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I know we have a lot of cyclists on the forum. Wondering what if any bike oriented multi-tool you all prefer.
My main bike tool is a Park MTB-3. It has everything I need in a nice compact package. The tool comes apart into three sections. The center unit has a chain tool, pedal wrench and bottle opener. The sides collectively contain eight hex wrenches, three end wrenches, one torx, phillips and flat screwdrivers, three size spoke nipple tool, and a really crummy little knife blade (serrated wharncliffe, sub 2 inch, not terribly sharp nor worth sharpening). Each half-body is also a tire lever so you have a pair to help take care of the inevitable. All this is densely packed into a package about half the size of my fist. It also came with a nylon pouch that I could never imagine actually carrying on my belt but could if I wanted. The pouch has enough slack to squeeze in a glueless patch kit. All my bikes have some sort of cargo capacity be it a simple seat wedge or panniers or something between, so no worries about a big lump in my pocket. I generally move the tool from bike to bike as needed when I’m headed out.
I’ve owned and used this tool for a couple years now and it’s never let me down. It has everything I need and very little that I don’t.
Recently I picked up a new (used) road bike to keep at the office so I can get in a few miles during lunch, after, or before work. So I decided to pick up a tool for it along with a pump, speedy’puter and a few other goodies, I just can’t help accessorizing a new bike but have to learn when to say enough. Looking back on my experience with the MTB-3, I looked at a lot of tools and found most of them somewhat wanting. I could get this or that but then I would need to augment it with something else and end up spending more money and have more bulk and probably weight.
Finally deciding to get another MTB-3, I found it had been supplanted by the MTB-3.2! Okay then. It packs everything listed above and more into a slightly (barely) smaller package. Added tools include two more sizes of Torx driver and a couple things for disc brakes which none of my bikes have but I guess I’ll be ready if I ever get that. The design of the knife is much improved, now sporting a half serrated clip point that’s much sharper than it’s predecessor, but still almost as toy like and useless. The new design has an extra piece held in by magnets which makes room for some of the new tools. The 3.2 no longer includes the pouch but I’ll live without that. It’s new home is a small seat wedge that’s just big enough for the tool, spare tube, glueless patches, and just enough room left for a granola bar or smallish banana. So I don’t really need the extra nylon for this one.
I’ve had a chance to use the new tool a bit and it has performed much as expected. Which is to say, quite nicely thank you! The new bike was “freshly tuned up” and so needed a lot of tuning up. The chain, even after multiple wipings, was still fairly dripping with sludge so I decided to remove it for an ultrasonic cleaning and paraffin dip. That accomplished, the 3.2 chain tool didn’t want to push the rivet home. The pin had gotten slightly bent on removal and kept slipping off. I finally got it back together with the 3.0 tool which also has a bent pin but not as bad. I’ve never had one of these pins not bend on me at least a little, even with shop grade tools, so I don’t know how much I want to down-rate this one on that basis. Aside from that, this tool has so far been flawless and while it includes tools I have no foreseeable need for, I’m keeping it and would buy it again. Indeed, I already did buy it again!
So what if any dedicated multi-tools to you have for your bike? What other bike specific items do you carry when you go out for a ride? Every Bike Carry if you will.
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