Don't be a complete Tool and buy a "Multi - tool"

Yup, just about seen it all on Adelaide Cyclists....discussions about tyres, wheelsets, pedals, cleats, groupsets, helmets, brands of bikes.....now it is time to discuss about which multi tool or rather which are its best functions and some of its most useless.....

The only time you can be a complete tool is to be caught out on a ride in the donga with a visitation by the puncture fairies and be stuck without tools.......

A month ago, I had to replace my best ride buddy who is a complete tool.....and buy a Topeak Mini 18+ (thanks Noel at Bike Station who shows me the best and most useful tools). I really like that this model includes a chain breaker as I find it useful when you break a chain and only have a 10 speed quik link and are riding a 9 speed bike....

Another type of tool more for those hipsters who ride fixies is the Trixie and is a must for those 15mm wheel nuts and doing up those loose lock rings which keep the rear cog snug :) You will notice from the picture below that the Trixie has the essential function of a bottle opener included :)

Please tell us about your favorite tool and its most useful functions.....used only once in an emergency and it instantly becomes your best friend........otherwise you would have to resort to the other emergency "rescue" tool ..............

and most of us know what happens when we use the "last resort" tool......

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Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on April 11, 2012 at 15:42

After giving a demo of the chain breaker on my multi tool it disappeared.

I am now in the market for a new one.

Any excuse for an upgrade.

As discussed last night any missing links need to match the chain you have.

considering the amount they weigh you could always carry more than one size.

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Permalink Reply by Rob (Chewbacca) on April 12, 2012 at 10:48

Cant have too many tools.......just love those allen keys but in some multi tools they can be too short to be useful.....

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Permalink Reply by khendar on April 23, 2012 at 17:32

I carry a Topeak Alien II. Its bulky and heavy for a multitool, but it has everything I need on it.

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Permalink Reply by Dstone on April 23, 2012 at 17:48

I rate this as the best multitool easily our most popular and great quality. Played with a few others but nothing has stood up in terms of durability quality etc. I even use it at home not just for emergencies. Tyre levers are fairly average but I dont use levers normally so cant talk of their durablity

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Permalink Reply by Roger ... on April 23, 2012 at 19:09

I carry a Pedros RXM

I've tried a few but this is the best I've owned and I've even found myself using it on chains at home

It doesnt have a philips head screw driver but it does have a special Mavic spoke wrench but

not having any wheels with straight spokes .. no use to me.

Top quality allen keys and chain breaker, 170g and about the size of a Swiss pocket knife.

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Permalink Reply by Rob (Chewbacca) on April 23, 2012 at 21:16

seen a lot of nice tools from Pedros but I swear the allen keys in multi tools are getting shorter....maybe too short for some minor adjustments on the bike.

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Permalink Reply by Roger ... on April 23, 2012 at 21:40

I was able to tighten up a loose crank with the biggest one, I have got pretty strong hands and I gave it heaps ... I look at these things a a roadside fix. If I hadn't carried it that day the square taper on the crank would have totally stuffed a few mins later. Crank would have been a throw away hunk of alloy.

small is good, less is more .. on a good day it's just another thing to carry up the hill.