Road Bike Maintenance

Bicycle Maintenance and Supplies

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Repair stand:  While it is possible for you to  work on bicycles when they are propped on the floor or suspended from a rafter or beam but, once you've used a repair stand you'll wonder how you ever lived without one.  It raises the bike so you can inspect each of the parts up close and without throwing your back out while you are working on them.  It makes it so much easier to spin the wheels, brake, and shift to check adjustments.  Some stands are even portable, that means you can easily take it with you to double-check your bike before the start of the ride.  Note: Most bumper/hitch car bicycle racks work well as a quick substitute for a repair stand in a pinch.

Workbench or counter:  An ideal place to lay out your tools and that special part that you are working on.

Vise:  To hold onto things so that you can use both hands to work on it.  Note: A vise is best placed if it is firmly attached to the workbench so you can pound and pull at the part without the vise losing its grip or moving.

Apron:  The purpose of an apron is to protect your clothes.  Most aprons have pockets, which allows you to stash commonly used tools so they are within easy reach for more efficient wrenching.  Note: When you're searching for that "missing" tool, don’t forget to check your apron pockets preferably first.

Rubber gloves:  Even though bicycle repair isn't as dirty as automobile work, it's still wise to protect your hands from lubricants, solvents, scrapes and other abuse you run into.

Goggles:  Eye protection is a must in every workshop.

Lubricants:  Keep some drip or spray lube, and grease easily accessible.

Thread adhesives:  Helps secure parts so they can’t loosen up.

Anti-Seize:  Prevents pieces from rusting together.

Solvents:  For degreasing/cleaning all those bicycle parts.  Note: Biodegradable ones, like Simple Green are highly recommended.

Alcohol:  Excellent for cleaning rims and brake pads, and very good for installing handlebar grips.

Rags:  You can never have too many.

Hand cleaner:  This cuts grease faster than any soap and may could even contain lanolin to be nice to your skin.

Zip-ties:  Always handy for attaching lots of things.

Chain-cleaning kit:  A plastic case with stiff brushes inside that you fill up with solvent and clip it onto the chain.  Then manually pedaling, makes the brushes scrub the chain clean. Note: Some people chose to take their chains off for cleaning or to simply clean them by hand with a rag that has solvent on it.

Regular Hand Tools:

  1. Small and medium regular screwdrivers
  2. Small and medium Phillips screwdrivers
  3. Combination wrench set including 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17mm wrenches
  4. Regular pliers
  5. Needle-nose pliers
  6. Plumbers' (also called "waterpump") pliers
  7. Awl
  8. Hacksaw
  9. Metal punches and chisels
  10. Diagonal cutters
  11. 6-inch adjustable wrench
  12. 12-inch adjustable wrench
  13. Outside/inside caliper
  14. Small and medium Vise-Grip pliers
  15. Plastic or rubber mallet
  16. Course and fine file (flat and half-round)
  17. Ballpeen hammer (8-ounce size is about right)
  18. Knife
  19. Scissors

Specialty Bike Tools:

  • 8, 9, 10mm "Y" tool
  • Allen wrench set comprised of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10mm wrenches
  • 4, 5, 6mm combination Allen wrench or folding Allen wrench set
  • Metric/English tape measure
  • Floor pump with gauge
  • Truing stand  Note:  With this you can true wheels in the frame and fork.
  • 2 each: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18mm cone wrenches
  • Chain tool (compatible with your chain)
  • Chain whip
  • Chainring bolt wrench
  • Cable cutter
  • Spoke wrench (to fit your spoke nipples)
  • Pedal wrench
  • Axle vise
  • Crankarm removal tools
  • Adjustable bottom-bracket tools
  • Cartridge bottom-bracket tools
  • 3 tire levers
  • Dishing tool
  • Cassette lockring remover
  • Threaded-headset wrenches
  • Torque wrench
  • Torx hex wrenches
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