Here are the essential tools and repair kits to ensure your mountain bike is in tip top condition.
In order to properly maintain your mountain bike, you will obviously need the right maintenance tools. Some tools may already be in your regular toolkit, while other tools are more bike specific and will need to be bought from a specialist bike shop.
Basic tools
The following tools are very useful for general mountain bike maintenance and can be bought from any hardware store, or you may already have them in your general toolkit. It’s a good idea to at least have these general tools if you wish to keep your bike in good shape:
- Set of screwdrivers (including Phillips and flat-headed types).
- Set of spanners (ring and open-ended wrenches) – 6mm to 17mm.
- Set of sockets – 6mm to 17mm.
- Set of metric Allen keys.
- Small adjustable wrench.
- Pair of utility pliers.
- Pair of long-nosed pliers.
Specialist bike tools
Proper maintenance of your bike will require a range of specialist bike maintenance tools, some of which can only be purchased from bike shops. If you’re a keen mountain biker and really want to keep your bike in tip-top condition, then you may wish to have some of these tools on hand as well:
- Pair of cable cutters.
- Chain-riveting tool.
- Chain whip.
- Crank puller.
- Flat cone wrenches.
- Free-wheel splined socket.
- Set of headset wrenches.
- Good track pump or hand pump (preferably with pressure gauge).
- Spoke wrench.
- Tyre levers.
It’s always worth looking out for a bike maintenance toolkit which contains almost everything you need for your bike. These are a convenient way of ensuring you have all the tools you need without having to buy them all individually!
Basic bike roadside repair kit
You should never go on any ride without carrying a basic repair kit. Many repairs are quick and simple to do with the right tools, and can save you a long walk home! Here are the tools and spare parts you may wish to include in your bike repair kit:
- At least one spare inner tube.
- Puncture repair kit.
- Bicycle ‘multi-tool’ including a range of Allen key sizes, screwdrivers etc.
- Chain-riveting tool.
- Tyre levers.
- Good hand pump.
- Small pocket knife.
- Small piece of rubber or tyre liner to repair tyre cuts.