Starting your bike mechanic can seem daunting, and you might feel like you don't know where to start or even what to buy to get off to a good start. There's no need to start big by equipping yourself as if you were a bike shop mechanic, especially if you're not that experienced. In this article, I've targeted the first tools that are truly a "must have" and that will be useful to you regardless of your mechanical level!

1- The chain gauge . This tool is very useful for increasing the lifespan of your cassette and front chainring. As soon as the chain exceeds 0.5 for a 12-speed or 0.75 for 11-speed and below, it must be changed.

2- Allen key set . You will quickly realize that your Allen key set will quickly become your best friend, no matter what repair you have to do!
Don't forget, however, that you need metric Allen keys, not imperial ones.

3- Torx wrench set . If your bike is mounted with SRAM there is a good chance that you will need at least one T25 wrench. It is also useful for certain components of
remember to equip yourself with a T10 key.

4- A master link pliers . Your chain is probably the part you will
change most often and they are practically all equipped with “quick
links ». With this pliers it will make your task much easier since you don't
won't have to cut your chain.

5- Tire lever . Try to prioritize the plastic ones, because otherwise you have more
chance of damaging your “Rim tape” or even your rim!

6- Set of brushes for cleaning . You will realize that well
Cleaning and maintaining your parts helps increase their lifespan.

7- Degreaser . Degrease and clean your transmission system regularly.
is a good habit to have and it also helps increase durability.

8- No-rinse cleaner . Having a clean bike is always nice, but it's also beneficial. Using a no-rinse cleaner instead of a garden hose will help keep your bearings lubricated longer, thus maximizing their lifespan.

9- Repair support . Doing your repairs on a repair support is
just much simpler and more efficient.

10- Torque wrench .* Because you want to be sure that you have the right torque so as not to
not to break any parts or to keep them tight.

*A little tip, when you have finished using your torque wrench, always reset it to zero if you don't want it to become uncalibrated and no longer give you the correct torques!

Of course, your mechanic skills may increase and you will need more tools, but to start with, with the ones mentioned above, you should be able to do a good part of it.