The DIY Bike Maintenance Experiment

I enjoy doing as many projects as I can myself which is why I continue to self manage our rentals. I actually enjoy this work. Time is usually the limiting factor but this year I decided to start working on a new skill: bicycle maintenance.

We have 6 bikes in the QCI household (but only one car) and if you add our immediate family there are many more bikes that may need some fixing. In the below post I’ll share and review the bike maintenance tools I’ve purchased so far and some tips on where to buy. I will continue to update this post as I buy new tools and my experience with them.

Oumers Chain Whip Review

One of my first purchases was this Oumers Chain whip with Cassette / Rotor Lockring Removal Tool Pack from Amazon. On one of our bikes the cassette seemed sticky which likely meant the freehub needed to get cleaned up and greased. I also considered the Park Tool version of the same product, but it is both more expensive and didn’t come with the lock ring tool. Note that generally Park Tool makes the highest quality tools. Given the anticipated unfrequent use I figured that the Oumers chain whip would do just fine and it has. I have successfully used it a few times and am happy with the purchase.

 

Park Tool Cone Wrench Set Review

While I was able to get the freehub apart using the Oumers chain whip and some other wrenches I was unable to tighten one of the bolts when I put it back together. This required a cone wrench. You can buy higher quality cone wrenches individually but for the price of two individual cone wrenches from Park Tool (around $18), you can buy this Park Tool set. It covers every size most people should need including: 13mm and 14mm, 15mm and 16mm, 17mm and 18mm, and 13mm and 15mm. These certainly don’t feel as hefty as their more expensive counterparts, but they worked perfect for my needs. I imagine they will last for many years to come.

The Club Utility (Bike) Lock Review

One of the most frustrating things to buy is a bike lock. Look at almost any lock and you’ll find some negative reviews about the lock being compromised. How much you spend on a lock will ultimately be determined by where you live. My goal was to by a bike lock which would deter thieves and one that would likely be more secure than what others use. I landed on this lock which is branded as a utility lock. It’s called “The Club” and it looks as intimidating as its name. At time of writing it’s just $14 which in my opinion is a great deal. We bought the smaller version and have found its ability to expand quite handy, especially when locking up our ebike, which has a wide kickstand forcing it to be placed further away from bike racks. The only downside is how heavy it is. You’ll definitely notice the weight of this if you place it in your backpack, but in my opinion this is a small price to pay for having a sturdier lock.

More to be added soon!