What kind of multi-tool do you carry for training rides vs. for full Iron-distance races?
Can’t decide whether to get one with a chain tool - might come in useful but its big. Any need for pliers and knife blade?
Shower me with some sage ST wisdom (and a little ST cynicism).
Mark Galanter
EVERYONE needs a chain tool.
I love multi-tools.
It think there are two different tools a triathlete needs: one for race day at Ironman distance that is pretty stripped down to almost nothing, and then a tool for training out on the road on a day-to-day basis.
On race day basically the only thing you need is something to help you get your tires off. Everything else shouldf have been sorted out by then- your bolts should be at the correct torque and you should be on new rubber with fresh-ish cables (not new, but not worn) and everything should have been checked in advance. Two plastic tire levers should do it.
In training you may need a little more of a kitchen sink tool. Your bike should always be well maintained so there shouldn’t be maintenance problems or surprises but for the other you people you ride with it’s nice to have some common metric allen wrenches and maybe even the Ritchey torque key, a mini-5nm pre set torque wrench. These items are particularly helpful on a brand new bike where you may be tweaking in some very minor adjustments out on the road after your fitting.
Agreed.
What I race with:
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=57170
What I train with:
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=57750
I’ve been carrying a multitool for 15 years and I don’t remember one time ever using it on the road. Breakdowns on well maintained bike should be incredibly rare. I’ve stopped carrying one while racing.
Thom
I always have stuff for a tire change even in a short race. On a longer training ride I may carry a chain tool. After a flat, a broken chain is most common mechanical for me. Most of these have been on a fixed gear or single speed. A 5mm allen wrench will cover most of the bolts on my bikes. A few 6mm and some of my cleats use a 4mm. I can’t see much utility in a knife or pliers unless you are forced into some sort of crazy bivouac. Then, who knows? Cutting fences and skinning animals?
I carry one of these for training and IM distance races. I figure my bikes are well maintained and the most I’ll need to deal with is a slipped seat post or loose aerobar. Anything more and the “tool” I turn to would be my cell phone.
That said, I’ve never had to call for a ride.
The following is another good tool - I like it because it is really flat and small. I also removed the tools I don’t need to lighten it up a bit.
http://www.trisports.com/genuine-innovations-flat-stack-mini-tool.html
Glad I had one on a recent tripmwhen somehow the front der cable bolt loosened and let go the cable . I keep my bikes well maintained also.
In my experience the only purpose of a multi tool is, to magically prevent any mechanical it could help fixing from happening (for 1000s of rides) just to let fate (or the “curse of the multi tool”) strike the one time you’re leaving it at home…
Honestly though, it’s a great device for keeping my leftmost and rightmost jersey pockets in balance, because it’s of somewhat similar size and weight as my stone age cellphone.
I do all my own bike mechanics. My bikes are always in good condition, but things can happen, and rarely will. So, I never carry anything. Even in my IM races and my long 100 mile training rides I carried only a small flat kit.
The only time I carry any tools at all is when I have just made an adjustment to the seat or aerobars. I’ll carry 2 allen wrenches to fit the stem and the stem pivot. This way if I don’t like the adjustment and it needs a tweek I can do it out on the road.
I’ve never carried any other tools. In fact, as I think about it…in over 20 years I’ve never needed a “tool” on the road or in a race. Flat kits are another story : )
The three times I have been very happy I had tools with me-
A rainy day when I had to increase my dropout size because mud and gravel was getting stuck in between my tire and frame. Needed the small phillips head screwdriver in my multi-tool
Borrowing a friends bike and needing to adjust the seat several times using the appropriate allen wrench in the multi-tool.
A day when my chain kept trying to fail and I had to use a chain tool to tighten the failing link.
My multi tool also has an extra large allen for removing pedals. I can use my small multi-tool to completely disassemble and assemble my bike for shipping.
Jodi
This one’s been in my kit for a while now:
http://i54.tinypic.com/5n51so.jpg
The Park Tool MT-1
cheers
S.
