Should I Have A Chain Tool In My Road Bike Repair Kit
Keeping your bicycle clean and running smoothly is easier than you lot call back—provided you lot have the correct tools. These 18 essential items (well, 20, since two of them practice double duty) for any home store will handle nearly any bike repair or maintenance chore, whether you're a main mechanic or turning your first wrench.
About Valuable Tool
Nearly Versatile Pump
Best Brush Ready
Best Tool For Light Parts
Best Cleaning Accessory
What's New In Tools
Companies are constantly coming out with new tools, both to improve existing designs and to arrange to new technologies emerging in the sport. One instance: the range of 12-speed drivetrains, which characteristic narrower bondage and cassette spacing that crave slightly unlike tool interfaces for things like chain whips and concatenation breaker tools.
Torque wrenches are increasingly popular, and necessary for even home mechanics since a number of fasteners like stalk bolts crave tightening to an verbal range to hold securely without dissentious carbon fiber parts.
Not to be confused with torque, Torx-head wrenches are also more ubiquitous, as partsmakers are using the star-shaped bolts more widely than ever. For years, these were found primarily on disc-rotor fixing bolts, simply today we see them in stem bolts, hydraulic disc brake calipers, and broadly beyond many components from SRAM.
Some tools are decreasing in importance. Cone wrenches, for instance, with their thin wrench flats for adapt hub-bearing cones, used to be a vital tool even for dwelling mechanics. But modern hubs often employ cartridge bearings without adjustable preload, so increasingly these sit on the pegboard unused.
What Y'all Need To Know Most Tools
You may already have a tool kit at habitation that'south well-stocked with items like wrenches, sockets, and screwdrivers. Those can be useful, but bike-specific tools be for a good reason: many parts on bikes today require specialized tools to properly service. These tools often aren't expensive, only using the proper tool is the divergence between a quick and piece of cake maintenance session and an extended interlude of cursing, bleeding knuckles, and perhaps damage to pricey parts.
Thankfully, several companies specialize in making just cycling tools. 3 of the all-time are Park Tool (which essentially invented specialized wheel tools), Pedros, and Feedback Sports. They all make quality tools that volition serve you well for years, or fifty-fifty decades, to come up. You tin besides discover tools from a number of other brands that brand parts and accessories, like Topeak and Bontrager. They don't have complete offerings, however. Tools from big, general-purpose tool companies can fit the bill in some instances, and we've included several of them here. In some cases, they're more affordable than tools from cycling-specific companies; in others, we picked them considering they do broader duty than some cycling-specific options.
How We Picked
This drove of tools is intended to aid you set up a home workshop that'south capable of tackling roughly 80 percent of the maintenance and repair work any bike needs. There are a ton of single-purpose tools out there that tin can be quite handy for specific repairs, but almost of us will never need a headset press or a hydraulic restriction-line cutter, for example. For some of these repairs, it'south still best to take your wheel to a qualified, experienced professional. The 18 tools we've nerveless hither should handle about annihilation a home mechanic will want to endeavor.
Many of these products, we use regularly in our own shops and at Bicycling. Nosotros as well talked to mechanics about what tools they employ every day, which brands they trust, and consulted consumer ratings for each item from several sources. Nosotros picked i detail in each category, based on which types of tools we end up reaching for the nearly often. These are rarely the but item in a category, and oftentimes the choices are broadly similar in quality. So toll sometimes played a primal role.
Speaking of price: you can detect prepare-assembled tool kits for around or less than the toll of the picks we have here. Those are a fine choice, especially if you want to but buy ane fourth dimension and non worry about it. But: those kits only describe from a single brand's offerings, and may include tools you don't really need, either because they're full general tools you already have (similar an adjustable crescent wrench) or because, like cone wrenches, they're just not every bit essential anymore. The other benefit of a kit you assemble yourself is y'all can buy information technology piecemeal, over time. If that'southward your approach, and so you'll appreciate that we've ordered these by general priority. Merely beginning at the pinnacle, and piece of work your way through.
—BEST HEX WRENCH SET—
Park HXS-i.2 Hex Wrench Ready
Yous'll utilize these more than any other tool so invest in a quality prepare.
