The indexing of your gears is performed using the barrel adjuster, which can be found either on the derailleur, shifter or in-line in the cable housing. Kaden Gardener / Our Mediaįrom time to time, you may need to adjust your gears to stop them from mis-shifting or being excessively noisy.Īlthough there are many elements to adjusting the gears on your bike, being able to index them so they move from one cog to the next easily is a good foundational skill. You may need to adjust the indexing from time to time. Once you’re done, dry the bike and apply chain lube to your chain to keep it running smoothly. While you’re waiting, you can clean the rest of the bike using a specific bike cleaner before moving back to the chain. Start by cleaning the chain with a specific degreaser, which will normally take three to five minutes to work its magic. We’d recommend avoiding using a pressure washer because they can blast the grease out of the bearings. Start by wetting the bike either using a bucket and sponge or a hose pipe. We’d recommend cleaning your bike at least once a week in the summer and after every ride in the winter. You could consider doing this at the end of your ride before you head back inside to get the job out the way. While cleaning your bike may feel like a chore, it doesn’t have to be too labour-intensive. The muck, salt and grit on the roads and trails will eat away at your drivetrain components if you don’t look after them. Will Poole / Immediate MediaĬleaning your bike will keep it running smoothly and reduce the wear on components, saving you from prematurely replacing parts or having to make extra trips to the bike shop. Getting into a regular cleaning regime will work wonders for your bike. Shock pump (if you’ve bought a mountain bike with an adjustable air fork or shock).Torque wrench (critical if your bike uses carbon components, but we’d recommend this tool for all bikes).A set of good-quality hex keys (and torx keys if applicable).Bike pump (both a track pump to use at home and a mini-pump in case you puncture on a ride).Here’s a list of the tools you need when first starting out: These often contain the majority of tools you’ll need, although there may be some you’ll need to buy separately, such as a torque wrench. It’s ultimately best to invest in a quality set of hex keys for home use.Īnother option is to buy one of the best bike tool kits. We’d always advise investing in higher-quality tools to make your maintenance as close to painless as possible and minimise the risk of rounding a bolt.Ī multi-tool will serve you well when you’re out on a ride and for performing basic adjustments at home, but they lack the leverage needed for some tasks. Other tasks require specialist tools or are simply made much easier when you have a tool designed specifically for working on a bike. ![]() Some bike maintenance jobs can be done with everyday tools, such as hex keys. Having the right tools to fix your bike is the first step on your bicycle maintenance journey. You don’t need everything immediately, but there are some essential tools you should get to keep your bike running smoothly.
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