Do-it-yourself hardware that keeps you doing it

By Kent Black

So now you own a dual-suspension mountain bike with hydraulic disc brakes, and those carbon-fiber-wrapped skis with the electronic damping system and riser plates. You love them. Sometimes you just stand in the garage and gape at them. They're beautiful.

Until they break down. Then you stand in the garage and wonder how much it's going to cost to have them fixed.

Fear not. You can (and maybe should) do much of the work yourself. There's no need to be intimidated by the impressive-sounding technical aspects, and attendant prices, of these maintenance-intensive toys. A $3,000 bike is still a bike: It's got wheels, a chain, a set of cogs—all of which can be harmlessly tinkered with. The key is simply owning the right tools and learning how to use them. To save yourself a few bucks—and repeated trips to the pro shop—here's our guide to stocking your toolbox, from the basics you'll want for all sorts of gear to the essentials for keeping up bikes and skis.