LCP

11 tools every home bike mechanic should own

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Jon Woodhouse's picture

Jon Woodhouse

Jon was previously the editor here at off.road.cc. Whether it's big days out on the gravel bike or hurtling down technical singletracks, if it's got two wheels and can be ridden on dirt, then he's into it. He's previously been technical editor at BikeRadar.com, editor at What Mountain Bike Magazine and also web editor at Singletrackworld.co.uk. Yes, he's been around the houses.

8 comments

2 years 2 months ago

ktache wrote:

 

What I wish I had obtained/known about many years ago would be a JIS pattern screwdriver, big fan of Shimano me.  Only £10, sent from Japan too.  Don't need it much but so satisfying when I have used it.  

Completely agree on this - I got one from Vessel for adjusting the free stroke on my Deore XT brake levers. Indispensible, everything else I tried threatened to round off those screws. Highly satisfying and precise to use on limit screws too.

2 years 6 months ago

Mmmmm, Are you sure? 

Does EVERY home mechanic need a brake bleed kit if they dont own a disc brake bike? 

I would also suggest that a hanger alignment tool is hardly a critical piece of equipmement. If a hanger is bent I will always prefer to just replace it as as soon as possible. 

Things I would say are absoloutely critical to own are 

1. Chain wear indicator - Chain wear can cause premature wear on other components not jus the chain. 

2. telescopic magnet - So useful for threading internal cables and finding bolts that may have dropped inside a frame. 

3. Spoke Keys - Many a wobble in a wheel can be remedied with a loose spoke being nipped up

4. Chain whip/Cassette removal tool should be high on everyones list even if you are only cleaning and lubing your won bike. 

 

2 years 6 months ago

ALWAYS know where your 5mm hex-head / allen key is!

3 years 6 months ago

srchar wrote:

 

I'd like to see an article called "homemade alternatives to expensive shop tools" featuring lengths of threaded bar, large diameter washers, steel tube and copper pipe.

 

I've found that the best third hand tool is a hand, supplied by a human. And a couple of bike shop display stands in lieu of a full workstand is enough for most work. 

3 years 6 months ago

hawkinspeter wrote:

 

I think you missed a few.

A chain breaker and a cassette remover/chain whip would probably get a lot more use than a headset bearing tool or derailleur tool.

 

And if you're getting a whip, this is the best solution that doesn't involve a lump of chain and a big handle which inevitably slips and either skins your knuckles or chips the paint on the chainstay. It's an absolute bargain at the price

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-whip-cassette-remover-id_8309913.html

 

4 years 2 weeks ago

I'd like to see an article called "homemade alternatives to expensive shop tools" featuring lengths of threaded bar, large diameter washers, steel tube and copper pipe.

4 years 2 weeks ago

Good tyre levers, a bottom bracket spanner/tool (if you have a threaded one) is very handy.  Totally agree with HP, the headset press and derailleur alignment tool are LBS jobs, same as wheel trueing and building, you can get and do these things. but they all lie to the more extreeme end of home mechaniching.

What I wish I had obtained/known about many years ago would be a JIS pattern screwdriver, big fan of Shimano me.  Only £10, sent from Japan too.  Don't need it much but so satisfying when I have used it.  

hawkinspeter's picture
4 years 2 weeks ago

I think you missed a few.

A chain breaker and a cassette remover/chain whip would probably get a lot more use than a headset bearing tool or derailleur tool.