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Buying Guide: Tools & Cleaners
What tools should I buy for my bike?
Whether you’re building a bike from scratch or planning on tackling home maintenance of your pride and joy,
nothing makes the job more frustrating than having poor quality, or incorrect tools. Home workshop setups
can cost a fair bit of money, but compared to the cost of shop servicing, you can save a packet in the long
run. Having a few basic tools can make it a lot easier to work on your bike at home.
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First off, you’ve only got two hands, so a workstand is always helpful for holding your bike at a useful
height when you’re working on it. Most rely on a clamp that grips the frame’s tubes – height and angle
adjustable versions make the job a lot easier, while some will also accept a secondary tool shelf. If you’re
just looking to do simpler jobs, such as tuning gears, a stand which raises the rear wheel off the ground,
is often enough.
What tool is absolutely essential for working on a bike?
Most jobs on a bike will require Allen keys. A full set, from 1.5 to 8mm will keep all bases covered, while
ball-ended ones, like the Specialized Mechanic Wrench Set will make getting
into awkward areas, such as
front derailleurs, a lot easier. You may want to back your Allen keys up with some Torx keys too, as Torx
bolts are being used more by component manufacturers.
If you’re doing bolts up, then you’ll need to grease them too, to stop them seizing. Different bolts and
threads need different greases, so in time grease, anti-seize or copperslip, carbon assembly paste and
Loctite should make their way into your workshop tool kit. Instructions with components should give you an
idea of what you should use where.
How can a chain splitting tool help?
Whether you’re attaching a full new drivechain or just swapping a rear derailleur, a good quality chain
splitting tool will save you a lot of grief. Chains can be fiddly, so look out for ones with a chain hook
and tabs to stop you pushing pins too far, such as the Topeak Link 11 Folding Chain Tool. Shimano
chains generally require joining pins if you split the chain, while SRAM’s chains
have Powerlinks for when
you reattach links.
What other tools will I need when working on my bike?
Some jobs, such as cassette and bottom bracket removal, will need specific tools, and many will require an
adjustable spanner to go alongside them. A set of screwdrivers is also useful for adjusting the limit screws
on a derailleur. Finally, if you want to do absolutely everything yourself, look for disk brake bleed kits,
headset presses and wheel truing stands for a more comprehensive set of workshop tools.
Why is lubrication important for a bike?
If you don’t keep your bike clean and well lubricated, you’ll find that components wear out a lot faster -
especially your drivetrain, wheels and suspension. Cleaning and lubricating your bike can be a chore, but
it’s certainly worth it and the right products make the job quicker and more efficient.
At Evans Cycles we have plenty of lubricating and cleaning products to help keep your bike running like a
well-oiled machine.
Can I use warm soapy water to clean my bike?
Back in the day, a bucket of warm soapy water is what we used to clean bikes, and there’s certainly no harm
in doing that. It’s worth being aware that some general cleaning products may have salts in them, so a
thorough rinse is required to prevent rusting. Sponges tend to work well on cars, but for ingrained dirt and
grime on a bike, brushes rule the roost. Bike cleaning brush sets like the FWE bike cleaning brush set,
provide a range of different brushes designed to get into nooks and crannies.
Another approach to bicycle cleaning is to use a bike cleaner or bike wash spray. They’re simple to use:
spray them on the bike, wait a few minutes then with a blast from a hose and perhaps a bit of brush work,
dirt tends to come off very easily.
Are there alternative methods of cleaning your bike?
Bike-specific pressure washers have a motor and water tank to spray dirt off your bike. Be careful around
bearings and suspension if you choose to use other pressure washers, as they can easily force water behind
seals.
Once the bike is clean, water dispersers should be used on the drivechain to prevent rust. Spray-on versions
such as GT85 are popular, but take care around braking surfaces as their Teflon component will severely
impact on braking performance! If you do contaminate your brakes, a disk brake cleaner can salvage the
situation.
With the water dispersed, it’s time to lube your chain. As the name suggests, wet lubes work better in wet
conditions, but are messier. Dry lubes and waxes work well in dry conditions, helping stop dust from
sticking to the chain. For best results, apply lube to a clean, dry chain.
What other cleaning tools are good for my bike?
Frame polish sprays like the Muc-Off Pro-Detailer polish keep your bike looking tip-top, and can help prevent
dirt sticking – again, take care around braking surfaces. Suspension forks and shocks also benefit from fork
sprays, such as Finish Line Suspension Lube spray, to help keep their wipers and seals working smoothly.
For more tips on how to clean your bike, watch our video guide to bike cleaning.
Want to know more about cyclo-cross bikes? Try our cyclo-cross bike
buying guide.