It’s important to have the right tools on hand for your bike. Then you can be ready for quick emergency repairs, like a flat tire or snapped chain. You can do maintenance at home or on-the-go. Here are some of must-have tools and what to use them for.
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Tools you should always have on the trail
- Bike Multi-Tool: A cycling-specific multi-tool is a cyclist’s best friend. It has different tools for different purposes, like Allen wrenches aka hex keys, screwdrivers, and a chain breaker. It should enable you to handle pretty much all common repairs.
- Tire Levers: For changing a flat tire.
- Spare Tubes: At least one or two spare tubes, or a patch kit. You might think you only need one, but it's not unheard of for both tires to go flat at the same time. If you're using Tannus airless tires, which you can get from us, you can skip this. You might also consider leaving it out if you're using Tannus inner tube shields.
- CO2 Inflator or Mini Pump: You'll need something to inflate your tires again if they go flat.
- Chain Lube: If you’re planning to ride in dusty or wet conditions, having a small lube on hand can keep your chain running smoothly.
- Duct Tape: It can be a lifesaver for quick fixes, from fixing a tear in gear to securing loose parts.
Tools for at-home bike repairs
There are some tools you might want to own, but might not necessarily want to take with you on the trail.
- Torque Wrech: Adjusting bolts on different parts of your bike to the perfect recommended tightness requires a torque wrench. This includes bolts on the handlebars, fork, brake levers, shifters and more. A torque wrench ensures you use just the right amount of force with no damage.
- Spoke Wrench: Used for wheel truing. That’s when you adjust spoke tension to get rid of side-to-side or up and down movement so your wheel runs perfectly straight. You just have to find the problem areas and tighten those spokes accordingly.
- Chain Checker: When your chain wears out, you'll deal with poor shifting, skipping and extra wear on drivetrain parts. A chain checker is a cheap, easy-to-use tool that helps you assess its condition so you know when to replace it, or whether it just needs a good cleaning.
- Cable Cutters: The cables or housing will wear down and must be replaced. That’s when you need cable cutters. They’ll make clean, precise cuts with no fraying. Once you install a new set, you’re back to smooth shifting and braking.
- Bike Pump: You might want a larger, easier to use bike pump in addition to any portable one that you carry with you on the trail. Bonus: Did you know that you can use a bike pump with a Schrader valve attachment to adjust your car's tire pressure, too?
- Bike Stand: The best way to make any bike maintenance easier, stop your bike from falling over, and avoid damage to floors from your bike falling over.
