To be safe and prepared when riding you will need tools with you. There are a lot of bag options to choose how to carry your tools.
Supporting you and your family to SMILE when you ride.
What Tools Should I Carry?
Where you are riding and how far you are going will influence what type of tools and how many you need. So let’s go over what the essentials are. This is a list of the absolute minimum that you should take with you to help out in times of need
- Tyre Levers – Learn more…
- Puncture Repair Kit – Learn more… & or Spare Tube Learn more…
- Mini Pump – Learn more…
- Allen Keys
There is not much point in carrying tools that you don’t know how to use so choose to know what to do! Click on the story links next to the tools in the list above to learn more.
Will you need quick and easy access to some things like water, a jacket or top, your tools and first aid, snacks or lunch? What type of carrying system you choose needs to take this type of thing into account. What is easier for you?
The tools you choose should all be lightweight and portable versions especially if you are carrying the tools on yourself e.g in a hydration bag. The choice between a puncture repair kit and a spare tube comes down to time vs space. A tube is quicker, but a repair kit is much smaller to carry.
For some of your riding adventures you will have to carry more tools than just the minimum. The most obvious examples are big day rides, riding with kids, or bike touring. On these types of rides you will need a wider range of tools and more spare tubes. So as the quantity of tools increases, the space needed to carry them also expands and, depending on the length of the ride, weight may become an issue.
Carrying Tools on the Bike
The option of carrying any type of tools or gear on your bike rather than on your body is a great one. It just makes your riding experience more comfortable. So if it is an option choose to use one of the following ways to carry bike tools.
SEAT BAGS
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.
BASKETS/HANDLEBAR BAGS
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.
PANNIERS
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?
FRAME BAGS
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.
TOOL WRAP
These wraps are a great way to organise your tools and see them in a well laid out way. Tools are easy to see when this wrap is unrolled. Designed to be carried with you inside another bag so good to keep your tools together in the larger bag options.
TOOL BAG
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.
Carrying Tools on Your Body
POCKETS
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.
HYDRATION POCKETS
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.
BACKPACKS
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.
HIP PACKS
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.
Your bike riding success is different to others… use our stories and support, get the right solutions.
Carrying Gear Buying Guide
Use the full range of gear carrying options to get the right solutions for you and your family.
Ride More Places
Carrying Gear Stories
See the full range of stories & support relating to carrying gear on your bike. Presented on an easy to navigate page.
How Much Water Do You Need?
Hydration is a really important part of riding a bike. This story covers all you need to know about water.
Recreation/Trail Riding - Am I Safe?
When you go out for a ride what will keep you safe? Do you need to plan or prepare in a better way? Lets find out.
Types of Riding Stories
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