OP says they are trying to reduce weight and shows a VERY generously stocked tool kit. They confess a scouts "be prepared" sort of mindset, but asks what we carry.
Let me start out with a few questions: Why do you want to reduce weight? In other words, what is the real problem you are trying to solve? What does the stuff in the photo weigh? What is the "target weight" of the stuff in the photo? I take it as a given that the exchange rate for pounds<-->MPH is 12 pounds per mile per hour. So, if you want to go 2MPH faster, drop 24 pounds. If you want to go 0.04MPH faster, drop a half-pound. I confess to being particularly "aware" of this exchange rate, because I endeavored to getting back to "racing weight" this year, and have succeeded. I've dropped 24 pounds, and so my gram-counting on my bikes has reduced in relative importance on my prioritized list of marginal gains. The obvious thing to do is decide which use-cases are sufficiently rare that you don't need that tool. One of the things I'm having a little bit of a hard time visualizing is what is the use case for chain pliers on the road? If the master link/quick link/c-link fails, and the chain falls off the bike, you need to find the chain, install a new master link/quick link/c-link and set that with the drivetrain itself. No pliers needed If the chain fails away from the master link, you'll drop the failed link with the chain tool, and reattach it either via the chain tool -OR- install a second master link as above. No pliers needed The use case for pliers is that you want to remove a chain that is totally intact and do something to it, like clean it or wax it or something. I can't envision doing that on the trail side. So, why bring the pliers? Bill Lindsay El Cerrito, CA On Monday, May 26, 2025 at 2:28:17 PM UTC-7 Matthew Williams wrote: > Hi everyone, > > I’m trying to reduce weight and I’m reconsidering what tools and materials > I should be carrying for long-distance (>20 miles) rides. For example, > carrying both a Swiss Army knife and a Leatherman tool is probably > unnecessary. > > At the same time, I get a little panicky if I don’t bring something, > because I’ve had so many incidents in which the one item I need is the one > item I didn’t bring. Below is a photo of my current kit, and a list of what > I'm carrying: > > Patch kit > Spare tube > Tire levers > Mini pump > Gorilla Tape > Presta-to-Shraeder adapter (for gas station air) > Mini bungee cords (to hold chains or cables while replacing a wheel) > Chain tool > Spare links > Leatherman > Swiss Army knife > Channellocks > Chain pliers > Needle-nose pliers > Hex wrench set > Zip ties > Cyanoacrylate glue > > What do you carry in your toolkits, for long-distance rides? What am I > missing, or overcarrying? If I have a patch kit, is a spare tube necessary? > Please share photos of your tool kits, bags, and wraps! > > As always, your wisdom, advice, and experience are welcomed and > appreciated. > > [image: IMG_7008.jpg] > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/70ffbb6d-17db-45d9-8011-d71b77b5c653n%40googlegroups.com.
