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Rugged Dialed Cap hides tools in your steerer, so you’re always prepared

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The idea is simple: Never forget your bike tools again. The execution is creative, but pretty simple as well. Small bike accessory upstart Rugged Components has a new concept for on-the-bike tools in what they are calling the world’s first steerer tube integrated multi-tool. With a bit of creative rethinking, Rugged’s Dialed Cap wants to take advantage of the unused space inside your steerer tube to keep a few key tools always at your fingertips. By simply sliding your star nut a bit lower in the headtube, they’re able to securely fit in four of the most used tools with a cap that keeps everything tight and easy to access. Take a closer look below the fold…

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The Dialed Cap simply presses your star nut a couple of inches deeper into your (straight 1.125″ or tapered as long as you have at least 3″ of straight steerer tube before the taper, and metal only) steerer tube to make room for two L-wrenches. It then locks your stem down tight with a new aluminum cap and a longer tapered stainless steel bolt to reach down to the star nut.

At the ends of those two forged, heat-treated wrenches you get a 4mm, 5mm & 6mm hexes and a T25 bit. The wrenches themselves are pretty unique. First they get a larger overall diameter that makes them fit snugly in the new cap, but also easy to get out even with gloves.

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But then to make it so you can get proper leverage on which ever bit you actually need, they use what Rugged calls Hex Hole tech. What that actually means is that the 6mm hex is hollowed out so the 4mm fits inside of it. That lest Rugged get away with short elbows on the two wrenches to fit within the footprint of the cap, while still giving you leverage to properly tighten bolts.

Once you slide the two tools back inside the special top cap, the Dialed Cap has a secondary cap that threads on hand tight to keep the tools out of the weather and secure. The screw on cap also includes a small rubber disc that grips the top of the tools and keeps them from rattling around inside the steerer.

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The Dialed Cap is available for pre-order online direct from Rugged’s website now, with delivery slated for “soon” but still a bit up in the air. They’ve said that some early pre-production units had been available in person from one of their local partner retail shops – Go-Ride.com in Salt Lake City, but it’s not clear if they still have stock. The Dialed Caps sell for $45, with shipping adding about $7 in the US and international shipping available.

RuggedComponents.com

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BANXX
BANXX
7 years ago

“world’s first steerer tube integrated multi-tool”

nobody’s gonna touch that? old cannondale fans? anyone?

Keith
Keith
7 years ago
Reply to  BANXX

I have the Cannondale version in my camelbak since they went to OPI steerers…..

Jacob Grantham
7 years ago
Reply to  BANXX

Hahahaha…. They might have needed a bit more research before making that claim, eh?

Bunyip
Bunyip
7 years ago
Reply to  BANXX

Yes, that’s all I was thinking as I read this. And if I recall correctly, canondale fit more than two little tools in there. Big fat 1.5 steerer I think there was a full set of box wrenches, a hammer, 4 different screwdrivers, a set of metric sockets, a ratchet, and some hand cream.

Steve @ G4G
7 years ago
Reply to  BANXX

Yup, I have the Cannondale Head Wrench in the steer tube of my Habit. Lots of tools included.
http://www.cannondaleexperts.com/Cannondale-Head-Wrench-Multi-Tool–7A506BLK_p_38.html

Andy
Andy
7 years ago
Reply to  BANXX

Specialized’s SWAT has already taken the concept to its logical end. The frame storage compartment is imo the most genius evolution of bike tech in the last 3 years.

Groghunter
Groghunter
7 years ago

“The Dialed Cap simply presses your star nut a couple of inches deeper into your (straight 1.125″ and metal only)”

Apparently only for people who are 26forlyfe aka on 10 year old bikes. I just don’t get how companies hit these sorts of problems & continue on with product development. This thing doesn’t work with most bikes made since 2008, & they don’t see that as a engineering problem they need to fix, rather than ignore?

Peter
Peter
7 years ago
Reply to  Groghunter

From their website:
The Dialed cap only works with 1-1/8” inch tapered or straight metal steer-tubes that use starnuts. Carbon steer-tubes with pressure nuts are not compatible

EXODUX
7 years ago

Aluminum and steel are both types of ” metals” I believe they are not compatible with carbon steerers.

dustytires
7 years ago

Im with grog here, so dumb to push on with a straight steerer only option and what tool is that? a couple wrenches one can drop in a pocket. I am all for covert tools as I cannot remember the last time I even used one on the trail so I like to hide them and forget possibly to never ever use one knock on wood, but if I am spending money on something trick, this ain’t trick enough to matter.

Eds: Just a reminder update. It will work with tapered alloy steerers that have at least 3″ of straight section to push the star nut down.

Mercianrider
Mercianrider
7 years ago

Surely the bar ends would be a better place for tools like this.

Seraph
Seraph
7 years ago
Reply to  Mercianrider

I think you mean “pocket”.

Rentedshoes
Rentedshoes
7 years ago

Remember when Cannondale did this like ten years ago?
https://goo.gl/images/aPO7dd

Cord
Cord
7 years ago

The 6mm has a 4mm cut out, so only 1mm wall thickness??? Surely this will collapse as soon as you apply and decent torque to it? I like the idea, but am sceptical.

Person
Person
7 years ago

I’ll stick with the Industry 9 Matchstick.

Marin
Marin
7 years ago

I’ve got specialized water bottle cage that has a carrier for multi tool on its bottom.
Very easy to use and fits every frame.

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