Bicycle Repair Bike Tools

You get attached to bicycle tools after awhile. Take my Schwinn Approved combination wrenches (you can see them on the bottom of my toolbard). I purchased this set of metric wrenches in 1973 at my second bike shop job, using the bicycle mechanic’s installment plan (the boss takes money out of your weekly paychecks). It took me months to pay for them.

Years later, while working in another shop, I lost the 10-millimeter wrench and was crushed that the set was now incomplete. That 10mm had turned thousands of brake bolts. It was polished bright from years of use. In spots the chrome plating had worn thin. I could pick it off the workbench by feel alone.

I called the wrench company and purchased a replacement. But it wasn’t the same; the design had changed. It depressed me. I lost hope. My wrench set would forever be short.

Then an amazing thing happened. I was working on a story about Steve Gravenites, a professional bicycle mechanic and master wheelbuilder. When it came time for me to leave, Gravy said he had a gift for me, something he “just had a feeling that I needed.” He handed me a Schwinn Approved 10-mm— identical to the one I’d lost!

I can’t guarantee that you’ll become as attached to your bicycle tools as I have to mine. But these are ten of the handiest hand tools in my toolbox. Some are commonly available and some are now almost impossible to find so you may have to check eBay or flea-markets to find the same tools that I've collected.

For more on bike tools, here are my bicycle tool lists for setting up your home bike shop. And, here’s a list of tools to take along on rides so you can fix common bike breakdowns and get home. And, if you’re interested in setting up a great home bicycle workshop, you need my $19.95 eBook, Your Home Bicycle Workshop by Jim Langley.

1. Shimano Pro chain tool (click for more details) A good chain tool is essential for removing, installing and repairing chains. You can get one for less than the cost of a decent lunch, that’ll do the job just fine. But when you’re ready for a truly fine chain tool—one that looks as nice on the kitchen table as on your workbench—go for Shimano’s Pro chain tool (made for use with Shimano Hyperglide chains). I got mine as a gift for working as a volunteer for Shimano at the 1994 Mountain Bike World Championships in Vail, Colorado. Shortly after, Shimano began offering the tool to the public. It’s expensive at about $150, but it’s also beautiful to look at and use thanks to the rosewood handles. It also comes with a small carrying case. Replacement pins are stored in the bottom of the handle.
2. Bondhus ball-head allen wrench screwdrivers These allen wrenches (about $5 each) have a screwdriver handle and a ball end, which make it easy to drive allen screws home, even hard-to-reach ones. A great use is installing waterbottle-cage screws. The cage blocks the use of conventional allens without repeatedly removing and reinstalling the wrench. With a Bondhus, you simply spin the shaft and thread in the screw in seconds.
3. Tapered hand reamer This handy metalworking tool saves time and trouble for bicycle repair as well as household jobs. Push this reamer into an undersize hole (such as a brake-bolt hole in a fork) and turn it a few times to enlarge the hole—no drilling required. It’s a great gizmo for any toolbox and is much quicker than breaking out the drill and selecting the right size bit.
4. Small Vise Grip When you need to hold something securely, such as a bolt with a rounded head or a brake pad that needs shaping, there’s no tool like a locking plier. Vise Grip makes the best. When you adjust the jaws and close the handles, the tool grabs fast, allowing you to work on the part with no slipping. Other uses for Vise Grips include bending, squeezing and cutting (most models have jaws for this built in). This tool is a wonderful help when you're fixing an old bike with rusted or worn parts and also when metalworking. Every mechanic should have several. Start with a small one and purchase the larger model when needed.
5. Park Tool 3-way hex wrench Infinitely useful on today’s bikes, Park’s Y-shaped hex wrench has a 4-, 5-, and 6-mm allen at each end of the Y. With one tool, you can work on almost every bolt on the bike. This saves guessing which wrench to grab. Plus, the Y shape provides plenty of leverage for tightening bolts that need some oomph, such as some stem bolts. Get two and put one in your car; they’re cheap. Please note that the photo shows my older-model Park wrench with ball-end allens. Ball-ends arent that useful on this type of wrench so Park has discontinued this model. Click to see Park's newest wrench.
6. Handlebar stem and seat tube spreader When you’re trying to a get a handlebar in a one-piece stem or seatpost in a frame, this very rare tool is the ticket. Push the jaws into the gap, squeeze the handles and voila: The stem or seat lug spreads, allowing the part to slide into place. This prevents scratching the part and avoids frustration. My tool was made by Proto Tools, and acquired long ago. Unfortunately I have not been able to find a source today. If you do, please let me know.
7. Park column cutting guides Whether you’re cutting a seatpost, fork steerer tube or handlebar, there’s nothing worse than hacking the end off crooked and having to re-cut, or cutting it in the wrong place. End all the hassles with a Park saw guide. This device fits in a bench vise. You place the tube through the tool and clamp the tube in place by hand-threading a small knob. The knob presses a nylon block onto the tube to hold the tube in place. To get a straight cut every time, the tool has hardened guides for the hacksaw blade to ride in. As long as you align the tube where you want to cut, you’ll get a perfect cut every time.
8. Park PW3 pedal wrench Everyone needs a good pedal wrench. It’s the only safe way to securely tighten pedals and remove them. (Because the right pedal is close to the chainring and its sharp teeth, it’s unwise to use and push hard on flimsy wrenches.) Park’s sturdy pedal wrench has great jaws and a comfortable long handle that provides ample leverage. A good safety tip is to always shift onto the large chainring before attempting to unscrew the right pedal. With the teeth covered, you’ll be less likely to cut yourself should the pedal wrench slip.
9. Dualco Lubrigun It's always best to clean and regrease used and abused components. But on some bikes, parts may only need regreasing. With handy tool, you can squeeze grease in without disassembling or cleaning the part, which saves time. It also means the part can be lubed more often, so you don’t have to overhaul it as frequently. The gun is also mandatory for components with grease fittings.
10. Ring spoke wrench It’s true you can damage wheels by incorrectly using this round tool with multiple slots. You must match the proper slot to the spoke nipple you plan to turn to true the wheel. But it just takes patience to get this right every time. Plus, this tool fits 8 different spoke-nipple sizes, so you don’t need to buy a bunch of one-slot spoke wrenches to always have the one you need.