Top 10 Mountain Biking Tool Kit

Posted by Kitty on Feb 8th 2015

Top 10 Mountain Biking Tool Kit

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 Bicycling is a fun and exciting sport and the true biker is constantly on the look out for opportunities to be out on the road every chance they get. One of the not so fun aspects of cycling is trouble shooting breakdowns on the road or at home. Every cyclist has their quiver of tools for common problems that pop up.

If you're interested in creating your own kit, the tools that you'll need to have on hand will depend largely on the type of maintenance you require. There may be different tools for the type of bike you use, a mountain bike or a road bike, for example, but there are some standard equipment that everyone should have regardless of the type of bike that you have. Here are some of the basic tools you should have in your bike kit:

1. Bike Repair Stand

Whatever work you plan to do on your bike you need to have a solid foundation to work on. A good bike repair stand can make a huge difference in how effective you'll be. This will give you the ability to position your bike at an angle where you can have access to all areas of the bike and keep it stable while you're working on it.

2. Floor Pump

This is probably the most basic tool that you can include in our bike kit. Keeping your tires inflated properly is a key maintenance step that all bikers must know. You want to be sure that you get a pump that accepts both Presta and Schrader valves so that it can adapt to whatever bike you use. Make sure that you find a pump with an easy-to-read gauge so you know exactly how much air you're putting in your tire

3. Cable Housing Cutters

A good pair of quality cutters can speed up your work by making a clean cut through your bicycle cables and housing. Try to look for those that have precision ground cutting jaws so you can make a clean cut every time. These will be very useful when you need to change your gear cables.

4. Brushes

Even the most careful rider will find that debris can easily get caught in the bicycle's cassette, derailleur, and chain-rings so it's important to have good brushes to help keep them clean. Have a variety of sizes so that you'll be able to reach even those tiny hard to reach places.

5. Cassette Lockring Tool

When you need to remove your cassette lockring from your freehub you'll need one of these.

6. Hex/Allen Wrench Set

Look for the long, T-shaped Allen wrenches; they give the best leverage and are pretty easy to use. They will help with getting many of those tight fixtures off without having to put in too much elbow grease. If you can't find the T-shaped ones look for the Y-shaped ones instead. You'll also need to have a collection of Hex wrenches in several different sizes so you'll be able to access areas that would otherwise be extremely difficult.

7. Waterproof Grease

Lubricants play a pretty important role when it comes to bicycle maintenance. Use it on your bottom bracket threads, seatposts, headsets, pedal threads, and any other places where you could find metal on metal friction.

8. Multitool

A multitool is ideal when you're not sure what you may have to do. These tools are practical because of their adaptability; not only can they be used in your shop at home but are versatile and portable enough for you to take on your next road trip so you will be prepared.

9. Screwdrivers

Screwdrivers are the perfect tool for making adjustments to your derailleur stops as well as other parts of your bike. Look for a multi-tipped tool that can switch from a Philips to a flat head with different size tips.

10. Tire Levers

These come in handy when you need to remove a tire in a hurry. Look for plastic tire levers so that you can avoid any of the common problems that come from using metal.

Once you've collected these basics you'll have a foundation bike tool repair and maintenance kit. With these there are a number of simple tweaks you can perform on your bicycle. However, it is imperative that if your bike needs extensive repairs that you're not properly trained for, it is better for more experienced mechanics to do them. While it may be very empowering to do your own work, it could cost you a great deal more if you're not careful.