What kinds of tools do I need to do bike maintenance, e.g. adding a rack?

Question

I just got a new Trek 7.2 for commuting and getting around town. It's a great bike but I want to add some stuff to it like a rack. I am fairly handy and have more or less a full toolkit in my apartment - do I need any special tools to do bike maintenance and also for adding things like a rack? Or will normal screwdrivers & wrenches do the trick?

(added from a comment) At the moment, I hope to mainly fix flats (but hopefully won't get too many of them) and set my bike up for commuting (adding a rack, lights, potentially bike computer).

Answer 1

The mainstay tools are really wrenches and allen keys, certainly these will be all you need for something trivial like fitting a rack.

But the more you get into things, there are a myriad of different tools around, often which can be used for one and only one task. For example if you want to get the cranks off you need a crank puller, of which there are a couple of different types. To change a cassette, you need the right lockring (possibly a half-a-dozen or more of these). A special tool to break a chain (you replace chains relatively regularly, compared to other maintenance). Another too to swap out a bottom bracket, a rig to check how true your wheel is.....

The good news is that you're not (certainly as an individual wanting to maintain your bike) going to want all of these tools at once - they can be collected over time. And if looked after they pretty much last forever.

I don't know whether you'd count these as tools (I would) but I'd say it is definitely worth buying, up front, tyre levers and a pump, so you're able to change a tyre and repair a puncture. These, unfortunately, are the most common tasks you'll need to perform.

Answer 2

If you plan to do regular bike maintenace, then I would not put off buying a bike specific tool kit. I have a garage with tools capabale of pulling down a car engine (unfortunately the user of my tools is less capable of building one up again :( ), yet I still have a bike specfic toolkit. Although I have a double up in some tools, the bike tool kit is small, portable and has 90% of what I need for any bike job.

Cheap tool kits that work well enough, Such as this for a careful DIY user are readily available. Although some of the tools are a bit nasty, I belive they are much better than not having the right tool as long as you work to there limitations- if you can afford it get better quality. If your bike is older or has overtightened parts there comes a time when the LBS with workshop quality tools and years of experiance needs to be used, but most jobs can be done yourself paying for the kit in no time.

For example - changing a rear cluster - needs two specfic tools and a 5 minute job with them, trip to the LBS without those tools. Chain repair - 5 miutes with a chain breaker, trip to the LBS without one. Spoke replacement on the cluster side of rear wheel - Spoke tool, and cluster tools.. or (you guessed it)

Answer 3

Bike in general I suspect is covered in other questions.

Regarding the rack: Look at the rack. About the only thing it would have special is hex screws. Hex screws are also common on your bike. Typically the instructions will list tools needed. Tool needed vary by rack.

This is tools from one rack installation manual

4mm hex wrench
8mm open end wrench
Hacksaw
File or bench grinder
Grease
Electrical tape or friction tape
Tape measure, ruler, or caliper
Marker or grease pencil (optional)
Level (optional)
Linseed oil, Framesaver, Boeshield, 
 or engine fogging oil (optional)

Admittedly, this is a strange and complex rack. That is the point - the tools needed vary according to the rack that you're installing and the frame that you're installing it to. Consult the installation instructions. If you want to install the rack yourself and it calls for tools you don't have then consider another rack. From the picture the Trek 7.2 does have two mount points for a front rack. In that configuration it is as pretty easy install.