The worst thing about riding bikes is the inherent mechanical issues that plague us from time to time. That annoying click that echoes through a carbon frame causing the user no end of misery; the rattle that won't go away, no matter how many different bits you tighten. The squeak that endures, even though you have bathed your steed in GT85. Finally, and worst of all, the dreaded hiss and subsequent wobble of a puncture.
All of these ailments require a specific tool to fix; using a hammer will unfortunately not suffice - although it does relieve some tension. It is therefore interesting to see what a modern-day wheelman or woman carries about their person for just such an episode. For instance I prefer the minimalist approach and am currently playing 'tubular roulette' every Saturday as I am not carrying a spare; only a can of Vittoria Pit Stop, some CO2 canisters and a rabbit's foot. So far so good. Another of our chain gang members has what can only be described as a 'Batman utility belt' which, when fully loaded, resembles a paratrooper's webbing. Pumps, CO2, allen keys, spanner, screwdriver, chain tool, inner tubes, spoke key, valve extender, sprockets, gels, bars, phone, rain cape, ad infinitum....
Now you may think that list a touch excessive, however the multitool is a mainstay and essential for any cyclist. The problem with most of these is the weight and size. You can get a decent compact tool which is lightweight but which has the bare minimum of tools - and you can guarantee that the one thing you need will not be on that particular tool. Alternatively you can go for the all-singing, all-dancing version which has everything including spirit level and torque wrench! This will, however increase you weight and stretch your jersey out of all proportion - very amateurish.
Crank Brothers are a long-established stalwart of the MTB scene and they develop hard-wearing kit to meet the specific demands of off-road riding. Their newest invention is the Y-Tool, and it is certainly distinctive in design with, in the brothers' own words a "sleek, unique design with a broad offering of shop quality tools" that comes in two models: the Y-12 and Y-16.
I received the Y-16 from Extra UK. Initially it confused me, however this is not surprising as I have an 8-week-old baby boy and anything more complicated than a 'push/pull' sign is quite taxing. The Y-16 boasts, you've guessed it, 16 tools: a CO2 inflator, chain breaker, spoke wrenches, seven different allen keys and a set of torx keys. The way it fits together is ingenious, tactile and aesthetically pleasing to the eye, with the separate parts held in their central frame by magnetised centres to each tool.
It is, however, slightly bulky, and at 260g perhaps a touch heavy for the seasoned roadie - but this is probably because it is designed primarily for the MTB fraternity. Having said that, I have carried it with me on the past few rides and not noticed much difference between it and my old multitool which has significantly fewer features.
The Y-16 multitool feels robust and durable with a useful selection of components. It certainly does what it states well; all the individual tools have that heavy feel which signifies quality, with the obvious flipside being that this weight raises a dilemma for roadies seeking to shave grams off their combined bike-and-rider payload. It's fair to say there are other smaller, lighter and more road specific tools on the market.
In my experience, the best multitool is the one that stays in the pocket and is never needed out on the road, because there is no breakdown. In the real world you will most likely need a multitool, and if you want a rugged and purposeful tool to get you out of all sticky situations I suggest you check out what the Crank Brothers have to offer.
Crank Brothers Y-16 Multitool, £39.99 from Wiggle.co.uk.
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