A couple years ago, no tools 😅. I was commuting between home and campus just a mile away, so if something went wrong I’d just lock the bike and come for it later.
Nowadays, just a few to do an inner tube & chain replacement, and some other small bits that might come in handy.
- 2 spanners (one adjustable)
- Backup lights & head torch
- Tyre levers & adhesive puncture patches
- Mini track-style pump
- Screwdriver for the chain enclosure
- Pliers for the rollerbrakes and internal hub gear cables
Picture
I’ve found the head torch to be surprisingly helpful… Had a puncture in the dark once, and without that I would have been there a while lol
I don’t commute with any tools. I have pubic transit options throughout my ride, so if I have a mechanical issue it’s quicker and easier to lock up, catch a bus or train, and deal with it on my way home. I’ve only even needed to do this a handful of times in nearly a decade of commuting.
For weekend rides where I’m farther from reliable transit, I’ll take a pump, tubeless plugs, innertube, multitool, zipties, and quicklink tool+extra links.
I carry a large Soma Stash storage bottle containing the tools below. When I switch bikes it’s quick and easy to move the bottle from one bike to another.
- Folding multi tool (hex wrenches, screwdrivers, chain breaker)
- Tire levers
- Patch kit
- Extra tube
- CO2 cartridge & inflation valve
- Rag for wiping my hands clean, and preventing things form rattling in the bottle
I also carry a small hand pump, usually attached to the frame but sometimes in a bag.
The redundant tube/patch kit and pump/CO2 cartridge helps accommodate my mood. Sometimes I have the patience to patch and pump on the side of the road. Other times I just want to slap in a new tube and get home; I’ll deal with the damaged tube later.
