Bicycle Repair Tools

Bicycles are extremely reliable vehicles that require little maintenance. When properly maintained, breakdowns are rare. When a mechanical failure does occur, bicycles can usually be repaired quickly and easily with a few basic tools. Here we will look at the basic bicycle repair tools riders should have with them when out on a ride.

First, lets point out the difference between a maintenance tool kit and a repair tool kit. Full sized tools are best for doing maintenance on your bicycle. The size, weight and space requirements of your tools are not an issue when you're at home, with all the space and time you need to work on your bike. It's a completely different situation while out on the road or trail. When something is out of adjustment or a mechanical failure happens, you could be left stranded if you are not properly prepared. Bicycle repair tools are smaller versions of the full sized tools you keep at home, making them easy to carry in your saddle bag or hydration pack.

A simple bike repair tool kit would include: a spare tire, a tire patch kit, a few tire levers, a pump or Co2 inflator, and a multi tool. That's it! Bicycles are so well engineered these days, it can be surprising how few items are really needed to take care of the unexpected breakdown. However, it can still be difficult to find middle ground between not carrying a lot of useless items and carrying just what you need.

The bicycle multi tool is the Swiss Army Knife of bike repair tools and is something every rider should have in their repair kit. Multi tools have a selection of individual tools in different sizes. They all fold neatly into one convenient, small, easy to carry package. These tools would include a mixture of Allen wrenches, Torx wrenches, spoke wrenches, screw drivers, a chain tool.

Know that no single bike multi tool will ever have exactly the tools you need. If it does, it will have lots more that you don't need. As most hydration packs and saddle bags have limited storage space, it's worth taking a little time and putting some thought into familiarizing yourself with your bike, the parts it has and the type of riding you plan on doing. Below is a list of items that you will see included in multi tools, and what they are used for. Look over this list and your bike to help you find the right tool to carry with you.

• 2 mm - brake centering
• 4 mm - stem
• 5 mm - seat post, saddle, headset, racks, fenders, water bottle mounts, cable anchor bolts, shifter mounts
• 6 mm - brake mounting bolts, threadless stems
• T-25 - disc brakes rotor bolts
• Spoke wrench - tightening loose spokes
• Chain tool - fixing broken chains
• Small flat head and/or Phillips screwdriver - brake tension adjuster, derailleur limit screws, computer and light mounting brackets

Remember that doing proper maintenance at home will keep field adjustments and having to deal with the "unexpected" breakdowns to a minimum. For that reason, you shouldn't need a multi tool of the "kitchen sink" variety. With a well maintained bicycle, a very simple multi tool should take care of whatever happens on your ride. This multi tool would include 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm Allen wrenches, a Phillips and/or flat head screwdriver, and if you have disc brakes, a T-25 Torx. An accessory like this is small, light weight, and inexpensive leaving no excuse for not having and carrying one with you on rides.

Bike multi tools are a collection of small tools, in a convenient, compact, and easy to carry package. Selecting the one that is right for you is easy once you know what you need. What is the best bicycle tool kit? With all the options there are to choose from, you would think that picking the best one would be hard to do. In reality, it's much simpler than that. The best bicycle repair tools are the ones you remembered to pack and take with you! Chances are you will rarely use them on a ride. But, being prepared is always the best way to roll.