General Cycling Discussion - I'm going to buy a bike online, What tools do I need?

Is there a kit I can buy online that has everything? I have no tools what so ever, and I'd prefer to have someone else do it, but there is no bike stores in my area, and my local target/sears, don't have any bikes that I like to purchase already made. Can I do it by myself, or should I settle for one already made in the store.

Well I'm hoping you're wrong about no LBS, so where are you? But here's a tool kit http://www.ebay.com/itm/Park-Tools-AK-37-Advanced-Bicycle-Mechanic-Tool-Kit-Bike-tools-/310356334059#vi-content

I'm in NYC. I don't drive, and I have a toddler, and no way of bringing the box there. Thanks for the link.

OMG, I just saw the price, that's crazy high! I remember my dad use to put the bike together with a wrench and probably something else. I will need something cheaper. Some bikes already come with tools.

that kit seems fairly complete, but would probably be overkill, what kind of bike are you getting?

A mountain bike/cruiser/comfort bike. Something fairly cheap 100-225.

also there's this http://www.amazon.com/BIKE-BICYCLE-HOME-MECHANIC-REPAIR/dp/B0041RGHDC

Are you ordering it from a box store online, or getting like a lower end bikesdirect bike?

Now thats my kind of number. Lol.

If you're going to have to order a bike online, you're going to also need to know what size bike to order. Hopefully, you have a library nearby where you will have access to a bicycle DVD on repair and installations. If not, you'll just have to depend upon your INTERNET resources and use your video search box for specific types of installations. There are also bicycle repair websites that are accessible to you along with the help here at BF.

www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help (http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help)

- Slim :)

I'm gonna open the chat room in another tab, if you want to pick my brain and not run up the post count on stupid stuff.

Well I have been looking on target, sears, sports authority, toys r us, ebay, amazon etc. When I was looking for an e bike I found some local stores, when I say local, I'd have to see if I can leave my little one at a family members house to go buy it, and ride home (I might do that come weekend.) The two bikes stores that were local didn't have prices on their sites so I am assuming most want you to come in and buy instead of online. I will google to see if I can find a bike store that I can buy online and they deliver.

Uhh, I will see if I know how to work it. I just joined today. I'm use to forums, just never been in a chat session.

it's just towards the bottom of the main forum listings, just real time messaging instead of post updates.

Crap I meant to quote the other person, not myself. Lol.

26 inch wheels. Any other measurement, thats a different story. I plan on getting the bike that has the seat that can be put on easily, not requiring tools. My main concern is the brakes, and handlebars being secure. So what youre saying is I have to have the bike first before I buy the tools for that particular bike?

I'm in the room.

26 is the most common hybrid/mountain size... as far as I know most of those styles break down into 3 sizes, small, reg, and large for the frame size, so your height will come into play there.

You could also buy a minitool which would be good enough for just putting a bike together and be able to carry it with you when you ride. Like the alien 2 same price as that kit or park tool or this topeak survival gear box which has tire levers and patches if you get a flat too.

http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Alien-26-Function-Bicycle-Tool/dp/B000FIE4AE/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1321575148&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-MTB-3-Rescue-function/dp/B000S6HZBI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321575435&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZDL2O6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_9?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

edit: Check craigslist too as youd get definitely more bike for your money there.
edit 2: Heard good things about this minitool too Blackburn Toolmanator http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNTY5I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?ie=UTF8&m=AI815W1WMD729

edit 3: Forgot to mention Sheldon Brown's website http://www.sheldonbrown.com/ He'll have alot of information you can use too.

Well I'm hoping you're wrong about no LBS, so where are you? But here's a tool kit http://www.ebay.com/itm/Park-Tools-AK-37-Advanced-Bicycle-Mechanic-Tool-Kit-Bike-tools-/310356334059#vi-content

Good kit, you can find it cheaper on Amazon.com. I have it, but unfortunately it is not enough to assemble a bicycle with.

For example it has no headset tools in it, so you wouldn't be able to mount the headset and fork properly.

There's also no Torx wrenches, so doing anything with disc brakes is out.

I find a 4th hand puller to be helpful when tightening cables, but it's not necessary.

Additionally, you may want to purchase some torque wrenches so that you can properly tighten everything and make things safer. Of course, since most torque wrenches use a socket driver, you'll then need to purchase hex bits with a socket opening to use the torque wrenches.


