There are some things that shouldn't be deflated. relationships are part of it. The play equipment for ball sports can also be sunk into the opponent's net or basket much better if it is properly pumped up. However, lack of air regularly causes particular frustration for an estimated 30 million cyclists in Germany. Hardly anything is more annoying than a flat tire on the way to work, to daycare, on a weekend trip or even on vacation. And anyway: Breakdowns on the bike put you in a bad mood. Especially if you have the wrong bike tool or no bike tool at all. Read here what you should have on hand for every bike tour and which tools help the fastest with which breakdown.
The undisputed number 1 of bike breakdowns is flat tires. Mountain bikers, young and old racing cyclists, but also cyclists with city bikes are affected every day. Flat is flat. Now you could lock the bike in a suitable place and use public transport to go home or to work. With the right tools, you can fix the problem yourself in just a few minutes. As a rule, a pair of tire levers, a repair kit with a few patches and a small tube of vulcanizing liquid are sufficient - and of course a small air pump. Wet wipes or a wet wipe spray are also practical for on the go, because hands usually don't stay completely clean during this activity. And the small bicycle tool kit is best stowed away in a detachable saddlebag for clever cyclists.
Tip: Make sure your air pump is compatible with your bike's valves. A distinction is made between wheels with car valves and the classic so-called French valves (also called Presta valves). Many air pumps are now compatible with both variants.
Especially if the bike has been in the basement for a long time during the winter months, a few important functions should be checked before the first ride in early summer. Because appointments with your trusted bicycle dealer are currently rare, you can also help yourself provisionally here. These parts and functions are what you should check and this tool is what you need to do it.
The brakes are a cyclist's life insurance. They should work smoothly. And that literally. To check the function, it is sufficient to lift the front and rear wheels once, give them momentum with your hand and first check whether the wheel runs cleanly and centrally between the brake pads. Important: If there is only a millimeter or less left of the brake pad, it should be replaced with a new one as a matter of urgency. This usually works best with a multifunction tool. To do this, the brake pads are loosened and removed with an Allen key and replaced with fresh pads. Align the brake shoes so that they only touch the rim when you pull the brake handle. Bikers whose bikes are equipped with disc brakes should take them to the bike shop if problems arise. You can read a current mountain bike test here.
If it squeaks and creaks in the ears of cyclists, this is usually the chain's call for help. Day after day, it collects dust particles that settle on it, especially in basements. In addition, the important lubricant gradually dries out. If you don’t have any storage space, you also have to deal with rust film and weather damage. The chain tension can also decrease if the bike is not used for a long time. A chain gauge (chain wear gauge) is helpful to check chain wear. This indicates whether there is still enough tension on the chain. If this is the case, the chain should first be cleaned and then lubricated with the best possible chain oil. For the spring bike cleaning, cleaning with a chain cleaning device is worthwhile.
Hobbyists who want to replace the chain on their bike themselves need a chain tool, connecting link pliers and a few individual chain links. A set with all the tools for changing the chain is available here.
Do you have a bike with hub gears? Congratulation. This type of circuit requires relatively little maintenance. Even a few weeks of rest can hardly harm her. The situation is somewhat different with derailleur gears. Similar to the chain, the moving parts suffer the most here, i.e. the deflection rollers, the small springs and the front derailleur. Important: Use water sparingly when cleaning the rear derailleur. This creeps into all cracks and flushes out lubricants in places where it is urgently needed. A disused toothbrush is the better choice for coarse dirt. Then a few splashes of oil on the drive parts. Finished. All important tools are included in this bicycle care set. Setting or readjusting the circuit is better left to a professional for laypeople. If you don't have any experience with this, you may break more here.
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