roadside tool kit?

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 09:57:31 +0100, <[email hidden]>,

davek said:

Quoted message said:

Oh, and a corkscrew because you never can tell when it might
save the day and endear you to friends or strangers.

I have a bottle opener rather than a corkscrew.

Canadians can, and do, open bottles with anything. Why would I need a
bottle opener if I've already got tire levers, keys, crescent wrench,
table top, luggage rack, etc? Corks are trickier.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

After my last ride, I think I'll add a mylar survival blanket.

I think I've had a similar experience to your last ride... The moment I
decided carrying a survival blanket would be a good idea came as I stood
at a control at 5.30am on a 300k ride a month or so back. It's not so
much a question of survival as just being warm enough to be able to
start riding again after you have stopped.

I spent an hour laying on the ground waiting for an ambulance. Luckily
I wasn't alone so a riding partner put his sweater under me and
covered me with his jacket while I was in shock. Had I been alone it
could have been long cold wait until somebody found me.
--
zk

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 09:43:44 +0100, <[email hidden]>,
davek <[email hidden]> wrote of mult-tools:

Quoted message said:

On the whole, I reckon a small, carefully chosen selection of
individual tools might be more fit for the purpose and no heavier to carry.

As you pointed out, many components of the multi-tool are inferior in
quality or utterly useless. In addition, if you loose it, you've lost
everything in one fell swoop. Individual tools are easier to
manipulate and you're not carrying things you don't need.
--
zk

Zoot Katz said:

Canadians can, and do, open bottles with anything. Why would I need a
bottle opener if I've already got tire levers, keys, crescent wrench,
table top, luggage rack, etc? Corks are trickier.

Corks can usually be pushed down into the bottle with a screwdriver, pencil,
stick, someone else's finger, etc. Dr. Larrington's party piece, when she
was a Penniless Student Oaf, was to open beer bottles with her molars...

Ow.

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
While you were out at the Rollright Stones, I came and set fire to your
Shed.

Call me Bob said:

C.J.Patten said:

Quoted message said:

A good multi-tool, I like the Crank Bros

Quoted message said:

I'm just blown away with the feedback I'm getting on this!

We've discussed this before, not too long ago. I still think you're
better off carrying separates than an all in one multi-tool.

Discussion is here:

http://tinyurl.com/9e9ox

Ok, that's what you still think, that's fine.

I think it depends on the multi-tool. I wouldn't carry one of those
that has a whole lot of non biking specific tools on it. The one I
recommend is very bike specific and even if it has a few tool sizes,
that I don't need, it may allow me to help a fellow bicylist.

Milti-tools, in fact, any tool carried on the bike, are going to be
used only occasionally, so space and convenience are worthy
considerations. For home use, I certainly wouldn't recommend a
multi-tool. I did carry loose tools for a while. Unless you wrap them
well, and isolate them, they will rattle.

It's horses for courses. And the bottom line, what's important is that
you carry the tools that you may need.

Life is Good!
Jeff

"Zoot Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Canadians can, and do, open bottles with anything. Why would I need a
bottle opener if I've already got tire levers, keys, crescent wrench,
table top, luggage rack, etc? Corks are trickier.

Beat me to it! A rock, a wrench... teeth... assuming your beverage of choice
didn't come with a twist off top. Who carries a corked bottle without a
corkscrew though?!

Quoted message said:

I spent an hour laying on the ground waiting for an ambulance. Luckily
I wasn't alone so a riding partner put his sweater under me and
covered me with his jacket while I was in shock. Had I been alone it
could have been long cold wait until somebody found me.

Ouch. Did you get clocked by a car? Glad you're OK!

They make those space blankets to fit into a Tic-Tac container these days so
it's not a big hassle to carry one. Think I'll add that to my shopping list!

Chris

Zoot Katz said:

Canadians can, and do, open bottles with anything.

Reminds me of the time I asked a passer-by on a French beach if he had a
bottle opener. I was alarmed when he whipped out a huge machete - then
breathed a sigh of relief when he used it to flip the lid off my beer,
rather than hack me to bits.

Why would I need a

Quoted message said:

bottle opener if I've already got tire levers, keys, crescent wrench,
table top, luggage rack, etc?

