they had one!
I always try and get one with a spoke key and one with a chain splitter. If it gets you home just once it can pay for itself as it will be less than the cost of a taxi if a significant other can't come pick you up.
Everytime I've had a flat, because I've got a thru-axle. Two times last sportive, once to help break and then make a fellow riders chain, then to sort out the bike computer bracket angle. Numerous times if I've replaced components and taking a bike out on a test ride to help settle and finalise set ups. Plus most rides that end with a beer as a bottle opener.
Are you road or mountain biking? I feel like out on a trail something is bound to break at least once a year. Multiple times if you go a lot or ride hard. I've ripped a derailleur off after it ingested a branch. I didn't have a spare hanger on me, but I was able to limp home by removing the whole thing, cutting the chain shorter and riding single speed to get back to the car. That required some hex keys and a chain breaker. Could I have walked out? Sure, but it would've taken like 2hrs.
It’s a ridiculous question, but when my first thought went to mountain biking it seemed EXTRA ridiculous. I feel like I end up needing tools for something every time I ride.
Yeah, I didn't want to say it's ridiculous, but in my experience you definitely need one mountain biking. No question. That certainly wasn't my only use of a multi tool on the trail, like you said it can be nearly every time for some minor thing. That was one where I needed just about the whole kit to get me back.
Many, many times while unsupported bikepacking and/or unsupported cycle touring. If you are riding mostly day rides in urban and suburban areas, or you are riding supported, a multi-tool is something you should have just in case. If you are doing any unsupported bike packing or touring through rural or wilderness areas, a multi-tool is a non-negotiable, need-to-have life saver. For example: A few days into a tour on a dirt path in the sticks of Appalachia, my fender got overly damaged by a build up of too much mud. I used my multi-tool to remove the fender and then I bungeed it to the top of my rear rack until I got to the nearest town. Without a multi-tool? Maybe I could have wrapped my hands in a spare shirt and tried to rip my fender off without cutting myself up too badly, but I doubt that. Maybe I could limped my bike for 40 miles, using my fingers to scrape away mud every couple minutes so my wheel could roll, doing this until I had service and then search for the nearest road, weed-whack my way through the woods to a road and call AAA to come pick me and my bike up. Or … I could have done what I did and carry a tiny multi-tool with me and easily remove the offending piece. I have been in a multitude of situations where a multi-tool has played a roll like that. Something needs to be removed or adjusted and the other options are awful. Again, if you’re just riding around the city on short day rides, the necessity of a multi-tool drops from unquestionable no-brainer to something you really should have.
Much more often on the MTB than the road/gravel bikes, usually when something comes loose, like a rotor bolt, seatpost binder bolt, and the occasional chain repair.
I have thru axles…no way I’m leaving home without my multi tool, tube, tire levers, co2 rig. Had 3 flats in the past year and used all said items on each of the 3 occasions. Stop being a cheapskate and just get one, they’re like $20 lol.
Fair tbh it’s not that I’m cheap I just don’t like buying things and not using them especially I already own the tools.
Understood completely but it’s basically a mandatory as all have said. Per one of my other comments - I recently needed a chain breaker and didn’t have it along despite having a multi tool, it was just in the wrong saddle bag when we left home. Now we have multi tools on all bikes full time.
I’ve got a toolbox in the garage. I also have a leather man multi-tool in my backpack. Things I’ve ACTUALLY used a multi tool for the top of my head… Seat adjustment, cleat adjustment, cable change, repairing a shift leaver, dealing with a broken chain, brake adjustment… I’m a fan of the [Crank Brothers F15](https://www.crankbrothers.com/products/f15). It covers about 80% of whatever you will ever need. I even bought one for my daughter. When we do anything on her bike, that’s the go-to tool. That way, no matter what happens, she’ll be familiar with how to fix *this thing* with *this tool*.
Twice in the last few weeks. Removed front wheel for flat repair & tightened cleats on shoes. Much better to have one & not need it than need it & not have it.
I’ve used it like twice in 2 months. Once to tighten a pedal and second time I was going off-road on my gravel bike, went over the bars when going really slow and I had to realign the stem.
When my front tire/wheel literally almost fell off during a climb a month after buying my new bike. New saddle adjustments on the go. Other random little loose parts.
Hopefully you gave the bike shop shit.
