Bicycle Mechanics - What tools/tool kit do I need?

Up to now working on my bike has been limited to adjusting derraileurs, changing cables, and truing wheels (with limited sucess). I would like to venture into a few other maintenance/repair items, such as removing the cassette for cleaning/replacement, removing the crank & chainrings, and maybe even the bb. So, what tools do I need, and is there a tool box/kit that comes with the most commonly used tools? I'm concerned I'll buy the wrong thing. I have two road bikes, one with 8 speed and one with 10 speed Campagnolo components, and 3 1990's mountain bikes with lower end shimano parts.

This (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=3521&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=) Has worked out pretty well for me. It's enough for me to get my feet wet without laying out three plus figures in cash. I think I ordered it, along with a helmet, pump, and some other stuff for ~$70-80 shipped using one of the %20 off coupons and picking up relatively cheap items.

A search will get you lots of results here, but here's the basics:

Basic metric wrenches and allen keys. Get a couple of 3 sided allen keys, and get the metric wrenches from 8mm to 17mm (you don't need a 16, though). Different sizes on each end is ok for the little ones, but from about 13mm up you will want both box and open ended.
Cone wrenches. BTW, Park doesn't make 13mm/15mm combos, which is what you really want. Single ended are more expensive but better made and more comfortable
Headset wrenches. I don't like any of Park's stamped tools, go with pedros here if you can
Bottom bracket tools (specific ones for different brands/types)
Crank puller. I really like a cheap one made by lifu and rebranded as performance/nashbar/etc... It's the one with the 14/15mm socket and the 8mm allen built in
Pedal wrench if the flats on your pedals won't fit your 15mm wrench. Most pedals are over-torqued, so you might need a cheater bar to get them off the first time, but I rarely reach for my actual pedal wrench on my own bikes
Cassette lockring tool (same story as BB tool, you might need a couple). Pedros is better here
Chain whip. Unless you ride fixed gear or want to take apart freewheels, you don't need a cadillac chain whip
Chain tool -- to get any better than the cheap ones you have to drop like $30, which would also buy you a bunch of powerlinks
Axle vise (you need a bench vise as well)
Chain wear checker (I like the plain old single piece of metal ones)
Good shop ruler (put away your tape measure and spend the money for the park one, it's really nice, measures spokes and bearings as well)
Spoke wrench (sounds like you already have one, but I like the $10 pedros one more than the $50 DT swiss)
Cable cutter (chuck your needlenose pliers and buy a good one)
Torque wrench (doesn't have to be bike-specific, though get one with a 3/8" driver as that's what most bike stuff takes)
Breaker bar. A ratchet is also good if you have one, but not necessary.

I probably forgot a thing or two, but on to my next point: if you've already got good allen keys and a few other things it sounds like you have already, you're not going to save much by buying a toolkit. Some of them are pretty good, but they seem to like to load them down with extras like chain cleaners and brushes that you may or may not want. Find a good shop, bribe a wrench with beer or coffee to help you out, and mix and match brands. They may have reccomendations as well.

This (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=3521&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=) Has worked out pretty well for me. It's enough for me to get my feet wet without laying out three plus figures in cash. I think I ordered it, along with a helmet, pump, and some other stuff for ~$70-80 shipped using one of the %20 off coupons and picking up relatively cheap items.

I got the same kit. Works good enough for me although I plan to upgrade the Bottom bracket tool. (sorta sucks)

Or you can just buy what you need when you need it. The upside is you won't have any useless tools that usually come with kits.

Or you can just buy what you need when you need it. The upside is you won't have any useless tools that usually come with kits.


Agreed! I was looking at the nashbar kit to give to my brother on his upcoming birthday, but I think some of the tools in the kit are uneeded. So my plan is make up a kit with tools he will actually use and that are meant for the parts on his bike. It is kind of like the socket sets at Sears, yeah it is a 99 peice set, but how many of those 99 pieces are actually what you need?