Each job necessitates a set of tools that are unique to the field. There are a lot of tools that different professionals in different fields use. However, the focus of this essay is on the tools of a bicycle mechanic, a profession through which you can go for a good income. To complete a particular task properly, a bicycle mechanic would need to utilize certain equipment. A bicycle mechanic should have them for him or her. And if you wish to be a bicycle mechanic, you need to be familiar with the tools of a bicycle mechanic. Even if you do not have such an ambition, you might still be passionate to know about the tools of a bicycle mechanic. Notwithstanding, you can read this article and get a good idea of it.
What do Bicycle Mechanics do?
Before knowing about the tools of a bicycle mechanic, you must first understand what a bicycle mechanic does. Basically, a bicycle mechanic would have to take on a lot of responsibilities.
A bicycle mechanic may have to build bicycles depending on the client’s specifications. It might also involve finding and correcting particular problems of bicycles. Bicycle mechanics may also have to perform safety inspections and servicing and maintenance of bicycles. Replacement of unusable parts is also part of the scope of work of a bicycle mechanic.
So it is apparent that bicycle mechanics have a lot on their plates. This task may appear to be straightforward. However, it has a large number of different tasks to perform. Without the tools of a bicycle mechanic, no task would be performable. And that is why you need to be totally aware of this. Do not worry! We can tell you all that. Keep reading!
The Importance of Tools for a Bicycle Mechanic
The tools of a bicycle mechanic are of immense importance to each of them. Of course, we are not saying that tools are the only thing that counts. However, when it comes to the job of a bicycle mechanic, tools play a major role. That is why we can put so much faith in the tools in such professions. It is with the tools that you can bring efficiency to a particular task. Also, it is with the tools that you can bring neatness and tidiness into a particular task. Furthermore, it is with the tools that you can make a particular task methodical and technical by all means.
The importance of tools is not just for bicycle mechanics. Tools are extremely crucial for anyone working in similar industries. Perhaps it is because of the tools and equipment they employ that they are able to do virtually all of their tasks efficiently. In such industries, efficiency is one of the most essential elements as we previously also told you. Efficiency is a prerequisite for all other factors. And that explains the vitality of having proper tools and equipment.
Tools of a Bicycle Mechanic
Okay, from here onwards, you can read about our comprehensive descriptions of the tools of a bicycle mechanic. Yet, it is important to list out the tools of a bicycle mechanic in the first place. And here they are.
- Bike repair stand
- Wrenches
- Pliers
- Screwdrivers
- Tire levers
- Tube patch kit
- Chain pin removal tool
- Chain wear indicator gauge
- Crank puller
- Bottom bracket tool
So, no doubt, you would be anxious to know a lot more about the tools of a bicycle mechanic. Just go on. You can get to know a lot of things for sure.
1. Bike repair stand
No bicycle mechanic is complete without a bike repair stand. So, this is indisputably going to be one of the most useful tools of a bicycle mechanic.
You must not underestimate the value of a good repair stand if you’re going to conduct even the most basic bike maintenance. Yes, they may be pricey, and yes, they do take up some space in the garage. With a good stand, you will not have to turn your bike upside down and lean over to perform maintenance and adjustments.
Needless to say, a bike repair stand makes you an efficient bicycle mechanic. If you do not have a bike repair stand you may have to spend a long time on a specific task, which if you had one, would not take that long. Of course, you would have to save time as much as you can in a profession like yours. Obviously, this is a fine tool that you can use for that. You can possibly use a bike repair stand for your repair and maintenance tasks, both to save time and to make your work much more professional and technical.
Bikehand E Bike Repair Stand (Max 110 lbs)-Heavy Duty- Home Portable Bicycle Mechanics Workstand – Great for EBIKE Mountain Bikes and Road Bikes Maintenance
This is a good bicycle stand that we recommend to a bicycle mechanic. The repair stand is constructed of aluminum and features a heavy-duty alloy head and clamps. When folded, it is lightweight and small. It is extremely practical, long-lasting, and has a good design. With powerful skewers, the height, tilt, and angle may all be quickly released. Of course, getting the bike in the best operating posture for you is quite beneficial. This helps you with that. Also, this has a 360-degree rotatable head with a foldable magnetic tool plate for your convenience. So, this is a good product for you to purchase in general.
2. Wrenches
You may probably know what a wrench is. But let us tell just for the sake of making our content much more complete. A wrench is a tool that provides grip and mechanical advantage when applying torque to turn or stop rotating objects, generally rotary fasteners like nuts and bolts.
