ANATOLY IVANOV / PROSE / 2008-10-28

TAKE-ALONG TOOLS TO FIELD-REPAIR A BROMPTON FOLDING BIKE

by Anatoly IVANOV

CYCLING / TRANSPORTATION / TRAVEL / ESSAYS

Dozens of manufacturers offer hundreds of “emergency” and “rescue” bike tool kits. Ranging from the minimal to the do-anything, which one would work best with the odd components of the Brompon folder?

The quick answer: none of them. You’ll have to assemble your own kit.

BROMPTON’S TOOL REQUIREMENTS

// A quick look

The Brompton’s not a mountain bike. So, you won’t need any Torx tools.

A chain tool is probably overkill in the city. The straight chain line of non-derailleur Bromptons, including my own, further reduces the risk of unexpected chain failure.

You’ll need a Philips screwdriver. For example, to change the dead batteries in your rear light. And a flathead as well.

And, oh yeah, a 15 mm hex wrench to fix that flat tire. Clever folding contraptions, but no quick release skewers on the Brompton.

// A thorough analysis

When riding a Brompton, I used to carry just a sawed off 15 mm wrench (AKA home-made tire lever), a set of tube patches and a micro-pump. The purchase of my latest P3L became an incentive to optimize my take-along tool kit.

So I first proceeded to measure almost every component of my new Brompton.

The results of my survey brought up the following needs:

Quite a variety! Let’s trim it down:

With these parameters in mind, I’ve assembled the lightest and most compact combination of tools I could find.

 

Photo: the majority of my take-along tools to field-repair my Brompton P3L

MY TAKE-ALONG TOOL KIT FOR THE BROMPTON: CONTENTS

// Park Tool AWS-10 fold up hex (Allen) wrench set (x1)

// Park Tool RW3 36 mm x 15 mm open-end wrench (x1)

// Facom 113A.4C adjustable wrench (chromed, unsheathed) (x1)

// Spokey flathead + Philips interchangeable screwdriver (x1)

// Rema Tip Top sandpaper, patch and glue kit (x1)

// Schwalbe tire lever (x2)

// Park Tool MG-1 nitrile rubber mechanic’s glove (x1)

// Zefal X-Light Carbon pump (x1)

// Jean-Christophe LEBEAU and Anatoly IVANOV Ultralight Brompton Tool Pouch (x1)

MY TAKE-ALONG TOOL KIT FOR THE BROMPTON: TOTAL WEIGHT

2 COMMENTS

JeanChristophe LEBEAU / 2009-02-06 09:33

You’ve got a nice bag to carry your kit ! ;-)

Vivek Gani / 2014-03-22 20:32

Just wanted to say thanks for posting this and your brompton measurement survey – these bikes have been quite an adventure to find parts for in the US!

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