Originally Posted by
mm718
That's great to know that Parktool's website is so good and I like the idea of buying tools instead of paying for the class. First on the list for me is a repair stand. I do have have a multi-tool but as sstorkel mentions I think I might want a better chain tool. Should I get one of the ParkTool 3-way hex wrench for greater leverage? I am also going to get a pedal wrench, separate spoke wrench, and a chain wear indicator. Should I get cassette removal tool? If so, can you recommend a brand? Is there anything else I should add to the list?
A repair stand is a nice luxury, but not absolutely essential. I did quite a bit of maintenance with the bike resting upside down on handlebars and seat before I bought a stand. That said, I'm pretty happy with my Feedback Sports repair stand. If you can afford it, a quick-release mechanism is nice to have. It makes loading a heavy touring bike or mountain bike into the stand easier.
If the Park hex wrench you're referring to is the
AWS-1 or
AWS-8, I'd wait to purchase them. They're expensive, you only get three sizes (granted, they're the most common), the tool provides less leverage than a standard hex wrench, and the unused bits often get in the way (ex: when tightening many seat clamps).
If you need to remove cassettes, you'll need a cassette lockring tool, a chain whip, and an adjustable wrench. I own a Park lockring tool and chain whip. They're nice. I probably only use them once a year, on average. Unless you know that you've got a cassette which needs replacement, I'd wait to purchase these tools.
If your budget is tight, the Park CT-5 chain tool is
really all you need. I have one in the seat bag for each bike. I also own a more expensive chain tool (Park CT-7), but frequently end up using the CT-5 because there's always one with the bike. Take the money you would have spent on an upscale chain tool and use it to buy a chain cleaning kit. I own the Park one. It's not great, but I don't know if the competition is any better.
For spoke wrenches, I like Park's 4-sided models (SW-40, SW-42). They make it much more difficult for a newbie to round the edges off a nipple (
Hint: the wrench engages and leaves the nipple
from the top not the side).
A 12-inch ruler works well as a chain wear indicator, though it's not quite as convenient as a tool.
Rather than buying a bunch of tools up and then finding that they're not necessary, I would suggest buying tools as you have projects which require them. Hex wrenches and screwdrivers are always necessary. Chain cleaning and replacement is a frequent activity if you ride a lot. So do tires changes and tube patching. Everything else happens pretty rarely in comparison...