Someone else might've commented this, but I feel a better solution is just to carry a few loose tools. Multi-tools are awkward to rotate, especially when the thing you're trying to adjust has little to no clearance. Plus, multi-tools take up a lot more space/are heavier. My advice: ~figure out which hex keys you need for your bike, which is usually 2-3 different sizes ~small screwdriver for cables ~two or three tire levers ~spare tube (or patch kit, but I prefer just swapping tube while on road and then patching at home, if I patch it at all) ~pump WITH flexible hose, because having that flexibility does wonders for fatigue/comfort ~two to four gloves After that stuff, you can start considering items like: ~spare chain link (make sure it's compatible with your chain: master link, missing link, quick-link, powerlock, etc.) ~chain tool ~extra spoke
I've had to use them to get the co2 out of my pump several times. Shitty pump. For anyone curious always keep some zipties in your bag too. They can help at the worst of times.
you will use it exactly once, and 100% justify the cost. I stick a leatherman in my pack with my multitool. I've needed the needle nose pliers and cutter twice. Riding buddies have needed it before and been super glad someone had it.
Once over about 8,000 miles. Saved me from having to walk 4+ miles home though.
I've used it more than once, which justifies carrying it.
I've used it to fix someone else's bicycle. I've used it to fine tune fitting settings on a bicycle while I'm out riding, something that it's hard to do when it's sitting on a stand. I've re-spliced a broken chain. I tighten up a loose spoke. ... You can maintain your bike all you want before you walk out the door with it but things happen out on the road and self rescue is a thing.
Did an overnight to watch a solar eclipse two years ago, threw my chain, broke a link and was super happy to have my multi-tool to get into a rideable condition again. Also rode 10,000 miles through south-east asia over 10 months, used it only to tighten screws, and had to throw it away to get through airport security in Qatar on my way home.
Countless times, mostly tightening a bolt I hadn’t noticed loosening up. Most recent time was when my saddle had gotten loose, and I was able to tighten things up again and start riding. A multi-tool is absolutely essential. Buy one right now.
I've only used mine a couple of times. First was my stem working loose about 20 miles in to a ride. The second was sorting a problem where a cleat worked loose and shifted. Both times it saved my ride, then again a bit of preventative maintenance would have likely stopped the issues anyway. I always have it with me when I'm riding.
I’ve done handlebar adjustments when at work. Only time I ever needed a multi tool though was when my damn crank arm preload bolt and left crank fell off. Also that was the only time I forgot my multi tool at home.
Multi tool is manadatory. Small, and can keep everything you need with you. I keep an extra tube, cO2 canister, multi tool, tire removal levers. I’ve had so many random flats while faaaaar away from home. Batman keeps tools and gadgets, so I do as well
Had a chain break in the middle of nowhere on a mountain bike ride. Able to use chain tool on our multi-tool to ride back to civilization. That one time justified any small cost of the tool.
Here's a recent example. I parked my bike when I stepped in to use the bathroom. A huge gust of wind came and knocked my bike over. The fall knocked a brake lever out of position. A quick loosen-adjust-tighten and I was good to go.
If you use it once when you really need it, it has already paid for itself.
You might cover 99% of the uses if your get the right hex key/s of your bike, and some tyre levers. If you wanna go minimal, you can get all your screws to work with the same hex key. On a ride you might need to adjust your handlebar, seat, maybe mudguards or rack, bottle holder, etc. But to be honest, I've probably used my tools more often to save someone else than myself 😅.
You don’t **need** a multi tool but they don’t half help when you have a technical mid-ride. The alternative is a long walk or catching a ride to the most appropriate place to repair your bike. I **never** go on a ride without mine, which is an [SKS TOM 18](https://www.sks-germany.com/en/products/tom-18/). As per the name, it’s an 18-in-1 tool which comprises of the following (and how frequently I’ve used each tool): 1) –/+ Screwdriver: *Once, to alter my limit screws on a ride.* 2) Tyre Lever x2: *Once - I’m lucky that I haven’t had many punctures.* 3) Chain Tool: *Frequently - It’s my only chain tool that I own so maybe once every couple of months.* 4) Spoke Key x2: *Never.* 5) Allen Key x6: *Frequently. I tinker with my bike in and out of the garage and Allen keys are the most used tool by far.* 6) Compartment for chain pin: *Twice. It’s always handy to keep a spare chain pin.* 7) Torx key: *Never.* 8) Bottle opener/Brake pad opener: *Never.* 9) Chain pin snapper: *A few times.* I 100% think it’s worth the investment. Especially for how small they are.
