Tool-to-frame integration was a big theme of this year's tradeshows - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Ritchey has a new tire lever bar plug, ideal for slipping into the ends of a mountain bike-style handlebar - David Rome / Immediate Media
Topeak has a new line of integrated stroage called 'Ninja'. Here is part one of three, the Ninja P pump that slides into a round seatpost (27.2, 30.9 or 31.6mm). It's designed for road users only - David Rome / Immediate Media
Another look at the prototype Topeak Ninja P pump. It's claimed to weigh 90g - David Rome / Immediate Media
The second Topeak Ninja item is the 'TC8 ', combining a water bottle cage with a mutltool that twists for easy access - David Rome / Immediate Media
Third and final is the Ninja C chain-breaker tool. Designed to fit into the ends of your handlebars, the two-piece tool offers a chain breaker, chain pin holder and 4mm hex key - David Rome / Immediate Media
We're told the prodution version of the Ninja C will work with road and mountain handlebars - David Rome / Immediate Media
Fabric's new Chamber tool is begging to be integrated into a bicycle. The Chamber comes in a ratcheting and cheaper, non-ratcheting version - David Rome / Immediate Media
Industry Nine's MatchStix makes a multi-tool out of your bike's thru-axles - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
All the bits you need can be housed inside Industry Nine's thru-axles. A plastic sheath keeps them from rattling around - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
The tool isn't new, but this Fit It Sticks mount is - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Fit It Sticks is still developing its water bottle boss mounting bracket - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Bar Fly is developing SWAT-style mounts to hold all your ride essentials - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Bar Fly's multi-tool has all the bits you need along with a chainbreaker - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
One of Bar Flys mounts houses a multi-tool while the other holds your tube and CO2 - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Some on-the-bike storage solutions will never go out of style... - Josh Patterson / Immediate Media
Integration has long been one of the cycling industry’s cherished concepts. From integrated headsets and bottom brackets to seatpost and stems, it has seemingly all been done before (with varying degrees of success). But a relatively new and hopefully more useful take on the concept of integration was the SWAT system developed by Specialized. Short for storage, water, tools and air, the concept of SWAT is basically tidying up — incorporating the items we already ride with into the bike.
Other companies have taken notice and are developing their own improved methods for transporting ride essentials. Here’s a look at a few of the items that caught our attention at this year’s tradeshows.
Industry Nine MatchStix
All the bits you need can be housed inside industry nine's thru-axles. a plastic sheath keeps them from rattling around: all the bits you need can be housed inside industry nine's thru-axles. a plastic sheath keeps them from rattling around
Anybody remember Pedro’s Tülio? That quick-release axle tool took years to develop. By the time it was finally introduced, the industry had ditched quick-release levers for thru-axles. Now, wheel manufacturer Industry Nine has taken advantage of the oversized diameter of the thru-axle to devise a new axle-based multi-tool.
Enter the MatchStix, a thru-axle multi-tool with up to 10 functions. Industry Nine claims that the chain tool with bits and a quicklink plus the front axle is less than 25 grams heavier than a 15mm front Fox QR or Maxle. Even better, replacing front and rear Maxles with MatchSticks can actually save 20-30g, the company claims.
Industry Nine plans to produce MatchStix for Fox and RockShox forks in 100 and 110mm version. There will also be MatchStix rear axles for RockShox and Syntace X12 standards in 142x12, 148x12, 150x12, 157x12mm versions.
Topeak Ninja tools
Topeak has a trio of integrated tools that are housed stealthily inside your bike.
Topeak has a new line of integrated stroage called 'ninja'. here is part one of three, the ninja p pump that slides into a round seatpost (27.2, 30.9 or 31.6mm). it's designed for road users only: topeak has a new line of integrated stroage called 'ninja'. here is part one of three, the ninja p pump that slides into a round seatpost (27.2, 30.9 or 31.6mm). it's designed for road users only
The Ninja P is a road bike pump that lives inside a seatpost
Third and final is the ninja c chain breaker tool. designed to fit into the ends of your handlebars, the two-piece tool offers a chain breaker, chain pin holder and 4mm hex key: third and final is the ninja c chain breaker tool. designed to fit into the ends of your handlebars, the two-piece tool offers a chain breaker, chain pin holder and 4mm hex key
Have a broken chain? The tool you seek is within your grasp, literally. The Ninja C chain tool lives inside your handlebar
The second topeak ninja item is the 'tc8 ', combining a water bottle cage with a mutltool that twists for easy access : the second topeak ninja item is the 'tc8 ', combining a water bottle cage with a mutltool that twists for easy access
The Ninja TC8+ mounts to Topeak’s water bottle cage and offers 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6mm hex wrenches, along with a Phillips head and T25 Torx wrench
Ritchey Barkeeper levers
Like Topeak, Ritchey has sought to utilize the empty space inside handlebars.
Ritchey has a new tire lever bar plug, ideal for slipping into the ends of a mountain bike-style handlebar: ritchey has a new tire lever bar plug, ideal for slipping into the ends of a mountain bike-style handlebar
The Barkeepers are bar plugs that double as tire levers
Fix It Sticks
Fix It Sticks’ tools are nothing new. However, the company is developing a bracket that behind a water bottle cage so they can be easily carried on your bike.
Fit it sticks is still developing its water bottle boss mounting bracket : fit it sticks is still developing its water bottle boss mounting bracket
This Fix It Sticks mount will make them easier to transport
Bar Fly
It looks like Bar Fly is out to show the world that it’s more than just a computer-mount company — it’s an anything-mount company. One of the Bar Fly’s latest projects is a tool and storage carrier that mounts behind a water bottle cage. Unlike Specialized's SWAT system, which uses three mounting points, Bar Fly’s design works the two water bottle bosses on any frame.
Bar fly is developing swat-style mounts to hold all your ride essentials: bar fly is developing swat-style mounts to hold all your ride essentials
Bar Fly is developing versions to hold tubes and CO2 and another version that carries a multi-tool
Fabric Chamber tool
Okay, so the shotgun-shell sized Chamber tool from Fabric isn’t currently integrated into anything, but it should be.
Fabric is owned by Cannondale’s parent company, Dorel Industries, so it's possible that Cannondale will figure out a clever way to stow this little multi-tool on future bikes.
The Chamber is about the same size and shape as a 16g CO2 cartridge, so there may be some homebrewed possibilities if you’re the type who likes to tinker.
Fabric's new chamber tool is begging to be integrated into a bicycle. the chamber comes in a ratcheting and cheaper, non-ratcheting version: fabric's new chamber tool is begging to be integrated into a bicycle. the chamber comes in a ratcheting and cheaper, non-ratcheting version
The Chamber tool is a perfect candidate for integration
Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
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