Of course, there are different types of wrenches. They serve different purposes. And bicycle mechanics may also need a variety of wrenches to perform their tasks.
Basically, you would need to have an Allen wrench set that you can use to drive bolts and screws that have hexagonal sockets on their heads. And you would also need open-end wrenches to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. Further, you may need Torx wrenches as well. Apart from those, you may also need adjustable wrenches, pedal wrenches also.
When you are going to purchase wrenches, you must consider their quality. They must definitely be of good quality. If not, you may not be able to accomplish your work right. Also, you must consider factors like their comfort, sturdiness, durability, and so on. Remember, these are not items that you can dispose of after one use. You need to use them for a long time. Hence, you surely need to go for quality products when you are going to purchase tools like wrenches.
HORUSDY 30-Piece Hex Key Set, Allen Wrench Set Inch/Metric MM(0.7mm-10mm) SAE(0.028″-3/8)
As we told you, there are different types of wrenches available on the market. This is a set of Allen keys that bicycle mechanics can use. This set has 15 long reach keys and 15 high leverage short keys. They are made of heat-treated steel with a black-oxide finish. On both the long and short length keys, the traditional drive end provides for maximum leverage on tough fixes. Each wrench has high-visibility sizes on it. Also, this comes with a robust carrying box for quick size selection and organizing. Further, this keyset has both inch and metric measurements and thoroughly covers all hexagon socket screws. So, this is an ideal set of Allen keys for you to buy.
3. Pliers
A plier is a hand tool that you can use to securely grip objects. Also, you can use pliers to bend and compress a variety of materials. Up to a certain extent, wrenches and pliers may look alike. But they have plenty of differences. Wrenches, unlike pliers, do not usually have rotating jaws (an exception is the sink wrench). For loosening and tightening nuts and bolts, wrenches are nearly always preferable to pliers because they produce more torque and are less prone to round or break fasteners. But you would not be able to use wrenches all the time. You would have to use pliers when you need them.
Just like wrenches, there are many different varieties of pliers as well. However, a bicycle mechanic would need needle-nose pliers and chain pliers in the main.
All the same, the criteria that you need to consider when you are going to buy wrenches also apply to pliers. Obviously, they apply to a lot of tools that you are going to purchase. If you feel that. Going for products of poor quality would adversely affect your career. So, always be wise and choose good products, especially when you use them for your profession in order to make money.
KENDO 4-Piece High Leverage Pliers Set – Heavy Duty 60CrV – 7″ Diagonal, 7.5″ Needle Nose, 8″ Combination, & 10″ Slip Joint Pliers For All Purpose, TPR Handles, Roll Up Storage Pouch Included
Of course, there are different types of pliers. This set has four types in it. They are a 7” diagonal cutting plier, 7.5” long nose plier, 8” combination pliers, and a 10” tongue and groove. As you would surely know, each of these types serves different purposes. So, it is useful to have the entire set of these pliers. These are sturdy, durable, and efficient. Also, this has received good ratings for factors such as comfort and value for money on Amazon.
4. Screwdrivers
Needless to say, screwdrivers are actually pretty common. A standard screwdriver consists of a handle and a shaft with a tip that the user inserts into the screw head before rotating the handle. The tips come in different shapes forming a variety of screwdrivers. So, they can fit a variety of screws due to this. Obviously, almost all the professionals in the field of construction would have to use screwdrivers at one point or other. However, screwdrivers are indeed one of the tools of a bicycle mechanic as well.
In fact, a bicycle mechanic also would have to have a set of screwdrivers in possession. A set of screwdrivers in different sizes with various tips would be ideal for the use of a bicycle mechanic. So, you would then have the capability to use the perfect screwdriver to fit the relevant situation.
Here also, we have to mention that you have to go for high-quality products when you are purchasing new products. Of course, screwdrivers must have tight and firm handles. And they must be sturdy. In fact, durability is a factor that you can never forget.
Amazon Basics 12-in-1 Magnetic Ratchet Screwdriver
As we previously also told you, there are various tips for screwdrivers. But that does not necessitate separate screwdrivers for each. You can have one screwdriver with all the types of tips. Made of heat-treated chrome vanadium steel for enhanced hardness. And there is a corrosion-resistant coating as well. Also, this has a non-slip handle which provides a comfortable and firm grip for the operator. For a bicycle mechanic, this is surely a good choice., That is why we thought of recommending this product to you.