Of course, though I'd always use the proper tool for the job if I have
one available - as I do on my bike multi-tool.

Quoted message said:

Corks are trickier.

True, though another trick I learned in France is how to uncork a bottle
quickly and fairly easily with a flat blade, such as a penknife. Like so
many things in life, it's all in the wrist action... Alternatively,
rather than pull the cork out, you can just push it in with a stick.

Quoted message said:

I spent an hour laying on the ground waiting for an ambulance.

Ooh, nasty. And, er... my experience of merely being a bit cold seems
rather trivial in comparison.

I've often thought about getting a survival blanket to keep in the car,
but it would probably be even more useful on the bike. Definitely one to
bear in mind for future long/night rides.

d.

"davek" wrote: (clip) I was alarmed when he whipped out a huge machete -
then breathed a sigh of relief when he used it to flip the lid off my beer,
(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm going shopping today for a machete to add to my tool kit. I could also
use it as a tire iron, screwdriver. hammer and side-stand. Can anyone think
of additional uses?

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 15:29:56 +0100, <[email hidden]>,

davek said:

Quoted message said:

Canadians can, and do, open bottles with anything.

Reminds me of the time I asked a passer-by on a French beach if he had a
bottle opener. I was alarmed when he whipped out a huge machete - then
breathed a sigh of relief when he used it to flip the lid off my beer,
rather than hack me to bits.

One of my French friends, raised in Mexico, uses a machete as a sabre
to be-head Champagne bottles on Bastille Day.
--
zk

Wed, 1 Jun 2005 10:25:22 -0400, <[email hidden]>,
"C.J.Patten" <[email hidden]> wrote, in part:

Quoted message said:

Who carries a corked bottle without a corkscrew though?!

It's happened, just not to me.
The corkscrew nestles neatly between the rails under the nose of my
saddle thereby turning my Norco into a Swiss Army bike!

Quoted message said:

Ouch. Did you get clocked by a car?

Nope. It's a boring JRA story. Happened riding a Frankenbike on a FMUP
in Stanley Park. Did it myself without involving anyone else.

Lesson learned: Don't dab in the dark while travelling ~15 KmH.
--
zk

"Leo Lichtman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm going shopping today for a machete to add to my tool kit. I could
also use it as a tire iron, screwdriver. hammer and side-stand. Can
anyone think of additional uses?

Gutting the deer that runs out in front of you?

Scalping ignorant drivers that fail to see you in broad daylight? (or just
slashing their tires)

BTW: for the ULTIMATE machete, Cabelas: http://tinyurl.com/bxnac
More like a Japanese Katana.

Chris

"Zoot Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wed, 1 Jun 2005 10:25:22 -0400, <[email hidden]>,
"C.J.Patten" <[email hidden]> wrote, in part:

Quoted message said:

Who carries a corked bottle without a corkscrew though?!

It's happened, just not to me.
The corkscrew nestles neatly between the rails under the nose of my
saddle thereby turning my Norco into a Swiss Army bike!

Quoted message said:

Ouch. Did you get clocked by a car?

Nope. It's a boring JRA story. Happened riding a Frankenbike on a FMUP
in Stanley Park. Did it myself without involving anyone else.

OMG. TLA's (three letter acronyms)... I know so little! (frantically
Googling FMUP and JRA)
I admit, I was a gear head before the internet was around. (yup - that long
ago 😉

C.

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 16:13:52 GMT,
<[email hidden]>,

Leo Lichtman said:

I'm going shopping today for a machete to add to my tool kit. I could also
use it as a tire iron, screwdriver. hammer and side-stand. Can anyone think
of additional uses?

Signalling turns.
Training dogs.
Opening Champagne and impressing the babes!
--
zk

Wed, 1 Jun 2005 12:25:46 -0400, <[email hidden]>,

C.J.Patten said:

OMG. TLA's (three letter acronyms)... I know so little! (frantically
Googling FMUP and JRA)

FMUP= effin' Multi-user Path, often erroneously called a bike path.

JRA= "Just Riding Along" is the most often used explanation for
catastrophic equipment failure especially when it's a warranty issue.
--
zk

"Zoot Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wed, 1 Jun 2005 12:25:46 -0400, <[email hidden]>,

C.J.Patten said:

OMG. TLA's (three letter acronyms)... I know so little! (frantically
Googling FMUP and JRA)

FMUP= effin' Multi-user Path, often erroneously called a bike path.

