Most bicycle repairs or maintenance jobs are easy to do at home if you have the right tools. By doing these jobs on your own, you save yourself a lot of money. Actually, with the necessary tools, you can completely take a bike apart and reassemble it. For repairs and maintenance purposes, you don’t need every tool in the box, but there are a few that are crucial to any biker.
The following are some of the best bicycle repair tools:
1. Torx Keys
In years to come, almost every bike is going to be using Torx bolts. These bolts can easily be identified by the significant six-pointed star-like indents that are found on its head. When it comes to a bicycle, in most cases you will only need three sizes of Torx keys; T-30, T-25 and T-10. Torx keys are either sold in sets or as single units.
2. Floor Pump
This is the first tool you should get since you cannot do anything with your bicycle if the tires are flat. Having your own floor pump means you can fix minor tire issues on your bike at home. For example, tires tend to deflate when a bicycle has not been in use for a while. In such a case, the tires are okay, but the problem is that they do not have air. You can fix this problem with a floor pump.
3. Chain Tool
A bicycle chain consists of plates and links that are usually pinned together. A chain tool can be used to break the link of a bicycle chain by pushing out the pins. It can also be used to join back a bicycle chain. Chain tools come in a variety of designs; some are compact budget-friendly models that only focus on getting the job done, while others look like lust-worthy art pieces.
Over the years, cogsets, together with the chain, have become very expensive. So, make sure you do not make a false diagnosis. Using a chain checker, you can track the life of your chain, and this is important because if your chain is already worn out and you keep using it, it will start eating away your cassette cogs.
4. Combination Wrenches
The standard sizes of combination wrenches most bicycles require are 8, 9 and 10 mm. The reason you must have these combination wrenches is that most fenders and racks use hex bolts, also known as hexagon screws, which obviously get their name from the hexagon shape their head projects.
5. Tire Lever
A tire lever is mostly used to remove tires from wheel rims. The amount of force a tire exerts against the wheel rim is substantial. It would be frustrating and painful to remove the tires using your bare hands. A tire lever makes changing tires quick and easy. In most cases, tire levers usually come in pairs and work well with most styles of bicycles.
6. Hex Keys
If there is a must-have set of tools every cyclist must need, it is the hex keys. This is a tool you will regularly be seeing because hex keys are routinely used to fasten the different bicycle parts. This tool is popularly known as Allen. Most bicycle-specific toolmakers manufacture these tools in sets, which contain all the different sizes of hex keys that a bike requires.
If you are purchasing from a regular hardware store, these are the sizes you should get: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2 and 1.5. Most hex keys take the shape of an L, a unique feature that gives you leverage when you need it. It also allows you to reach into those tight spots.
7. Multitool
If you are planning to change your cogset, you will need a set of tools. These include a cassette lockring that features a handle, guide pins and a vice whip, which usually hold the cogset in place and eliminates chances of slipping and busting your knuckles while the cassette lockring opens it up.
You should always carry a multitool whenever you go for a ride. This is a palm-sized workshop you can use to make easy and swift adjustments in the middle of your ride. A multitool can help you avoid hobbling back home just because of a loose nut.
8. Four-Way Screwdriver
A four-way screwdriver is basically an adjustable screwdriver. This tool was made with multi-tasking and space efficiency in mind. The four different sizes can fit into any flat screw on your bike. When purchasing a four-way screwdriver, pick one with quality steel tips to avoid rounding off or stripping hardware.
You don’t have to always visit a bicycle repair shop whenever you have issues with your bike. With the tools mentioned above, you can fix almost anything on your bicycle that needs to be fixed.