Bicycle Mechanics - Cheap But good Quality Bicycle Specific Tools?

Hey all you crazy cats and carpet smokers out there (CORNY I know...) :D

I was just wondering if people knew of a good store, eithor online or not to get some bicycle specific tools for pretty cheap.

I need some things like:
Schrader Valve Core Remover
Cable Cutter
Chain Rivet Extractor
Cassette LockRing Remover
Spoke Wrenches
Fixed Cup Wrench
Pin Tool
Lockring Spanner
Allen Wrenches

Almost all of it is bicycle specific, except for the Allen wrenches. Ive already made my way to Performance Bike, but I was just wondering if you guys had some places to get stuff for pretty cheap, but at the same time be good quality.

Thanks ALL!

with almost all of these things, you are stuck with park or pedros. pyramid makes pretty good--if cheap--tools, but they only cover the simple end where not much precision is needed

really...

Well ok, how about places? I have been looking at harris Cyclery.

Thanks

You can probably find the valve core remover at a hardware store. I've seen them at several Westlake (Ace) Hardware stores in my area... don't recall the price offhand, but I'm pretty sure it was minimal.

alright, thanks.

Are there any other tools that can be gotten at a hardware store on the list? (except for maybe cable cutter and allen wrenches)

thanks

Hey all you crazy cats and carpet smokers out there (CORNY I know...) :D

I was just wondering if people knew of a good store, eithor online or not to get some bicycle specific tools for pretty cheap.

I need some things like:
Schrader Valve Core Remover
Cable Cutter
Chain Rivet Extractor
Cassette LockRing Remover
Spoke Wrenches
Fixed Cup Wrench
Pin Tool
Lockring Spanner
Allen Wrenches

Almost all of it is bicycle specific, except for the Allen wrenches. Ive already made my way to Performance Bike, but I was just wondering if you guys had some places to get stuff for pretty cheap, but at the same time be good quality.

Thanks ALL!

Allen wrenches, chain tool, cutters and Shrader core remover are all at typical, large-ish hardware stores. (in Canada, "Canadian Tire" has all that... sort of like "Pro-Hardware + WalMart")

Get a chain tool with a removable pin. When it wears out, you can put a new pin on rather than throwing the tool out.

Not sure what a "pin tool" is. Drift? (Canadian Tire)
Just about any local bike shop would have the rest of it and *probably* fairly economically.
For a freewheel cassette remover, I strongly suggest Park. They just last and they might be "a few bucks" more than brand-x.

If you do want to order online, please do consider Harris Cyclery (Sheldon Brown's LBS!). Sheldon has done more for cycling with his website and online participation than you can shake a stick at. He's only able to do that because people support him. Just sayin' - think about that next time you're Googling for "fix broken spoke" and get the info you needed at "SheldonBrown.com"

IF for some wierd reason Harris doesn't have a part or tool, there are a few other sites you can find stuff at.

http://www.nashbar.com/
http://www.wallbike.com/ (unfortunately closed temporarily - they're in NOLA)
http://www.biketoolsetc.com/

Hmm, So harris really is reasonably priced? Sweet.

Why the hell would you need a schrader valve core remover?

I can't think of why you'd be changing schrader valve cores.


Why do you need a pin spanner, lockring tool, and bb fixed cup remover?

The bb on your brava is a cartridge, removed with a shimano bb tool, not all the crap you list above, which are for the older cup/cone adjustable BB.

If you are not going to be changing bbs that often, why get a bb tool? And if you are going to be changing bbs often, you'll need a crank remover to get those cranks off first.

If you are going to be changing cassettes, then you need a chain whip also.

For the cable cutter, a pair of fishing line cutters is basically identical. Many hardware stores carry cutters that will work too.

I got my cone wrenches and Lifu chain rivet extractor from biketoolsetc. The wrenches were quite inexpensive and have worked fine for my needs. Not that you mentioned it, but I love my ELDI pedal wrench: I got it from Rivendell, but I think Harris Cyclery has it a bit cheaper.

ParkTools and Pedros are great, but for some tools, you don't really need the industrial/heavy duty-ness of them. (Case in point are the cone wrenches.)

Tools are expensive.

If you already have a few comoon tools around the house, flat/phillips screwdrivers, crescent wrench, needlenose pliers, you are well on your way to a complete tool kit.

Although sydney doesn't like kits, they usually are a good place to start if you don't own any tools, and provide a decent value.

Nashbar and performance each sell their own tool kit for about $50, which has many of the basic-and intermediate tools that you might need.

Here's nashbar's version: $40, and has all the tools that you'd need.
http://www.nashbar.com/profile_moreimages.cfm?category=99&subcategory=1232&sku=3521&brand=

Check nashbar for the individual tools, you might be able to piece together exactly what you need for less than the price of that kit.

Tools are expensive.

No, cheap tools are expensive. Cheap tools work poorly, damage your components and eventually have to be replaced. Proper tools are a once-in-a-lifetime investment so buy good quality the first time. A complete set of Park "SCW" series cone wrenches costs less than the hub you will buy to replace the one you damaged.

BTW, cable cutters are a specific tool for cutting twisted or braided wire cable. Don't substitute side cutter pliers as these will mash and deform the cable end.

Just bought this kit, very happy with it so far: http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=6&item=BK-2

Just bought this kit, very happy with it so far: http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=6&item=BK-2

- BK-2 is nice... the bonus is the heavy duty roll-up, which may also be hung on the wall! no other kit like it on the market AFAIK... (found my BK-2 on sale for US$85, so it pays to shop?)

pick one - cheap, or good quality. The price of Park tools is already pretty darn cheap. $10-$20 bucks usually for a typical tool. How much cheaper do you want? Tools are not an area you should cheap out in my opinion. I bought a Performance brand external bottom bracket tool a few weeks ago. The park was $19, the Spin Doctor was $10. The spin doctor didn't fit the splines quite right, close, but I would have had to get my grinder out and trim it up a bit...the park? dead on right out of the package. So, an extra trip back to the store. Another 10 minutes in line. and the frustration. Adds up to more than $10 to me, and I won't waste my time, not to mention money again on cheap tools. Park tools are worth it. Ebay if you have to, buy one at a time, whatever, but you are throwing money away, not saving it by buying crap.

Have alook at Cyclus Tools - excellent quality, good price.