If you buy one tool for your shop, get in this set of metric hex wrenches, which includes everything from a 1.5mm wrench for the tiniest bolts all the way upward through a meaty 10mm plumbing fixtures. The hardened tool steel volition final for years, and the ball end on the long arm is perfect for chop-chop tightening hard-to-access items like bottle cage bolts.
—MOST VERSATILE Floor PUMP—
Bontrager Dual Charger
Adjustable volume for fast and easy aggrandizement and a large and easy-to-read estimate.
With durable steel barrel, a stable tripod base, and an oversize guess, the Dual Charger already checks most of the boxes nosotros want from a adept flooring pump. But two corking features put it over the meridian. Commencement, a foot lever switches inflation modes between loftier-volume (ideal for quickly inflating larger mountain bike tires) and high force per unit area so you lot don't have to musculus the pump to go road tires to optimal pressure. The chuck fits Presta and Schrader valves automatically, and the long hose reaches tire valves even when the bike is on a repair stand.
—BEST Compact CHAIN TOOL—
Park CT-6.three
Utilize it in your shop then fold it up and bring information technology on your ride.
If nosotros had to pick one chain tool for store and carry-along, this is it. Chain tools tend to aim at one use or another; shop tools terminate upwardly beingness too bulky to bring on a ride, and carry-forth tools often suffer from lack of leverage. The CT-6.3 folds compact enough to fit in a seat bag, but the all-steel handles offering enough grip to loosen fifty-fifty the most stubborn pins. It besides works with any multispeed concatenation, even the new Campagnolo 12-speed system.
—All-time TIRE LEVERS—
Pedro'due south Tire Levers
Broad, stiff and cheap.
These burly plastic tire levers are the ideal combination of force and softness. The box-style structure makes them strong enough to handle even the tightest tires like tubeless varieties without bending, just the plastic cloth won't harm carbon fiber rims. Comes in packs of ii, which is all you'll always need.
—All-time Brush SET—
Finish Line 5-Slice
Make clean all your bike'southward weird crevices properly.
A proficient set up of brushes helps make wheel cleaning faster, easier, and more thorough. This five-piece set includes the essentials, like a large frame brush, a "paint" castor for derailleurs and other nooks and crannies, and long-handled brushes for hard-to-access spots like hub bodies and between the crankset and chainstay.
—All-time FOLDING REPAIR STAND—
Feedback Sports Pro Elite
The sturdy base of operations and secure clamp make repairs easier.
This folding workstand is our Editors Choice pick for domicile utilize for any number of reasons: it's low-cal and portable, only the tripod base of operations has enough stability to support the burliest of bikes. The ratchet-and-dial closure is quick and secure, and high-quality aluminum structure means the stand volition last for years, even decades.
—Best VALUE TORQUE WRENCH—
EPAuto1/iv-Inch Bulldoze Torque Wrench (2.26~22.6 Nm)
Protect your lightweight parts and protect yourself.
Nosotros've tried a number of excellent click-blazon torque wrenches from bike companies, simply they're normally quite expensive, and it's non clear that they're whatsoever more accurate than general-use torque wrenches like this affordable option from EP Automobile. The ¼-inch drive fits most mutual tool heads, and the adjustable torque ranges from 2.26-22.6 Newton-meters, which covers most fasteners on bikes except for high-torque fittings similar BB cups and crank bolts. You'll demand to supply your ain tool heads, yet.
—BEST TORX Y-WRENCH—
Park TWS-3
A classic tool for new-school fasteners.
Star-shaped Torx bolts are increasingly common on bikes; SRAM uses them widely on many of its components. This Y-wrench covers the three nearly common sizes for things similar disc brake rotor, chainring, and stalk bolts, in an ergonomic grip that'due south comfortable and secure in the hand.
—Best Concatenation WEAR CHECKER—
Park CC-2
Know when it'south fourth dimension for a new chain.
There are cheaper chain checkers out there (in a pinch, you can even employ a ruler). We like the CC-ii because it'due south more than than a uncomplicated get/no-become tool. The clever swingarm gauge tells yous just how much your chain has worn, which is essential because eleven- and 12-speed drivetrains have a dissimilar wear life than 9- and 10-speed systems and demand to be replaced sooner. The CC-2 takes all the guesswork out of knowing when to supplant your chain to ensure almost reliable shifting and longest drivetrain life.
—BEST CABLE AND HOUSING CUTTERS—
Pedro'southward Cable and Housing Cutters
Make every cut the best cutting it can be.
