I got back into biking a few months ago after a ten year lay off. I'm fairly mechanically inclined having rebuilt a car in the past. I got an older Cannondale road bike and immediately ordered a Sette tool kit from pricepoint.com. I got the cheap one that was on sale for like $25. Since getting that tool kit and reading the two websites listed above, I've done the following:
- replaced crank/bottom bracket and front derailer (went from three rings to compact crank)
- replaced stem
- replaced ergo shifters and added new bar tape
- replaced cables and added a jtek shiftmate
- replaced cassette
- replaced tires
- maintained drivetrain (removed/cleaned chain multiple times and tweeked rear derailer)
The only other tools that I had to buy since getting the tool kit is a cable cutter ($10) and a tool to fit the BB cups on the new compact crank ($15). I've also done routine maintenance on my old mtn bike.
My point is that it's not that expensive or hard to do your own maintenance so I say go for it.