Howdy all.

Wanted to know what everyone would say are essential tools for maintaining a fix gear/single speed bike?

I'd like to do my own repairs and maintenance so I'm not having to pay the bike shop to do it.

Any reccomendations welcome.

Chain Whip, lockring tool, chain breaker, pedal wrench, allen keys (bike multitool), freewheel tool (if you swing that way).

Allen key set
15mm box wrench
pedal wrench
chain whip
lockring tool
chain breaker

That's pretty much all you need... other than a few specialty tools that you wouldn't use enough to justify the cost.

Spoke wrenches are cheap and nice to know how to use. A crank puller is good if you want to maintain your bottom bracket but that shouldn't happen frequently.

Was just going to ask about this one. I'm not finding a good way to measure my spindle length without removing the cranks. So if you want to service or replace your bb/crankset you would need those as well.

All the same tools you'd need for a geared bike?

This needs to be stickied if it hasn't been already.

We could also list popular tools under each category, like so:

15mm box wrench: PDW 3 wrencho, Pedro's Trixie
Multi-Tool: Park, Crank Bros,

I would also add if the cost of the tool is anywhere close to the bike shop fee, buy the tool. Following that logic has led me to the point where the only thing I can't do at home now is install headsets and build wheels.

If you have loose ball hubs you definatly need(and its probably a good idea anyway) to get some cone wrenches.

A loose ball bottom bracket means you will have to have crank puller and whichever wrench to pull the cups off.

If you have a threaded headset you should get the right wrench for it.

Also have on hand some nice grease and oil. Know the difference too.

Multi-tool (mine has 4, 5, 6, 8, 10mm hex keys, screwdrivers, chain breaker, etc)
15mm wrench
Lockring wrench or pliers
Crank puller
Lube
Grease

A pair of hands.

just a guess

Hah. Perfect.

Not even reading the thread, going front-to-back (twss):

15mm open-ended wrench
assorted metric allen wrenches
chainring bolt spanner
chain whip
lockring tool
torque wrench
allen, hex sockets (metric)
spoke wrench
appropriately sized cone wrenches
tire levers
chain tool

Those are the basic "maintenance" essentials. If you want to get into tools for full assembly, then you need to add:

Headset press (homemade or professional)
crown race setter (homemade of professional)
mallet
crank puller
bottom bracket tool
pedal wrench

On the go? All you need is:

multi-tool (I like the Crank Bros. m17)
Trixie
stubby adjustable wrench
tire levers

Even with this (mostly) comprehensive list, I can think of about a dozen other cases where I would need more specialized tools.

Pretty thorough list there, but you'd also need a saw/pipe cutter for the steerer tube/too long seatposts. Starnut tool would be nice as well, but how often would you install star nuts?

I'm on the fence about torque wrenches being basic. I have one for stem/seatpost and one for BB/cranks and I think they're great, but try telling that to your average fixed gear rider.

You're right about the saw, but I do well enough setting star nuts with a small flat-tip screwdriver and a mallet.

When you can get a relatively decent click-type torque wrench for about 25 bucks, I consider it to be absolutely essential. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a new crankset cuz you muffed up the interface.

Cable cutter for brake cables.

Exactly why I made sure to be quick about getting my torque wrenches. Why the hell would I drop dime on a Thomson X4 and not use it at the right torque specs. They're absolutely mandatory from my view.

Patch kit. Extra tube. Pump. If you attempt your own repairs turn to bikeforums or the park tool site for guidance. Not youtube.

Whoops. That's a big one I forgot right there.

Assuming you're gonna run brakes, it gets even more complicated. Cable/housing cutters, actual housing/cables and ferrules. Maybe even a file or grinder. I swear, it doesn't stop. Just when I think I don't need anything else, something else pops up.

The farther this thread goes, the more I think we should make it permanent in the start here thread or something. It wouldn't be that hard to put together a list and good examples of each tool. Any thoughts on that?

I agree with everything suggested above with one addittion: some kind of tire boot. I have been stranded a few times on my road bike and MTB because of a sidewall puncture, in addition to that one time I skidded all the way through my rear tire and popped the tube!

So, I took an old worn down 700x23 tire and cut it up into about 2" segments. I keep two in my tool pouch and one with my spare tube on rides.

Oh, and one more thing, a sawed-off craftsman 15mm closed-end wrench makes a great portable wrench for track wheels.

10mm long socket, drop the bolt into the socket the "wrong" way and thread it onto the star nut, and tap it in from there
no bent bolts and is a lot easier to keep the nut straight

also if i ever have to use a hammer on any other tools like the above application or dealing with a crown race, i use a rubber mallet

it applies less force so theres a bigger margin of error. it might take a few more whacks but you dont end up with 5 star nuts in your steerer or a monged up race. it makes it more difficiult to go too far or too hard

If you are going to go cheap on a torque wrench, go with a beam type. (IMO)

QFT

I'd rather get a nice beam type, than a ****ty ratcheting type.