How to Assemble a Bicycle Repair Kit
Having a bicycle repair kit with you on the road can make the difference between a short stop and a long sit on the side of the road waiting for a friend to pick you up. You might even end up carrying your bicycle all the way home. Assemble a mobile bicycle repair kit and you'll be prepared for most minor problems that plague riders on the road.
Step1 Find a small, waterproof bag to hold your bicycle repair kit. Many bags are available that attach to the bike seat or you can use a fanny pack.
Step2 Attach a frame pump between the brackets of your bicycle tire. Make sure the pump works with your specific type of valves. The pump can be used to fill flats or in case you need a little more air to make your ride smooth. Include a spare tube in your bicycle repair kit and you can use the pump to fill it up.
Step3 Buy a tire lever for removing a tire off the rim. Practice with this tool because you may need more than one; they usually come in sets of three. Also purchase a puncture kit with patches and liquid cement for fixing any unexpected holes. Patch kits also come in a glue-less type, for even speedier patches.
Step4 Have a snap-on chain link for quick chain repairs. Remove the broken link, then join the ends of the chain with the snap-on link.
Step5 Buy a combination tool with an adjustable wrench, fixed wrenches, a hex wrench, chain and spoke tools, and freewheel remover. All of these tools should take care of any minor road repairs you need. They are called both a mini-tool and a multi-tool.
Step6 Round out your kit with a small roll of tape, plastic ties and a dollar bill. The tape or plastic ties can be used to secure any broken spokes that might jam your bike chain. The dollar is used when you get a gash in your tire to help prevent a blow out. Just deflate the tube, work the side of the tire off the rim, place the folded dollar bill against the gash, re-inflate the tire with your frame pump, and replace the tire on the rim. You could also buy a tire boot for this type of repair.