5. Tire levers
Tire levers are little levers that help you remove tires from a wheel. Every bicycle mechanic should have a set of tire levers since they are one of the cheapest and most important pieces of all the tools of a bicycle mechanic. It is alright even if a rider decides to have a tire lever set. Without a set of tire levers, many tires are nearly hard to remove. If there is a puncture, you would surely need a tire lever.
There are many various types of tire levers, but they all serve the same purpose. There is a thin end that slips between the tire and the rim of the wheel, allowing you to remove the tire. This may be sufficient if your tires are somewhat slack. You may need to use a second lever a little farther down the tire on tighter tires (such as those found on many road bikes). Tire levers are typically sold in three-piece sets, but you should only use the third lever on the tightest tires. A little hook is usually attached to the other end of the lever. This allows you to attach the first lever to a spoke and keep it in place while you install the second.
Tire levers were usually of steel or aluminum. However, nowadays, most people use plastic tire levers. These are not only lighter and easier to transport, but they are also less prone to harm your wheel rims or tire bead. So, you can surely try plastic tire levers now.
Bynccea Bike Tire Lever,Set of 3 Bicycle Levers Tire Changing Tool
These plastic tire levers are sturdy and do not cause any damage to the tires. This is easy to operate as well. And of course, these are durable and you can use them for a long time without any issue. This product has received plenty of positive reviews and ratings on Amazon. One happy customer of this product has reviewed it as follows. “They worked great, super easy to use.” So, depending on all the above factors, we thought that this would be a good product for you to purchase.
6. Tube patch kit
Of course, a bicycle mechanic needs to have a tube patch kit as well. A tube patch kit is a collection of tools and spare components that you would need to repair a puncture in a tire. There are many such repair kits available on the market. They are particularly for various vehicles such as automobiles, boats, aircraft, motorcycles, and bicycles. And here, it is about the repair kit that is relevant for bicycles. It is basically the tire patch kit.
A tube patch kit includes tire levers, sandpaper for cleaning an area of the inner tube surrounding the puncture, a tube of rubber solution (vulcanizing fluid), round and oval patches, a metal grater, and a piece of chalk to produce chalk powder (to dust over excess rubber solution). A wax crayon is frequently in such puncture kits to indicate the puncture site.
So, this is essentially one of the tools of a bicycle mechanic. But make sure to buys a product of high-caliber. It is necessary for the smooth running of your trade.
Maifede Bike Inner Tire Patch Repair Kit – with 11 PCS Vulcanizing Patches, 6 PCS Pre Glued Patchs, Portable Storage Box, Metal Rasp and Lever – Also for Motorcycle, BMX and Inflatable Rubber.
This set consists of literally everything that you would need to carry out a patch repair to a tire. This has 6 pieces of pre-glued patches. And this has 11 pieces of vulcanizing patches. Further, this has 4 pieces of metal files as well as 2 pieces of levers. All these are widely compatible. Also, this is handy and easily portable. Hence, this actually is a good choice for a bicycle mechanic to use.
7. Chain pin removal tool
Next in our list of tools of a bicycle mechanic is the chain pin removal tool. Of course, you would need to have a chain pin removal tool if you choose to be a bicycle mechanic. What it does basically is removing and installing chain pins. In fact, this is something that a bicycle mechanic would have to do. So, you would need to have a chain pin removal tool for certain.
Here also, we need to mention that you need to go for a durable one. Obviously, all the tools of a bicycle mechanic must be durable. You need to use them for a long period of time.
Aunocy Bike Chain Removal Tool – Bicycle Chain Repair Kit – Bike Link Plier, Chain Breaker Splitter Tool and 6 Pairs of Links – Easy to Use – Quick Fix – Premium Tool Kit for Cyclists
The bike link pliers, a chain breaker splitter tool, and 6 pairs of links are all in this set. This bike chain splitter with chain hook lets you remove and put pints in your bike chain while also securing it. Also, this tool works well with bicycle chains of 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and single speed. The anti-slip handle of the bike link pliers guarantees a secure grip for high accuracy. This bike chain tool lets you open and closes chain connections, saving you time and space by doing two operations with one tool. In general, this seems ideal for a bicycle mechanic. So, you can go ahead purchasing this.
