6 Cool Tools from Interbike 2016

Cool bike tools spotted at Interbike 2016.

You would think by now that humans would have perfected the multitool. After all, it’s just a bunch of allen wrenches and maybe a screwdriver. How hard can it be? But year after year, there are companies large and small showing off new tools–and ways to stash them. Here are a few that we spotted at this year’s show.

Fix It Sticks: $25 (includes tools & bracket)

The new mounting bracket for Fix It Sticks (photo: Helena Kotala)
The new mounting bracket for Fix It Sticks (photo: Helena Kotala)

The idea behind Fix It Sticks is dead simple. Two “sticks” are combined to create a T-handle wrench. At each end of the T, there is a different bit. The original design uses four, permanently-attached bits, but now the company offers a version with replaceable bits. Fix It Sticks will accept any 1/4″ bit, which makes them quite versatile.

(photo: Helena Kotala)
A mockup showing how the bracket mounts behind a water bottle (photo: Helena Kotala)

The real news here though, is a new mounting bracket. Instead of throwing your Fix It Sticks in your pack or jersey pocket, the company is offering a bracket that mounts behind your water bottle cage. The sticks snap tightly into the plastic bracket so your tools always stay with your bike.

The Breaker from Full Windsor: $58 (with case)

The Breaker from Full Windsor
The Breaker from Full Windsor

Full Windsor is a small company out of the UK that makes bicycle accessories. There are two tools in their line: The Nutter and The Breaker. The Breaker is a bit better suited to mountain biking than The Nutter, which is why we’re showing it here. At the heart of The Breaker is the large handle that serves numerous purposes including: tire lever, chain tool, spoke wrench, and bottle opener.

The tool all wrapped up in its case can be slipped into a jersey pocket or strapped to a saddle
The tool all wrapped up in its case can be slipped into a jersey pocket or strapped to a saddle

Included in the neat leather and recycled inner tube case are some common allen bits along with Torx and Philips bits. Any 1/4″ bit can be used with The Breaker though. There is also a tool bit extender that can be attached to the end of the handle to access tight areas or inserted into the side of the handle for more leverage.

Matchstix from Industry Nine: $160

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Industry Nine’s Matchstix turns your fork’s axle into a multitool. A sleeve that fits inside the axle holds a few bits along with a spare quick link for your chain. The handle snaps tightly into place at the end of the axle and doubles as the chainbreaker. Of course, since it’s Industry Nine, you can choose between 11 different colors for the handle to match your hubs or bike.

MB Tailor Cage from Syncros: $80

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Syncros’ MB Tailor cage holds your water bottle, a pump, a multitool, and a chain breaker (photo: Greg Heil)

The MB Tailor cage packs a lot into a limited space. First off it’s a water bottle cage. But it also has a mount for a small pump along with a drawer to stash an 8-bit multitool as well as a chain tool. Once the cage is mounted to your bike, pull the pump to the side to access the tools. It looks to be a good value at $80 since you get the cage, pump, multitool, and chain tool included in the package.

Pull the pump to the side to access the tools (photo: Greg Heil)_
Pull the pump to the side to access the tools (photo: Greg Heil)

Ninja TC Mountain from Topeak: $55

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The Ninja TC Mountain is essentially a simpler version of the MB Tailor cage above. It holds a water bottle and a multitool, but not a pump. Beneath the cage there is a small compartment that houses a 23 function multitool. Of course, the multitool has all the standard bits you would expect, but it also adds a chain breaker and spoke wrenches.