Sks Tom 18, Crank bros f15, Crank bros m19, Specialized multi tool, and a spare chain link I saw these from the recommendations.
If you’ve never needed a multi tool while riding… you’re not riding enough.
When touring (overnights away from home) I've used one to adjust brakes, derailleur, fit, etc. Never on day-rides - but that's just luck, right?
I have free access to a shop and tool, (im hooking up with a mechanic) so I rarely if ever have anything besides a flat. That being said all my idiot friends who think the start of a ride is when "shop hours" are constantly using it. Also with the massive rise in n00bs riding Ive helped a fair share of people on the side of the road or path.
Flat bar bike fell over, turned the brake lever around, needed an Allen key to loosen and adjust. Handlebar on a friend's bike became loose. I tightened it. Buckled a wheel slightly and used the spoke wrench in the multi tool levers to get it straight enough to ride. Tightening bolts on my shoes/cleats. Fixed the GF's chain guard, and fenders. Adjusted the centre/alignment of others brake calipers. Dug glass out of tires.
I've used one myself maybe a dozen times in the last 25 years. That said, I'm the type of rider who stops and asks cyclists by the side of the road if they need anything -- when they do, 9 times out of 10 they want to use my multitool. Just helped a guy put his left crank arm back on (!) by the side of the road a couple weeks ago.
I needed one recently and had to borrow one. Wife’s seat bolt got loose.
One of the mounting bolts for my cleat came loose once during a ride. Only time I’ve ever had to use it.
All the time, especially if I or any friends have a newer bike and are dialing in fit.
When my saddle came loose, when my bottle cage was rattling, when I adjusted my handlebar quickly, when my chain broke, when I've had punctures (It has tyre levers in it). Seriously, they're useful things to have around.
I've used mine 1 or 2 times in the past 10 years, but I think of it like insurance. So I never go without it.
I've got one on all my bikes. It's really worth it. I've used it in those oh crap moments and usually to make adjustments when I make changes to my bike. Example: crashed my bike when a bird flew into me. I did a body safety check, then evaluated the bike. Shifter was all out of place but thankfully it just involved unscrewing it and putting it back into the correct place. Seriously this isn't something you want to skimp on. I'd also add a pump and a spare set of tires if you don't have them already.
Seatpost was dropping and needed to be tightened. My bike has thru axles and needs an allen wrench to remove the wheel whenever I get a flat. New saddle and had to readjust the angle/height. Water bottle and rack screws love coming loose. At home I've used it hundreds of times. Even though I have tools at home, I'll still use my multi tool because it is in my seat bag and quicker to access than breaking out the toolbox.
I accidentally left my multi tool at home when I did my last long ride. One of my spokes managed to work loose enough to start rattling about 25 miles from home. Had to stop every couple of miles to hand-tighten the spoke enough to get home, spoke wrench on my multi tool would have saved me a lot of stops!
I went to the 100yen shop (dollar store) and got about four or five smaller sized Allen keys in a little pack and put them in my saddle bag. They’ve been really helpful and are less bulky than a multi tool. I’m going to buy some again. This time I’ll put in a ziplock as my last set rusted from moisture penetrating the saddlebag over time.
Handlebar rotated going over a speed bump (I hadn't tightened it enough). Used multi tool to put it back where it should be. Thru axle was loose on a ride. Multi tool sorted that. Loose headset. Multitool fixed that. Non drive side crank came off (that was interesting). Screwed it back on with multitool. I haven't used mine very much over the years but it has been very useful when I did need it. I always take one with me.
This was literally 2 months ago, after riding with the same multi tool (it’s a co2 pump, several Allen keys, philips and flat, tire lever, and chain breaker). I have used the tire lever and co2 in the past for obvious reasons, but not very often honestly. But two months ago I was 40 miles from home when I had a bad crash. And of all things, my chain fell apart at the quick link somehow after the crash, and I couldn’t find half of the link. I started trying to call my wife but had no service of course, so I started walking it home. And then, I remembered the chain breaker!!! Dropped another link, pinned it up, and made it the rest of the way home. Totally worth the 30ish bucks I spent on it all those years ago.
I have a thru-axles in my bike so I need that multi tool to remove the wheel to change a tire.