I haven't built a bike yet, so there may be other tools missing that I haven't listed and don't know about yet.

http://bikesdirect.com/instructionhelp.htm

That's a good instruction sheet for what you might need to do to assemble a new mail-order bicycle. You probably don't need much in the way of tools. One of those Park Y wrenches with 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm allens would likely cover 99% of it.

http://www.parktool.com/product/3-way-hex-wrench-aws-1

If the bike doesn't have quick release skewers for the wheels, you will need a 15mm open end wrench. If the pedals aren't mounted, you need a 15mm wrench for that too, but it needs to be a thin one due to clearances. I have a special pedal wrench that is long and has a 15mm on one end and a 9/16" on the other, but you can get by with a less specialized 15mm wrench like this one:

http://www.parktool.com/product/15mm-shop-cone-wrench-scw-15

Good kit, you can find it cheaper on Amazon.com. I have it, but unfortunately it is not enough to assemble a bicycle with.

For example it has no headset tools in it, so you wouldn't be able to mount the headset and fork properly.

There's also no Torx wrenches, so doing anything with disc brakes is out.

I find a 4th hand puller to be helpful when tightening cables, but it's not necessary.

Additionally, you may want to purchase some torque wrenches so that you can properly tighten everything and make things safer. Of course, since most torque wrenches use a socket driver, you'll then need to purchase hex bits with a socket opening to use the torque wrenches.


I haven't built a bike yet, so there may be other tools missing that I haven't listed and don't know about yet.

She's buying a bike online, not a bare frame and doing all that assembly.

Thanks, I'm going to look at all of those things after I give my eyeballs a rest. I've been looking at bikes and info all day. Btw, I'm a lady :-)

there is no bike stores in my area,

i'm in nyc.

:wtf: there are many bike shops in NYC given the many Burroughs included,
, bundle the kid up and go see a few.

..even Staten island, is a free ferry ride, you know..

the people at the shop will even outfit the completed bike with a child carrier seat,
and a helmet for the young sugar plum head

and with the subway system you don't need a car, millions don't either, there.

Yes. The nearest one moved/closed. I have to go far to the nearest one.

I'm back and I've been looking on your CL, I see a lot of promise actually in the used market...

Yea, I'm going to look at it again. Might be easier, for them to just ride to me. From what I saw earlier, the ones I saw where pretty dull in color.

OMG, I just saw the price, that's crazy high! I remember my dad use to put the bike together with a wrench and probably something else. I will need something cheaper. Some bikes already come with tools.

$220 for a complete tool set like that is not very expensive at all. And bicycles require a bit more than a wrench. And sorry but no bikes I know of come with tools.

Here's a link for measuring a bicycle to help make sure it fits:
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/mtb-positioning-chart

Plusveggie, don't listen to these wackadoodles, about 90% of the adjustments you will need to make on a bike can be done with a multi tool and a few allen keys. You are in a place that is almost predatory to newbs. Buy a used bike or a cheap new one, ride the wheels off it and then if you wanna get fancy you will know what you want.

He's buying a bike online, not a bare frame and doing all that assembly.

Oh.

Well what in the hell is the fun in that??? :D

Plusveggie, don't listen to these wackadoodles, about 90% of the adjustments you will need to make on a bike can be done with a multi tool and a few allen keys. You are in a place that is almost predatory to newbs. Buy a used bike or a cheap new one, ride the wheels off it and then if you wanna get fancy you will know what you want.

LoL... so you'd pass on a nice 25 dollar tool kit?

Hmm. Could have sworn I listed reasonably priced and well rated minitools and a nice little toolkit that also comes with a patch kit and levers which she should have too.

edit: d'oh. Was supposed to be a reply with quote.

Yep - a good bike specific multi tool, a 15 mm wrench, a pair of pliers, and a couple cold beers. That's all you need. Oh, and a wee bit of mechanical ability. It's nice to have more tools, but with that you can assemble a bike out of the box.

And an air pump. And a small tube of grease.

And another beer.

People were telling her she needed a $220 kit that was cheap at the price and a fitting for a comfort bike, and so on and so on. Please.

... and of course people who have never actually built a bike recommending inappropriate tools for someone they assumed was building a bike but is in reality just doing the final assembly on a shipped bike.

Oh, and PlusVeggie? If you are in San Francisco, I'll assemble and tune that bike for you, for free.

EDIT: Never mind, reading back through the thread I see you are in New Yawk.

Is there a kit I can buy online that has everything? I have no tools what so ever, and I'd prefer to have someone else do it, but there is no bike stores in my area, and my local target/sears, don't have any bikes that I like to purchase already made. Can I do it by myself, or should I settle for one already made in the store.



A mountain bike/cruiser/comfort bike. Something fairly cheap 100-225.



People were telling her she needed a $220 kit that was cheap at the price and a fitting for a comfort bike, and so on and so on. Please.

If you recall, she didn't clarify what it was she wanted to do in her first post ... and she indicated she wanted a mountain bike/cruiser/comfort bike.

