Bike maintenance

or how to keep your bike running. Lots of information can be found all around the net (like Sheldon Brown's pages) and there is no point in repeating what has already been written, so this web only provides brief basics. I can add more articles on your demand, unless the topic is all Greek to me (current map of Greece: hydraulics, suspension, electric assist).

Tools

Some people don't carry any tools when riding, some take a small universal multitool, some pack half of their workshop and a bag of spare parts. Every approach has its pros and cons and no one can easily tell which is best. Just for inspiration, here's my portable toolbag, also used for many things other than biking:

Discarded motorbike medkit bag - just the right size for all of this.
Tube repair kit and some spare parts for valves. The sheet metal candy box is much more durable than the original plastic one.
Allen keys from 1 to 6 mm. Cranks need even bigger one, but so rarely that I usually leave it at home.
Some Torx keys. I added them after a sleepless night on a sleeper train where the light kept turning on randomly and its light bulb was under a cover with torx bolts. But they can be also found on bikes.
Flat screwdriver, often used for prying or other non-screwdrivey stuff. I also have a tiny Philips on a Swiss knife in my pocket, larger Philips bolts are not present on my bikes.
Tyre levers.
Spoke wrench. Originally, it was nice and round with a four leaf clover ornament, but had to be downsized with a grinder to make it fit between spokes in a 20" wheel.
Wrenches from 5.5 to 17 mm, except 16.
Flat wrenches from 10 to 17 mm (8+9 was lost). They are only 2 mm thick to fit hub bearing cones, so you can't apply too much force to them - that's why I also keep the classic-sized wrenches.
And of course a pump which I forgot to photograph.

Other tools stay at home because I only use them during planned overhauls (although some of them do travel occassionally):

16, 19, 23 and 24 mm wrenches and a big adjustable wrench
14 mm socket wrench for older tapered cranks
Various adapters for splined sprockets, cassettes and bottom brackets
Chain whip for cassette removal
Chain riveting tool
Flat pliers, snipping pliers, circlip pliers and big toothy pliers for knurled nuts
Tweezers (for bearing balls)
Grease, oil, rags
Crank removal tool

The rest is behind the border between maintenance and manufacture.