Originally Posted by
Andrew R Stewart
Freewheel or cassette tools. (Broken spokes don't announce their failure). Of course tire tools. Pump. Andy.
Good idea. In twenty plus years of riding as an adult, I've never broken a spoke, so I didn't even think of that. I had thought of waiting to use the co-op's cassette tools because a cassette is something that can wait to be changed, but needing to pull it off to fix a spoke didn't cross my mind. Now I hope I haven't jinxed myself on the broken spokes!
Originally Posted by
Bike tinker man
you have not mentioned what type of bike you have, or what you ride it for.
If you are only dealing with your own bike, then look at it closely & just buy tools as required for your application, there many tool kits out there, along with all the other tools I have one but they tend to be generic not specific, there are some tools there I've never used. There are several very good tool manufacturers including Park.
Good tyre levers
A decent set of Allen keys small size.
A simple stand to get the rear wheel off the ground, amazing the jobs you can do then.
Chain & cassette cleaning tools / brushes (good to save old toothbrushes)
I ride a 2015 Bianchi Volpe with a 3x10 drivetrain and canti brakes. I'm on my bike nearly every day for commuting and other basic transportation, but this bike also makes longer recreational rides. The more miles I put on each year, the more I find myself needing to do maintenance between times when I can get in to use the tools at the co-op.
Yeah, I've looked at the tool kits, but they tend to have a lot of stuff that isn't bike specific (like box wrenches) that I already have. Or things that are bike specific, like a flat fix kit, that nearly any rider would already have. I use Pedro's tire levers, which are awesome! I also use a Kool Stop tire bead lever. Comes in handy on tires with a tight bead.
Originally Posted by
HillRider
You can't go wrong with Park Tools for all of these items. BTW, buy the black, single end, blue plastic coated handle cone wrenches (SCW-XX where XX is the size in mm). Avoid the chrome plated or double end versions.
I would not bother with a 3-way hex wrench but get a set of good quality individual hex wrenches, either simple L-wrenches or the more costly but more user friendly T-wrenches. Bondhus and Allen are two good brands and don't cheap-out on these.
As to grease and chain lube recommendations, I'm not going to go there at all. There are NUMEROUS, LONG, CONTENTIOUS threads on both subjects on this forum and a search will give you hours of reading matter.
Those are the kind of cone wrenches we have in the shop. I do like them. I'm curious about why you caution against the three-way hex wrenches? I like them for the good grip I can get on them. I do need a few with a longer handle for getting at things like the little nut inside the brake hoods. I'll look at the brands you recommended.
Good advice about the debates on grease and chain lube! I love Rock 'n Gold for the chain, but understand that people have *strong* feelings about these matters! As for grease, I've been using the blue/green Park Tool stuff in a tub at the shop. I'll probably stick with that at home (but in the tube version) until I develop my own strong feelings about something else.
