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Anyone who’s followed us for even a little while knows two things: 1. James likes tools. 2. Both of us like cycling.
So what tools do I bring along to keep us cycling on the road? (These are in addition to my RV toolkit, btw.) Have a look!
I used to carry around a bunch of older tools that got evicted from my home workshop. I finally put a stop to that, and upgraded the setup with three items from Wera Tools. But I’m going to guess that about 80% of you are here for the links, so let’s get to that!
And Here Are The Links
Bicycle Work Stand
The Conquer Bicycle Wall Mount Repair Stand Bicycle Rack – Rotating Head. Well, it turns out that they don’t sell that particular one any more. But there is something similar available. This one seems like it would work. But I haven’t personally used it.
Light Bar Mounts
These are the mounts I used for attaching the two metal bars to the ladder. They’ve held up great for a couple years now, and I don’t see them failing in the near future.
My Tubeless Sealant
We’ve been using Orange Seal since shortly after we went tubeless a few years ago. No regrets, it’s easy to find, and it performs well when we do get punctures.
Our Tubless Plug Kits
We have two different models of Dynaplug tubeless repair kits. It’s extremely rare that we have to use one, but they work “fine” when we need them.
Our Chain Lube
I’ve been using the Dumonde Tech chain lube for several years now. My friend Steve turned me on to it, and these days… I just love the smell of it.
Cleaning Wipes
The Grease Monkey Wipes are my go to on the road. At home, I’m more likely to pull out the hose and wash a bike properly. But on the road, a quick wipe down with these is WAY easier.
Our Bicycle Pump
In the video I called it “Digital TFD”, but on Amazon it’s the Lezyne Digital Travel Drive Floor Pump. The chuck really is the best part about it. It stores up small, and though we’ve only used it for a few months, I think it will hold up even better than our old pump did. It’s almost an all-metal construction, so I think it will take a beating and keep on pumping.
The Actual Small Tool Box
I know someone’s going to ask about the little box, so here it is. Like all my other RV tools, the RV bike toolkit fits inside a Festool Systainer Mini. These boxes lock together, and the super compact size means they fit in the tiny tool compartment I have in our small class C motorhome. If I had more space, I might bring something else, but these are perfect for what I have.
Wera Bicycle Set 3A
This one item from Wera Tools forms the majority of my RV/Cycling tool kit. It’s just about everything you might need to work on a bike on the road (except for the specialty tools like chain whips and such).
Wera Bicycle Set 12 – (Or, just the pedal wrench)
Everything on bicycles is metric. And this set of Joker Wrenches will cover most anything you might need to do on a bicycle. Of course, the 15mm pedal wrench is the most used of these, and that’s the one I bring along. If you’d like to just get a pedal wrench that will make you smile, you can get just that as well.
Wera Safe Torque Speed
For even minor repairs on carbon-fiber bicycles, it’s best to use a torque wrench for just about anything. It’s easier than you might think to damage a carbon frame by over-tightening a screw. But on the road, the range of torque settings you need is pretty limited, and this Safe Torque Speed from Wera covers just about anything I need on the road. I wouldn’t use it to torque down my battery cables (it doesn’t go high enough), but for anything on a bike, it’s good!
And there you have it! There are a couple other minor items in the toolkit that I didn’t mention. There’s another spare CO2 cartridge (we each have two on our bike). And there’s a small piece of wire that I use for poking clogged up sealant out of a valve core if it happens to gum up in there. (But I can’t give you a link to the wire, because it was just floating around my shop.) Hope this helps keep you cycling while you’re out on the road!
This is a great post, and I like the idea of the wall mount bike clamp. (i’m going to get one of these !!)
I’ve been carrying way too many tools for my bike over the years, and you have given me the motivation to trim it back. Thanks.
I also had a look at your RV tool kit and again you’ve motivated me to give mine a bit more thought, again I carry way too many tools.
keep up the great work, readers appreciate it.
mitch
It’s way too easy to bring along too many tools.
Here’s hoping you are able to narrow things down to what makes sense for you!
