Bike Maintenance Essentials Pt 1 and 2
A webinar by Sarah Lamb
Part one of the this two part series will be a great opportunity to talk through some foundational basics: how to prep your equipment before different types of rides and how to maintain it afterwards, home vs. shop repairs, and confidence. In part two, Sarah will address some of the GGG’s specific questions and tackle more advanced mechanic skills.
Minimum Spare Parts to Keep at Home:
- Derailleur hanger (ask your local shop which one you need because they’re specific to bike brand, model, and year. OEM hangers work best, but if you can’t find one of those I recommend Wheels Manufacturing)
- Chain (new in box or pre-cut specific to your drivetrain)
- Master link or quick-connect (specific to your chain)
- Brake pads (ask your local shop what you need because they’re specific to bike brand and model)
- Tubes and tire, or tubeless sealant and valve cores if you ride a tubeless or tubular set-up
- Cables and/or batteries
- Handlebar tape
- Cleats (ask your local shop what you need because they’re specific to your pedals)
- Shoe buckles (ask your local shop what you need because they’re specific to the brand and model of your shoes)
Minimum Tools to Keep at Home:
- Floor pump (my favorites are Pedro’s and Lezyne)
- Pedro’s T-handle Hex wrench set
- Pedro’s T-handle T25 wrench
- #1 and #2 Phillips screwdrivers
- Small and large flathead screwdrivers
- Pedal wrench 15mm open-end wrench, or 6mm or 8mm Hex wrench – specific to your pedals
- CDI adjustable torque wrench (Pedro’s makes a nice non-adjustable set too)
- Needle-nose pliers (my favorites are Knipex or Facom)
- Pedro’s cable cutters
- Pedro’s Pro Chain Tool 2.0
- Park Tool Master Link Pliers
- Pedro’s Chain Pig + diluted Pedro’s D-13 (degreaser)
- Wet and dry chain lubes
- Bike wash kit (Pedro’s Green Fizz, wash bucket, and assorted brushes and sponges – if you don’t have access to a hose/spigot, you can use a bug-sprayer or shower as your water source)
- Electrical tape, zip ties, and microfiber rags
Advanced Tools to Keep at Home:
- Abbey Tools Stu Stick
Abbey Tools HAG (or equivalent derailleur hanger alignment tool) - Abbey Tools Crombie + Pedro’s Vice Whip (or equivalent cassette tool + chain whip pairing)
- Craftsman C3 19.2V Cordless Inflator (discontinued by manufacturer, but sometimes available on eBay)
- Spoke wrenches
- Neodymium magnet, if your frame has internally-routed cables
- Brake Bleed Kit
Sarah Lamb is a professional race mechanic who has worked extensively with neutral support programs (SRAM, Mavic, NRS & Events) and the Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossoworld CX team for the past 12+ years. Sarah is also a self-proclaimed “huge nerd” who taught AP Physics and undergraduate engineering courses for seven years before joining a surgical robotics program three(ish) years ago as an R&D engineer. She lives in Connecticut with her two rescued pitbulls, Mazey and Tony the Tiger.
Join us for the full DIY Gravel Summer Webinar Series:
- June 5th – Amber Pierce: Growth Mindset: Leaning In & Out of your Comfort Zone
- June 12th – Jess Cerra @jesscerra and Janel Spilker: Nutrition & Prep Focusing on Environment: Heat, Cold, Altitude, Etc
- June 19th – Rachel Cohen @rachel-cohen: New to Navigation: Planning a Route That Checks All Your Boxes
- June 26th – Lentine Alexis @lentinealexis: Flavor as Fuel: Why Flavorful, Real Food Stokes Our Fire For Greatness + Five Ways to Up Your Ride Food Game
- July 3 – Kim Coleman and Nikki Peterson @npetersonsocal: This hour has 42 minutes: How we Make Time for Family, Career, and Bikes
- July 10 – Sarah Lamb: Bike Maintenance Essentials Pt 1
- July 17- Sarah Lamb: Bike Maintenance Essentials: Pt 2
- July 24- Isabel Reyes-Todd: How to approach your first Gravel Event
- July 31- Mary Zider and Andrea Smith: Gravel Skills Clinic
- August 7- Emily Kraus, MD, @ekraus: Injury Prevention and Considerations
