Originally Posted by
VegasJen
I figure I might start getting a few specialized tools to work on my bikes. First off, I'm pretty handy as it is. I know my way around a tool box and I have a very respectable set of general tools in my tool box.
What I don't have is any bike specific tools, or knowledge for that matter. But with my general mechanical experience, the concepts aren't really foreign to me and I'm pretty quick on the uptake. So what I think the tools I'm going to start with are the tools to change a cassette. Once I get comfortable with that, I might try other specific tools.
I don't plan on making a living doing this, in fact, I expect I might use the tools maybe a dozen times total, so I don't want to go off buying top-of-the-line stuff. I'm not going to be starting my own bike tuning business.
I looked on Amazon and found this:
https://www.amazon.com/Bikehand-Shim...dDbGljaz10cnVl
So the questions I pose to you, all knowing Bike Forum, is will this tool work for most standard wheels? Of my bikes now, I have Bontrager, Ritchey and whatever came on my Specialized (Can't remeber. AVS or something). Next question. I figure most of these are made of low grade Chinesium, but do you think it's good enough for 10-12 jobs without mucking up the components?
In general those tools (especially the cassette lockring tool) are poorly made. Also if you have a quick release axle, you may want a tool that has a center pin, Like the one below, it sits better for removal of the lock ring. If you have a thru axle there is a version for that as well.
You can make your own Chain whip from a piece of bar steel and a section of chain so save a few bucks. One tool I would recommend is a good chain tool (you will need it to make the chain whip).
Paying for the better tools will save you money in the long run. Also you can look on ebay for used/preowned tools, search "used Park Tool"