JRA= "Just Riding Along" is the most often used explanation for
catastrophic equipment failure especially when it's a warranty issue.

LOL! Thanks for that Zoot. I've had those days. 😉

Chris

On Wed, 01 Jun 2005 09:16:42 -0700, Zoot Katz <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

One of my French friends, raised in Mexico, uses a machete as a sabre
to be-head Champagne bottles on Bastille Day.

I've seen that done (Opening champagne with a sword, on TV), but I've
never really understood the technique.

Any tips?

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 01 Jun 2005 09:16:42 -0700, Zoot Katz <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

One of my French friends, raised in Mexico, uses a machete as a sabre
to be-head Champagne bottles on Bastille Day.

I've seen that done (Opening champagne with a sword, on TV), but I've
never really understood the technique.

Any tips?

Saw it on an episode of "The Young Riders" c.1989.

A fellow was having a picknick with a lady and they wanted to open a bottle
of wine.
He pulls a big Bowie knife out and WHACKS the top of the bottle off!

I gather this is basically causing a crack to instantly run from the impact
point straight across the bottle neck, making it look like you're "cutting"
off the top...

C.

davek said:

Pete Biggs said:

I have a regular spoke taped under a chain stay on my tatty old
tourer,

Surely, if your rear wheel is dished, you need at least two spare
spokes? (ie of different lengths)

You're correct that rear left & right spokes are different, but they can
be close enough in length for a spoke half way in between to work for
both, and sometimes for a front wheel as well. There is some leeway with
spoke nipples. As it happens, I don't carry tools to remove the cassette
so I couldn't use it as a drive-side replacement anyway. But my
"emergency" wire spoke should do for that (soon to be replaced by a
Fibrefix one from Harris Cyclery).

~PB

On Wed, 01 Jun 2005 14:19:19 GMT, Jeff Starr <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Milti-tools, in fact, any tool carried on the bike, are going to be
used only occasionally, so space and convenience are worthy
considerations.

If space and convenience are considerations, then you're better off
carrying separates.

Quoted message said:

I did carry loose tools for a while. Unless you wrap them
well, and isolate them, they will rattle.

Mine don't rattle at all, and I pay no particular attention to how
they are packed. They're just squeezed into a small seatpack with a
tube and a couple of other items.

Quoted message said:

For home use, I certainly wouldn't recommend a
multi-tool.

I agree, I wouldn't choose, or trust, a cycling multi-tool for a job
at home. I would, however, be perfectly happy to recommend good
quality hand tools for that kind of work.

If you won't accept the inferior quality of a cycling multi-tool for a
"proper" job, why accept it for working on your bike out on the road.

Quoted message said:

It's horses for courses. And the bottom line, what's important is that
you carry the tools that you may need.

And that those tools won't fail when they're put to the test.

"Bob"

--

Email address is spam trapped.
To reply directly remove the beverage.

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 18:35:01 +0100,
<[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 01 Jun 2005 09:16:42 -0700, Zoot Katz <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

One of my French friends, raised in Mexico, uses a machete as a sabre
to be-head Champagne bottles on Bastille Day.

I've seen that done (Opening champagne with a sword, on TV), but I've
never really understood the technique.

Any tips?

Do it outside until you're accomplished.

http://www.champagneclub.org/sabrage.html
http://www.cutlerytogo.com/chamsab.html
--
zk

Call me Bob said:

On Wed, 01 Jun 2005 14:19:19 GMT, Jeff Starr <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I did carry loose tools for a while. Unless you wrap them
well, and isolate them, they will rattle.

Mine don't rattle at all, and I pay no particular attention to how
they are packed. They're just squeezed into a small seatpack with a
tube and a couple of other items.

I generally prefer loose tools as well and carry seperate small allen
keys, spoke key and a chain tool. Even if they did rattle, rolling up in
a cloth & elastic band soon fixes that. But I do carry a Topeak Toolbar
in place of some allen keys and screwdrivers, which is good enough even
for some workshop jobs at home. It takes any 1/4" bit and has a good
handle.

~PB