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*Cycling Tips
Put
Together A Basic Tool Kit For The Road
Basic Kit
For the most common breakdown, a flat tire, carry a spare
tube and tire levers (these make it easy to remove the tire
and they usually come in sets of two or three). A patch kit for
repairing one of your tubes if you have a second flat. A tire boot
(a 1- x 2-inch patch or an old section of tube or tire) for tire cuts
(the boot is placed between the tube and tire to cover the hole). A
chain tool allows you to fix a broken or damaged chain. And, a
mini-tool (some include chain tools) with four-, five- and
six-millimeter Allen wrenches and screwdrivers will allow you to
adjust most of the bike's bolts. And, always carry cash for
food and to call someone in case of the rare failure that you can't
fix.
Grease Be Gone
Other handy things to carry include a little hand cleaner
(paste types work well) and a small rag to scrub your hands
after completing a repair. A great way to carry cleaner is to pack it
into an empty 35-mm film container and stow it in your seat bag.
Make Sure Your Mini-Tool Has What You Need
When selecting your all-in-one mini tool, test it on your bike.
Bicycles and components vary and not all tools work well on all bikes.
Check to see if yours can access the brake and derailleur adjustments;
if the chain tool looks sensible; if the all-in-one includes the right
tools for your bike. Chain tools can turn out to be great ride savers
should your or a friend's links fail, but some tools don't include
them.
Carrying Tools Helps Others Help You
You might think that it's senseless to carry tools and
supplies if you don't know how to fix your bike. But, if you carry the
right stuff, you'll at least have what you need and can try to repair
things. Also, you'll have what's needed in case another cyclist stops
to help.
Pack A Manual, Too
If you're a novice mechanic, consider tucking a small repair
book in your kit with your tools. This might require carrying
everything in a slightly larger bag, but it'll pay dividends if the
advice in the book helps you successfully repair your bike.
Don't leave that repair book in your kit, either. If you read it
before the ride, you'll have a better idea where to begin when things
go wrong. You can also learn about repair by watching friends fix
their bikes. Bicycles are fairly user friendly and with a little
know-how, experience and the right tools, minor repairs are easy to
fix. |
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