Choosing Bike Tools It’s pretty prevalent for new cyclists to just go out and purchase the ultimate multi tool with as many tools on it as possible. It’s understandable, because newbie's don’t really know what to get, so they might as well get the ultimate so as to make sure they’re covered. But the thing is, they won’t know what half of the tools are, and they probably won’t ever use two-thirds of them. So they spend more money than they need to, and then they carry extra weight all the time on their bike. If you’re something of a handyman, are serious about working on your bike and are willing to take the time to learn bike mechanic work, then acquiring a multi-tool might be a good idea. But if you aren’t sure how much you’ll bike work or how much you’ll want to do, then it might be better to just get some rudimentary tools to start with. Multi-tools aren’t always the simplest tools to use. Their bulkiness can get in your way for certain tasks, and you frequently don’t get the same leverage and efficiency you’d get from a specialized tool. Some cyclists prefer carrying several specialized tools instead of a multi-tool, even though it oftentimes increases the amount of weight they have to lug around. It also matters how much maintenance work you do on your bike at home. If you do regular maintenance on it, you probably won't have to do major repairs on the road, so you won't need to carry as many tools. Of course you'll have to carry stuff like bicycle tyres levers and screwdrivers, but nothing fancy will be needed. But if you plan on taking long trips regularly, you’ll practically have to get a multi-tool and start learning how to use it. If you’re going to tour with other novice mechanics, you can each learn a different aspect of bike maintenance or repair and help each other out. The best way to learn to become a bike mechanic is to tour with someone who is one, and watch everything he or she does, asking questions when needed.
Whether you get a multi-tool or individual tools, you’ll need, at the bare minimum, the following: • •
A range of Allen wrenches; the sizes depend upon your bike. A crescent (adjustable) wrench or assorted open or hex wrenches (usually 8, 10 and 15mm, depending upon the bike) CycleClothingXpert.com ©2011
• • • • •
A flat screwdriver A Phillips screwdriver A bottle opener Tire levers A mini-pump or CO2
• • • •
A Spare inner tubes and a patch kit Bicycle oil A first aid kit Duct tape (nice for quick repairs like split pants!)
If you really want to get into it, here are some tools and accessories you might need at some point for your home shop: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Rags Soft wire brush Full-sized tire levers Tire pressure gauge Toothbrush Universal spoke wrench Floor pump Freewheel remover Headset wrenches Bike oil and grease Pedal wrench Two hub cone wrenches Adjustable bottom bracket spanner Third Hand (brake/cable adjustment tool) Cartridge bottom bracket tool Cassette sprocket lock ring tool Chain cleaning kit Chain tool Chain whip Cotter less crank arm extractor
For more Information on Cycle Clothing Xpert visit: http://www.cycleclothingXpert.com If you would like to contact us please visit: http://www.cycleclothingXpert.com/contact-us Online Web 2.0 Version You can read the online version of this press release here. CycleClothingXpert.com ©2011