Basic Bicycle Tools
If you do not want to take your bike to the repair shop every other month it is advisable to call a basic set of bicycle maintenance tools your own. Not all need to be taken on your ride! Especially tyre levers for changing the tube or the mounting set can remain in your garage to be used there. As a complete pre-selected solution a bicycle tool set lends itself.
Even if you do not yet know all tools and haven’t used them, you can always follow instructions from the internet and both improve your knowledge and save costs for the bicycle mechanic.
Mounting sets and tyre levers have to be emphasized here. With a tyre lever you can easily change the bicycle tube at home. And with a chain tool you can even repair a broken chain.
What Bicycle Tools do I Need on Tour?
Nobody needs to take a whole bicycle maintenance shop with them. When talking about basic bicycle tools we talk about, above all, simple and space-saving solutions for common problems such as e.g. a tyre repair set.
Which tool you should be taking with you to be able to repair your bike when on a ride first of all depends on the route you have planned. If you are simply going shopping and riding back home again it will not be a huge disturbance if you really once need to push your bike home. But especially when gravel biking, mountain biking or on a multi-day bikepacking tour it is really important to have the correct tools with you – as a worst case you could otherwise end up in the middle of nowhere without transportation.
For multi-day tours it is best to take a full, pre-equipped tool box with you. For shorter tours we also recommend you take at least a tyre repair set and a bicycle mini tool with you. This way you can simply repair common problems yourself.
Bicycle Tool Pouches and Tool Bottles
Of course there is the question of how to transport the bicycle tools. If cycling with a group of people you can distribute tools and first aid kit amongst each other. If cycling on you own a special bicycle tool pouch is recommendable, in which the basic tools can be stored in a space-saving way.
A very special form is the so-called bicycle tool bottle: It is no different from a common tool case or pouch, yet in the shape of a bottle. This way the tools can conveniently be transported in the bottle cage.