5 Bike Tools I Wish I’d Bought Sooner!

It is so frustrating when something goes wrong with your bike but you don’t have the tool to fix it at home. Ollie explains five of the most common maintenance problems you may encounter with your bike and shows you which five tools you should have at home to do the necessary repairs.

0:00 Intro
0:46 High quality tools
2:32 Mech hanger straightening tool
3:30 Cable cutters
4:39 Hydraulic brake bleed kit
5:47 Cable routing kit

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Which bike tools do you wish you had bought sooner? Let us know in the comments below! 💬

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Loops & Hoops - Amber Spill

#gcntech #gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #bikemaintenance #bikerepair #biketools

📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency

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[gcntech]

Which bike tools do you wish you had bought sooner? 👇

[Destide]

I've always been the biggest tool on my bike

[rob-c.]

Couple of tips from me. For derailleur limit screws, you can just use a good quality small flat headed screwdriver rather than worrying about the JIS crosshead. As for standard tools like hex/Allen keys - buy ones from car maintenance brands NOT bikes - ‘bike’ stuff has an unnecessary premium put on the price

[joenne]

JIS stands for Japanese Indstruial Standards, those standards cover a lot more then just screwdrivers

[christophertrapp]

One time I was desperate and cut a cable and housing with a dremel. A few sparks flew but it worked brilliantly. I bought cable cutters shortly after.

[TomZ]

I'm a fan of Park Tool products, but I find the Vessel JIS to be the best. We have one in our shop that is used every day and it is at least 6 years old. It still performs like brand new.

[MichalBrat]

A torque wrench. Seriously, I never knew how much I would need it. It is also very elegant tool.

[Drivertakeabreak]

Chain checker. I've saved so much money on cassettes since I got one. I used to just run a chain way too long and then have to replace the cassette too.

[wazthatme]

My two tools to replace that last two tools is a nice work stand to hold the bike up and a huge tub of grease (you always need it when you dont have any). If you have a bike stand or some way to work on it off the ground then a Truing Stand for wheels even if its DIY can save you $20-40 truing it your self

[philbond]

Totally agree.
Funny – I often hear it said "you buy cheap and you're often likely to buy twice."
I've heard it more succinctly stated: "Buy nice or buy twice."
Cheers!

[MTBScotland]

My Wera hex/torx set. A lot of cheap tools do actually work well but hex/torx is where you should spend the extra

[DrJRMCFC]

The rear mech tool….definitely worth having. Set up the alignment correctly and your bike works like a Swiss watch mechanism.

[gbart]

I've built wheels since the 70s, so my favorite tool is my Var truing stand, which I've added dial indicators to.
I love seeing my 10-20 year wheels still holding +/- .002".
My newest acquisition is a Park derailleur hangar alignment tool.
I've used them, but I finally received one as a present from my nephew.

[daviec]

The cable cutters are the hands down most important for every amateur mechanic.
Most other tools can be found in any other household tool kit, and things like a brake bleed kit, or internal cable routing kit, are really only specific to newer, fancier bikes.
The derailer hanger straightener is important, but you need a trued wheel to use it effectively, and won't come in handy unless you're willing to do (and spend on) all that too.

[ThelastSkeleton]

You’re sure right about quality products, but Park tool is so ridiculous expensive that I rather go to my local bike store and let them get fixed problems I have once every few years.

[timyaiser]

I’ve discovered the more tools I have the more I tend to fix things that aren’t broke, just to use the tool. It’s a character flaw I can’t shake. Plus, I have no issue supporting my LBS when necessary.

[brandywell]

Proper cable cutters are something I should have bought early in my cycling

[jamieab]

Nice vid - hate to be that guy but JIS stands for Japanese Industrial Standard rather than Japanese Industrial Screwdriver

[rangersmith]

Cone wrenches for your wheel bearings. A one-handed grease gun. A crank puller for your square-taper bottom bracket.

[mdgdm]

50 years as a cycist doing my own maintenance and I have a few comments.
1. Buy decent but not shop-grade tools.The latter are made to be used day in day out for years. You don’t need that at home.
2. I’ve needed a derailleur mount straightener about 3 times in 175, 000 miles. If you bend an aluminum der. hanger, you should probably replace it.
3. Agree with many commenters, torque wrench is necessary with som many CF components.
4. It would be hard to live without a repair stand.
5. Headlamp.
6. Cable cutters, definitely.