Sometimes, you just need to do a little bike maintenance at home to keep your bike clean and running well.
So, what are the best bike maintenance tools to have for those small projects that you’d like to complete yourself?
Floor Pump – you should check your tire pressure before every ride, so make sure that you’ve got a great floor pump at home to complete this task. You want one that is easy to use and the gauge is easy to read. We’ve got a selection of floor pumps at the shop. Stop in and check them out!
Hex Wrench Set – there are lots of small adjustments that you might want to make on your bike, like the seat height and making sure your bolts are tight. You can do this yourself if you have a hex wrench set at home. We suggest Park Tools because they are durable and these sets come in many different varieties.
Brush Set – in order to get all those nooks and crannies clean after a few rides, you want to have a good brush set. These can be fairly inexpensive, but you will love having all the shapes and sizes at your fingertips when you’re getting your bike all squeaky clean. 
Bike Stand – while this isn’t a necessary item, it makes bike maintenance so much easier! It elevates your bike off the floor if you need to work on tires or shifting. It also keeps your bike in one place if you’re required to do a little heavy wrenching to get something on or off, like pedals.
Shop Rags, Cleaners, and Lube – a clean bike is a happy bike. Simply wiping down a dusty bike and re-lubing your chain goes a long way in keeping things from wearing out prematurely and parts from breaking. We have tons of options, just stop in and ask. For shop rags, an old t-shirt is a great way to wipe down the chain to remove dirt and grime.
Tire Levers – you should have these in your pack! They make the job of changing tires possible. Don’t try to tough it out and stick your fingers in those spaces to get the tire back on the rim. Tire levers are cheap and convenient.
There are many other bike maintenance tools that you will eventually collect over the years as you ride and maintain your bike. We think this list is great for starting out. As always, if you have any questions or need any help with maintenance, stop in! We have many different (affordable) options for bike maintenance if you don’t have the time or patience. We’re here to make sure every ride is a great ride!
