Outdoor cycling is always exciting for cyclists, whether riding a Rinasclta bike, mountain bike, or e-bike. It’s perfect for people who love nature views, the sunshine, wind, even rain, and snow. In today’s guide, we will show you the essential tools for your adventure outdoors.
So, let’s get busy, pack up our gear, and get in the mood for a leisurely ride without letting go.
It’s not uncommon for the joy of the ride to turn over. For example, there’s a flat tire! So what tools do we need to deal with the unexpected? As a carbon bike manufacturer, Rinasclta bike will guide you through the six essential tools for your bike.
Here’s what you need: a combination of tools, tail light, spare wheel, patch, pry bar, and pump.
1. Combination tools
Whether it’s a long or short ride, your bike may need repairs or adjustments, and this is where a handy and practical combination tool becomes a necessity. A combination tool set usually comes with various hexagonal spanners, star spanners (T25), one and one Phillips screwdrivers, and a chain punch. Spanners and screwdrivers are hand-operated devices for tightening nuts and bolts and adjusting handlebars, seat post, saddle, or brakes. A chain punch is a mechanical device used to break a bicycle chain to be mended using the same tool.
2. Spare tires
Tire punctures are the most common problem when riding out. Although I use vacuum tires, I have witnessed the embarrassment of having a small cut on the sidewall of an outer tire and not being able to repair it with self-repairing fluid. Tires run a long way and don’t need replacement often, but it is safe to carry a spare tire in remote areas. Ensure to buy folding tires; they take up little space, are easy to use, and can be replaced in a short time, so you can continue riding. Also, have a tire lever and a pressure gauge with you. Tire levers can help you take the tire off of your bike, and a pressure gauge is used while pumping so you can know how much air is needed.
3. Tire repair tools
You may also need a set of tire repair tools in addition to the spare tire. Murphy’s theorem reminds us that a freshly replaced inner tube can break again. A well-chosen tool pack will help you maintain your bike. You can make adjustments to improve its performance and repair the bike whenever needed. The essentials you need to carry are spare tubes and patch kits. Using a patch kit, you can mend a small hole, while tube replacement is required for a large puncture. Moreover, the patch kit is compact and can deal with all possible tire problems.
4. Pry bar
Pry bars are used to pull two objects apart. It helps you apply a significant amount of force between entities due to their angled, flattened ends that act as a lever. These are durable, reliable, and multi-purpose bars made of steel. Choosing the best tool for your job is essential. You should consider the brand, materials, and price while purchasing a bar. When patching a tire, we recommend using a nylon hard pry bar. The pry bar that comes with a ten-dollar box of tire repair kits can be thrown away as it breaks once you pry.
5. Headlights
Headlights are not just for use at night; studies have shown that daylight-visible headlights are an excellent way for cyclists to make themselves more visible to drivers, even during the day. In today’s world of distracted drivers, it’s more important than ever to take steps to improve safety, even in daylight, so that car drivers can have more time to see and react. While riding at night, you should run at least two lights on your bike.
There is a front-facing to see the road ahead and a rear-facing tail light to let the drivers behind you notice your vehicle. The front light should be white and luminous for you to see any obstacle in the way, and the rear light should be red and pulsing, bright enough for drivers behind without distracting them.
6. Portable air cartridges
I’m sure you’ve all experienced the poisonous milk of talking to a few casual riders on a night ride and bragging about how you’ve never had a flat tire on this road, only to have your life violate the tire gods within five kilometers of going out. If there are riders with tire repair tools and air cylinders, thank God; otherwise, they would have to walk back to the shop to fix the tire themselves, leaving tears in their eyes.
Whether it’s a leisure ride, short or medium distance ride, or a single-day race or multi-day race, riders will experience a lot of vehicle malfunctions at one time or another, and the most frequent and most worrying is a flat tire. When he was calmly picking the inner tube out, the riders were amazed to see that there were 20 to 30 pieces of tire patch all over a slim inner tube, and then he calmly polished, glued, pressed, and finished with a fantastic hand speed of 300 hits with a small air cylinder, without changing his face. The “Little Prince of Flat Tires.”
When CO2 cylinders were prevalent, they couldn’t meet the needs of all types of riders due to their temperature-dependent and disposable nature. A cost-effective portable cylinder can give you an extra option; after all, you won’t panic if you have a tool at hand, and your fellow riders can comfortably start performing their ancestral tire-fixing skills when they get a flat tire to promote friendship.
Every cyclist needs bike tools for maintaining their bike. Along with the instruments mentioned above, ensure to equip yourself with essentials. Take a helmet with you to protect your head. It is vital to stay hydrated, so throw a water bottle in your bag. You can add some additional specific tools depending on the difficulty of the road you are on, the route you are taking, and your own mechanical skills.
Pack your bags and get going! Finally, I wish all cyclists a flat tire-free ride, a power increase every day, a less crowded life, and a better life.
