Multi-tools for bicycling

[I'm Still Bison]

 Are there any bicyclists here?  My new rediscovered passion is bicycling,and I'm wanting to put together a tool kit that will fit in the bike's bag. Does anyone have experience with Topeak multi-tools? How's the quality and usefulness? I'm also planning to add a Juice KF4, and most likely an Alox Bantam.
 I'll listen to anybody's recommendations,and if you can think of something I might have overlooked feel free to let me know( BTW,I am going to throw in a patch kit and levers).

[David Bowen]

I have a tool that I got from Gerber that features a crescent wrench with a couple allens and a chain tool, I can post a pic if you want. I don't bike enough anymore to use it, if someone wants to trade it for another tool ;-)

David Bowen

[Grant Lamontagne]

I used to be into all sorts of different cycling activities from mountain biking to long distance cycling.  In fact, at one point in my youth I was close to joining the Tour de France.  Unfortunately, I shattered a foot a few years ago, and now it's a little too crooked to pedal gracefully, but I still enjoy biking when I get the opportunity.  Most of the time now it's on a stationary bike in front of the TV though. 

I think both Victorinox and Wenger have both offered tools for the cyclist in the past, but I am not certain if they are still available or not.

Def

[I'm Still Bison]

David,
          Please post that pic if you would,that's one Gerber I haven't seen or heard of.I just mght be interested in a trade,or purchase. I really don't have qualms about Gerber like many others do..but then I've seldom put a multi through really heavy workouts;I'll generally reach for the dedicated tool for the job..or even better get the son-in-law to do the job ;D
 Def,
       I plumb forgot Wenger's Biking tools,Wengers just aren't represented in stores around enough for that brand to come to mind right off.I  had a Vic Sport Tool at one time and thought it a little too ungainly for me,you jarred my memory,Vic does offer a biking tool set with a couple wrenches,levers and I think a Spartan with a nylon pouch.

[J-sews]

I think the Gerber tool David is referring to is the Cool Tool.

......but I don't have a picture. 

[prime77]

I used to mountain bike all the time when I was a teenager growing up in the Catskills in upstate New York. Now my bike just sits on my back porch collecting dust   I wasn't in to multitools back then but I carried a Vic Soldier.

[shecky]

There are lots of snazzy multi tools for bicyclists these days. They are generally a collection of Allen/flat/Phillips drivers in a folding mechanism. The fancier ones have things like hex wrenches, spoke wrenches, chain tools, tire irons and such, maybe even a knife blade and bottle opener!

Nashbar is a nice online dealer with decent prices.

[I'm Still Bison]

I just now popped into Nashbar's site;and some of those tools look like they might be handy for everyday use.My local bike shop has some.I'll probably wind up popping for one,and use it for a couple months and come back with a review.

[David Bowen]

Sorry for not getting back sooner Bison, been extremely busy, here is alink for a thread about some biking tool and it mentions the cool tool along with a pic

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bikemagic.com/review/images/products/gerber_cool_tool_main.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forums.outdoors-magazine.com/viewtopic.php%3Ft%3D251%26sid%3D04b0e541116c246df90c8fd2759e950a&h=235&w=200&sz=24&hl=en&sig2=kGmk0Sf1JQFLJgAYPl3JWQ&start=1&tbnid=FNf8nqCpp3nsuM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=88&ei=2Cs0RZahJrf2aNPTve0N&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgerber%2Bcool%2Btool%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dopera%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN

If you want this tool let me know.

David Bowen

[I'm Still Bison]

That looks very useful above and beyond biking.More than once I've been in spots where a crescent wrench would've been the ideal tool.It seems Gerber has been a bit more innovative than some other toolmakers.David send me a IM and we can knock out the details,,,I'd like to have that!

[Grant Lamontagne]

I wish I'd have had a nice tool when I was biking.  In my day you were considered advanced if you had a tire pump mounted to the frame, which never really did you much good if you got a flat!

My pump was mounted under the crossbar, and two water bottles, each mounted on the other bars.  Aluminum frames were just starting to make an appearance, but I couldn't afford one of those, so it was welded tubular steel for me, and since my bike doubled as a distance machine and off roader, it was HEAVY!  I wish I had a dollar for every mile I half carried, half dragged that bike when something went wrong.  I look at all the cool stuff available now and I think maybe I should start up again...

Good tools, titanium frames (hell, no one uses those old fashioned aluminum ones anymore!) puncture resistant, self healing tires, gel seats, digital spedometers- it's more comfortable than sitting in my living room!  My old speedometer was hooked to a dynamo attached to the wheel, and when you "turned it on" your speed dropped by ten percent from the resistance!

Of course a multi wouldn't have solved all the problems since each component was attached with a different fastener.  You needed a whole toolbox to change a tire and a fully stocked auto garage to fix a derailer!  Nowadays all the parts are standardized and many have quick change lugs.  Someone's been thinking!  With a decent (or dedicated) multi you could probably go for years without ever needing to open a toolbox.

Def

[shecky]

Nowadays all the parts are standardized and many have quick change lugs.  Someone's been thinking! 

Heh! If only! Why does my box one once-used bike tools seem to grow heavier each year? 

[I'm Still Bison]

  After getting back into bicycling after a very long hiatus,I'm more than amazed about how much the landscape has changed. New materials and new classifications of bikes,not to mention companies that were under the radar,if they even existed 20 years ago,are now respected leaders in the field.
 But the VERY good news of all this is that SWMBO doesn't mind the money laid out...health and fitness always works as a good excuse..errrr reason !!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Nowadays all the parts are standardized and many have quick change lugs.  Someone's been thinking! 

Heh! If only! Why does my box one once-used bike tools seem to grow heavier each year? 

When I was cycling, you needed a trailer to pull the tools you needed to change a tire!

Def

[J-sews]

Here's a radical-looking Bike multitool that I came across on the net today. It looks like a person could almost build a bicycle from scratch with this contraption!

Link: http://www.procycling.be/?page=gewiktengewogen&artikelID=9#foto1