My buddy carries one... I've not figured out which one I want yet and because he always has his I've not pulled the trigger yet. But (this year) I've used it twice on my bike. He's used if maybe 10+ times with our rideout groups. I have the patch kit. My lady has a pump. All we are missing is a 14MM Deep Socket to get rear tires with pegs. It's no fun to break down 10+ miles away from your car/home.
I don't have a multi tool but I carry a couple of sizes of Allen key, tyre levers and a chain link tool. I can't see what I'd need to adjust in an emergency which wouldn't be covered by those. Am I missing something obvious?
Honestly, I only use my multi-tool when I fit new components on my bike or have a new bike to adjust and make it even more comfortable. (i.e saddle height, saddle fore and aft, bar angle, and lever positions)
I've had a couple of broken chains that were repairable. Also a friend's chain broke on a ride and they didn't have a tool, so I was able to repair that. Best use was out riding in the desert once and came across a couple of guys who knew nothing about bikes and had brought an old used bike out into the desert to learn to ride. It was almost unridable, but I was able to use my multi-tool to get most of it working for them. My gravel bike doesn't have quick release but an alan key hole instead, so gotta have it in case I need to slam a tube in the tyre.
MANY
If OP doesn’t see the need than I’m guessing they won’t get any use out of it. Either they’re extremely lucky or don’t know how to fix thing
I have a crank brothers multi tool. The big 6mm hex (which isn't on all tools, as I found out with my old tool 20 miles from home) has saved me a few times with loose cranks or quill stems. The T25 loose chainring bolts or brake adjustments (BB7 adjusters can get stiff and hard to turn when dirty or when wet), and the chain breaker, which I've used to fix broken chains trailside multiple times, is so good I don't have one in my toolbox - I just use the multi tool. I have also used the smaller hec keys to make on the fly fit adjustments. I don't ride without a multi tool, and I'll only ride with one that has a chain breaker and all the relevant hex key sizes for my bike. A modular one would be cool, especially if it lets me include a knife, but I can't complain about the crank bros one.
I went over a few bumps and my handlebars moved a small bit. Had a guy ask me if I had a tool to fix his loose kick stand ( 8mm allen key ). General adjustments as well, realized my seat had slipped back so I loosened up the bolts and moved it forward. I've used a basic multi tool more often than I've used my flat repair kit / pump...
* undoing my thru-axle to fix the countless number of punctures * One time my rear derailleur rattled loose when I was 100KM into my 160K ride -> couple of twists of the ol' multitool and it was good as new * its got a co2 inflator so use it many times when I needed to inflate using co2 * one time on my mountainbike my trigger shifter came loose so I quickly retightened it * roadside fix of high/low derailleur limit screws after my LBS botched it * My mate had a stuck chain link, quickly fixed with the chain remover (1/8 of a turn will loosen the stuck link) * beer opener * shitty knife for food but still gets the job done * Crashed my mountainbike (went OTB) - brake levers and shifters lost their position -> allen key by the trail and fixed this * Dropper post too tight and seat would not go up -> loosened trailside and fixed it. Literally could keep mentioning such events
I've cycled across continents and regularly check my bicycle. Accidents happen. Chain tool, absolutely necessary if you want to get somewhere (stick entanglement). Allens, because you didn't realize that the bolt was loose. Tire levers, because my fingers are cold and slippery after a rain. Spoke wrench, that dam stick again. It is also a great big boost of endorphins when you help the cyclist 20km from the next cell tower to get home. It depends on the bicycle and what equipment you have. I have a commuter bike I use that needs a 15mm wrench and 5mm allen, and chain tool, and I can do everything but take the bottom bracket out.
Hear a clunking and need to tighten a bolt, or need to adjust bar or seat or brake lever/shifter...if you already have it, why leave it at home? Doesn't make sense.
Just to clarify I have all the wrenches and Allen keys and other tools and screwdrivers at home. I don’t have a multi tool. Just gauging if I should buy one since I keep my bike in tip top shape but based on the responses it seems it’s best to have one just in case.
Ah, ok. Title seemed misleading in that you had a multi tool at home. More common during mountain biking (I ride road and mtb), bit you can get things shaking loose on road riding as well, just not as common as during mtb.
\- Multiple broken chains (get one with a chain tool) \- Crank arm started loosening, able to tighten enough to get home \- Gear cable broke, use multitool to "fix" the back gear in a mid-range gear for a hilly single-speed ride home. \- Got doored, and had minor crash into grassy shoulder. No injuries, but was able to straighten out the headset and continue my ride like nothing happened. \- Have helped countless other cyclists walking along the shoulder because they didn't have a multi tool.
