ekimeno

After waiting over 6 weeks for a bike to be built from a "friend", I've finally run out of patience and have decided to do it myself. I have very little experience doing my own repairs so I don't really know a bottom bracket tool from my elbow, though I do know how to do the most basic things - the most complicated I get is adjusting gears, brakes and truing wheels...

I have all the parts I need to build my bike and am ready to buy a complete toolkit and stand. From what I've read on this forum, it sounds like Park Tool is the way to go with regard to building a bike and keeping it maintained - looking at their AK-32 Advanced Mechanic Tool Kit. I noticed that there are tools in there like the Cassette Lockring Tool and Cartridge Bottom Bracket Tool that are for Shimano.

I've had a look around and can't find a similar kit designed for Campy. Does this mean I've have to buy separate tools for Campy parts or that the Shimano tools an also be used for Campy? Is Park Tools the way to go or is there something else specifically for Campy I should be considering? I basically want a kit that will enable me to carry out all repairs and upgrades to my bikes.

well biked

I think the best way to approach this is to think about the specific bike you're going to build, research the processes that will be necessary to build it, and then select the tools individually that will be needed to do the job. You may be surprised at how few you actually need.

I suppose giant tool kits are nice, but personally I work on lots of bikes, in fact lots of bikes of different types (mountain bikes new and old, old road bikes, children's bikes, friends' and neighbors' bikes of any description, etc.), and all I've got in terms of bike-specific tools is a workstand, truing stand, and a small tool chest of tools I've accumulated individually. Some of my "bike specific" tools are homeade, in fact (headset press, crown race installers).

My point is that I think if I bought a giant tool kit I'd spend a lot of money and have a good many of the tools in the kit collecting dust in my tool drawer, while at the same time the tools I purchased individually for a specific purpose are well used and well worth the money.

And btw, I've built complete bikes without a workstand, and I've trued many wheels without a truing stand. Building wheels is different, of course, but for truing, closely set brake pads work pretty well as a guide. Not as well as a truing stand, but for occasional truing, you can get a wheel in very acceptable shape that way.

But that tool kit you mention doesn't have a two-prong Regina freewheel tool in it, does it? I really need one of those right now and can't seem to find one. I may have to file the prongs down on a two prong Suntour tool and see if I can make that work instead (See what I mean? Specific need, need a specific tool)-

capwater

Park BBT-5 will handle both Campy bottom brackets and cassette lockrings. Under $10. That is one of the few tools that is drivetrain specific, most everything else is generic.

tellyho

If you WANT to spend an extra $200 on tools, get the Park kit. I've put together several bikes and been very satisfied with the Performance Team toolkit (~$100). I've used at least 90% of them, and the price was right. I've only had to buy one other bike-specific tool, aside from wrenches and sockets, which I already had. I personally think Park tools are expensive for what they are, and make sense only if you're working in a shop.

KevinF

I'd look through the ParkTool site and the archives here and find exactly which tools you'll need to complete the job. Get a good set of hex wrenches from the local hardware store, a torque wrench if you want (probably a good idea for your first build -- things like bottom brackets and cassette lockrings need to be pretty tight), and three or four bike-specific tools and you'll be all set (cable puller, cable cutter, BB / cassette tool). Installing headsets requires a semi-expensive investment in tools, or you can search the archives here for some home-grown solutions, or you can pay your shop $30 or so to do it for you. The rest is surprisingly easy.

DMF 

There's something to be said for a kit, though I wouldn't go so big unless you have the $$. Problem is that you won't always know ahead of time what tool you'll need. For instance, what cone wrench? You won't know until you get the hub in hand.

Also, while you can work without a stand, a stand makes the work easier. Just don't go overboard. I make do very well with a $45 Performance Essentials stand.

Go through the Park Tools repair site for each specific job. They specify the tools you'll need for the job, and break out Campagnolo where appropriate. That should get you a pretty good list.

miamijim

Aside from living on 'Earth' where do you live? If your in my area, Tampa, I'll help you out on the build.

ComPH

Too many unknowns about the bike you are trying to build. Materials, type, etc. it is o.k. to do it with no experience building bikes, but dependig on the bike type and your general skills/knowledge, you can do with just the BB tool, or you may need reamers, threads chased, dropouts alligned, headsets pressed etc, which can be done without specialized tools, or you can end up damaging the frame beyond repair, or getting damaged riding the final assembly. If you do need the specialized tools, it maybe cheaper to go to a bike shop and have them do the initial assembly, and then get some generic tools for the maintenance. Most of these tools are needed just initially for few minutes.

Elusor

you could also go to your LBS and ask them 1 million questions
they haev lots of hands on experience

don't be shy to do such a thing

ekimeno

Thanks for the replies. The above advise is probably what I'll go with, though I'll want to avoid going to any bike repair shop for anything - I haven't found one yet to be completely reliable (maybe my bad luck). The Parktool website seems to have a wealth of info on what I'll need to build this bike - tool by tool. I think a decent workstand will have to be bought, though, as I don't have much space in my little flat.

By the way, the frame is an all carbon Look KG451 frameset to be built up with a Record group and a Chris King threadless 1-inch headset. Once this is done I'm going to take apart my current bike that has an '05 Centaur group and replace the frame with an Orbea Mitis, but keep the current forks.

Oh, I'm in London, UK - guess I'll have to turn wrenches the opposite way here