I’ve seen it now once on the trail and twice in the shop. Deflated back tires and wheels solidly stuck in place. Itsy bitsy teeny weeny multi-tool versus UDH frame axle and it’s either time to test the run-flat capabilities of your inserts or to get hiking. Okay, most tubeless flats these days, for folks not cheating on tire construction for their area, only have damage to the degree that they can be sorted with a tire plug. But not always. And if you packed a tool into the woods, presumably you want it to work?

Here’s an easy test for preparedness. Pull out whatever multi-tool you carry on the trail and remove the rear axle from your bike. Easy? Easy. Stuck? Resist the temptation to remove the axle with a shop-sized hex key and then retighten it with your trail-side tool! It sounds like a great way to ensure that the axle can definitely be removed trail-side in the future. But the rear axle coming loose on its own, never mind coming loose constantly, is not winning. 

That’s the thing with the now ubiquitous UDH axles. They get tight-tight-tightened and even then I’m seeing more and more bikes that need some Loctite on the axle threads to keep things tight on the trail. I know more shop folks who’ve mentioned their rear axles coming loose in the last year than every year I’ve been in the bike industry put together. Damped by time, yes, but I don’t even remember this many folks making note of broken 10mm quick releases or their corresponding hub axles. 

Out on the trail the difference in torque possible from a larger tool is exponential whether it’s a basic hex-key block like the cheapish classic AWS-10 or something fancy like my 8-Bit could be the difference between installing a tube and some proper hike-a-bike time. 

Often when I post about stuff like this I’ll get comments like “I can’t remember the last time I had a flat” or the likes of “my UDH axle has never come loose” or even “I never need to use my mini-tool on the trail.” All fair personal observations. Still, there is a reason it’s getting taken into the forest? So? Do me the small favour of confirming your multi-tool and forearms have the combined power to take your wheels off. 

And, if they don’t, remember that there’s not always going to be a handsome one-speeder with a rigid fork rolling by with a backpack full of tools and a minute or two to destuckify an axle. Best to buy, and carry, a bigger multi-tool that can actually get you out of a bind.