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Since you definitely won’t have the comfort of your friendly neighbour mechanic to carry out basic repairs while you are on your rides having a knowledgeable toolkit is a must
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Self-sufficiency is one important trait every cyclist strives for while on their bikes or carrying out essential repairs. Since you definitely won’t have the comfort of your friendly neighbour mechanic to carry out basic repairs while you are on your rides having a knowledgeable toolkit is a must.
When I started learning how to use a toolkit I had to depend on the internet and I was surprised to learn that there was hardly any article or video that would enlighten me on the various functionalities of a toolkit. Considering this a problem, I decided to create a blog to solve this common issue for all cyclists.
It’s easy and convenient to carry in your saddle bag or jersey pocket and comes handy quite often. There are a lot of multi toolkits in the market and the average cyclist is often confused on which one to buy and how to use a toolkit. Lets have a look.
Toolkits come in various shapes and designs. Some are very compact and have basic functions while other toolkits can help with advanced issues like fixing a chain by using the chain breaker. Here are 4 things that you need to consider while choosing a toolkit:
Note: Allen key is also known as Hex key.
Well you no longer have to ask your friends or spend countless hours researching on the internet anymore. I have created an easy Multi tool kit functionality points for easy and better understanding!
**There might be other functions available with the tools based on the model of bike, the spares or accessories used and the vintage. Do refer to your Bike manufacturer website for further specification.
Well now that you are clear on how to use the Allen key by referring to the table above, let’s look at what you can buy based on your need. I am going to share my experience after reviewing 4 different Multi Tool kits with BTWIN.
A super economic and a perfect partner to use as a beginner. The 100 Multi Tool offers unbeatable value for money and can be taken on all your bike rides without requiring a lot of space. It has a gel insert that optimises grip and the toolkit is made with steel and zinc.
Features and Advantages:
BTWIN 100 Bike Multitool- 6 Tools in 1
Any beginner can opt for this! This multitool will definitely come handy whenever you go out for those short rides within the city and to be honest having 3,4,5 and 6 mm Allen keys along with 1 Phillips and 1 flat screwdriver helps you to carry out most of the basic maintenance and adjustments on your bike. The grip is really comfortable thanks to the Gel inserts. The compact design means it can easily sneak into your saddle bag or Jersey pocket.
Cons: Since it does not have a Chain tool, I personally would only recommend this for short rides within the city and having this economical toolkit is a good way to learn some basic maintenance tricks while starting your cycling journey.
When compared to the BTWIN 100 Bike Multitool the 500 Aluminium has 2 extra goodies in it. One would definitely benefit from the inclusion of 2mm Allen key as it would help with the reach adjustment of Shimano shift and brake levers and theT25 torx key would help you with disc brake adjustments. You would hardly notice the weight difference as it weighs just 104 grams.
Features and Advantages:
BTWIN 500 Aluminium Bike Multitool – 8 Tools in 1
Who should buy this?
This can be used either by beginners or intermediate level cyclists. It is always good to experiment and learn and nothing beats good practice. An excellent economical buy with good quality aluminium composition.
Cons: As with BTWIN 100 Bike Multi Tool since this too does not have a Chain tool, I would only recommend this for short rides within the city and having this toolkit is a good way to learn some basic maintenance tricks while starting your cycling journey.
A sleek and elegant design! This is one multitool worth investing. it contains 2 additional Allen keys compared to the BTWIN 500 Aluminium Bike Multitool a 2.5mm which would help you in making adjustments to your gear shifter and pannier rack height adjustment and the 8 mm Allen key would help you with the removal of Crank bolt. The Mavic® 5.65 mm (M7) spoke wrench helps with Spoke tension adjustment and the 3.2 mm (0.127") / 3.5 mm (0.136") spoke wrenches help with the spoke nipple adjustments of those specifications. A bottle opener or decapper always comes in handy when you are planning to have some drinks during your rides. A disc brake pad spacer and 10mm open-ended spanner also comes in handy.
But my personal favourite is the chain tool which supports 8,9 and 10 speed chain and it comes with a storage handle to store the split pin for chain. This is truly a lifesaver and confidence booster when you have it’s company on your rides!
Features and Advantages:
Best buy based on price, functions and easy to carry. Any cyclist who does not want to walk home during their long endurance rides should have this compact toolkit. As you look at the 18 functions that are specified above for this multitool this multitool covers all basic and advanced problems that you might encounter while on your rides.
Cons: Nothing that I have observed, you just need to get used to the Chain tool by practicing at home.
The BTWIN design team developed this multi-function bike tool for making adjustments and repairs to your bike when you're out on rides or at home. 21 functions in 1 tool for repairing and adjusting your bike in any situation. It's nice and compact so you can slip it into your saddle bag on rides. It comes with a Silicone case for greater longevity.
When compared to the BTWIN 900 Bike Multitool this offers a lot more functionality but you would need to see for yourself if you need those additional functions while on a ride as its heavy, weighing at 216 grams. Nonetheless there is nothing a good Jersey pocket cannot fit.
Let me explain the difference between the 900 and 920 multitool: In comparison to BTWIN 900 Bike Multitool the BTWIN 920 Bike multitool has Flat head screwdriver,T30 Torx, 2 Tyre levers, 8mm / 9 mm / 10 mm hex key and instead of 3.2mm on 900Bike multitool, this has 3.3mm spoke wrench.
Features and Advantages:
Who should buy this?
This is a great value for money and posses excellent quality. You can completely overhaul your bike and assemble it back with this gem of a toolkit. If you are one of those nerdy cyclists who loves to explore different bike parts, you can buy the 900 Bike multitool without an ounce of doubt. If you are comfortable you can easily carry this in your back Jersey pocket too. Most importantly you get a longer grip which means that it is flexible and as a result you get more torque. Personally I would have this both for my long endurance rides and as part of my home maintenance toolkit.
Cons: It might feel heavy for a few of you out there and might feel bigger as its height is 12 cm but as I covered earlier there is nothing that a good jersey pocket cannot accommodate.
Pro tip- Once your Allen key wears off and you continue to use it in an Allen bolt it will start getting stubbed . So it is important that you check the tip of your Allen key on a regular basis and if its too stubbed you can either grind the tip to bring it back to shape or cut the edges to maintain its use.
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