We don't know if these high-quality cable cutters are actually fabricated past the well-regarded Swiss brand Felco. What we do know is that they're visually identical, and less expensive. They make sharp, clean cuts in everything from derailleur cables to compressionless cable housing, and even handles precise cuts on reinforced housing like the Yokozuna Reaction.
—Best CHAIN CLEANING Car—
Park CM five.2
Spinning brushes scrub links and rollers clean.
A dirty chain will impale your whole drivetrain, grinding grit into every part and eventually destroying shift quality. The simplest, near affordable way to make clean it is this ingenious little tool from Park. Just fill the reservoir with degreaser (or even just warm, soapy water), fasten effectually the chain and secure the elevation cap, and backpedal until the rotating brushes scrub your drivetrain make clean. Park even sells replacement castor heads and internals.
—Best DUAL RANGE TAPE MEASURE—
Stanley Tylon 8m Measuring Tape
See how your cycle measures upwards.
You can purchase a tape measure from a bike make, but this one from trusted toolmaker Stanley gets our vote because it's long enough (26 feet) for general household use too. It's marked in both Imperial and Metric dimensions, and the sturdy one-inch wide tape holds its shape when extended, so it'south ideal for measuring things like reach to the handlebar.
—All-time VALUE Concatenation WHIP—
Park HCW xvi.3
You lot tin't remove a cassette or fixie cog without one.
OK, we cheated a bit here. This isn't one tool, it'south 2. A concatenation whip is vital for removing cassettes and freewheels, and Park's updated HCW-xvi.3 features broader drivetrain compatibility, fitting narrow 12-speed cassettes the older HCW-xvi didn't. The 15mm pedal wrench on the other cease is a bonus for any pedal that has wrench flats only, without a hex head back.
—All-time BB AND CASSETTE TOOL—
Feedback Lesser Bracket + Lockring Tool
Ane side for external BB cups, the other for cassette and disc rotor lockrings.
Yet another twofer, this wrench features a lockring to fit common external bottom bracket cups on 1 end, and a cassette tool on the other with Shimano'southward almost-ubiquitous HG spline pattern, which is as well used on many Centerlock disc brake rotor fasteners. About the just thing it doesn't fit is Campagnolo cassettes. The high-quality cast-steel construction won't round or mar BB cups.
—BEST SHOP SHEARS—
Wiss
Snip it. Snip it good.
A set up of durable shop shears is the perfect affair for jobs similar trimming handlebar tape, frame protector armor, excess helmet strap, or any of a hundred other uses. These utility scissors feature a titanium blanket for long life and a large, ergonomic grip for comfortable, certain-handed control.
—Best VALUE Frock—
Park Shop Apron
Effortlessly transitions from cycle repair to BBQ.
I absent-minded-minded brush of a dirty manus and that make clean shirt y'all're wearing has bike grease on it. Avoid extra laundry duty (or buying new clothes) with a good store frock like this i from Park. It features full coverage in heavy duty poly-cotton twill to keep dirt and crud off you. Threeree large forepart pockets offer quick-access tool and function storage, and there'south a handy pen pocket at the left chest.
—Best CHAIN KEEPER—
Feedback Sports Concatenation Keeper
Lets you spin the cranks without a wheel installed for better cleaning.
This handy little particular replaces your rear cycle during maintenance to keep your chain from dragging over the frame and dissentious the paint. It's ideal for drivetrain cleaning every bit well, since information technology holds the chain in tension similar a cassette would. Durable aluminum construction and a long-wearing Delrin running surface promise years of service, and information technology's compatible with both conventional quick-release and 12mm through-axle dropouts.
—All-time TOOL Ever—
Pro Clean Basics White T-Shirt Cloth Rags
If you order one tool from this list, brand it this one.
Mayhap you've got enough old towels and t-shirts around that you don't need more, but if yous notice yourself running brusk, this eight-pound box of rag scraps is the ticket. The absorptive cotton comes from recycled t-shirts, so you can feel adept knowing they had a second life. The lint-free cotton works for everything from getting the gunk off that chain to terminal wipe-downwardly and detailing of frames and parts.
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Source: https://www.bicycling.com/repair/a20010732/best-bike-tools/
Posted by: mikelgrephersur.blogspot.com
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