A bike ride doesn’t need any perfect season or time. People ride bikes all the time, especially in the last few years; the number of people who ride bikes has increased. People started bike riding as a hobby or daily activity because of air pollution, Covid-19 (lockdown/ physical inactivity), and better health. Bike riding is fun, so never wait for a perfect time to take a bike ride. And with the increase of bike riders, there’s a high demand for people who repair and do the regular maintenance of these bikes.
If you plan to set up a bike repair workshop, you might as well have a few bike tools have a proper functional workshop. It is challenging to decide what tools to buy first and which one will be required more often. Buying everything (initially) is not a great way to set up your repair shop—understanding the requirements and testing the new tools requires more time.
What are the essential bicycle tools one must buy to do proper maintenance/repair work?
Before you read about the list, always consider your budget and cycling interest. Spending a lot on these tools is also not a great idea. Especially in the beginning, buy the necessary tools only. And if you are an amateur (in bike repairing), you can slowly collect all the required bike tools one at a time.
The essential tools for your bike repair workshop are:
This list will have a majority of standard servicing/maintenance equipment.
Hex Wrenches/Allen Keys
It must be the very first tool you buy for your workshop. The extra-long 1.5mm to 10, 9 piece box set is what people believe to be the best toolset. It is a popular set because it can help you repair almost all general issues/maintenance of bicycles. Hex wrenches are famous for being the complete repair set.
Tyre levers
Your bike tyres get rigid and tight sometimes, then what you need is the tyre levers. These levers easily slip underneath the tightest beads, and you can loosen them a bit.
Screwdrivers
The derailleurs and many brake systems need screwdrivers for proper maintenance. You’ll require screwdrivers for fixing many shifters and accessories as well. Screwdrivers are the fundamental tool for fixing many equipment and vehicles, so they are crucial for bike workshops.
Torx Keys (star keys)
The Torx heads have recently become a common tool for modern bikes. The star-shaped interface provides more surface area with a tool to avoid stripping. Its name comes from the six-pointed star-like shape, unlike six flat sides of hex keys.
It lets the rider drive the appropriate fasteners without requiring a separate power tool or screwdriver.
Chain Checker
A basic chain checker is a necessary item for a cyclist. Nowadays, a basic chain checker will save you money (in the long run). It is uncommon for chains to get dislocated or break during a ride, but having a chain checker is a plus point for your workshop.
Pedal Wrench
It is easy to buy a 6mm or 8mm hex wrench for most pedals. But, a decent pedal wrench is necessary for other systems (like Speedplay). While a 15mm spanner will work but, you’ll have to narrow the profile of a proper pedal wrench.
Never buy these items if there’s a sale or have huge discounts because they will be clearing out the old tools.
Utility Knife
You will never know when you require a knife for repairing a bike. Even though other tools can cut stuff while repairing, the utility knife is a multipurpose knife you can carry with you while going for long trips (on the bike).
Mallet
Sometimes, a hammer is required to complete servicing a bicycle, whether a sports bicycle or a standard one. This tool is for bending, flattening, joining, etc., of the metal parts of the bicycle.
These bike tools are essential for setting up your bike repair workshop.
Some other necessary tools are:
- Tape measures
- Torque wrenchOpen-end wrenches
- Scissors and side cutters
- Cable housing cutter
- Cone wrenches
- Needle nose pliers
- Spoke wrench
- Chainring nut wrench
- PLastic flush-cutters
