Home Mechanic Tool Lists

Maintaining your own bike can be fun, but it can also be confusing at times to know which tools you will need to perform the service you want. Below are a series of recommended tool lists for general maintenance of the average road or off-road bike. Attempt to develop two sets of tools- one for inside a seat bag for on-the-trail/road use, and another set for home use.

Because these lists are for "average" bikes, your particular bike may need more, less, or slightly different tools than what is listed here. For example, if your bike has a "threadless" headset, you will not need the headset wrench listed for threaded headsets. When in doubt, bring your bike to a professional bike shop and ask about a specific procedure or tool. Better yet, sign up for the Park Tool School, a class in bicycle maintenance at your local shop.

There are several sources of tools. Non-bicycle specific tools are usually available at better hardware stores, automotive shops, tool stores, and some department stores. Check with your local bike shop for specialty bicycle tools. When a Park Tool is our recommendation, the tool number is given. There are some cases where there may be more than one Park Tool that will work- in these cases, we will recommend either the most common or the simplest tool.

Please click one of the four levels of maintenance involvement listed below for a complete list of recommended tools and miscellaneous parts. These levels are arbitrarily set and you may of course fit a combination of levels.

Essentials
These are just the essentials to just to keep you on the bike keeping up the air pressure in the tires, fixing the occasional flat tire, and cleaning and lubricating the chain. Otherwise, we will assume that any technical work will be done by a professional bicycle shop.

Novice Repair Level
Besides being capable of performing the services of the fixing a flat tire, lubricating the chain, and cleaning the bike, you want to be able to do things like replace the chain, gear cables and housing. You may want to get the wheels straight and true enough to clear the brake pads, and have the brakes adequately adjusted. Other repairs, such as bearing overhaul or derailleur replacement, we assume will be done by a professional bicycle shop.

Intermediate Repair Level
Moving up from the Novice Repair-person, you want be able to replace a few worn out components, say a rear derailleur, chainrings, or cassette cogs. You want to be capable of adjusting bearings, but you won't necessarily be pulling them apart. You want to be able to perform what bike shops typically call a "major tune-up".

Advanced Tool Level
At this level, you’ll want to service internal bearings and perform complete overhauls. You will be replacing cables, housing, and truing wheels. You may own several bikes, or work on friends bikes. You also have a place to set up your shop, say in a basement or garage, and you want to duplicate professional shop services.