Basic tools you need for a bicycle?

[finy]

Hey,

 

I was wondering what kind of tools you'd need to transport your bicycle around on buses.

 

For example, I could get the train from Chiang Mai to Surat Thani, but I'd need to jump in a bus to reach pier for Samui.

 

I only need to have enough tools to take off wheels and probably pedals. I could take to shop if there was any actual problems.

 

cheers!

[CNXBKKMAN]

A lot of wheels have a quick release lever so just your hands are ok. A multi tool with various allen keys and other bits ( all folds together like swiss army knife) can do almost everything else including pedals if the pedals have the hex shaped allen bolt in the axle. Where the pedal is attached to the crank, look around the other side and you will see the hex shaped hole or not. (Remember lefthand righthand threads on the pedals and maybe get the bike shop to loosen the pedals first before retightening not as strong so you can easily loosen later) 

       If you dont have quick release wheels or allen keys wont work with your pedals you will need a wrench for the wheel bolts and pedal wrench. Personally i would visit a few bike shops to see what they have. Most bike shops dont carry many tools so if there are a few shops not too far away from each other it might be worth checking to see whats on offer.

[Deserted]

You don't have to do anything getting on a bus or train. It's only when you fly that you need to make alterations. 

[oldcarguy]

if you were going to be far away from a bike shop, or your bike had odd size tires , I would bring a spare tube , a patch kit and tools to change it......

 

if you have an odd bike, think of parts that might break and are not be available from the locals,

[el jefe]

21 hours ago, Deserted said:

You don't have to do anything getting on a bus or train. It's only when you fly that you need to make alterations. 

I've had to take off pedals and wheels, or wait a day for the next bus. Not often, but more than once. And much more likely if you're traveling in a group.

[bobfish]

Might be more than you need, but I've had success on more than one occasion carrying the Park mtb-3  rescue multitool, and a spare chain link. 

Latest version here - http://www.parktool.com/product/premium-rescue-tool-mtb-3-2

[impulse]

If the OP (or anyone else that's interested) has a mailing address in Thailand, I'd suggest going to Lazada.com, searching under "bicycle tool" and then clicking the box on the left that limits the search to Thai based vendors.  Could beat hours and hours of scrounging around bike shops, though most of them have tools- albeit often in a drawer somewhere and not so easy to describe what you want.

 

Gotta admit, I was kind of gobsmacked by some of the tool kits.  Over the years in Thailand, I've spent days and days scrounging for some of the tools in the boxed kits.

 

Edited August 29, 2017 by impulse

[el jefe]

Most of the answers here are for far more tools than the OP wants or needs for his specific question.

To be able to remove the pedals, buy a "Pedal Wrench", preferably Park brand. Many decent bike shops will have it. pretty easy to find in CM. It's very big. Buy a second, smaller wrench with the same size end at any hardware store. Before your trip, use the pedal wrench to remove the pedals, re-grease the threads, then put the pedals back on snugly but not tightened hard. If you need to remove them later, they'll come off easily with the small wrench.

If your wheels have quick release, no tools are necessary. If they are bolted on, you'll need a decent wrench that won't strip when you remove the bolts. Again, you should test it before you leave, but the wheels need to be tightened very firmly when they are put on the bike.

As for all the other tools mentioned in this thread, they're great. I'll add that you should carry tire levers and a pump too. But there is no point in carrying tools unless you know how to use them.

 

 

[HooHaa]

generally speaking, if your bike is of quality and under 10 years old, you will need a 3 way hex key, i believe 4,5,6 mm

 

this would allow you to remove stem, drop fork, remove pedals, remove rear mech,  adjust levers on handle bar, adjust handlebar, remove brake rotrs, adjust v brakes, remove chain rings etc, etc. 

needle nose pliers if you need to tension cables.

mos bikes will have a q/r on front and rear skewer, if not, your hex key will do that work too.

 

of all the tools i own, the hex key is most frequently grabbed.

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item-img/ROCKBROS-Bicycle-3-Way-Hex-Wrench-Spanner-Cycling-Mountain-Bike-Bicycle-MTB-Repair-Tool-4MM-5MM/32790214880.html?spm=2114.10010108.1000017.2.4b24ae2bpcH8Wa

 

re remarks about a small pedal wrench or spanner,  most quality pedals these days have a 6mm hex socket on the inside.

 

 

Edited August 29, 2017 by HooHaa

[ttakata]

It might be easier to just see a picture of your bike and how the pedals are mounted to the cranks.  A cheap but heavy adjustable wrench or 2 could work, allen wrenches, or various other means.  With pedals you need decent leverage to loosen them.  You can buy decent quick release Wellgo or Xpedo pedals cheap off ebay or aliexpress.com and if you have qr axles no tools are needed at all.

 

Here are some pricey locally available.  https://www.bikebikeride.com/products/wellgo-pedal-quick-release

[MadMuhammad]

On 28/08/2017 at 9:03 AM, oldcarguy said:

if you were going to be far away from a bike shop, or your bike had odd size tires , I would bring a spare tube , a patch kit and tools to change it......

 

if you have an odd bike, think of parts that might break and are not be available from the locals,

As a serious question, are tubeless tires, sealants and such commonly available in Thailand? 

 

[StreetCowboy]

I bought a Lezyne multi-tool which I thought was brilliant; I brought it down the pub to show off to my mates.  But the bulk of the tool made it difficult to access some of those hex socket screws on the brakes; and after three years in my sweaty backpack its rusted something dreadful.  I've just spent five minutes with a tin of WD-40 to free up the movement.  

 

When I first bought the bike I asked my brother to send over a bike spanner, only to discover there's not a hex-head bolt or nut to be found on a modern bike...,

 

Edited October 23, 2017 by StreetCowboy

[junglechef]

As a serious question, are tubeless tires, sealants and such commonly available in Thailand? 
 

Yes most modern bike shops will stock all.

You also might need them to mount them as getting a tubeless tire to set on a tubeless ready wheel can be tricky especially without an air compressor.


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[MadMuhammad]

Ah good news. Thanks for the info regarding mounting. I’m quite happy to do the work I was just concerned of the availability should I require a new tyre in a hurry.

Edited October 24, 2017 by MadMuhammad