Anyway, $220 isn't that bad for good tools ... especially for a "kit that has everything", as requested. After all, lots of people "build" bicycles ... buy a frame and build it up with components. Most of the bicycles my husband and I own have been built that way.

And the fitting link I posted was for a mountain bike, as an example of the types of measurements she should do when considering bicycle options. Before buying a bicycle, it is very, very important to get one that fits. Fit cannot be emphasized enough.


You're new here too, rebel1916 ... are you also new to cycling?

Tools needed pretty much depends on your pedals and your standards.

If you're looking at a department store bike, and you're happy with them the way they come, you will probably be able to get by with a 5mm allen wrench and a 6" crescent wrench. Depending on your pedals, a crescent wrench might be either a little too thick or not open quite wide enough. I'd also recommend a dab of grease for the bike's seat tube and pedal threads but most any grease will do. It'll come with assembly directions.

If your standards are higher, you'll probably want to tune and adjust pretty much everything. That'll take a lot more extensive tool kit.

Plusveggie, don't listen to these wackadoodles, about 90% of the adjustments you will need to make on a bike can be done with a multi tool and a few allen keys. You are in a place that is almost predatory to newbs. Buy a used bike or a cheap new one, ride the wheels off it and then if you wanna get fancy you will know what you want.


People were telling her she needed a $220 kit that was cheap at the price and a fitting for a comfort bike, and so on and so on. Please.


... and of course people who have never actually built a bike recommending inappropriate tools for someone they assumed was building a bike but is in reality just doing the final assembly on a shipped bike.

You know I was just trying to be helpful by sharing stuff that I had learned on my own. I was unaware that people sold bikes mostly assembled. There is no need to be snide.

Guys, if you would like to actually be of use to her instead of arguing amongst ourselves about what would be best here goes.

The situation as she explained it to me 100-250 bike budget, she's now rechecking used on craigslist rather than ordering BSO (Up to her not us though), she has 3 mountain bikes to tinker with, all with 26" wheels, we've covered what bikes direct offers in the 250-300 range, and I think she now wants to really decide between wrenching a bike from her backyard or buying used... we covered some cheaper tool sets and things like that but please help her out.

You're new here too, rebel1916 ... are you also new to cycling?
Yeah, only 8 or so years, plus 10 riding BMX as a kid.

Yeah, only 8 or so years, plus 10 riding BMX as a kid.

Help the new person instead of bickering please.

Help the new person instead of bickering please.
You are correct, I get frustrated when I see people overwhelming newbs with minutiae, but you know what they say about arguing on the internet...

LoL indeed I do, and fyi I'm the one who linked the 250 tool kit before she and I started discussing her actual needs.

Guys, if you would like to actually be of use to her instead of arguing amongst ourselves about what would be best here goes.

The situation as she explained it to me 100-250 bike budget, she's now rechecking used on craigslist rather than ordering BSO (Up to her not us though), she has 3 mountain bikes to tinker with, all with 26" wheels, we've covered what bikes direct offers in the 250-300 range, and I think she now wants to really decide between wrenching a bike from her backyard or buying used... we covered some cheaper tool sets and things like that but please help her out.

Some of these details would have been really handy to have in the first post.


To newbies: Give us some background to work with so we can taylor our answers to your needs, rather than going by what we, and the other cyclists we know, do or want to do.

For the last bike I bought online, it came assembled to the point that all I needed were some allen wrenches and a pedal wrench. I guess I should have used a torque wrench, but I didn't. Don't bikes come mostly assembled? It doesn't sound like the OP plans on buying a frame and a bunch of components. It's pretty clear we're talking about a beginner here, so I didn't even think actually building a bike up was an option.

If you are not familiar enough with wrenching to know what tools you need to assemble a bike, then you should definitely be looking for a LBS to purchase an assembled and tested bike from. I am sure that you can find an LBS within public transit range, buy the bike and ride home.

For the last bike I bought online, it came assembled to the point that all I needed were some allen wrenches and a pedal wrench. I guess I should have used a torque wrench, but I didn't. Don't bikes come mostly assembled? It doesn't sound like the OP plans on buying a frame and a bunch of components. It's pretty clear we're talking about a beginner here, so I didn't even think actually building a bike up was an option.

Yep, that's how they come. Turn the stem around, put the handlebars on, pedals, front wheel, and you're pretty much done. Yes, you should check everthing over and make adjustments as needed, but putting it all together to look like a rideable bike is easy. Taking stuff apart to lube could get beyond beginner status.

Sometimes when you buy online they even include the tools with the bike -- I got a decent pedal wrench this way. I've found that taking the packaging off the bike takes longer than assembling it!

Both online and used are risks for people new to bicycles. Best bet is to make friends with a local cyclist and then have him/her come with you to check out local used bikes.