Reports of the demise of this Web site are greatly exaggerated! We at sheldonbrown.com thank Harris Cyclery for its support over the years. Harris Cyclery has closed, but we keep going. Keep visiting the site for new and updated articles, and news about possible new affilations.


Tool Tips
Sheldon Brown photo
by Sheldon Brown
Spoke Divider

In the 1980s, I wrote a regular monthly column in Bicycling magazine, on maintenance and repair, particularly focused on the selection and use of tools. While some of this material is rather dated, much of it isn't. Since some of these articles deal with topics that are not covered in such depth elsewhere in this site, I'm putting them online.

I'm starting with just the text for most of these articles, but hope to scan the photos later, from my original 4X5 negatives.

I've done my best to proofread these articles, but they were scanned from old magazines, and there may be some strange results.

In general, I've tried to resist the temptation to tinker with the texts, except that I've tried to undo some of the changes made by my editor (who believes that it's ok to begin a sentence with a conjunction.) As time goes by, I may do major revisions on some of these articles to bring them more up-to-date.

I've also included some even older articles that originally appeared in Bike World magazine in the 1970s.

[I found the temptation to update some of these articles irresistible, and I've added a new article covering newer types of bottom brackets. -- John Allen]

Spoke Divider

Spoke Divider

September 1978 Hub
Overhaul
Basic hub maintenance and repair.
January 1979 Truing
Wheels
An essential skill for the compleat cyclist.
June 1982 Adjustable
Wrenches
There's more to a "knucklebuster" than you might think.
July 1982 Nutdrivers Nutdrivers are most common in the electronic industry, but they are very useful for bicycle work too.
August 1982 Cone
Wrenches
Cone wrenches are absolutely necessary if you want to service your hubs.
Jan./Feb 1983 Cottered
Cranks
Servicing of cottered cranks, with normal household tools.
March 1983 Cotterless
Cranks
Servicing of cotterless cranks. Selection and use of crank pullers.
May 1983 Bottom Bracket
Cup Tools
Tools for removing bottom bracket cups, both store-bought and home-made.
June 1983 Bottom Bracket
Adjustment Tools
Tools for adjusting bottom brackets.
July 1983 Taps Taps for cutting new screw threads, or repairing damaged ones.
July 2010 Cartridge Bottom Brackets [by John Allen] -- companion article updating Sheldon's bottom bracket articles.

Spoke Divider

Spoke Divider

Articles by Sheldon Brown and others
Harris
Home
Beginners Brakes Commuting
Lights
Cycle-
Computers
Do-It-
Yourself
Essays
Family
Cycling
Fixed Gear
Singlespeed
Frames Gears &
Drivetrain
Bicycle
Humor
Bicycle
Glossary
Bicycle
Links
Old
Bikes
Repair
Tips
Tandems Touring What's
New
Wheels Sheldon
Brown

Reports of the demise of this Web site are greatly exaggerated! We at sheldonbrown.com thank Harris Cyclery for its support over the years. Harris Cyclery has closed, but we keep going. Keep visiting the site for new and updated articles, and news about possible new affilations.

Copyright © 1998, 2007 Sheldon Brown

Harris Cyclery Home Page

If you would like to make a link or bookmark to this page, the URL is:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/index.html

Last Updated: by Harriet Fell