
You get
attached to bicycle tools after awhile. Take my Schwinn Approved combination
wrenches (you can see them on the bottom of my
toolbard). I purchased this set of metric wrenches in 1973 at my second
bike shop job, using the bicycle mechanic’s installment plan (the
boss takes money out of your weekly paychecks). It took me months to pay
for them.
Years later,
while working in another shop, I lost the 10-millimeter wrench and was
crushed that the set was now incomplete. That 10mm had turned thousands
of brake bolts. It was polished bright from years of use. In spots the
chrome plating had worn thin. I could pick it off the workbench by feel
alone.
I called the wrench company and purchased a replacement. But it wasn’t
the same; the design had changed. It depressed me. I lost hope. My wrench
set would forever be short.
Then an amazing thing happened. I was working on a story about Steve
Gravenites, a professional bicycle mechanic and master wheelbuilder.
When it came time for me to leave, Gravy said he had a gift for me, something
he “just had a feeling that I needed.” He handed me a Schwinn
Approved 10-mm— identical to the one I’d lost!
I can’t guarantee that you’ll become as attached to your bicycle
tools as I have to mine. But these are ten of the handiest hand tools
in my toolbox and, save for Shimano's one-off chain tool at the start,
I've provided a source for finding out more, and purchasing them for your
workshop.
For more on bike
tools, here are my bicycle tool lists for setting
up your home bike shop. And, here’s a list of tools
to take along on rides so you can fix common bike breakdowns and get
home. And, if you’re interested in setting up a great home bicycle
workshop, you need my $19.95 eBook, Your
Home Bicycle Workshop by Jim Langley.
1.
Shimano
Pro chain tool (click
for more details)
A good chain tool is essential for removing, installing and repairing
chains. You can get one for less than the cost of a decent lunch
that’ll do the job just fine. But Shimano's Pro chain tool
actually looks as nice on the kitchen table as on my workbench,
thanks to its rosewood handles. I received mine as a gift for
working as a volunteer for Shimano at the 1994
Mountain Bike World Championships in Vail, Colorado. Shortly
after, Shimano offered the tool to the public for about $150,
but it seems to be discontinued now. It's a nice tool that includes
a small carrying case. Replacement pins are stored in the bottom
of the handle. Park
Tool's CT-5 Mini Chain Brute Chain Tool
is a nice alternative that can be tucked in your seat bag for
use on rides and at home. |
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2.
Bondhus ball-head allen wrench screwdrivers
These allen wrenches have a screwdriver handle and a ball end,
which make it easy to drive allen screws home, even hard-to-reach
ones. A great use is installing water bottle-cage screws. The cage
blocks the use of conventional allens without repeatedly removing
and reinstalling the wrench. With a Bondhus, you simply spin the
shaft and thread in the screw in seconds. To get a set of the right
sizes for bicycle use, you need to buy them individually so you
may want to only purchase the sizes you use the most often in the
screwdriver style. Here's
a Bondhus L set at
a good value that has all the right sizes. |
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3.
Tapered hand reamer
This handy metalworking tool saves time and trouble for bicycle
repair as well as household jobs. Push this reamer into an undersize
hole (such as a brake-bolt hole in a fork) and turn it a few times
to enlarge the hole—no drilling required. It’s a great
gizmo for any toolbox and is much quicker than breaking out the
drill and selecting the right size bit. The General
Tools 130 T Handle Reamer
is a nice one. |
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4.
Small Vise Grip
When you need to hold something securely, such as a bolt with
a rounded head or a brake pad that needs shaping, there’s
no tool like a locking plier. Vise Grip makes the best. When you
adjust the jaws and close the handles, the tool grabs fast, allowing
you to work on the part with no slipping. Other uses for Vise Grips
include bending, squeezing and cutting things like spokes (most
models have jaws for this built in). This tool is a wonderful help
when you're fixing an old bike with rusted or worn parts and also
when metalworking. Every mechanic should have several. Start with
Irwin's
5WR-3 small Vise Grip
and purchase the larger model when needed. |
 |
5.
Park Tool 3-way hex wrench
Infinitely useful on today’s bikes, Park’s Y-shaped
hex wrench has a 4-, 5- and 6-mm allen at each end of the Y. With
one tool, you can work on almost every bolt on the bike. This saves
guessing which wrench to grab. Plus, the Y shape provides plenty
of leverage for tightening bolts that need some oomph, such as some
stem bolts. Here's
Park Tools' latest Y allen.
|
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6.
Handlebar stem and seat tube spreader
When you’re trying to get a handlebar in a one-piece stem
or seatpost in a frame, this tool is the ticket. Push the jaws into
the gap, squeeze the handles and voila: The stem or seat lug spreads,
allowing the part to slide into place. This prevents scratching
the part and avoids frustration. My spreader is made by Proto and
it is now available on
Amazon and called the Stanley Proto J250G Pliers
|
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7.
Park Tool
column cutting guides
Whether you’re cutting a seatpost, fork steerer tube or
handlebar, there’s nothing worse than hacking the end off
crooked and having to re-cut, or cutting it in the wrong place.
End all the hassles with a Park Tool saw guide. This device fits
in a bench vise. You place the tube through the tool and clamp the
tube in place by hand-threading a small knob. The knob presses a
nylon block onto the tube to hold the tube in place. To get a straight
cut every time, the tool has hardened guides for the hacksaw blade
to ride in. As long as you align the tube where you want to cut,
you’ll get a perfect cut every time with this precision tool . |
 |
8.
Park PW3 pedal wrench
Everyone
needs a good pedal wrench. It’s the only safe way to securely
tighten
pedals and remove them. (Because the right pedal is close to
the chainring and its sharp teeth, it’s unwise to use and
push hard on flimsy wrenches.) Park's
sturdy pedal wrench
has great jaws in 15mm and 9/16-inch sizes (the most common), and
a comfortable long handle that provides ample leverage. A good safety
tip is to always shift onto the large chainring before attempting
to unscrew the right pedal. With the teeth covered, you’ll
be less likely to cut yourself should the pedal wrench slip. |
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9.
Dualco Lubrigun
It's
always best to clean and regrease used and abused components. But
on some bikes, parts may only need regreasing. With this Dualco
Grease Gun with needle nozzle ,
you can squeeze grease in without disassembling or cleaning the
part, which saves time. It also means the part can be lubed more
often, so you don’t have to overhaul it as frequently. The
gun is also mandatory for components with grease fittings. |
 |
10.
Ring spoke wrench
It’s true you can damage wheels by incorrectly using this
round tool with multiple slots. You must match the proper slot to
the spoke nipple you plan to turn to true
the wheel. But it just takes patience to get this right every
time. Plus, this
versatile tool
fits 8 different spoke-nipple sizes, so you don’t need to
buy a bunch of one-slot spoke wrenches to always have the one you
need. |
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