It’s no coincidence that cyclists are often EDC gear fans. Weight reduction and efficiency directly affect cycling performance, and are both features of the best EDC gear. When we think about what makes a good EDC bike tool, we’re looking to get the most out of the lightest, most efficient EDC gear that can be customized to match your bike.
What EDC gear needs to go into an EDC bike toolkit?
When planning what EDC gear to put in any EDC toolkit, it’s important to think backwards from use-case scenarios rather than looking at your collection of EDC gear and picking out the tools you like. The reason for this is that if you start by looking at all the great EDC tools you’ve got in front of you it’s much easier to select tools because they’re your go-to favorites, like the set in the picture above, not because they’re necessarily the best choice for an EDC bike tool.
- Consider specific use-case scenarios
- Select what you need
- Focus on weight & efficiency
When planning your EDC bike tool kit, it’s especially important not to go overboard – everyday carry is about portability, and this is especially important when minimizing weight on your bike. Most of us have carefully assembled a portfolio of EDC gear that gives us choices for specific tasks and situations. If we put all of it into our EDC bike toolkit ‘just in case’ we’re attacked by wolves, or need to rescue climbers with hypothermia, it’s going to make the ride heavier and harder!
Planning forward to select the best EDC bike tool
When you’re planning forward to select the best EDC gear bike tool, there are universal tool requirements for bike EDC gear and specific problem solving tools you might need. Check your bike to identify what type and size of fasteners and adjusters it has. Think about what you need to adjust your brakes, align your gears, move your seat post or fix a puncture. Pick out the bits you need, don’t take everything in the picture above! Your ‘must have’ home bike maintenance kit can be more comprehensive!
- Check fastener, adjuster and lock nut bit types and sizes
- Look for any specialized bolt heads or adjusters
- Think about the tools needed for bike-specific problems
Even if you have a locking seat post, it will usually have an adjuster to keep it snug, and if this gets loose and you can’t tighten it you will be unable to keep your seat in a comfortable and efficient riding position. The same is true of any ‘quick release’ mechanism, including wheel locks – so you should make sure you have the right size allen keys for all of these.
Have the right EDC gear for punctures and chain drop problems
When we look at ‘use case’ scenarios, the most common problems are likely to be punctures or air loss from your tires and chain drop. If you need to fix a puncture on the road, then tire levers can be part of a basic puncture repair kit in your EDC gear loadout. Gear adjustment to fix dropping chains usually requires standard bits you will already have in your EDC gear, just check the sizes required for your derailleur and cables.
What does our EDC gear bike toolkit look like?
You don’t want your EDC gear bike toolkit to look like the picture above, but you want the functionality. So we need a selection of allen keys or bits, one or more cross-head and flat-head driver bits, and something to drive them with. Taking individual screwdrivers and allen keys is heavier and less efficient than taking a bit driver with the right bits. We also may want to take a couple of bike-specific tools.
Can you build specialist bike tools with EDC gear?
If you look at the ‘specialist’ bike tools people use in bike shops, like three-way allen keys and socket drivers, you can reduce the weight of these but keep the functionality by carrying the correct bits and sockets with a suitable bit driver. We of course recommend a 711L Y-driver or 711L Lollipop bit driver!
What’s in a good EDC gear bike toolkit?
- Driver bits that match your bike
- Puncture repair kit, spare tube or tubeless tire repair plugs
- Tire lever(s)
- Compressed air tire chuck
- 711L Y-driver or Lollipop bit driver
Do you fix punctures at home or on the road?
Many people carry a spare inner tube in their kit, and then fix the puncture when they get home. This is a trade off between the extra weight of an inner tube and the time and effort needed to fix your puncture and the tools required to do it. You’ll need a tire lever or two whether you fix the puncture on the spot or simply change the inner tube. For tubeless tires, a tire plug kit is the simplest solution!
Specific EDC bike tools for comprehensive bike EDC gear
If you use your bike on both road and track, XC or MTB, or want to have a more comprehensive bike repair kit, then a presta or schrader air chuck is a handy EDC gear bike tool for adjusting pressures to match changes in surfaces, you can couple it with a compact battery air compressor and keep it in your car or take it with you if you need to change pressures on the trail.
What are your EDC gear bike tools?
There are must-haves and optional extras in all custom EDC gear loadouts, we hope this article has been helpful in exploring different options and recommendations to help you make decisions about the most useful EDC gear bike tools. What you never leave home without on your bike commute, or out on the hills, is built from personal experience and capabilities – so there’s no really right or wrong EDC gear bike tools.
Remember, however, that for the minimalist cyclist, utility and weight are key to maximizing your cycling enjoyment while minimizing the risk of problems you can’t easily solve when you’re out on your ride. If you’re a maximalist, and want to feel ready for anything, the lightweight and portability of EDC gear will still keep the weight down!
