| What if you need to repair your bike on your own? | | | | attach some protective layer (like a paper or hard |
| Already have the suitable type of tools to do it? How | | | | cover or newspaper) before clamping a component |
| about the bigger tools that are needed? While you | | | | with the vice. |
| already have some smaller bike tools of your own, | | | | Tools for the bottom bracket |
| you will need these much better and complete tools so | | | | Most bikes today have a cartridge bottom bracket. |
| that you can completely skip on going to your bike | | | | You could purchase these tools at a low price of $10. |
| store. | | | | Chain whip |
| Clamp for the axle | | | | This tool is used for removing a 'cogset' cassette. You |
| You will need an axle clamp. With this tool, you can | | | | should wrap the chain whip around the largest cog to |
| easily repair your wheels and their components like the | | | | stop the cassette from turning. At the same time, you |
| bearing. Your bike wheel will be held horizontally and | | | | could then loosen the lock ring of the cassette. You |
| the axle will not turn as you open its hub. The axle | | | | could get a chain whip at only $10 to $20, a relatively |
| clamp makes your work on servicing the wheel so | | | | cheap investment tool. |
| much easier. | | | | Crank puller |
| Hammer | | | | Like its name suggests, it is used for the crank. |
| This is the ball peen hammer, the smaller cousin of the | | | | Freewheel removers |
| conventional work shop hammer. This is where you | | | | This tool might be different for different types of bikes. |
| need it for performing those extra hard knocks to | | | | You could then use it freely to remove your |
| exert pressure onto certain stubborn parts. | | | | freewheel. But if you cannot find the right one, then it is |
| Vice and work bench | | | | time to go to the bike shop for a little help. |
| If you want to save money, you do not need a work | | | | Cone wrenches |
| bench. A work bench could cost as much as $100 for | | | | These are particularly useful for repairing your bike |
| an ordinary wooden or metal table. But if you have a | | | | hubs. This is because you will need the cone |
| table that you can deal damage to in your garage, | | | | wrenches for loosening or tightening the bearing cones. |
| then save on buying a proper work bench. | | | | Derailleur tab alignment tool |
| Then, use the vice to attach your wheels with the axle | | | | This will be used for adjusting the derailleur back to |
| clamp. Of course, when repairing, make sure you | | | | place, if it is misaligned from a bike crash. |