Tools and workshop

It is vitally important that you keep your bike well maintained. A well maintained bike performs at its best and is a pleasure to ride and also ensures that your components last longer.

Much maintenance can be carried out at home with a workstand and the right tools. Naturally you also need to know what you are doing! To assist you in this we also carry a range of bike maintenance books.

Maintenance essentials

Every house with a bike should have a few basic tools and maintenance products to keep their bicycles running smoothly and safely.

Looking after your bike properly helps maintain its running gear, increasing the its lifespan, keeping it running efficiently, making it safer and more pleasurable to ride.

Your first purchase should be a basic collection of cleaning products, including specialist cycle cleaning fluids and degreasers and a selection of cleaning tools and brushes. Using products designed specifically for the demands of cyclists will make it easier to do a thorough job. It is imperative not to use ordinary soap or washing up liquid as this can cause unnecessary damage to your favourite ride.

Once your bike is clean you need to apply lube to keep your machine running smoothly. A selection of different weight lubes are available for varying weather conditions and whether you're planning to ride on or off road.

The other on going job you will need to do regularly is to check your tyre pressure. Once you invest in a track pump you will wonder how you ever survived without one! A few easy, short pumps and your tyres are at full pressure. Say goodbye to lactic acid inducing, time consuming, mini pump sessions!

If you're a suspension rider, it is important that you keep your shocks at the right pressure. If you let your air suspension pressures flag, ride quality will drop off and you run the risk of permanently damaging your shocks. Keep a shock pump at home for quick, easy and frequent pressure checks.

Maintenance organisation

You might the time and the know how to do all the repairs and maintenance on your beloved bike, but without the correct specialist tools you'll be stuck! Doing something as simple and rudimentary as a cassette change is virtually impossible without a chain whip. Specialist tools might dent your wallet initially, but think of the long term savings in terms of reduced mechanic bills!

One of the most essential, and often overlooked, part of any home maintenance shop is a workstand. Having your bike at eyelevel, in a secure and manageable workstand makes home maintenance far easier. We have a range of workstands for the home mechanic, including wall mounted options. Many workstands these days are compact enough to fold up and be stored away in the boot, ready for action on race day.

Maintenance on-the-road

Even if you aren't overly mechanically minded and would never consider doing all your own bike maintenance, it is well worth investing in a light weight multi-tool to take out on the trails with you. It is surprising how many minor problems can be quickly and easily resolved with one of these ingenious multi-tools and a little basic know how.

Another essential out on the trail is a puncture repair kit. Even if you carry spare inner tubes, a puncture repair kit can get you out of a difficult spot if you puncture all of your spares as well. Of course, if you're carrying tubes you'll need a pump as well. There are many on the road inflation options these days, including frame mountable mini pumps and Co2 inflation cylinders.

For all your on the road maintenance kit, don't forget to invest in an under saddle pack to carry all of your spares and tools, ensuring they are always there when you need them.