PlusVeggie27

Yea, I'm going to look at it again. Might be easier, for them to just ride to me. From what I saw earlier, the ones I saw where pretty dull in color.

Machka 

$220 for a complete tool set like that is not very expensive at all. And bicycles require a bit more than a wrench. And sorry but no bikes I know of come with tools.

Here's a link for measuring a bicycle to help make sure it fits:
https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...itioning-chart

rebel1916

Plusveggie, don't listen to these wackadoodles, about 90% of the adjustments you will need to make on a bike can be done with a multi tool and a few allen keys. You are in a place that is almost predatory to newbs. Buy a used bike or a cheap new one, ride the wheels off it and then if you wanna get fancy you will know what you want.

Mithrandir

Oh.

Well what in the hell is the fun in that???

RaleighSport

LoL... so you'd pass on a nice 25 dollar tool kit?

pg13

Hmm. Could have sworn I listed reasonably priced and well rated minitools and a nice little toolkit that also comes with a patch kit and levers which she should have too.

edit: d'oh. Was supposed to be a reply with quote.

billyymc

Yep - a good bike specific multi tool, a 15 mm wrench, a pair of pliers, and a couple cold beers. That's all you need. Oh, and a wee bit of mechanical ability. It's nice to have more tools, but with that you can assemble a bike out of the box.

And an air pump. And a small tube of grease.

And another beer.

rebel1916

People were telling her she needed a $220 kit that was cheap at the price and a fitting for a comfort bike, and so on and so on. Please.

michaelnel

... and of course people who have never actually built a bike recommending inappropriate tools for someone they assumed was building a bike but is in reality just doing the final assembly on a shipped bike.

michaelnel

Oh, and PlusVeggie? If you are in San Francisco, I'll assemble and tune that bike for you, for free.

EDIT: Never mind, reading back through the thread I see you are in New Yawk.

Machka 

If you recall, she didn't clarify what it was she wanted to do in her first post ... and she indicated she wanted a mountain bike/cruiser/comfort bike.

Anyway, $220 isn't that bad for good tools ... especially for a "kit that has everything", as requested. After all, lots of people "build" bicycles ... buy a frame and build it up with components. Most of the bicycles my husband and I own have been built that way.

And the fitting link I posted was for a mountain bike, as an example of the types of measurements she should do when considering bicycle options. Before buying a bicycle, it is very, very important to get one that fits. Fit cannot be emphasized enough.


You're new here too, rebel1916 ... are you also new to cycling?

Retro Grouch 

Tools needed pretty much depends on your pedals and your standards.

If you're looking at a department store bike, and you're happy with them the way they come, you will probably be able to get by with a 5mm allen wrench and a 6" crescent wrench. Depending on your pedals, a crescent wrench might be either a little too thick or not open quite wide enough. I'd also recommend a dab of grease for the bike's seat tube and pedal threads but most any grease will do. It'll come with assembly directions.

If your standards are higher, you'll probably want to tune and adjust pretty much everything. That'll take a lot more extensive tool kit.

Mithrandir

You know I was just trying to be helpful by sharing stuff that I had learned on my own. I was unaware that people sold bikes mostly assembled. There is no need to be snide.

RaleighSport

Guys, if you would like to actually be of use to her instead of arguing amongst ourselves about what would be best here goes.

The situation as she explained it to me 100-250 bike budget, she's now rechecking used on craigslist rather than ordering BSO (Up to her not us though), she has 3 mountain bikes to tinker with, all with 26" wheels, we've covered what bikes direct offers in the 250-300 range, and I think she now wants to really decide between wrenching a bike from her backyard or buying used... we covered some cheaper tool sets and things like that but please help her out.

rebel1916

Yeah, only 8 or so years, plus 10 riding BMX as a kid.

RaleighSport

Help the new person instead of bickering please.

rebel1916

You are correct, I get frustrated when I see people overwhelming newbs with minutiae, but you know what they say about arguing on the internet...

RaleighSport

LoL indeed I do, and fyi I'm the one who linked the 250 tool kit before she and I started discussing her actual needs.

Machka 

Some of these details would have been really handy to have in the first post.


To newbies: Give us some background to work with so we can taylor our answers to your needs, rather than going by what we, and the other cyclists we know, do or want to do.

Zephyr11

For the last bike I bought online, it came assembled to the point that all I needed were some allen wrenches and a pedal wrench. I guess I should have used a torque wrench, but I didn't. Don't bikes come mostly assembled? It doesn't sound like the OP plans on buying a frame and a bunch of components. It's pretty clear we're talking about a beginner here, so I didn't even think actually building a bike up was an option.

sauerwald

If you are not familiar enough with wrenching to know what tools you need to assemble a bike, then you should definitely be looking for a LBS to purchase an assembled and tested bike from. I am sure that you can find an LBS within public transit range, buy the bike and ride home.

billyymc

Yep, that's how they come. Turn the stem around, put the handlebars on, pedals, front wheel, and you're pretty much done. Yes, you should check everthing over and make adjustments as needed, but putting it all together to look like a rideable bike is easy. Taking stuff apart to lube could get beyond beginner status.

Sometimes when you buy online they even include the tools with the bike -- I got a decent pedal wrench this way. I've found that taking the packaging off the bike takes longer than assembling it!

FieldEffect

Both online and used are risks for people new to bicycles. Best bet is to make friends with a local cyclist and then have him/her come with you to check out local used bikes.