By now I'm sure you've all seen the online-purchase-only One Up Components EDC (every day carry ) tool and have marveled at the nifty design and maybe scoffed at the cost and stress of having to thread your fork steerer to accommodate said tool. Yes it does seem a tad expensive when you factor in the tool and top cap.
It all fits together like a puzzle.
But have you seen the tool in the flesh? I knew it would be good. I have met these genius bike parts inventors/designers and know how fricken anal they are and also witnessed their passion with bikes and riding and getting the most out of technology today. But even I was surprised when I finally got my hands on their tools (sorry I can't resist my dad tool jokes). The ingenuity and design that has gone onto the "multi-tool" is astounding. And the way it all fits together...insane!. If these boys didn't like biking so much, they'd earn a lot more $$$ helping NASA getting a shuttle to Mars that's for sure.
Hide your tool in your pump or in your fork steerer. The pump head unscews and becomes a CO2 chuck
It has a world first portable mini chain link spreader (just can't work on Sram 12 speed though) and the top cap adjuster/chainlink tool mates with the 5mm key to make an 8mm key. The add-ons like the chain breaker have all the spoke nipple sizes and the shroud holds a tyre lever and spare chain links.
This is the shorter of the 2 pumps, so the CO2 and tool wont fit inside together but this is to give you the idea how it works with the longer pump.
If you don't want to fit the tool inside your steerer tube then you are a fool (I just can't really impress how cool it is to have these tools always on your bike and in perfectly clean condition ready to go). You know that a spare CO2 screws into the base right? or a hollow canister for your stash (tyre plugs, cash, lawn clippings etc.)
If you are a fool, then the whole shebang will fit inside the hollow tube of the larger of their handpumps. The smaller one, like my one pictured, will fit the tools and shroud, just not the CO2 or hollow canister.
Nifty. It runs a Cassette lock ring type headset cap.
It's like fricken magic. An o-ring top and bottom seals it from the elements.
Is that a tool in your steerer or are you just happy to see me?
It even has a butt plug with breather hole to keep it clean and stop any Co2 cartridge rattle
There are two keys on the link tool to adjust the new headset cap.
The pump. It's a thing of excellent engineering ability. Supposedly pumps the highest volume of air for its size in the world. No screwing, just ram it on your presta valve and pump. Unscew the valve head and it doubles as a chuck for your CO2 cannister. I have the smaller one and it fits in all my bumbags easy as pie.
No need to add an 8mm hex to the kit, just join up the 5mm with the link tool and hey presto!
The multi tool has a T25 and 2/2.5/3/4/5 and 6mm hex along with the link and top cap tool which has a flat blade screwdriver at the end. It is very compact and therefore not the greatest for wrenching stubborn bolts, but it fits in tight places and really is there to get you out of trouble...perfect for adjusting your headset,shifter, derailleur, brakes, pedals and keeping any loose bolts tight until you can get home and do things properly. The chain breaker and spoke keys work as they should and the tyre lever is shaped well and holds an errant tyre bead pretty good.
What link tool you say? This marvellous feat of engineering locks the chain back plate and uses the 5mm hex to push the link apart. (just not that queerly shaped Eagle 12 speed link)
There's even a spare chainring bolt holding the tyre lever to the chainbreaker/spoke key thingy.If someone has a spare 5mm tool, you can use it as a handle for your breaker while you use your tool to wind the pin..genius.
Chainbreaker and 4 spoke key sizes machined into the sides.
I don't even like using the tools, especially lending them out. Why? I want them to stay looking like this and just keep whipping out my tool whenever we stop and playing with it. It has a seriously calming effect on me and I don't want to ruin it with scratches and greasy dirt.
OMG it just keeps on giving...a place to hold spare chain links. Did you know that even if you run 12 speed you can still join your chain with an 11 or even 10 speed link? (emergencies only folks, don't get me in trouble with Sram!)
The stash tube is sealed with a third o-ring. I use it for spare tyre plugs and drugs (ibuprofen fools..what were you thinking?). It could even hold a good amount of emergency tyre sealant in there too.
If I have convinced you that you need to slip this tool in your steerer tube, then with the wonders of social media, start a group chat and buy just one threading tool and share it around, It'll do 10 steerer tubes (so they say, I bet it'll do more if you look after it and use the good cutting oil. But if that still freaks you out, then why not get the pump too. It's one mighty compact unit, keeps everything together, is great to fiddle with and is way better for you than constantly fidgeting with your phone.
THE GOOD: There is so much good...does what you want and keeps it all together, in a very lightweight package
THE BAD: The CO2 is a bit tight in my boost fork steerer plug (not so in my non boost steerer), I need to sandpaper the recess in the butt plug a little for a quicker draw.
THE UGLY: If you haven't got any facebook friends to share the cost of the steerer thread tapper then it gets a bit pricey.