Having a reliable bike tool kit in your car is indispensable for any cyclist, whether you’re a mountain biking enthusiast or a road racing competitor. Being prepared with the right tools can save your ride and even help out fellow cyclists in need. This guide outlines two essential bike tool kit setups perfect for keeping in your car, ensuring you’re always ready to tackle minor repairs and adjustments on the go.
The Mountain Biker’s “Go Ride” Car Kit
For mountain bikers, keeping a dedicated toolkit in your car is a game-changer. This “go ride” kit is designed for quick fixes and adjustments at the trailhead, ensuring you can get rolling without delay. It complements a smaller, more portable toolkit carried on your person or bike.
This mountain bike car tool kit should include:
- Hex and Torx Wrenches: Essential for adjusting bolts and components all over your mountain bike.
- Spoke Wrench: For minor wheel truing adjustments to keep your wheels rolling smoothly.
- Shock Pump: Crucial for fine-tuning your suspension to match trail conditions and your riding style.
- Tire Pressure Gauge: Maintaining optimal tire pressure is key for traction and rolling efficiency on varied terrain.
- Tire Pump: For inflating tires after repairs or adjusting pressure on the trail.
- Spare Valve Cores and Core Wrench: Small parts that can easily fail and are essential for tubeless setups.
- Wire Ties: Versatile for temporary fixes, cable management, or securing loose parts.
- Card with Suspension Settings and Tire Pressures: A quick reference for your preferred settings ensures consistent performance.
This car kit works in tandem with a smaller, on-bike toolkit. Your on-bike kit, carried in a hydration pack or tool roll, should contain items like a chain tool, tire levers, spare chain links, and a spare derailleur hanger. By separating these kits, you avoid duplication and ensure you have the right tools readily available in your car for pre-ride prep or post-ride maintenance. A simple canvas utility bag is perfect for organizing this “go ride” kit and keeping it accessible in your car. For more extensive trips or races, consider adding a bleed kit for hydraulic brakes, additional spare parts, and more specialized drivetrain tools to your race day toolkit.
The Road Racer’s Comprehensive Toolkit
For road races and time trials, a more comprehensive toolkit is beneficial. Especially when traveling to events, having a larger array of tools allows you to handle more complex repairs and assist fellow racers. This expanded kit caters to the specific needs of road bikes and race day scenarios.
A well-equipped road race bike tool kit should include:
- Metric Sockets, Allen and Torx Wrenches: A wider range of sizes, especially a compact Wera kit, is excellent for road bike components.
- Phillips and Flat Screwdrivers: For various fastener types commonly found on bikes.
- Chain Whip and Cassette Lockring Tool (Crombie): For cassette removal and maintenance.
- Full Size Chain Break Tool, Quick Link Pliers, Extra Chains, Quick Links: Essential for chain repairs and replacements for both 10 and 11-speed systems.
- Knipex Large Pliers: Versatile pliers for various tasks requiring a strong grip.
- Pedal Wrench and Long Handle Allen Wrenches (6mm and 8mm): For pedal installation/removal and crank arm bolts.
- Small Diagonal Cutters: For trimming cables and zip ties.
- Small Gripping Pliers: For delicate tasks and holding small parts.
- Small Bastard File: For minor filing and deburring tasks.
- Small Scissors: Useful for trimming tape or packaging.
- Spoke Wrenches: For wheel maintenance and adjustments.
- Bottom Bracket Sockets and Shimano Bearing Preload Tool: For bottom bracket servicing and crank adjustments.
- 3/8″ Breaker Bar: Provides extra leverage for stubborn bolts and fits various sockets, including suspension caps for mountain bikes.
- DI2 Connector Insert/Removal Tool, Spare Batteries and Battery Charger: Essential for electronic shifting systems.
- Campy 15mm Peanut Butter Wrench (Optional): A classic tool for Campagnolo components.
- Campy Chainring Prong Tool: For working on Campagnolo chainrings.
- Spoke Wrenches and Valve Core Removal Tool: Duplicates for redundancy or different types.
- Two Old Toe Straps: Surprisingly useful for holding parts or improvised repairs.
- Spare Tires, Cables, Chains, Tube of Grease, Small Bottle of Oil, Carbon Paste, Wire Ties, Electrical Tape: A comprehensive selection of spares and consumables.
This larger toolkit can be neatly organized in a plastic toolbox or a space-saving tool roll. For race weekends, always consider bringing a spare wheelset with a cassette already mounted. While this comprehensive toolkit might seem like overkill for most events, it’s invaluable for those rare instances when you or someone else needs a specific tool or spare part at a crucial moment, ensuring no mechanical issue derails your race weekend. Being prepared for that 0.01% chance can make all the difference.
-Mark
