Tools for assembling a bicycle

Most good quality bicycles are usually supplied with “Bicycle Owner’s Manual”. If it is not supplied with the bicycle you purchased, you can easily find one if you google “bicycle owner’s manual”.

I googled “bmx bicycle assembly tools .pdf” and found a link to this image of tools:

These are the tools you require:
1. Standard Phillips Head Screwdriver
2. Adjustable Wrench
3. 4,5,6,8mm Allen Wrenches
4. Pedal wrench or 15mm Open End Wrench
5. Standard Slip Joint Pliers
6. Standard Flat Head Screwdriver

This information is extracted from Dynacraft Owner’s Manual. It provides very clear instruction for assembling a 12” to 24” wheelsize BMX which is the standard procedure for assembling most single speed bicycles. Since the manual is for a BMX, it includes information about gyro brake system which you can ignore if your bicycle is not installed with one..

However, if you assembling a bicycle with gear components installed, check out “Dynacraft Owner’s Manual for MTB”. The tools required for assembling it are the same.

What are the best tips to maintain a bike in the proper way?

When you buy an equipment, a manual will be provided with it. A good manual will provide instructions on how to install the equipment correctly. It will provide information on how to use it safely and maintain it so that it will run efficiently.

Even though not all brands/retailers for bicycles will provide such a manual, if you google “owner's manual for bicycle” you should not have any problem in finding one online. From it, you can even learn if you are getting the right frame size for your height.

Though you get your bicycle fully assembled from your bike shop, in the manual you will learn how it is assembled and the type of tools and the sizes you need to do the job. That way if any of the parts are loosen, you will know how to fix it back correctly and with the right tools.

You will learn the name of the parts on the bicycle which will enable you to tell the mechanic clearly what needs to be fixed if professional help is required. This image is from link to “Owner's Manual for Marin Mountain Bikes”.


It provides a schedule on what and when you should clean, service and lubricate on your bicycle and what you should not do. Eg, here is a tip on how to set your gears so that you will not wear out your chain earlier than it should.

I like the instruction manual provided by Green Line for its Single-speed and Multi speed Beach Cruisers, it provides very clear information with lots of images.



The “Owner's Manual Single Speed and Multi-Speed Bicycles” from Dynacraft Bikes that I found online is also very good.

If you take the time to read the manual, you should not have any problem maintaining your bicycle in a proper way.

I removed the paint off a Raleigh alloy bike before. I wanted to personalize it for my son. It was not an easy job because we did not use the right paint remover. I was told that it would be easier if I had used aircraft paint remover.

The alloy frame looked very good after the paint has been removed but before we could do the next step, a customer bought it. So, if yours is an alloy bike and the current paint work looks bad, maybe you may just want to strip the old paint off and leave it be.

I found this article "How to Strip Yer Bicycle for a Raw Finish" on Instructables.  The instruction is very clear and there is a photo of how an alloy bicycle will look like with its paint stripped off.



If you are still keen on repainting your bicycle, cover up parts that should not be contaminated with paint. We had difficulty removing parts while repairing bicycles for owners who repainted their bicycles.

Other than painting, there are other ways to decorate your bicycle to personalize it. You can stick washi tape on it and seal your creation with mod podge or decorate it with duct tape or stickers for a more interesting look.

Here is how a bicycle decorated with washi tape looks like. You will have to choose colours and designs that will make it looks less girly.



You do not have to strip the paint off your bicycle if you plan to use tapes or stickers. Just use sandpaper to remove any rough surfaces and you are good to start taping.

Here is how one of my customers' bicycle looks like with stickers on it.



Personalising your bicycle this way, may deter a thief from stealing it as it will be more difficult to change its looks to sell it without being caught.

How can I assemble the pegs on a Mongoose BMX bicycle?

If you are using Mongoose pegs, watch this video to know how to have them installed on your BMX.



If you are using regular pegs like this one, 



you can just screw it on the front and rear axle of your BMX or any other bicycle. 

It should interest you to know that some motorcyclists insert such pegs 
on their bikes too so that pillion passengers can rest their feet.



You do not have to screw the bolts you have removed back on but if you want to, just follow the steps shown in the video.