Advice on Tools
 

I recently had to leave my bike in the repair shop to get the bottom bracket replaced. As I do not have the proper tool for securing the BB I had no alternative. My bike is a fixed gear which I converted from a 1980's Peugot Road Frame and I had a blast working on it. Leaving the bike at the shop takes AGES (It has been there for a week now to get the BB replaced) and it means I don't get to have fun servicing my bike.

Any advice on a company who sells tool sets that fit most of the standard sizes of hardware. i.e. A set with chain tool, c-spanner, etc?

go to sears and get some basic screwdrivers and wrenches and pliers. you should not been BB tools as the one the shop puts in should last a long time. buy bike spefic tools as you need them, crank puller, BB tools, third or forth hand.

when I worked in a shop, I figured out which of the shops tools I used the most and bout them as I needed them

+100 on this part of Bianchigirl's good advice. Whatever savings you might realize in a tool kit purchase vs. loose stock will be offset by those tools you don't need or use, or that aren't appropriate to your bike.

Other than basic stuff which you probably already own, but only the tools you actually need as the need arises.

+1 to the above.

Go to Sears and buy a set of Craftsman screwdrivers, a socket set with sizes ranging from 8 to 17, a wrench set with sizes ranging from 8 to 17, a big ass Crescent wrench, an Allen key set with sizes ranging from 2 to 10 and maybe a set of pliers.

Buy bike specific tools as you need them. If you want to buy some generic tools go ahead, some basics I recommend:

1. Both red and yellow Mr. Spokey spoke wrenches or plastic DT's.
2. A complete set of cone wrenches
3. 8, 9, 10 'Y' wrench
4. Thrid hand tool.

Thats about it. Everything else 'buy as you go'.

Already own wrenches, allen keys etc. Good advice on "buy as you go" for the more specific tools. Where would you recommend I look for them?

It would help for making recomendations for stores if you'd include a country and state or province in your User information or at least tell us in one of your posts where you live.

Zefal and Park are the two big bicycle tool makers. Typically you buy their specialty tools through bike shops or places such as MEC or REI or similar full service outdoor sports stores depending on which country you live in. Or you can buy these tools from the online big bicycle suppliers such as Cambria or Jenson's.

Everything you need in bike specific tools and how to use them. http://www.parktool.com/

There are many threads on this topic which reccommned specific brands for a specific tool. Park is generally accepted as the leader in bike specifiec tools. I will give the contarian view as a I bought a Park tool set as well as other bike tools on Craig's list. I buy and fix bike and find having some tools I seldom use is preferred to not having the tool I need at hand. Besides one can never have enough tools.

There are a lot of standard hardware sizes. We have conventional bottom brackets with their fixed cup, lock ring, and pin spanner tools; ISIS bottom brackets; external bearing bottom brackets which take a different tool; Campagnolo cartridge bearing brackets that use a cassette tool; and others. I have hubs which take 13, 14, 15, and 17mm cone wrenches. I have two different types of crank pullers.

To cover all of this you'd need something like the Park Master Mechanic Tool Set which runs $3700.

just buy what I need when I need it and recommend doing the same.

You may also visit a local bike cooperative where you rent a stall and tools for $10/hour.

All my wheels would take the red DT or black Park (I keep one on my key chain).

My newest hubs don't need any.

I have pedals and crank bolts which take an 8mm hex key, but couldn't get enough leverage off a Y-wrench. Only a 3/8" drive 8mm hex key socket works on the cranks which IIRC took about 40 foot-pounds to seat correctly.

Pretty much everything bike-specific is buy as you go.

live in Ontario, Canada

Many companies do not ship here... :(