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Five must-have bike tools for your shop
Whether you are a regular home wrencher or are the type who fixes your own emergencies and then leaves the tough stuff for the pros, there are certain bike tools you just can’t live without. Favored tools differ from person to person, of course, and the things in your toolbox will depend on the type of riding you do and how much work you do on your own bike.
So I figured it might make an interesting story to discuss the five tools that I couldn’t go without in my shop. These are the tools I use the most and, with a fleet of 10 bikes between myself (7), my wife (2) and my son (1), plus the regular arrival of test bikes through my job at Pedal Magazine, my tools are put to good use.
Since my riding focus typically falls on the cross country racing and road riding side of things, you’ll notice that weight-weenie side of me in my tools. But after your read my list, please feel free to post your own list of most-used shop tools.
5. Bottom Bracket tools
Not exactly my most-used tools, but certainly among the most important. Where other tools are often used for applications outside of working on bikes, the tools used for installing and removing bottom brackets and cranksets are completely useless for anything else. The problem though is they’re incredibly important to have. You might not use them very often, but there are a half dozen or so different types of bottom brackets styles out there.
It seemed like I went through a stretch a few years ago where I was having to buy a new BB tool every few months. The old ISIS style BBs varied slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer, meaning you needed to have a pile of tools to essentially do the same thing. You could take your bike to a shop to have them remove / install the BB, but considering most will charge you $10-$15 to do so, it’s worth it to spend $20 or so on a tool you can use down the road.
And, thankfully, the new external bearing-style of bottom brackets means there are fewer tools needed, but some of the cups still require a different tool depending on what company you’ve gone with.
4. Park Tool tire tool
This is the latest addition to my collection of tools, but I certainly wish I had found it earlier. The Park Tool TL-10 Shop Tire Tool is hands down the best tire lever you’ll ever own. Now before you get the wrong idea, this isn’t a tire lever you could throw in the back of your jersey in case you get a flat on a ride – it is, after all, more than a foot and a half long.
The tire tool connects to your hub with the quick release in place and then uses a massive plastic lever to easily pull a tire off a rim. To remount a tire, flip the lever over, lock it in place and it helps slide even tough-to-mount tires back on the rim. It will save your knuckles from punishment, save you time and save you the cost of broken tire levers (and trust me I’ve broken many of them over the years).
3. Hex wrench set
If you own a bike, you need to own some sort of hex wrench (or Allen key) set. Nearly every component on a bike – regardless of the type – is connected in some way using bolts with hex heads on them. To do the job right, forget using your folding multi-tool when doing your home wrenching.
A quality hex wrench set is a must-have for all mechanics – regardless of how much you spend. As much as I like companies like Pedros, Park Tool etc, their prices can sometimes put their tools out of the budget of many home users. The solution? Check out your local hardware store.
My favourite store here in Canada is appropriately called Canadian Tire, and among the thousands of quality Mastercraft tools they sell is the 10-piece Metric Hex Key Set. This $27 package gives you hex sizes ranging from 2mm to 10mm including all the key sizes needed for bike work. All have nice rubber T-handles comparable with some much more expensive brands. Add to that a $4 Torx25 T-handled tool for your disc brake rotors and you’re set.
2. Scales
If you’re a weight-weenie like myself or my colleague Ashwin, there’s no question one of the most important tools in your kit is a good quality scale.
Personally, I use two separate scales. The first is the Ultimate Digital Scale used by many of us here at TBH. It fits nicely into the clamps of a bike stand and its hook allows for the easy measurements of bikes, frames and larger parts.
The second scale that I use regularly is a small digital flat-top model. It’s the perfect gram-counter when you’re trying to find the lightest components or accessories around. Want to know how much of a gram-counting sickness I have? I have actually compared the weights of all the handlebar end caps I have to see which ones are the lightest.
1. Bike stand(s)
No question about it, a quality bike stand is absolutely the most important piece of hardware in your shop. Every year it seems there are more and more options in the bike repair stand workshop with a wide variety of options and pricing. Personally I use an Ultimate Pro Elite stand, which features the new Clamp-Lock system for holding the bike in place. I have a second stand permanently mounted on the wall of my garage, and between the two of them I use on or the other just about every single day. From basic jobs like lubing the chain to major overhauls, stands are definitely something I couldn’t live without.
1. Posted by NS2000X | 12:22 am, 29 May 2006
Dan, nice idea for a write up.
I’d suppliment the 10 hex key (allen key) set with a 4mm/5mm/6mm Triangle hex key. It is by far THE most used, and most useful bike tool I own.
I first bought (one) it ~8 years ago when I was working as a bike mechanic, to save time always switching from one of the three sizes. I’m on my second now, just because the rubber handle split on the first one.
Amazing must have in my opinion.
I’d say before I fell in love with Crank Bros pedals, I’d swear one of those top five tools should be a pedal wrench. I can live without a fancy tire lever in favour of a pedal wrench.
No wait, a spoke key.
Hey, can you make this top 10 tools?