May someone mail the list of tools I must have to build a track/fixie from scratch ?

Grease,
set of allen key sets,
set of wrenches, both box and cone,
headset press (I'd get a shop to do the headset. Presses are $100+),
chainbreaker,
bottom bracket installer,
crank pullers,
torque wrench,
lockring spanner,
chainwhip,
pump,
tire levers,
did I forget anything?



It's generally easier to get a shop to help you out. Building up a bike from scratch without knowing anything is a daunting task.

Fixies are pretty easy to build from scratch, just budget the time to do it properly. If there's a bike co-op or collective near where you live, that would be best, as there are some specialized tools you need to do it right.

When you say "from scratch", are you converting a road bike or building one up from the frame out?

If you're building it from the frame out, make sure you've allocated the necessary cash, as it adds up fast.

In terms of the tool list, you may want spoke wrenches (and a truing stand if possible) to make sure your wheels are straight.

Make sure you have real tool for the task, not the multi tool you carry around for quick fixies. The difference when you are working more than 4 hours on bikes is worth the difference.

Should it take 4 hours to build a bike?! I think I slapped my last one together in about 45 minutes.

Maybe not, but if you've got 4+ bikes and they all need a tune-up, that can happen.

It depends on your experience level and how much work you want to put into setting everything up.

Yes, you can "slap" something together pretty quickly, but for someone building a bike from the frame up for the first time, and wanting to do everything correctly, 4-5 hours isn't unreasonable, especially if you get into truing the wheels and chasing/facing the bottom bracket, adjusting the headset bearings for a threaded fork / cutting the fork for a threadless headset, taking the time to properly grease everything beforehand, getting everything fitted/adjusted properly, etc., etc., etc.

I can slap a bike together for a friend in 45 minutes.
But I like to spend the whole day putting my bike together.

The last bike I put together was a conversion and so there were a lot of parts of the process I didn't have to do (such as cutting a steerer tube, chasing the BB threads, etc.) I also didn't count the time it took me to true the wheels since they were trued while the frame was drying from paint.

This was a SS/FG bike, if it had been a multispeed bike with derailleurs 4 hours would not have been unreasonable for the fine tuning of those damn things.

I like brandonspeck's list.

I would add a workstand.

If one watches the mail order catalogs for sales, one can find a usable workstand pretty cheap, or if not cheap, at least under $100.

Regarding the torque wrench, I have yet to find a cheap torque wrench the works for me.

I think inexpensive torque wrenches that work on bicycles exist, or should exist; but, I haven't found one.

I presently use a $30 Sears torque wrench, and...I can't say anything good about it.

I find myself just torquing things less than I should so that I don't break anything.

Thank you all for the enrich info .........

Beer, good tunes, lube......oh wait, you're building a bike? Then, beer, good tunes and (chain)lube.

Seriously though, I second the recommendation to have a shop press your headset cups in. I used several different versions of DIY presses, and eventually got them in, but not after way too much time, effort and frustration.

OP: Are you going to build the wheels yourself? If so, in addition to what Brandonspeck listed, you'll need a truing stand, spoke wrenches, alcohol, blue loctite, a tensiometer, a dishing tool and patience.

Bare essentials: chunk of old chain, pry bar, screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, channel lock, multi-tool, beer.

Good tools help though.

dremel.

vice grips + black spraypaint

Thank you all ..........