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Gears & Gadgets:  What Should be in Your Toolbox?

Gears & Gadgets:  What Should be in Your Toolbox?

As I write this article, I am three days away from shoulder surgery and looking at a six-month recovery, including six weeks in a sling.  Needless to say, I have a bit more time on my hands for doing nothing, both at work and at home.  I realized (after a nudge from Maureen) that it’s been a while since the last installment of Gears and Gadgets

I’ve been pondering what to write about for the last week, as I sit behind a desk entering department training data into a computer…

Then it dawned on me.  I’ve talked about how to make repairs to your bicycle, but I haven’t really touched on what tools you should have to make those repairs.  Our departments give us many tools to do our job effectively.  It’s all about having the right tool for the job.

The world of bike repair is no different.  Having the right tools in your toolbox is essential.  There are some basic “must-haves” that every bike mechanic should own, and then there are some tools that are more “exotic” and only needed on rare occasion.

Before I list the actual tools, the most important thing to have in your “tool box” is being in good standing with your local bike shop (LBS).  If you are in the good graces of the staff at your LBS, they will take very good care of you, both in terms of service and product discounts.  Stop in once in a while just to see how things are going and chat with all the employees.  Share some war stories with them, or offer to take them on a ride-along.  Bring them a box of donuts, some coffee, or even a six-pack of beer; these small gestures go a long way towards building a good relationship.

Here is a list of essential tools that you should own before you attempt any bike repairs.  The tools listed here can generally be purchased individually, or as part of a full tool kit from any reputable bike tool manufacturer such as Park Tool, Pedro’s, or Spin Doctor.  There are plenty of brands out there to choose from, so check your local bike shop to see what they carry.

  • Workstand – these come in various styles.  You can get a fixed-floor standing model or a portable one.  If space is an issue, I recommend the portable type.  Fixed stands are more stable, but I’ve never had any real issue working with our Park portable bike stands.  I would avoid a bolt-on, bench-mount stand.  I used one for a short time and found it was difficult to work on some parts of the bike.
  • Pedal wrench
  • Allen wrenches in metric sizes from 2mm – 10mm.  These can be a traditional L shaped wrench or a T-handle.  Both have their benefits, and it would be a good idea to have both styles in your tool box. 
  • Three-way allen wrenches.  These typically come in 2, 2.5, 3mm and 4, 5, 6mm.  Use of a three-way wrench allows you better control and torque when making adjustments.
  • Bottom bracket tools – there are various types of bottom brackets, and they all have a different tool for installation and removal.  It’s essential that you have the correct tool for any type of bottom bracket you might work on. 
  • Open end wrenches in metric sizes from 5mm-19mm.  Essential sizes are 13-17mm, as these are the most common sizes used to adjust hubs. 
  • Cone wrenches from 13-18mm
  • Axle and spindle vice tool – you need this to hold your wheel if you are making any kind of hub adjustments.
  • Crank pullers for both square taper and splined cranks if you still use this technology
  • Wire cutters, needle nose pliers, channel lock pliers
  • Cable housing cutter – this is not just a general pair of wire cutters.  Having a good quality cable housing cutter is essential when installing new cables and housing.
  • Chain whip or chain whip wrench – for removing a cassette
  • Cassette lock-ring tool
  • Chain tool – for removing and installing a chain
  • Spoke wrenches
  • Disc truing tool (if you have disc brakes) – you can also use a crescent wrench for this.
  • Derailleur Hanger alignment tool – most bikes have removable derailleur hangers so you can replace them if they get bent or broken.  But having this tool will help make sure things are exactly where they need to be for clean, crisp shifting.
  • Steel core tire levers – you’ll break the cheap plastic ones if you are constantly using them. 
  • Torx wrench set – most bikes manufactured in the last few years have Torx bolts in various locations.
  • Good quality torque wrench that measures in/lb, ft/lb, and Nm.  You would be surprised how easy it is to over-tighten bolts, often resulting in failed components.  I recommend having two torque wrenches, one for low-torque applications and one for high torque applications.  Most torque wrenches don’t have the range of adjustment necessary for both.
  • Set of screw drivers (both flat head and Phillips)
  • Brush set for cleaning (various sizes of soft-bristle brushes)
  • Lots of shop rags
  • High volume floor pump
  • High quality bicycle specific grease and lubricants – white lithium grease is good for general uses, but I recommend a high-quality bicycle grease from a manufacturer such as Park Tool or Phil Wood.  Pick a good chain lubricant based on your riding style and weather; ask your LBS what they recommend for your area.

There are other tools that are worth having if it is in your budget to purchase them, and you have the knowledge to use them properly.  Depending on the age and technology of your bike fleet, some additional tools may become a necessity as well. 

  • Wheel truing stand – very important if you are constantly rough on your wheels.  However, truing a wheel can be difficult to learn and master without a lot of practice.  There are a lot of ways you can screw up a wheel if you don’t know what you’re doing.  A decent truing stand can also run several hundred dollars, so it may be worth it to have your LBS take care of these repairs.
  • Tap and die set – good to have for stripped bolts.  On our old 2005 Trek police bikes, we have had a number of stripped bolts where the racks install to the frame.  A tap and die set is essential to making these repairs.  They aren’t generally too expensive, depending on the brand and size of the set.  Learning how to use these tools is not terribly difficult either.
  • Bearing/headset press – this is essential for the proper installation of any press fit bearings.  It’s also necessary for proper headset installation.  However, unless you are working on a large fleet of bikes and constantly replacing bearings or cups, it’s generally better to have your LBS take care of these issues. 
  • Headset/bearing removal tool – just like the press, you probably only need this if you do a lot of this sort of work.  This tool is fairly inexpensive, but what’s the point in removing a bearing or headset if you don’t have a way to put a new one back in?
  • Frame alignment tools – again, something that you would need to have some good working knowledge of to use.  Even your LBS probably doesn’t use these very often, as they are only used to straighten out your bike frame in the event of a crash.  Often times, frames end up with cracks and other catastrophic damage as a result of such incidents. 
  • Air compressor – good to have if you have a large fleet of bikes that doesn’t get used often.  Makes topping off the tires much quicker.  Air compressors are also a necessity if you are running any type of tubeless tire setup. 

Not everyone has a strong mechanical aptitude, so know your personal limits.  If you are interested in learning to work on bikes, keep an eye out for the next IPMBA Maintenance Officer Course.  If you are unable to attend, and in good standing with your LBS, see if you can hang out for an afternoon or two and pick up some knowledge on bike repair.

Time to be ready for a long recovery…now where did I put that complete series of Pacific Blue on DVD?

About the author:  Jared is currently a Police Patrol Officer for the Tacoma Police Department.  He loves to tinker, and can often be found obsessing of the mechanical state of his bicycles.  Jared is the owner and operator of Piggies On Wheels, LLC, which exists for the purpose of public safety bicycle education.  To learn more, go to https://www.facebook.com/PiggiesOnWheels.

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