Tools Every Cyclist Should Have
Working on you own bike is pretty much a requirement if you really want to be Big Ring. For the most part working on a bike is not rocket surgery but, just as you wouldn’t eat a fine Filet Mignon with a plastic kinfe and fork you shouldn’t work on your sweet ass, sex on wheels, carbon wonder bike with a multi tool and pliers.
Chain Cleaner
Your drivetrain is the heart and soul of your bike. Treat it right and it will treat you like a god, treat it wrong and it will treat you like the Shamwow guys treats a hooker. Not pretty. Anyway go out and get yourself the best chain cleaner you can find. I use a Pedro’s Chain Machine Kit and like most things from Pedro’s it work very well. Seriously, if you only do one thing to maintain your whip then clean and lube your chain.
Tourqe Wrench
Do you have a carbon frame, seat post or bar? If the answer is yes then you need a tourge wrench. I am a big guy (6′7″ 195lbs) and a little paranoid about my bars breaking (so far, so good). For years I saw the torque rating on my stems and seat bonders and figured “I have been wrenching long enough to know how to tighten a bolt”. A few weeks ago I bought a Pedro’s Mini Torque Wrench and went to checking the bolts on my bikes. I was amazed that every single bolt on every bike was way too tight. A bike rep buddy of mine told me every single “Just Riding Along” carbon part failure in his line that is sent in for warrantee is due to over tightening. Think about that next time you are descending a canyon at 50mph.
Quality Hex Keys
Multi tools are great for trail side repairs and adjustments. They have saved me from more than a few long walks home. As good as they are for their intended purpose they can make an easy home job like installing a bottle cage a real test of will. Get yourself the real deal. Again look to Pedro. The 9 Piece T-Handle Hex set is the height of cool in my book. I use these so much the ridges on the handles are smooth on my 5mm. The kit even comes with a Torx wrench for the rare occasion that you need to mess with say a brake rotor on your MTB.
Work Stand
Right about the time I started riding, I lied my way into a job at a bike shop. We had those bad ass Park Stands mounted to the 5 ton steel plate. You could hang an engine block from one of those and it wouldn’t budge. Soon after making the dubious decision to get a “real job” I learned what a handicap not having a work stand is. Any guesses what my 1st paycheck bought?
6 Responses to “Tools Every Cyclist Should Have”
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I would say a pump is probably number 1, although I left mine in St. George at boot camp in January and have survived without since.
could you please recommend some torque wrenches?
thanks
The Pedros wrench I referenced in the article is the only one I have used.
You forgot to mention ‘a Slayer CD’.
Forgive me Stevil for I have sinned….
thanks Rev