The Experience Tool Kit
Learning from your mistakes is called; Experience. This kit certainly comes from experience. Hard lessons learnt along the way.
A specific set of tools, iterated into a tiny go anywhere emergency kit, that will certainly save you the ride, and worth carrying for that specific moment when it's the only thing that will save you. I carry this on almost all of my rides, easily dropped in to my saddle bag, or touring tool kit.
Mini-Oil - Sushi Bottle
Squeaky chains, are both inefficient and mentally draining while you're pushing out the miles. I found this mini-soy sauce bottle (also available in fish shapes) are perfect for around 5-6 applications, depending how generous you are.
So makes it ideal for all but longest adventure rides.
Chains dry out and get washed out by being outside all day. Wild camping and rough weather has led me to needing to relube sometimes daily. When your 4 days deep in a race around a country, the internal warming from cleaning and lubing a chain is invigorating.
Larger pots are also available and work just as well, when you're touring with a friend and have 2 chains to lube, this runs out twice as quick! Another lesson.
5 dollar
Tyre blow outs are terrifying. BANG. Psssssssssss.
A misaligned break pad rubs the edge of the tyre. Tyre gets hot. Weakens. Pop. It happens. Usually going down hill. Yeah. Dartmoor. Terrifying.
So the dollar, paper strong enough to support your fresh tube and block out the hole in your tyre wall. Another one that'll let you keep moving and rolling in the right direction.
High and Low Limit screws
Certainly unlikely to fall out, but when you're long distance riding, relying on your machine to work well at every point, not being able to shift correctly, and worse; risk mechanical damage, these will see you right. Make sure you know how to set them, or find a good friend to come with you who does.
Sticky Patches and Sand paper
The last ditch attempt at chaning a flat in the middle of nowhere. Often preffering to replace the tube and pack home than fix on the side of the road, i stopped carrying glue and sealant. But, on failry unfortunate rides (double pot hole and side wall blowouts over Dartmoor) When you run out of tubes, a back up saves a potentially long walk!
Quick link
Teamed with a chain tool (mandatory carry) these save you turning your pedalling machine into a glorified balance bike. I snapped a link in Luxembourg, on a particularly tough ride. It was unexpected and looked at myself like what am i going to do. Quick Link in the pack hack. Win.
SPD Cleat
They don't often come lose, but when they do, they fall out and best case, you ride unevenly, the worst case it grates on you every pedal stroke. After a long day, this one feels nice to be attached to the bike again. Complete with spacer bolts and a spare.
5mm Allen Bolts
2x thick, good head allen bolts. Spares for bottle cafes and pannier racks. Easily rattle free if a little loose. You can also store these in the frame threadolets. If you have mudgueard racks that you aren't riding with, these can also be stored and grabbed when needed.
Presta Valve
Simple valve replacement, gives you another option if you blow out, or have a bad spare. I've had these leak before and the seal material degrade. Even more worth it when you're all outta spare tubes.
This list isn't exhaustive, don't get me started on spokes. But dang, it's saved me from tears, more than once.
