Bicycle Mechanics - Newb tool advice

Would this
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?sku=16017
provide me with a complete tool set (I have an older trek 820), and is it a decent price?

i think so, i have this kind of kit, and i love it for the price... and you get most of the tools you need for a bike

well that doenst look too bad at all. are you looking for enough tools to take apart your bike down the headcup or just basic stuff

I'm hoping to have enough to be able to take it apart completely.

the only things you wont have are a headset press, certain bb tools, and some other odd tools

A good starting point for a tool collection, for sure. Some tools you will find you want to upgrade and some you will use only rarely, but this kit will get you twisting wrenches without breaking the bank.

Doc

I have the same set from Nashbar. It is a great starter set. I have used it for things like changing my cassettes, repacking hubs, changing pedals and most of the other basic tasks. It even has the crank puller and BB tools for when I am ready to mess around with it. Again, I highly recommend it for a starter set.

P.S. I have Shimano components.

Thanks for all the advice (unless you're all performancebike rep's ;)), here's to fixing my own bike! :)

I have the same set. My only additions have been a BB tool for Isis BB's and a home made head set press. For facing, I use my LBS.

Would this
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?sku=16017
provide me with a complete tool set (I have an older trek 820), and is it a decent price?

As a general rule, I'm not a fan of prepackaged tool kits. $45.00, however isn't very much money if it has most of the tools that you will need. Here's some things to think about.

Most of the work that you do on bikes can be done with a set of metric allen wrenches. The most common mistake that novices make is to keep cheap allen wrenches forever. When the business end begins to show signs of wear, throw it away and get a new one. Worn allen wrenches round out the little allen screws and make you spend lots more time and buy more expensive tools to get them out.

The next most common home projects are chain and cassette servicing. Older bikes require a spin-on freewheel removal tool. Newer bikes require a cassette lockring tool and a chainwhip. Packaged tool kits seldom have both so make sure it has what you need for your bike. You'll also need a chain tool. That won't be a problem in your case, but 10 speed folks will probably need a 10-speed chain tool.

Minor wheel servicing is a common home project. You'll need a spoke wrench to do that. On an older bike, don't bet on all of the nipples being the same size. By the time that they get old, most bikes have had some nipple substitutions made and they take a couple of different ones. The kits usually contain a combination spoke wrench so make sure that the side you use fits snugly or you'll be making some substitutions yourself.

Decent cable cutters alone usually cost around $25.00. If they crimp the cable and make it fray or if they leave stray wires, what's the point?

Cone wrenches and headset wrenches come in different sizes. So do bike parts. These are maybe once a year service tasks. A tool kit will probably have more of these wrenches than you need to get by.

Bottom bracket tools are necessary more often than you might expect. A kit will probably have something but it probably won't be what you need to fit your bike.

The bottom line is that a kit won't have some tools that you'll want. A kit will make you pay for some tools that you'll never use. And some of the tools won't have the quality that you'd prefer.

that kit is a good way to go if your just getting started especially at that price, I got the same one last year even though i have an almost full shop in my house and i work in a shop, it is perfect to throw in the car to bring to races. It has everything you need for basic repairs. The only major thing missing as mentioned above was a cable/housing cutter but for that you should buy a really good solid one. The kit comes with a cassete tool and bottom bracket tool. the cassete tool is the same as the Park tool FR-5 i believe. so current shimano stuff and the bottom bracket tool is similer to the Park Tool BBT-2 (http://parktool.com/tools/BBT_2.shtml)