Matthew, I would be curious to know what you've used (or plan to use) the channel-lock pliers for out on the road. They look to me like the heaviest bit'o'metal in the bunch, but I am also newly concerned that I've been* riding around with mere tweezers* (for wire & glass in tires), while everyone else is out there with channel-locks, ready to fix pipes and so on. Alex in Chicago On Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 2:28:12 PM UTC-5 Steve wrote:
> > I'll second and add to Jim's suggestion that in the event of a flat just > pop the new tube into place and be on your way - save patching the > punctured tube for after the ride. (Of course, a second puncture would > force you to patch, but that is a rare event - though I have experienced > it). > > Matthew, your needle nose pliers look like they may serve as a quick link > tool should you actually need one - and they offer the bonus of the > integrated cutting feature for trimming the zip ties or frayed cable ends > or whatever. > > Speaking of quick links, I recently learned the value of carrying a spare > after coasting/pushing a bike out of the woods for a good 3 miles after > loosing one. Of course, it was a self inflicted failure - I had just > removed a couple links from the chain after fitting a new 1x chainring > and in my overly eager haste to jump on the bike I neglected to visually > inspect that both pins on the quick link were fully engaged. I won't repeat > the words I uttered when I discovered the chain lying on the trail behind > me. As always, the most effective teacher is failure. > > Steve in AVL > > > > > On Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 12:28:26 PM UTC-4 Bill Lindsay wrote: > >> 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/2bf50a1e-fcb5-4a60-9db3-9eafda3a95e6n%40googlegroups.com.
