Bicycle Tools Every Cyclist Should Own: A Complete Buying Guide

Hey there, cyclists and bike mechanics! Are you ready to dive into the amazing world of bicycle tools? Today, we're exploring everything you need from your essential bicycle tools.

We will discuss why having a set of bicycle tools is like having a superpower for your bike. Plus, we're going to explore the essential 8 bike tools every cyclist should have in their toolbox.

From fixing flats to fine-tuning your ride, these tools are your secret weapons when things get wobbly on your bike.

So, hold on tight! Let's roll into the exciting world of bicycle tools!

Why It's Important to Have a Set of Bicycle Tools?

A lot of people might think they don't need bike tools. They think they can just hit up the bike shop when things go wrong. But guess what? That can burn a hole in your pocket and eat up tons of time. Think about it – having your own bike tools can save you a bunch of money and hassle!

Saving Money

Having your bike tools can help you save a bunch of cash in the long run. Instead of always running to the bike shop for every little thing, you can be your bike wizard! Imagine this: fixing a flat tire, tweaking those brakes, or making your gears run smoother, all by yourself. That means there is no need for frequent trips to the bike shop, which keeps your wallet happy.

Stay Ready for Anything

Bicycle tools allow you to handle unexpected repairs or adjustments while on a ride. Imagine you're out on your bike. And something doesn't feel quite right – like a loose bolt or your seat needs a little shift. If these trusty tools are right by your side, you can fix these small things super quickly! And here's the cool part - if something unexpected happens while you're cruising, like a wonky chain or a loose part, you're all set to tackle it with your bike tools. There is no need to stress because you'll know how to make snappy adjustments and keep on pedaling through your adventure.

Regular Maintenance

Bike tools are essential for routine maintenance. Doing regular checks and fixes, like inflating tires, lubing the chain, and tuning up brakes with bicycle tools. It is what keeps our bikes running smoothly and safely.

Did you know that looking after our bikes with these tools can make them last longer? Yup, it's like giving our bikes a special kind of superpower! Simple things like cleaning our bikes and ensuring our tires have the correct pressure. These steps can prevent them from wearing out too soon. Using these bike tools for routine check-ups and tweaks might seem small. But they can make a big difference in your riding.

In summary, having a complete set of bicycle tools is crucial for routine maintenance and emergency repairs. It can enable you to be self-reliant and prepared for any situation while riding.

8 Essential Bike Tools Every Cyclist Should Own

Bike tools are like a secret arsenal for every cyclist. It empowers them to conquer any road bumps that come their way. From tire levers that effortlessly fix flat tires to the trusty pump ensuring tires are always at the perfect pressure, these tools are a cyclist's best buddies. Let's dive into these essential bike tools.

Repair Stand:

It may be the most expensive tool on the list. However, if you have a work stand, it can make your life so much easier when it comes to working on your bikes.

A bike repair stand is like having your own bike workshop at home. It holds your bike up so you can quickly work on it without bending over or juggling your wheels. It’s perfect for giving your bike a tune-up, fixing parts, or cleaning it without the bike tipping over. This makes every task, from quick inspections to more advanced maintenance, infinitely more manageable.

Tire Levers

These small, plastic or metal tools are used to pry the tire off the rim when fixing a flat tire. Tire levers prevent damage to the tire or rim while making the removal process much easier, especially when dealing with tight tires.

Pump

A bicycle pump is vital for keeping tires properly inflated. Different pumps are available, such as floor pumps for home use and portable hand pumps or CO2 inflators for on-the-go tire inflation. It's important to choose a pump that matches your bike's valve type. There are Schrader and Presta in the market. (many pumps have dual-sided heads compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves).

And I recommend getting a pump with a built-in tire pressure gauge. It not only can see how much pressure you have added, but it can last for many years.

Hex Keys (Allen Keys)

Hex keys, also known as Allen keys. It comes in various sizes and is used for tightening or adjusting different components on your bike. Most bikes use a vast amount of Allen Keys. And a good set of ballpoint Allen keys goes a really long way when it comes to repairs. They are especially useful for adjusting brakes, derailleurs, and other parts that use hex bolts.

Pedal Wrench

It is designed for removing and installing pedals. A pedal wrench has a long handle and a thin profile that fits into the narrow space between the pedal and the crank. This tool is crucial for servicing or replacing pedals.

Cable Cutter

Have you ever tried snipping bike cables with regular cutters? It probably didn't go so well, right? If you’ve ever tried (and probably failed) to cut bike cables or housing with regular wire cutters, then you’ll know why you need cutters designed specifically for tackling steel bike cables and housing.

A cable cutter is a tool specifically designed to cut cables, wires, and housing found on bicycles. It is an excellent choice to cut brake cables.

Disc Brake Pads Alignment Tool

It is a common occurrence that your brake pads become misaligned. Any form of impact while riding can cause the pads to rub or the rotor to make that awful sound. This reduces the disc brake pad's product life and the braking effectiveness. That's where an excellent tool comes in handy. It helps set your brake pads and rotor in the perfect spot in your brake caliper, making your brakes work awesome and giving you a smoother ride.

