Bike Shop Girl » bike tools

Problem Solver Tech Tuesday: Tools of #Frostbike

Bike Shop Girl — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:16:19 +0000

Over the past weekend at Frostbike in Minneapolis I spied some very useful tools for shops and mechanics world wide should know of.

Park Tool INF-1 Shop Inflator

Dual presta & shrader valve inflator that connects to your shop compressor.

Park Tool BX-2 Blue Box Tool Case

Do you travel with your tools? Do you want a reason to buy more tools. Here it is. It won’t be cheap, but hell it is big, blue and holds tools.

Park Tool VC-1 Valve Core Tool

If you work with deep section wheels you’ll understand this. No more screwing up your valve extenders and it also does valve cores. Every tubular gluing, deep dish riding, mechanic should have this.

Thanks Problem Solvers for sponsoring this and for being awesome at Frostbike.

Tech Tuesday: Tools of the Trade

Bike Shop Girl — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:39:54 +0000

Make sure to visit the sponsors of this posts.. Problem Solvers!

One concern that so many women (and guys) have with owning a bike is the basics of fixing it, or how to do basic road side repairs. I do recommend that as an avid cyclist even with some mechanical skills that you should become best buds with your local mechanic (beer or ice cream works well.) I also want women to feel empowered and to have a better idea of what they are talking about. Tech Tuesday is the remedy for common tech questions!

A few emails have come through since I started this series that interest of what tools I recommend to start their tool collection. While I have a large collection that is only missing a couple (very expensive and very unique) tools. Sometimes it is best to buy as you need, but if you find a good deal on a tool kit or a shop closing – jump on it!!! While most of the links below are affiliate links that I gain a very small commission, they are all products I use daily and recommend to all. If your local bike shop carries them, order it there!

Starter Kit

These are the tools and accessories I recommend to anyone that owns a bike.

Genuine Innovations Seat Bag and Flat Kit - Includes CO2 adapter, cartridges, tire levers and patch kit
Small Multi-tool - Holding the major allen wrenches, and if you are a mountain biker have a torx for your disc brakes and SRAM XX
Floor Pump – My goto pump is from Pedro, mine has lasted currently 8 years and thousands of bike repairs.

Testing Out the Waters

You are learning how to work on your own bike, the multi-tool isn’t cutting it and you want tools with more leverage and use.

A Repair Stand - The first thing that will make you feel like you are working on a bike like placing your bike in a repair stand. Get up off the garage floor.
Full size allen wrenches – Don’t use the ball end to tighten as you’ll strip out the wrench or the bolt, but you won’t ever go back to using multi-tools for major servicing.
Gear Brush - Maintenance starts with keeping that drivetrain clean!
Lube - Make sure to lube your chain after cleaning it
Grease - Grease and lube are very different. This goes on bolts (that don’t screw in to titanium or around carbon)

The Kitchen Sink

Simply put go buy the Professional Kit from Park Tools.

Keep Your Tools in Style

Bike Shop Girl — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:00:44 +0000

If you are like me, you use various bikes for different reasons. We’ve already talked about my obsession with my basket but I also use panniers and a messenger bag. Because of this I am always moving my tools between bags or bikes. Most of my daily bikes have a designated seat bag under the saddle but for my daily commuter I need something that can easily move and keep all my tools in one place.

I spy the SoulRun Tool Roll

There are many of these sort of these rolls or burrito style bags out there, but this one by far has the most style points. Custom made for you! Their average bag goes for around $20, and they also make larger ones or specific ones for your tubular tires.

Features:
- Larger pocket for a road or mountain tube.
- Medium pocket for tools and tire levers
- Tiny little pocket for patches.

- Cotton Duck fabric construction. Heavy material same as Carhartt.
- 1″ Tubular Webbing with a Quick Release closure.

Keep your tools from getting lost in the the bottom of your bag or stashed in your jersey pocket.

Dimensions:
-Open: 12″(w) x 10″(h)
-Closed: About the size of a wallet, depending on how much you stuff it.

I’ll have more photos and a full review once the one I am ordering arrives!

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