Top 5 Bike Repairs You Can Do at Home!

 
 
 

With the right tools and a little bit of knowledge, there’s a lot you can do on your own to fix your bike.

 
 

If you’re ready to start taking better care of your bike, but not sure how to dive in, these 5 repairs are a great place to start! Knowing how to fix these small problems on your own will give you the confidence to tackle even the bigger stuff down the road.

 
 

Fix a Flat Tire

 
 

The most common mechanical failure that can happen to a bike is getting a flat tire. It, unfortunately, happens to every cyclist eventually so it’s best to be prepared for when it does. Every other repair on this list is helpful to know how to do, but knowing how to fix a flat tire is essential. Knowing this can save you a lot of trouble out on a ride & keep you from being stranded because it’s only a matter of time before you get a flat 

Tools needed:

  • Tire Levers

  • Bike Pump

  • Replacement Tube

    • Check that you have the correct size by looking at what’s written on the sidewall of your tire

Clean & Lube Drivetrain

The drivetrain of your bike is its heart & blood. It’s what converts the power of your pedaling into forward momentum, so keeping it in good working order should be a top priority. It’s a good idea to clean your drivetrain and add some lube once a month if you ride regularly or right after you’ve ridden in the rain or snow. Exposure to water can cause your bike’s parts to rust rapidly if not taken care of properly.  

Tools needed:

  • Chain cleaner

    • Diluted dawn dish soap also works!

  • Old toothbrush

  • Small towel/rag you don’t care about

    • Seriously, whatever you use for this won’t ever be clean again

  • Chain lube

 
 

Check for Chain Wear & Replace your Chain

Even when following best practices to prolong the life of your drivetrain, the parts do need to be replaced eventually after regular use. Your chain, especially, can get worn out quickly. Generally, a chain can last between 2,000 to 3,000 miles. So depending on the quality of your chain and how often you ride, you could be replacing your chain as much as once per year. This is why it’s so important for any cyclist to know exactly when your chain is worn out enough to warrant a replacement & what to do once it is time to swap it out.

Tools needed:

  • Chain Checker

  • New Chain

  • Chain tool

 
 

Replace Worn Brake Pads

Brake pads, like your bike’s chain, will wear out pretty regularly. Knowing which type of brake your bike has is the first step in replacing the brake pads. Once you know, all it takes is a little bit of finessing to get the pads set up properly and you’re good to keep rolling with the confidence you’ll be able to stop in time.

Tools needed:

  • New brake pads

    • Check to make sure the pads work with your brake type

  • Allen key

    • PRO TIP: Get a bike multitool that has the most common sizes used on bikes and use it for lots of repairs!

 
 

True a Wheel

Ok, of all the repairs on this list, truing a wheel is the one that’s going to require the most specialty tools. However, knowing how to do it yourself will save you a lot of headaches if your wheels ever start to get wobbly. There are even methods that skip the need to get all the fancy tools, though they won’t be as accurate.

Tools needed:

  • Spoke wrench

    • If you don’t know what size your spoke nipples are, I recommend getting a 3 way spoke wrench that covers the common sizes.

  • Truing stand

    • This is the expensive specialty tool that you need to true wheels the most accurately.

 
 

If you’ve tried your hand at the repairs listed here and still want to dive deeper into doing all the maintenance on your bike, then check out the resources below to learn what you need to know to become a pro home mechanic!

 
 

More Resources:

BFF Bikes Clinics!

We offer a variety of clinics on lots of topics to help you be an informed cyclist. Check out our calendar of events to see what we’re offering!

Sheldon Brown

With web design straight out of the early 2000s and decades of knowledge, Sheldon Brown’s personal website is a gold mine of cycling info. Brown was a mechanic whose website documents the technical knowledge you need to know to dive deep into bike maintenance & repair. As close to a fully comprehensive cycling encyclopedia as you can find for free in the internet.

Park Tools YouTube

If you’re a visual learner (like me!), then YouTube videos are great to learn from. There’s lots of great videos out there, but I find the ones made by Park Tools are the easiest to follow along with. Plus, with the wide variety of topics they cover, you’re almost guaranteed to find a tutorial covering what you need to know!

 
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