Bikes are incredibly fun to ride. And, for most cyclists, they are fun to work on as well. However, nothing ruins an evening wrenching in your garage more than not having a proper tool. How often have you been elbow deep in a bottom bracket swap with the chain, chainring, and cranks removed, only to find that you don’t have the proper-sized BB tool? Likely, the cyclist in your life has, which makes something on this mechanics list the perfect gift.
Keep it Clean
One of the most important things we can do to maintain our bikes is to clean them regularly. A bike’s longevity is affected by how clean it is kept, and having a proper cleaning kit makes things that much easier. Ensure the kit includes multiple brushes, with both soft and hard-bristled options, as well as a cleaning solution compatible with disc brakes. Something like the Muc-Off 8-in-1 ($80 from Backcountry) cleaning kit has everything you need to get started. Plus, it comes in a bucket for easy and tidy storage.
For Real Messy Bikes
If we’re being honest, cleaning can be a chore, especially when the weather turns cold. Brands like Muc-Off also make pressure washers ($191.99 from Amazon) that make cleaning your bike that much easier. It is portable, comes with a foam cannon, and a waterproof bag for storage.
Full Mechanic Tool Kits
Buying a gift for the at-home bike mechanic can be tricky. On the one hand, if someone has been a cyclist for a while, they may already have at least some basic tools. For the newer cyclist who wants to work on their bike themselves, a complete tool kit is essential.
Feedback Sport’s Team Edition Tool Kit ($375 from Backcountry) has 19 different tools — just about everything a mechanic needs. Along with the various-sized hex wrenches and other basic tools, this kit also includes more specialized tools, such as a bottom bracket tool, a cassette wrench, and cassette pliers. Park Tool ($428.95 from Backcountry) also offers a comprehensive tool kit with the AK-5. The Feedback kit is designed to hang from a repair stand for easy reach, while the Park is a more traditional toolbox-style. Yes, these are a bit expensive, but quality tools that don’t strip bolts usually are.
Tools Every Mechanic Needs
On the other hand, someone with years in the sport has likely acquired at least some of the basic tools. But, there are likely some missing from their lineup — probably a specific tool for a specific job.
Master link chain pliers ($18.95 from Backcountry) are inexpensive, fit easily inside a stocking, and will be used more often than you think! They make removing and replacing a chain so much easier than any “hack” you will find on the internet.
Chain pliers will also come in handy for chain waxing. The cyclist who wants to fiddle less with cleaning and lubing their chain after every ride should consider a chain waxing kit ($79 from Backcountry). Brands like Silca and Cyclowax offer complete waxing kits, which include a wax heating pot, a drying stand, and a chain cable.
Nearly everything that rotates on a bike has a torque spec (in Newton-meters). And, those torque specs span a significant range, from 5-6Nm on stem bolts, to 40 or 50Nm on a bottom bracket. Smaller torque wrenches can handle just that — stem bolts, seatpost collars, and axles. Something like the Granite Design Rocknroll Torque Tool ($59.99 from Amazon) is compact, accurate, and comes with all the necessary bits.
For cranks, cassettes, bearings, and bottom brackets (and surely some others), a larger torque wrench is required. While it is on the spendier side, a wrench like Topeak D-Torq ($344.95 from Competitive Cyclist) can tighten a bolt up to 80Nm. The D-Torq comes with 18 different bits, so it surely fits every nook and cranny on a bike. It can also accurately torque a bolt to only 4Nm, making it the only torque wrench needed.
Perhaps one of the coolest tools is the Pedros Pro BB Socket Set ($112.49 from Pedros). Because the bike industry can’t agree on standardized sizes, every bottom bracket is slightly different. The Pro BB Socket Set is like having five bottom bracket tools in one.
Your favorite mechanic already have a full set of tools? If they don’t have an Abbey Bike Tools Team Issue Pedal Wrench, they should. It’s one of our favorite ways to remove and install pedals and includes a 15mm box end wrench on one side and 6 & 8mm Allen wrench fittings on the other side that swivels, allowing for 90º leverage that quickly converts to 180º for fast spinning. Light enough to carry with you in your travel tool kit, and the wood handle will develop a nice patina over time ($137 from Abbey Bike Tools).
Making the Bike Repair Process Easier
Quality tools make working on bikes easier. Certain products make the process of fixing a bike easier. Dropping tools, losing bolts, and constantly having items just out of reach make bike repair that much more of a chore. Fortunately, these gifts fix that.
There are a lot of mechanic apron options, ranging from $19 to $50. Aprons keep clothes clean(er), but they also have pockets for holding stuff. The Park Tool Heavy Duty Shop Apron ($32.95 from Park Tool) has seven pockets — three big, four smaller — for holding tools, bolts, or whatever else needs to be within reach.
Park Tool also makes a Work Tray ($23.09 from Park Tool) that mounts directly to a repair stand. Trays like this have holes to hold hex wrenches and other tools, along with a space for holding bolts, making a repair that much easier. Oh, and if the bike mechanic in your life doesn’t already have a repair stand, get them one!
For bigger projects, consider an entire workbench. The PB-1 Portable Workbench ($274.95 from Backcountry) is completely portable, features a large work area, and offers plenty of storage spots, preventing bolts from rolling away.
And an easy gift every mechanic needs is a refill on disposable gloves ($13.99 from Amazon).
Not Bike Repair Per Se…
Now, to be completely honest, the following gift suggestions aren’t “required” for the bike mechanic in your life. However, they do make the hours spent in the garage wrenching on bikes quite a bit better.
From a simple tire swap to more in-depth projects like suspension service, all projects are better spent with music. Or a favorite podcast. No at-home bike shop is complete without a Bluetooth speaker, such as the Skullcandy Terrain speaker ($60 from REI). It lasts up to 14 hours between charges, is durable and waterproof, and, despite its small stature, delivers high-quality sound.
Also essential to turning wrenches is staying hydrated. Frigidaire’s Retro Mini Fridge ($53.88 from Home Depot) holds 15 cans of beer — uh, we mean, preferred beverage.
And, if all else fails, there is always the gift card route. This can be especially helpful for more significant projects, such as a wheel build, suspension service, or replacing frame bearings. Chat with your local bike shop and get a gift card for one of those services because, let’s face it, some things should be left to the professionals.
