How to Carry Bike Tools

One of the most common ways to easily carry small, lightweight bike tools.  Great for leaving on your bike so that your tools are always with you – this can be an issue for around town kind of riding (they may get stolen).  Another issue is your bike pump which will not fit so will need to be attached directly to your bike or placed in a larger type of bag.

This carrying option gives you good amounts of space.  You may need to keep your tools together within this space by using a tool wallet or roll.  Always try and keep tools in an easy to access place so tucked down the side or near the top.

To attach panniers to your bike you need a rear or front carrier.  Panniers will give you the most space out of all these options so again your tools should be within a tool wallet or roll so that they stay together and are easy to access.  Panniers are great for bike touring trips or around town shopping.  If you are going to leave stuff like tools in your panniers will they be safe – how will you guard against theft?

As the name suggests these bags will attach somewhere on your frame.  They are often pretty oddly shaped to fit inside the triangle of your frame so tools can be the ideal type of thing to carry in them.  Top tube frame bags are great for carrying things you want to get to quickly, so along with tools, food!  Another advantage is that the weight of your tools will be close to your point of gravity.

Choose a size (small, medium, large) that suits and you will have your small tools in an easy to access, convenient position.

A simple but bright bag with a velcro closing.  Being bright it is easy to find inside other bags.  Big enough to take the basics, easy to use and carry.

The simple method of slipping tools into your riding top rear pocket is assuming that very minimal tools will be needed – choose puncture repair patches over a spare bike tube, tyre levers & attach a pump to your bike.

Primarily used for carrying water these packs can come in a range of sizes and styles.  Some include specific places for bike tools, if not use a bike tool wrap or bag to keep your tools together.  When carrying any type of weight on your back try to keep it low down.  Water & tools combined will be the 2 heaviest things you could put on your back so if you’re choosing to do this don’t overload and keep the distances biked manageable.

Incredibly handy for carrying ‘things’ when zipping around town, going to work, riding with kids or bike touring.  As a women watch weight on your back.  Check out our story – Comfort Riding with a Backpack.  Again you need to keep your tools together to find them quickly and easily – use a bike tool wrap or tool bag.  Rather than creating one enormous touring tool kit and placing it in your backpack… spread the load around.

These packs are a great way to carry extra weight on your body because the load sits around your hips.  Putting a few simple tools in a hip pack is a great day riding option.  These bags can have small bladders or water bottles as well so all your gear can be in an easy to reach, well organised space.  Again you will find pockets and secure closings to help with accessing tools quickly.