Hi Pete!
Thanks for posting this; these are some interesting tools indeed, and it is nice to see more tools integrated into the bike for ready access. I have an old CoolTool LITE that fits
inside the tandem's stoker handlebar; it includes a complete chain tool as well as other gadgets. I also have their seatpost quick-release that included a couple spoke wrenches and double-ended allen wrenches. Many years ago, Yuki Nagaoka gave me a couple little double-ended allen keys that slide into a composite holder that fits beneath a water bottle cage. It has proven ever so handy and convenient over the years. I love these things the same way I love multi-tools, and have collected a surprising number over the years. I love clever thinking and I love tools. Putting the two together makes for an irresistible combination!
Still, I find myself being of two minds on the matter of on-bike tools, and I find myself removing and reinstalling them depending on my thinking at the time.
On the one hand, they are just so very convenient, minimize the clutter in a tool bag, and are always with the bike where they are ready for use. Can't beat that.
On the other hand, they're just as useful for thieves who wish to use any one of these little tools to busily disassemble the bike while one is away from it. Racks, stems, forks, bottle cages, lights, saddles, even entire HollowTech cranksets can be removed with only a single 5mm allen key, and I sometimes wonder what I am thinking in making them so conveniently available to those who cannot resist temptation!
I have so far managed to resist attaching tools to the Nomad for this reason, though it has been hard to avoid. Instead, I have my most-likely needed tools in my underseat bag, which in theory I could detach and take with me when leaving the bike...but there's so much to take with when leaving anyway! The handlebar bag always goes where I do, and I wouldn't expect to return to find the Joos Solar panel still sitting atop the rack-top load, and of course the GPS.
...when you need your tools its in the rain and mud! and I like the idea of not opening my Panniers with dirty hands.
I do so agree, Pete! Such things happen at the worst times in the worst conditions, it seems, so best to make the needed tools readily available. My Ortlieb underseat bag now carries:
• Thorn-supplied combo pedal/15mm/eccentric bolt wrench with 8mm socket and pin wrench.
• Multi-tool with tire levers and chain tool included.
• Spare tube
• Glued and glueless patch kits
• Crank Brothers mini-pump in case my main pump fails
• Schwalbe digital tire pressure gauge
• Nitrile gloves that can be turned wrongside out and used again for oily/dirty jobs so hands don't transfer nasty stuff to clothes, goves, 'bar tape, sleeping bag, tent, etc.
• Sample-size bottle of Purple Extreme chain oil
Any tool needs beyond this are so rare, I wouldn't mind digging for them in the panniers if needed.
These are surely nifty tools, Pete!
Best,
Dan.