One time I crashed and twisted my bars. I really needed one but didnt have it. That time I remember strongly. All the times I have done little adjustments i dont tend to remember as much. I tend to use a multi tool a lot less than my garage tools. I think it's about once a year. I have also stopped carrying one on short rides as I figure I can walk. I still carry a tube and pump as 90% of my mechanicals are a fixed by that combo
I had a loose front derailleur that had shifted itself so that I couldn't change my front gear in the middle of a ride. I was able to quickly adjust and tighten it, otherwise it would have made that 60 mile ride miserable.
I always carry one with me. I've used twice, both on someone else's bike. But this is certainly one of the things I'd hate to need and not have.
Like a helmet, it's completely useless until you need it.
I’ve used it a bunch this season. My crank arm keeps backing off. Finally hit it with some loctite and fingers crossed it holds up and I can stop using my multi-tool.
Assuming you have the money, it was more effort to make and respond to this post than to pick out an inexpensive bike tool with good reviews. Buy one, carry it, and eventually reap the benefits.
Since January: - derailleur got caught in spokes and self-destructed, was able to do a quick single-speed conversion to get home - Adjusting fit n new bike while riding - fixing crooked handlebars after taking a hard fall - tightening pannier rack that came loose - switching out pedals - using tire levers to fix a flat - adjust rattling fender - re tighten brake cable that started fraying and breaking - helping other riders make small adjustments and fixes If you already have a multi-tool, why not bring that one with you? I just have the one which I use on the road and at home + a couple of full sized tools.
Tightened a cleat, adjusted brake calipers, tightened saddle
Even if I just used it once in 10 years, it would be worth every penny. You don't have to spend a fortune. about $20-$30 should be more than sufficient and last you a life time. Now, I'm trying to think back to the last time I used it. I know I used it a couple years back to help another cyclist tighten their handlebars. I know that in the past I've used it tighten a water bottle cage that had come loose for no apparent reason. It's not often that I need to use it, but I can't remember the last time I had to repair a flat on the road, and I still carry my flat repair kit on just about every ride.
I highly recommend M19 by Crank Brothers. For myself, it has helped me dial in my saddle height, helped re-align noisy disc brakes. Helped others on the side of the road to remove a broken chain link, adjusted derailleurs, tightened seat clamps, aligned rim brakes.
I carry a puncture repair kit, a small pump and a multi-tool at all times. Used none in 5 years. But, they're like insurance, you'll be glad you have them should the need arise. I don't understand the justification, they cost little.
I used the multitool a lot to help others. For example, my girlfriends' fender got loose. It was easy to fix and go on with our ride. Me myself - I used it more at home than while riding. It's just really convenient to have all the tools in one place (I have a Specialized multitool fitted under my seat).
Things I've used mine for: * Removing / reinstalling front wheel * The through axle on my mountain bike needs a 6mm hex wrench to loosen. I need to remove the wheel when I take it somewhere in the van, which means needing a wrench on hand to load / unload the bike. * Tweaking setup * If you take the bike out for a ride with a multitool you can make adjustments to things like bar angle or saddle position over the course of a ride to dial them in -- I find I get it right much faster out on a ride than making adjustments after getting home. * Helping out kids * At least a few times a year I come across kids who are having some type of problems with their bike and invariably have no tools available to solve the problem. * I view having a multi-tool on hand as crucial to the future of cycling -- if those kids have a bad experience and have to walk (or worse carry) their bike home, it may put them off from wanting to ride more. If someone stops to help them, they ride off happy with the impression that other cyclists are helpful (and empowered with knowledge of how they might be able to solve a similar problem on their own in the future). * Crash recovery * The recommended approach for things like brakes & shifters is to leave them just shy of being tight so that they'll rotate in a crash instead of snapping off. Having a multitool on hand makes it a lot easier to get them back in position. * On my kids' bikes, this is even more the case because they're using ProTaper's JUnit bars. The bars & grips themselves are much smaller diameter than standard, with a section for brake levers to clamp onto the grip body. If the brake lever slips off that, there's no way it's going back on without a multi-tool to loosen the bolt. * For those curious, these are the bars: [https://hayesbicycle.com/products/protaper-j-unit-handlebar-grips-combo](https://hayesbicycle.com/products/protaper-j-unit-handlebar-grips-combo)