Recommendations for buying bike tools?
12-17-11, 12:18 AM
#1
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Recommendations for buying bike tools?
Hey all,
I'm tiring of paying other people to do work on my bike that I'm pretty certain I could do myself if I had the tools. What are the standard recommendations for building up one's bike repair kit? I have three bikes, a drop bar commuter/touring bike, a drop bar race bike, and a comfort-hybrid, and my wife has a comfort hybrid. I was looking at the Park Tools home mechanic kits (AK-37), Super B Essential Tool Kit from REI, or something similar? I imagine that at least initially, I'll limit myself to derailleur adjustments, replacing chains, cassettes, and chain rings, and truing my own wheels. Bottom bracket stuff seems a bit more complicated.
Suggestions, thoughts?
I'm tiring of paying other people to do work on my bike that I'm pretty certain I could do myself if I had the tools. What are the standard recommendations for building up one's bike repair kit? I have three bikes, a drop bar commuter/touring bike, a drop bar race bike, and a comfort-hybrid, and my wife has a comfort hybrid. I was looking at the Park Tools home mechanic kits (AK-37), Super B Essential Tool Kit from REI, or something similar? I imagine that at least initially, I'll limit myself to derailleur adjustments, replacing chains, cassettes, and chain rings, and truing my own wheels. Bottom bracket stuff seems a bit more complicated.
Suggestions, thoughts?
12-17-11, 12:39 AM
#2
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You only need the tools appropriate to your own bikes, and your skill set. While you might save a bit by buying a tool kit or package deal, the savings will be reduced by the what you spent on tools you didn't need or use.
Buy, tools as you need them, and as you're actually going to use them. That leaves you free to pick and choose for the best version of each tool, ie Park cable cutter, Pedros cone wrenches (only the sizes you need), Bondhus allen keys.
Buy, tools as you need them, and as you're actually going to use them. That leaves you free to pick and choose for the best version of each tool, ie Park cable cutter, Pedros cone wrenches (only the sizes you need), Bondhus allen keys.
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12-17-11, 12:40 AM
#3
LET'S ROLL
Park Tools seem to have a good reputation and I believe
are backed by a lifetime warranty. Any tool you buy from
REI can be returned at any point, again making them
essentially warrantied for life. Here's my tool advice for
cassette swaps:
are backed by a lifetime warranty. Any tool you buy from
REI can be returned at any point, again making them
essentially warrantied for life. Here's my tool advice for
cassette swaps:
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12-17-11, 01:25 AM
#4
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Is there an REI in BC?
The MEC house brand (filzer) tools are quite decent. They use some hard steel that's not very rust resistant, but otherwise fairly tough for the price.
I would just buy the needed tools as you go along.
I have a tool kit, but there are some tools in there that I have never used.
The MEC house brand (filzer) tools are quite decent. They use some hard steel that's not very rust resistant, but otherwise fairly tough for the price.
I would just buy the needed tools as you go along.
I have a tool kit, but there are some tools in there that I have never used.
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Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
12-17-11, 09:12 AM
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I agree with all of the above and would just add that you will never regret buying a Felco cable cutter.
12-17-11, 10:19 AM
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Read this https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ease-READ-THIS, & do a search on the forum, it's all been asked before, and will all be asked again.
12-17-11, 10:26 AM
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Yah, buying tools as you need them is definitely the way to go. A set of allan keys is a very good start. You can get cheap tools online from wiggle or chain reaction cycles.
12-17-11, 10:56 AM
#8
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Read this https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ease-READ-THIS, & do a search on the forum, it's all been asked before, and will all be asked again.
12-17-11, 01:51 PM
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Normally I would agree on "buy them as you need them" approach. But when I saw this on xmas sale https://tinyurl.com/cwervgc I jumped on it. Yea, there are a couple tools I might never need but for the ones I did need this was the least expensive option. This is almost half the price of the Park Tools AK-37 kit and the quality is just as good. No vested interest, just a happy customer.
12-17-11, 02:08 PM
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Spin Doctor from Performance, and at least SOME of the Sette from Price Point are decent quality, as well; Park, though, is the industry standard. There was another brand out there some years ago, can't remember the name, that was made by Snap-On. Pedro's, also, made top-quality stuff, but it was pricey; don't even know if it's still out there, haven't looked in a few years.
Spin Doctor has kits, as well.
Spin Doctor has kits, as well.
12-17-11, 03:04 PM
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This thread is less than a week old: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-bike-building
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
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12-17-11, 04:22 PM
#13
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+1 Buy them as you need them. Also look for used tools. I have bought many used tools, everything from work stands to cone wrenches. Just bought a $200 Park Tool truing stand yesterday, used, for $50. At least half my tools were bought used.