Alignment Tool Image-Corki Cycles When your brake pads and rotor are lined up just right, your bike stops better and rides smoother. This simple tool makes fixing your brakes easy and helps get your bike set up faster. If you're unsure how to use it, check out our other article, How to Use a Rotor Disc Alignment Tool: A Detailed Guide. It's all about getting your brakes working like a charm!

Cassette Removal Tool and Chain Whip

A bike cassette free-wheel chain tool kit is an essential set for bicycle enthusiasts and those who enjoy performing bike maintenance. It's a bunch of special tools that help you fix and take care of essential parts of your bike, like the gears and the chain. Together, the Cassette Tool and Chain Whip are a pair—working hand in hand—especially when you need to remove or install the rear cassette. Without the Chain Whip, turning the Cassette Tool may cause the cassette to rotate, making it difficult to loosen or tighten the lockring.

Cassette Removal Tool Image-Corki Cycles

These tools are essential for performing maintenance on the rear cassette. It can ensure smooth gear changes and optimal performance on the bike. Although you might not think you will need these often, you will find removing and replacing the cassette quickly with these tools. Having a cassette removal tool and chain whip makes various jobs possible.

Conclusion

All right, that’s a wrap on our tour through the fantastic world of bicycle tools!

Remember, keeping your bikes in tip-top shape isn’t just about repairs; it’s about giving them a long and happy life. Regular TLC using these bike tools is like giving our bikes a secret power-up, making sure they last longer and ride smoother.

Now, it's your turn to gear up, get those tools, and start your very own bike mechanic journey. Ride on and keep those wheels spinning!

If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.

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Perfect love it

Excellent service on time delivery

Would definitely by from Corki cycles again

If you value your bike, you need this.

I travel far on an overloaded cargo bicycle, and for the first ~50,000 miles, its stem cap was an electronic analog clock, which is to say, I’m old enough to still be an analog guy. But that clock quit working about 15,000 miles ago, because I travel in all four seasons through all varieties of weather, and — who knew? — electronic analog bike-stem clocks don’t like getting wet.

I’d been meaning to replace it, but I’d gotten used to having a stem cap that wasn’t just a stem cap, you know. So I was searching for another sacrificial electronic analog stem clock — the old one lasted years, after all — when I noticed this option, and it too is more than a stem cap. But this one serves a function I need a lot more than an analog clock. After all, there’s a bike computer on the handlebars, and it shows the current time in digits, plus much more, and I’ve also got a watch on my wrist.

But an AirTag secured in a weather-proof housing to the stem of my bike? Yeah, that I need.

Installation was as easy as the old analog clock, which I had to remove annually to replace its button battery. The AirTag even uses the same ubiquitous 2032 battery, and I always have a few of those in my backpack. Apple says the battery can last up to the same full year in the AirTag, so all that will have changed for me is that I’ll no longer be staring at an analog clock that’s only right twice a day.

This AirTag stem mount is deceptively simple — just three parts: (1) The base that accepts the included (2) countersink bolt and is capped by a threaded, well, (3) cap. I could have machined the two housing halves from Delrin using a lathe, but that would have taken a full day of trial and error, would cost me almost as much in material, and I’d end up with something not nearly as refined as this inexpensive, off-the-shelf, purpose-designed solution.

Is it indeed weather proof? I haven’t tested that aspect, but I suspect, yes, it is. The threads that join the two halves are exquisitely fine and mate perfectly. The male threads are on the base so are covered, thus shielded, by the female threads when in place, which forms an effective drip ledge. Sure, water would eventually get in if it was submerged, but if the bike and I go under, I’ve got bigger problems than a dead AirTag. But rain? Yeah, that’s not getting in.

How does it look on the bike? Kind of great, actually, as stem caps go. But I doubt you’d notice it, because its color matches the black spacers underneath. And that’s the point. If I need that AirTag, it won’t be because I forgot where I parked the bike. Okay, someday that might be the case, but today, it’ll be because some rat-so-and-so stole my bike, and if that happens, I’d prefer they not notice the stem cap sporting an AirTag. At least until the police and I get there and show them how we found them.

If you value your bike and its stem accepts this style of cap — and you do, and it does — you need this. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, I’ve hidden a second AirTag on the bike, but I’m not going to share where.

Hope this helps. Clear skies!

Rock solid and lighter than expected

My wife's MTB really needed a bottle cage, but her bike's frame has a design where all of the other cages we had wouldn't work: we needed a side-entry cage. A lot of modern mountain bikes have smaller frame triangles, so I suspect we weren't alone with this issue.

Enter this side-entry cage. It's been great so far! Right hand entry works great with all of our standard bottles. I thought the aluminum construction would be great for durability, but I was worried it would be heavier... a relatively unfounded concern in the end, as the cage felt hardly heavier than plastic cages, and is still lighter than some other old-school cages we have on other bikes.

Replace her cheap plastic holders with these nice metal blue frame holders

We had some cheaper plastic bottle holders that worked just fine but we wanted something better and matched the paint job on our e-Bikes.

These holders are very lightweight and look fantastic. Don't fret at first if they seem too tight on your bottles. All we had to do was bend them open a little bit to the tightness that was perfect on the bottle, allowing us to pull the bottle and reinsert it with no problem yet keeping it from grip on the bottle.

Definitely happy with these bottle holders.

Bicycle Tools Every Cyclist Should Own: A Complete Buying Guide