Hi Guys–
For us, we have older bikes so obviously we have stuff that we bring on the bikes themselves: tire levers, tubes and a patch kit, shifter cables, hex multi tool. And some zip ties. Sometimes, a little chain breaker. And don’t forget the tire pump!
In the van, other than lubes and wipes and a wheel truing tool, I use the normal car tools for all else.
I haven’t looked recently, but I could not find your bike stand when you first posted it, ah, I see you noted that, so I will check out your replacement link later.
This is off topic, relating to another of your posts, have you figured out a way to charge your house battery bank off a road charger for EVs? (Because, if my calculations correct, it would take you days to charge those from 0 to 100% on a normal battery charger!)
Cheers,
–d
A truing tool on the road. I don’t even attempt to true a wheel at home!
I haven’t investigated a way to charge off a vehicle charging station.
We don’t have any problem with charge times. We never usually run the batteries down very much.
Day to day, we don’t use any more battery than any other typical RVer (we’re not running welders and such on the road!).
We just have a lot of battery power to spare if we need it.
Hey, at least I leave the truing stand home…!
I know no one builds their own bladed zip wheels at home, but given your techiness (is that a word?), I can’t believe you have never built a wheel up in the old days. On our gravel bikes, 2 of the 4 wheels were built by me and one by my son. On the tandem, I did one of the two. And I have replaced spokes on bladed wheels, but you do need to true them afterwards.
The wheels built by hand are really good and strong mainly because you pay attn to each spoke, in a way that an automatic spoke truing machine doesn’t. So they are great.
So I am thinking, you jest.
You lost me at clamping the carbon top tube….
Personally I use a Wolf tooth tool wrap and a selection of tools including some of their pack tools. I am sure the Wera tools are decent but I hate working with bits on handles (allen key etc) all the time, and the Wera kits don’t include cassette/BB tools/bleed kit or tubeless booster which are good to have. I don’t really need a bunch of sockets either which I would never use. And I like to have some spares – tires/brake pads a chain (and wax for the chain!!).
I do have cassette tools at home, long allen wrenches, and all that. But they stay at home.
If I’m going to change a cassette, or change brake pads… I do those kinds of things before we leave.
Of course, if you’re a full timer, or if you go on trips much longer than we do (our longest is 3 months), then you might need additional supplies.
James,
I used to use Dumonde Tech chain lube (which says not to breath the fumes on the label, BTW) and have switched to Silca Hot Melt. According to independent testing, chain waxes are far superior to wet lubes like Dumonde (see Zero Friction Cycling at https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/ for test results). In addition to significantly longer drive train component life, the chain is not oily and much cleaner to work on. I don’t need the Grease Monkey Wipes as much.
Regards,
Roger
A cleaner chain is something everyone could get behind. I’ll check it out!
Definitely. Wax is the way to go especially for any bike you travel with.
Well… as a mtn biker and retired DH racer, I would definitely agree with the “minimalist” description.
For mtn biking, there are a few things I’d add:
Brake pads and brake bleeding kit for all bikes in the fleet.
derailleur cable and maybe even a full housing length – not always for a rear derailleur, but for a dropper post.
Spare derailleur hanger.
If you use a wireless shifting system, spare batteries (keeping in mind AXS batteries will lose a charge over time, so it needs to be periodically recharged).
Personally, I like to bring spare tires as well.
I tend to being spare pedals (and flat pedals as well along with shoes), just in case something happens.
Any odd-ball tool your bike may need – I have eeWing cranks and they use a somewhat uncommon 16mm kex to tighten.
That’s worth considering… I might bring a spare tire or two – but mostly because it can be hard to find the exact road tubeless tire I want at a LBS.
For me, changing a road tubeless by myself is typically an all-day affair. I’ve never found one that wasn’t insanely difficult.
Besides the spare batteries, I think I’d probably head to a local bike shop for the other items you bring. But hey – it never hurts to be prepared!
10 min max to change over a tubeless tire…….
Mountain tubeless, perhaps.
Road tubeless – at least with GP5000s and my wheels – doubtful.
Love the slide out trays! I see them all the time on vans but it makes a ton of sense for the Ekko.
Video coming. It attaches solely to the track on the floor, so it’s removable.