IcySmooth52

When it comes to a pedal wrench, I really like this one because it does't have that cone wrench that can scratch the crank arms. It's only the cheap plastic platforms that don't have the hex on the inside.

IcySmooth52

It's a tire lever, and the inside nook on each arm is meant to work together to get the second bead in the rim. The left arm sits on the opposite rim's edge for leverage, and the right hook pulls the opposite bead. Looks like the inside piece is just a second tire lever.

pacificaslim

Uh...mount tires. https://www.sjscycles.com/Instruction...structions.pdf

Grand Bois

The reference to "open tubular tires" confused me. Still does.

KenshiBiker

Last time I checked, my Speedplays didn't have hex on the inside. They're definitely not platforms, they're definitely not plastic, and (at least to me), they're definitely not "cheap".

pacificaslim

It is a strange term, but basically it is a tire that mounts like a clincher, but is made like a tubular that isn't sewn shut. Instead of being one piece of poured rubber like a regular clincher tire, open tubulars are handmade and the riding surface is glued on to the sidewalls. Let's see... Here is a good explanation and picture: Technology

The only problem is that they are notoriously hard to get on the first time. They aren't even rounded like a clincher and the tread portion is totally flat. On my last set I managed to get one on by hand, but for the other I cheated and used the VAR tool. After riding for a while they stretch out and are easier to remount (in case of flat on the road).

RubeRad

So an open tubular is, um..., a clincher?

pacificaslim

Yes. And a square is a rectangle, a very specific type of rectangle.

arex

Any screwdriver other than a Craftsman feels weird to me.

Drew Eckhardt 

I love my Stahlwille 730 split-beam torque wrenches. Interchangeable heads (this one takes 1/4" hex bits, I also have 3/8 and 1/2" fine-tooth ratchets), flip the head over to torque counter-clockwise, accurate over the full scale at +/-3% on the factory calibration although the internals are good for +/-1%, hit the release and slide the scale to instantly set torque, no need to release tension for storage.

gios

G.H. Meiser Accu Gage

Homebrew01

Today my favorite tool was this. Surprised I hadn't thrown it out, having never actually used it, but the center "wrench" was just right for removing the fitting on the leaky bathroom faucet. 10 mm, but my regular wrenches were too thick.

Aqua_Andy

You poor thing you. Try out a set of Witte, Wiha or Wera, screwdrivers and you will never touch a Craftsman driver again. The tip fit and handle ergonomics on quality screwdrivers far surpasses that of lesser brands. As far as favorite tools? I don't think I have any, as every different task has the right tool suited for it.

habilis

I made (modified) what may become my favorite bike-related tool: a light-weight, compact adjustable wrench that will live in my seat bag and fits all the axle nuts, seat-clamp nuts, etc., on my collection of behind-the-times bikes. (Only one has QR axles front and rear, and one is fixed gear and can't have QR on the rear wheel.) I had to file the jaws of a 4-inch-long wrench that couldn't quite span the axle nuts. It should still be strong enough since I won't need to do major torquing with it. Without this tool - or something bigger and heavier - I couldn't fix flats on the road.

IcySmooth52

But you can also use a regular 15mm wrench on Speedplays. No narrow pedal wrench needed.

tanguy frame

I have a hammer like that! Completely agree - a pleasure to use. I especially like the feel of the handle!

Carson Dyle

I invested in one of these years ago, with the heavy base, and I'm really happy I did. I don't recall where I bought it online, but they had free shipping (heh heh).

InTheAether

This is really a collection of tools wrather than one tool, but so far it's my favorite. These were (and may still be at some point or locations) at Aldi's for around $20 and it has pretty much everything for basic and intermediate bike maintenance and repair. It's been worth the purchase price many times over so far with my current tear down/build.

Secret Squirrel

New favorite tool: Modified C3 Craftsman inflator

Leebo

An 8 mm wrench. One end open, the other end closed with a ratchet that's reversible.

Moe Zhoost

Got one and love it. My fave is my VAR BB lockring plier

RubeRad

That is pretty sweet with the super-high-end pump head! Love the idea of a digital preset psi cutoff as well.

seedsbelize 

Axle Vise - Park Tool
Master Link Pliers - Park Tool

RubeRad

If you don't want to buy a pair of master link pliers, framebuilder Dave Moulton offers this alternative.

79pmooney

I have a TA peanut butter wrench that I wrapped the handle of with inner tube. Use it all the time on my fix gear hubs. (But the Pedro's fix gear tool with spanner goes on my rides and gets used almost as much. And, sadly, its spanner is far better for 12t lockrings than my big Park spanner is. I love the Pedro's. That and a custom 16 oz cog wrench make doing fix gear cog changes on the road a piece of cake.)

My favorite tool? (And a little out of topic - I really don't care what the brand name is, but the tool itself means enough to me that I bought a house for it.) A bench vise. Most useful tool by far. Gets used to make some if the most useful parts on my bikes. Real pedal pick-up tabs that I can get first try at intersections on my fix gears. Tabs that do not bend when I step on them and last for years without ever looking at them again. It is also a good third hand for hub cones.

Ben