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Park Tool Bike maintenance sounds difficult but there are certain easy things you can do at home.
- Working on your own bike not only saves money, but it also gives you the skills to make it home if something goes wrong on a ride.
- With a few basic tools, and some instructional books and videos, you can do a lot of regular maintenance at home instead of going to a mechanic.
- Larger maintenance and repairs should still be done by a professional though, especially if you're not sure about your abilities starting out.
- Even if you don't want to fix things, cleaning and adjusting your bike will ensure that the bike fits you well and always performs flawlessly.
Bikes have become more and more complicated over the years.
Cables now run inside tubes, there are 12 gears where once there were five, and lightweight carbon parts can crack if over-tightened or slip if they're assembled without the proper grip paste. The complexity makes us bring our bikes to repair shops when something doesn't feel right, but for basic repairs and maintenance, doing them at home can be easy.
You can fix almost anything on a modern bike with a few basic tools, and at the very least, you can keep your bike clean to avoid premature wear and tear of components. Learning how to do a few basic repairs at home also not only saves you money, but it will also ensure that you can get home safely if you suffer a mechanical issue on the trail.
When I need a tool that isn't in my tool kit such as a hacksaw for steerer tubes or a headset press, that's when I take my bike to a skilled professional. Over time, your confidence and abilities will grow, but if you ever doubt your ability to fix something, definitely head to a mechanic to check it over when your safety is at risk.
These are a few tools that I turn to time and again, whether I'm dialing in the fit on a road bike or adjusting the shifting on a mountain bike.
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