Bicycle Repair Kit
Bicycle Tire Repair Kit And More

How to Choose a Bicycle Repair Kit

A good bicycle repair kit is a must-have item in your possession - whether you're a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) expert or cack-handed at all things mechanical. At some stage, you're going to need to do basic bicycle maintenance or some emergency maintenance on the road, tighten or adjust a saddle, bicycle pedals, or bicycle brakes, or fix a puncture.

If you don't want to ask a professional bike mechanic to do the work for you each time, and suffer the expense - not to mention the embarrassment - that comes with making an emergency call to AAA, then invest in a decent repair kit. We show you what to look for when you're shopping for yours.

All Good Bicycle Repair Kits Need...

A bicycle tire pump
Tire levers/irons
A puncture repair kit
Hex keys
Lightweight wrenches
Spare bicycle inner tubes
Plastic tape
Snap-on chain link

Don't Wait Until You Need the Kit!

Practicing with your bicycle tire repair kit, especially, is a wise idea. Removing a bicycle tire is not a straightforward job and often requires two or even three bicycle tire irons to do.

If you've already done the job five or six times in the relative comfort of your garden, garage or workshop, then you'll be much more capable when you're at the side of the road, fixing a real flat.

It doesn't hurt to test things yourself with the multi-tools that typical bike repair kits include. These tend to be more "fiddly" and enjoy less leverage than the tools in your garage, and some practice may be needed to get up to speed with their use.

Your Road Kit Should be Easily Portable

Your main toolbox is best left in the garage for more major work and maintenance between rides, but when you hit the road and are far from home, you'll want to have the bare necessities on hand without adding excess pounds of weight to your bike.

Many off-the-shelf kits come with Swiss Army Knife-style multi-tools, bicycle tire repair kits, hex keys and most other requirements in a small, lightweight pack that can strap to bicycle frames.

It's highly unlikely that you'll find the perfect one-size-fits-all kit no matter how hard you look, so like with a real tool kit, you should be prepared to mix and match.

Some universal kits:

Choosing a Bicycle Repair Kit for Your Home

For the regular (scheduled) maintenance of your BMX, hybrid or road bike, you'll need a more comprehensive set-up. Because the need for saving space and weight is no longer there, you can buy bigger tools with more heft that are easier to use.

Consider Investing in a Bicycle Repair Stand

For home-based repairs, "serious" cyclists used to getting their hands dirty swear by a bicycle repair stand. If you've ever tried to make your bike balance while attempting to fit a new bicycle chain, change bicycle inner tubes, or remove the saddle, then you'll know the bike seems to gain a life of its own and refuse to co-operate!

Just one crushed finger or bruised skull will be enough to convince you of the worth of adding a stand to your bicycle repair kit. Some of the best:

Remember: it's not important what your bicycle repair kit LOOKS like: it's what it DOES that counts! Don't be afraid to mix and match, make do and patch to get your perfect tool kit.