Tools to bring for third world touring

Only one person in the group needs to take tools if you plan to ride together.

bike tool bag

Note: the bike tool bag can be any small zippered bag. Many are sold for placing behing the seat (but place in your touring bag instead to minimize theft).

• tool cloth containing most of the tools (see below).
• spare cable for rear brake/derailer
• bike lock comprised of a thin cable and small lock and key. Some trips may need heavier lock.
• patch kit with pins to remove glass
• oil. Place this in a zip-lock plastic bag in case of leakage. 1/2 oz. per month per person should be sufficient.
• freewheel removal tool that fits your bike (newer bikes use cassette tool). Third world bike shops wouldn't have it !

  I place the next two items here so when I am on a day ride I'd be sure to have them (instead of leaving them in the touring pack):

• sun screen lotion (smallest plastic container)
• toilet paper (ready-made in small backpacker size from REI or backpacking stores)

tool cloth or kit (inside the bike tool bag) containing:

Note: the tool cloth bag with most of these tools was purchased mostly complete but now it's not in my catalogs. They do have tools that combine half the items below into one tool, in which case do without the tool cloth.

• pedal wrench
• head set wrench if you'll be on remote (e.g., Himalaya) trip
• air pressure guage
• 3 tire irons
• spoke adjust
• 5 metric allen wrenches,
• including shimano brake adjust tiny allen wrench if that is what your brake uses.
• chain tool
• pliers, small adjustable
• screw driver-philips&slotted
• variable crescent wrench, very small size
• wrench, thin, 32, 15 mm (head, pedal)
• tie wraps (2)

small plastic bag of hardware (best placed inside the pocket of the bike tool bag) with the following:

• extra key for lock
• pin for chain tool (keep here so won't lose)
• 2 caps for innertube
• 2 chain links
• 2 #8 nut, washer, screw
• 2 short, 1 long bike screw (mtn bike type, similar to #10)
• cable end crimp

bring separately

• spare tube (for remote regions, like the Himalaya, or in cactus country)
• pump (test the pump before you go for at least 50 psi). Some fast-inflate pumps only go up to 30 psi.) Fast-inflate is not good enough for off-road, or if no gas station is available for a week (e.g., crossing the Himalaya).
• dollar bill for emergency repair of tire damage (place inside tire where there's a hole).