WHEELS

The most basic wheel tool is the spoke key. This lets you turn the nipples to tighten or loosen spoke tension and true your wheels. Nipples come in all shapes and sizes – some specific only to that brand of wheel – so make sure you have the right key for your spokes. Wheel bearings, however, come in only two types: adjustable and cartridge. They both run on balls but what differentiates them is how those balls are held in place Adjustable bearing sit in a housing, or race, built into the hub. You’ll need cone spanners to adjust these. Cartridge bearings, as the name suggests, sit in a cartridge. When they get worn or damaged, the cartridge just need to be knocked out, either with a flat-blade screwdriver or a proper bearing press.

RECCOMMENDED PARK TOOL MASTER SPOKE WRENCH £29.99

Cast from steel and heat-treated for hardness, the Master Spoke Wrench is sized for 3.45mm nipples and has big, easy-to-grip ‘rabbit ears’ for extra leverage.

BUDGET OPTION SUPERSTAR COMPONENTS CONE SPANNERS £4.49

These slim, steel-bodied spanners come in sizes to fit 13-19mm width nuts. Tough, simple and effective, they’re everything you need and sold separately.