8. Chain wear indicator gauge
All the same, a bicycle mechanic needs to have a chain wear indicator gauge. Basically, what a chain wear indicator does is indicating when a chain is worn out. In fact, this is a simple tool. But the fact you need to understand is that it is indeed important for a bicycle mechanic. So, you should go ahead and buy one for yourself.
BIKEHAND Bicycle Bike Chain Wear Indicator Tool Chain Checker – Compatible with Shimano Sram KMC and All Others 7 to 12 Speed Chains
This tool is particularly created and meant for measuring the status of a bicycle chain and display its amount of wear. There are several useful multitool functions with it as well. At the danger levels, this tool can clearly indicate it. Wear of 0.75 according to this chain wear indicator gauge, it is necessary to replace the chain soon. Wear of 1 which means 100 percent indicated that it is mandatory to replace the chain immediately. Many buyers of this product have commended factors such as ease to use, value for money, and accuracy on Amazon. In general, this has received really good ratings. So, you should probably go for this.
9. Crank puller
In our list of tools of a bicycle mechanic, we have this tool, the crank puller. Cranks link the pedals to the bottom bracket spindle, which is kept in position by force by well-torqued crank bolts or nuts. To service the bottom bracket bearings or replace the chainrings, you must remove the cranks from the spindle.
There are crank pullers to remove the three primary varieties of three-piece cranks: square-type spindle arms, splined-type spindle arms, and splined-type spindle arms.
This is the procedure you must follow in order to remove cranks. First, you must put the chain to the biggest chainring. Then, remove dust caps if any, and remove the crank bolt or nut by turning it counter-clockwise. After that, you can remove the washers that are inside. Then, select the right tool for the crank bolt and turn the threaded coupler of the puller. Afterward, have the spindle driver in the arm and turn it clockwise. Then crank would then remove. Now, you can unthread the crank puller and repeat the same to the other end.
When it comes to the installation, it is as follows. Initially, you have to grease or anti-seize the head and threads of bolts and nuts. Then, you can place the right crankarm on the spindle. Afterward, install the right crank onto the spindle’s right side. Attach the bolt to the spindle. When installation, self-extracting models align the tooth and groove of the spindle and crank. Then, tighten the bolt completely. Finally, grease the threads of dust caps and install them. To finish it up, do the same to the other side.
Park Tool CCP-22 Bicycle Crank Puller – Square Taper, Power Spline, Bosch BNI, etc.
A crank puller is specifically for removing crank arms from bicycles with M8 crank bolts. Also, this fits square tapered bottom bracket spindles with crank arms. On Bosch e-bikes, it also fits SRAM PowerSpline and BNI cranks. Its strong rotating tip mechanism ensures its smooth operation as well as long life. The ultra-tiny thread and long, ergonomic grip offer the leverage that is necessary to remove even the tightest cranks. So, this is conclusively a good product. It is indeed fine to be one of the tools of a bicycle mechanic.
10. Bottom bracket tool
You may most probably know what a bottom bracket is. But allow us to tell it to you. It is a bicycle’s bottom bracket that links the crankset to the frame and allows the crankset to freely revolve. It has a spindle that connects to the crankset and bearings that allow the spindle and cranks to revolve. The cranks are where the chainrings and pedals are attached.
All the same, a bottom bracket tool is a tool that you can use for removing and/or installing a bottom bracket from a bike’s bottom bracket shell. Hence, this is probably one of the tools of a bicycle mechanic. Of course, you must have this in your toolbox.
Park Tool Shimano/ISIS Bottom Bracket Tool
This bottom bracket tool is perfectly compatible with 31.5mm nominal inner diameter 22-spline bottom bracket tool fittings. This includes a 3/8″ drive fitting and 1″ wrench flats. And this is okay with a broad range of cartridge bottom brackets from Shimano, Truvativ, Race Face, FSA, and other manufacturers. Investment cast steel is the material of this bottom bracket tool. Plenty of customers of this product have admired factors such as ease to use, value for money, and sturdiness of this product. Considering all these factors, we suggest you should also go for this.
The Bottom line
Throughout this article, we told you all about the tools of a bicycle mechanic. And we hope that you would be having a pretty good idea about all that by now. However, make sure to use them carefully. Take care of your tools and equipment. And conduct proper servicing for the tools when necessary. Meanwhile, you may like to read about the tools of a plumber, electrician, carpenter, masonry worker, HVAC technician, ironworker, glazier, solar installer, and so on. Of course, you can read about them and broaden your understanding. We wish you the best of luck in your career.
2 comments