6 essential bicycle tools for beginner cyclists

Unless you live very close to a bike shop, you still need to have a few handy tools at home to ensure your bike operates smoothly. You always need to inflate the tires and tighten or loosen screws, right? Let's take a look at the essential tools for beginners to advance to experts, gaining experience and avoiding detours by doing it yourself. Here are the six essential tools that seasoned cyclists used when they were young.

Floor Pump

Even if you haven't had a flat tire, you should still inflate your tires before each ride. Tires can slowly lose air even when stationary. It's best to have a floor pump at home (mini pumps are not very efficient) to ensure your tire pressure is normal before heading out.

Inflating my tires before going out has become a habit. A good pump will have a gauge to show the pressure, and ideally, it will have recommended pressure levels for road bikes, mountain bikes, and commuter bikes. If you don't see recommended pressures, you can usually find this number on the tire itself.

Chain oil reduces friction between metal parts, prevents premature wear of the bike's drivetrain components, reduces noise, and ensures smooth pedaling. There are various types of chain oil on the market; I prefer the 'self-cleaning' type, which cleans old grime during use.

With tire levers, removing a tire by hand becomes easy. I highly recommend ParkTool's tire levers. You can buy a set of three for 24 yuan (8 yuan each) on Taobao. The edge of ParkTool's tire levers is thinner than some other brands (but still strong enough).

Also known as an Allen wrench, it's a must-have for avid cyclists.

Professional bike tool manufacturers sell them, and the quality from hardware stores is also good. Some brands are quite reputable. Generally, you should get the following sizes: 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 millimeters, which will cover most needs.

You still need a Torx wrench because there are star-shaped screws that only it can handle. The screws on disc brake rotors are usually this type. Campagnolo uses them extensively in their latest components, and SRAM's XX components and FSA's chainring bolts are also of this type. Getting three sizes (T-10, T-25, T-30) should be sufficient. ParkTool offers a set that includes three or more sizes.

When you go out for a ride, carry a pocket multi-tool. It can save you in a pinch. For example, the Lezyne RAP 13 has eight sizes of hex and Torx wrenches, a Phillips screwdriver, a chain breaker, and a spoke wrench.

Do you have all six of these tools? What other tools do you carry when you ride?

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