Perhaps none of these are essential but they are all items you will never regret buying (apart from one)
Park Tool ZP-5 Flush Cut Pliers
- Price: £24.99
- From: Freewheel
Try as we might, even in the world of internally routed everything there is still a need for zip ties. And yes you can just use scissors, Stanley knife or regular snips to do your trimming but flush cut snippers like these are lovely. You’ll never go back to the old ways after going flush. These Park Tool versions are incredibly sharp too (so you may find yourself using them for various DIY tasks too). As well as making zip ties look a bit more ‘finished’, those of you who have ever received a cut from non-flush cut zip tie will know how much that hurts. And bleeds. Especially if it’s a cut on your leg mid-ride. Oof.
Pedro’s DH tyre lever
- Price: £17.99
- From: Pedro’s
This tool has seen some action. Those of you with carbon rims may wish to wrap a bit of insulation tape around the tip if you’re anxious. I use this tool pretty much every time I remove or install a tyre. Because why not? It makes easy tyres even easier, normal tyres nice and easy, and impossible tyres possible. There are alternative ‘big metal tyre levers’ out there but none has the tip shape or sheer strength of the classic Pedro’s version.
Nutrak Sealant Syringe
- Price: £12.99
- From: Freewheel
Whilst most of time when installing tyres I simply squirt sealant straight out of the bottle into the tyre and then finish putting the tyre bead on the rim, occasionally I do have the need to inject sealant via the valve whilst the wheel is fully tyre-shod. It’s arguably less techno than some other more expensive injectors but I don’t seem to get on very well with the fancy injectors. I understand this Nutrak one and am fine with it. Remove valve core, thread on the black end of this injector, squirt a measured amount of sealant in, unthread end, reinstall valve core. No waste. No waste. Just works.
Rope vernier / Rideguard ruler
- Price: £freebie from The London Boat Show / £14.00 Rideguard PF1
- From: Marlow Ropes / Rideguard
The black things comes supplied with RideGuard mudguards. The white I picked up as a freebie from the London Boat Show back in the day (it was next door the London Cycle Show). Normal people won’t need these things as much as bike testers do. But for accurate and consistent suspension sag setting-up, either of these two dinky things are very useful. Basically you can put them fully up against the stanchion or shock body without the risk of scratching the surface (which can happen with metal tape measures or rulers). And the fact that you can rest these measuring instruments directly on to the suspension seal lip and O-ring means you can be sure of your measurements.
Muc-Off eBike Drivetrain Tool
- Price: £20.00
- From: Muc-Off
Very ebike specific. And very specific to the type of ebike motor you have. Basically you need to have an ebike with a chainring that mounts via spider and chainring bolts. Direct mount chainrings won’t work with this. But if you have a Specialized or Shimano motor for example, this makes oiling your chain a heck of a lot simpler. Thus you will do it more and/or better! Select the correct bit end (5/6mm hex, T25), insert it into the chainring bolt, pedal your crank backwards and voila! You can oil your chain just like you used to do in the analogue days.
Park Tool FCT-1 Fork Cap Tool
- Price: £13.99
- From: Freewheel
Something rather niche. A cube for undoing stuck fork caps. Again, normal humans probably shouldn’t rush out and buy one of these but for bike mechanics (and bike jounros) who encounter a fair few seized-on fork caps will be welcome to see a solution that works and doesn’t risk damaging someone else’s bike.
and…
Wera 9 Piece Colour Coded Allen Key Set
- Price: £33.95
- From: Wera
I think my expectations were too high. Nonetheless, this colourful set of Allen keys was very disappointing. There were two main issues I had with them. Firstly, the insertion depth of the non-ball end was occasionally too shallow (for things like thru-axles) and secondly, the plastic sleeves weren’t great. The more frequently used ones (for me, the 4 and 6mm) suffered from splits ends and ultimately ended up slipping and spinning on the shaft. I ended up replacing this whole set with a pack of non-sleeved colour-coded ones from Lidl of all places, which have been surprisingly great so far (you can see two of them in the top left of the photo above).
Fresh Goods Friday is sponsored by Yellow Jersey
Being new to tubeless, I found a syringe invaluable – use the tube with the long needle spout.
I don’t like the idea of tipping fluid in and then trying to get the rest of the tyre on the rimÂ
There are two versions, the mountain bike one is wider and happily broke the bead seal on a. pair of 2.8s seemingly perma-welded to a WTB rim, just a horrible Maxxis/WTB combo. Just make sure you order the mountain bike version. Brilliant, effective tool.Â
I also own a Cushcore bead dropper, which is kind of a Pedros lever on steroids with a nice rounded handle so you can push the bead down into the central well of the rim pressing down at 90Ëš to the sidewall. Does exactly what’s it’s supposed to, but didn’t make a dent in the horrible welded, ‘you can stand on me, but I’m not budging’ tyre/rim combo.
There’s very definitely a technique to inserts – not one I ever want to use on the trail – but with really stubborn combinations, a mix of the right tool and the right approach is arguably the only way to triumph over the dark, malevolent forces of inserts. Unless you have the sturdy thumbs of a world champion rock climber I guess.
Similar to my experience with the CushCore bead dropper tool on a tennerager-level-stubborn tyre/rim/insert combo: Conti CrossKing/Reserve 30HD/CushCore. Took more force than I was happy applying to get the bead off, involving a combination of inappropriate tools from around my garage. I’d not stand a chance of removing the tyre trailside if something happened.
For anyone looking for the Vittoria tool, this might be worth a look. Doesn’t specifically state it’s the MTB version although that’s what’s pictured (the box at least has ‘MTB’ on it) and no mention of the 6 tyre lever things. £12.99 vs the ~£25ish it is most other places: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/pliers-and-tyre-lever/_/R-p-X8910022
He’s not called “One-shot" for nothing y’know
I (re)use the little bottle of Stans. It fits into the top of the stans tubeless valves, and is about the right amount. Just pop my finger over the end when I’m tipping it up
Never found an issue with Wera hex or Torx wrenches. Â Use the ball end for low-torque just spinning the bolt and then nip up with the other end and check with a torque wrench. Â Not rounded a bolt head or wrench in the 5 years I have been using Wera wrenches. Â Have to admit I am mechanically sympathetic and look after tools.
Nail clippers as mentioned above are great for cutting zip-ties.
Tyre fitting tools have moved on so much since I have been riding. Â The Vittoria tool and a Tyre Glide have made a great difference – especially with tyre liners and poor rim and tyre combinations. Â My thumbs thank the inventors of these!
Chain link pliers – made joining or splitting a chain at the split link so much easier!
Cable cutters. Â Nothing has beaten the old Suntour ones I lost 😭. Â The Park ones are ok – but just not as good.
@tthew how do you do this? I can’t picture how this would work. (I’ve got a set, one of my favourite tools)
£20 quid for the Muc Off tool? Just use an Allen key bit wrapped in some gaffer tape.
Yeah Wera do both types, I have them