While nothing can replace a good bike mechanic, there’s a lot of regular maintenance and bike repair you can do yourself at home. If you’re just getting started, however, it can be daunting to know what you really need.
Bikes are weird because there are a lot of specialized tools for working on them—especially for some of the more niche parts. And since those tools are very specific, they’re also costly. The good news is you don’t have to spend a ton of money to do most of what your bike needs on the regular. Here’s everything you need—from tools to lubes—to make sure your bike always runs like a top.
Tools: The Necessities
When it comes to bike maintenance, there are a few tools you really need to have. Others might not be absolute musts, but we’ll get to those in a bit. For now, let’s look at the stuff you’ll definitely want.
A Work Stand
If you’ve ever tried working on your bike while it’s on the ground, you know what an absolute pain that can be. To properly work on your rig, you need the proper setup. You need it to be at eye-level, stable, and able to spin freely. For that, you need a work stand.
There’s a slew of stands available at varying price points. And, like with most things, you get what you pay for. Here are a few you might want to check out:
- Bikehand Pro Mechanic Stand ($90): If you’re just getting started, you can opt for something affordable like this. It should cover all your basic needs, although cheaper stands aren’t stable with heavier bikes. If your bike weighs more than 25 pounds or so, this might not be the best choice.
- Park Tool PSC-9 Home Mechanic Stand ($140): Park Tool is one of the top names in bike repair, and its products are always top-notch. This is the most basic repair stand it makes, though. You have to shell out a bit more to get something more robust.
- Feedback Sports Pro Elite Repair Stand ($230): If you’re looking for a more robust stand, I can’t recommend this stand enough. It’s incredibly stable, can handle nearly any bike, and folds up to be pretty compact for easy transport. I’ve used this stand for at least three years for routine maintenance on my bikes, and it’s been rock-solid the entire time.
Now that you have your bike in a good position to work on, you need some tools to get the job done.
Hex Keys and Torque Wrenches
Most of the parts on a bike use hex head screws, so you need a good set of hex keys to keep everything tightened. There’s a good chance you already have a set around the house you can use.
If you don’t, however, here are a few options to get you started:
- TEKTON Long Arm Hex Keys ($10): This is about as basic as a set of hex keys gets, and it’s all you should need for most applications.
- Park Tool PH-1.2 P-Handled Hex Wrenches ($75): If you want something more premium, the PH-1.2 is where it’s at. They’re pricey, but they feature a more robust design than a basic set. And you can use the ball end like a T-style wrench.
- Park Tool AWS-3 3-Way Hex Wrench ($11.50): For the most basic of tasks, it’s helpful to have a simple three-way hex wrench around, as well. The ergonomic grip makes it faster and easier to use than a regular hex key. This is my go-to wrench for common tweaks to areas like the stem and seat post binder. Note there are two versions of the AWS-3: one with smaller 2, 2.5, and 3 heads; and one with later 4, 5, and 6 sizes. You want the latter for most tasks.
I also recommend investing in a torque wrench. Nearly every bolt on a bicycle has a torque rating (that is, how tight each bolt should be cranked down). If you miss that sweet spot, it could be detrimental to both the components and you. If you don’t torque it down enough, you risk slippage; get it too tight, and you risk damaging crucial components or expensive parts.
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Source : Everything You Need for Home Bicycle Maintenance and Repair
