12 Tools You Need To Work on Your Bicycles

Choosing Bike Maintenance and Repair Tools

With bike shops seeing record numbers of customers and many common parts and components back–ordered due to the pandemic, it’s never been a better time to learn how to properly maintain and work on your own bike. If you’re at all handy — and I’m assuming you are because you’re reading this — most of these tasks are actually pretty easy. (Luckily you can find plenty of tutorials on YouTube, and, of course, FamilyHandyman.com.)

While many of the tools you need are probably already in your workshop (like the tools in the first three slides, below), there are quite a few specialty tools to consider adding to your toolbox sooner rather than later.

So, what should you look for in a bike tool?

• Quality. As with many tools, you can feel the difference in quality when holding a solid, well-made pedal wrench versus one that feels as if it’ll break the second you apply the slightest amount of pressure. Not only that, but a poor quality tool can potentially damage your bike components as well.
• Usability. Most bicycle tools are designed with a specific purpose in mind, and they do that one task very well. Think about how you’ll be using that particular tool and the bikes you’ll be working on.
• Warranty. Most tools should be backed by a limited lifetime guarantee. If the manufacturer doesn’t stand behind its multi-tool, don’t be surprised when you’re standing on the side of the road with a broken tool in your hand, mid-repair.
• Manufacturer’s reputation. Park Tool, Pedro’s, Feedback Sports, Topeak, Silca and a few other companies are known for putting out high-quality products year after year and have earned their customers’ loyalty.